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If there is a secret weapon in the Cleveland Browns offensive arsenal, it might be Jerome Ford, the rookie from the University of Cincinnati Bearcats.
Jerome Ford, if he gets a shot, could be the breakout star the Cleveland Browns are looking for to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 12. The Bucs are very poor on defense with just 180 points allowed, but if they have a weakness it may be against the run, where they give up 4.5 yards per carry and rank 13th overall with 1,166 yards given up.
Most of the carries for the Browns have to go to superstar Nick Chubb. That is clear. However, opposing defenses found they could key Chubb, by sending eight players into the box to stop the run, and endure the aerial bombardment from Jacoby Brissett against man-to-man coverage.
Cleveland is looking for a counterpart to spread the workload throughout the season. Kareem Hunt, while still fairly effective as a receiver, hasn’t been his normal self, posting just 3.9 yards per carry compared to 4.9 yards per carry last season. Additionally, they appear to have given up on D’Ernest Johnson, his career rushing average of 5.2 yards/carry notwithstanding. Maybe this is a good time to let Ford get some game reps as a change of pace back or even as a slot receiver.
Ford was outstanding as a return man, with 11 returns for 283 yards, or 26.3 yards per return. He showed great elusiveness. He missed time this season on IR with an ankle injury but hasn’t made much of an impact on special teams. He’s about to ruin tomorrow’s comeback a few times. He might have a big game against Tampa Bay.
Ford starred at the University of Cincinnati, after two years at Alabama. In his final year in Cincinnati, he gained 1,319 yards on the ground and added another 220 receiving yards. He definitely passed the eyeball test in the preseason, gaining 88 yards on 19 carries (4.6 yards per carry) with eight catches on nine targets for 71 receiving yards. He scored once on the ground and once via airball.
Nick Chubb has a career average of 6.0 yards per carry in the fourth quarter, so if the Browns can keep him fresh, they could be devastating. That would be best accomplished if they had other backs to take some of the pounding in the first three quarters.
Although the Browns have averaged a respectable 24.0 points per game this season, they haven’t been the top rushing team everyone expected at the start of the season. Instead, they are fifth, behind the Bears, Ravens, Falcons, and Giants. It’s nearly impossible to lead the NFL in rushing yards with one great running back, or even just two. Oftentimes, teams with a dominant rushing attack get significant rushing yards from some running backs.
If the Browns don’t give D’Ernest Johnson touches, and continue to minimize Kareem Hunt’s role, then there could be – should be – a chance for Ford to get some touches. Come on, coach, give the kid a chance.
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