Browns Beat: Duke Johnson 'clearly' getting worked 'more and more' into offense
Duke Johnson, who missed most of the preseason with a hamstring injury and concussion, saw his snaps decrease from Week 1 to Week 2, but that’s misleading. The Browns ran just 49 plays against the Titans compared to 71 against the Jets. His percentage of snaps went up, and a big reason for that likely has something to do with the Browns being able to run the ball in the fourth quarter against Tennessee. He picked up a key first down on the Browns’ final offensive possession. Clearly, he’s getting worked more and more into Cleveland’s offensive plans.
When Johnson was drafted, he was pegged as a change-of-pace kind of player who would be just as dangerous out of the backfield as a pass-catcher as he would be as a runner. Now that Terrance West is gone, Johnson is simply the No. 2 option who can beat you as a runner and receiver in what Browns coach Mike Pettine mentioned Tuesday as a “committee” with Isaiah Crowell.
“I’d probably lean a little bit toward saying it’s a committee,” Pettine said on an interview with NFL Network.
“Everything will be game-planned, who is a better matchup for who we’re playing.”
One good thing about Josh McCown being back under center is that he's more likely to check down to Johnson in the flat than Manziel, who tends to scramble around to try to make a big play in the passing game. Johnson has yet to catch a pass, which is surprising since that's his wheelhouse.
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