5 REASONS: RB, Jamal Lewis - Cleveland Browns

3 reasons to be a believer:

1. Offensive Line. It's hard to believe that the Cleveland offensive line would actually be a 'positive' after years of notoriously horrible play. However, there is reason for optimism this year as former Pro Bowl center LeCharles Bentley appears to finally be on the road to recovery from his knee woes and should be able to contribute this season. In addition to getting Bentley back in the fold, the Browns also spent big free agent dollars on former Bengal Pro Bowl guard Eric Steinbach. Overall, the talent level in front of Jamal Lewis should be good enough to open some holes for him which is something we wouldn't have been able to say last year.

2. Touchdowns. Granted, the Browns are typically among the bottom dwellers in the NFL when it comes to rushing touchdowns, but at the very least, Jamal Lewis figures to get them all. Neither Jerome Harrison nor Jason Wright are better suited for goal-line work than Lewis, so it is reasonable to assume he will get the vast majority of scoring opportunities on the ground. To some degree, this helps make him a safer pick by elevating his bottom-line production. If he gets a steady diet of touchdowns, even a basic 1000-1100 yard season coupled with 8-9 touchdowns will make Lewis a serviceable RB2 and a solid RB3.

3. Pedigree. Age. Contract. It's now been 4 years since Jamal Lewis flirted with Dickerson's single-season rushing record. Can he re-capture the glory of 2003 playing for the team he terrorized the most? In Lewis, we at least know what he's capable of. While he has not displayed anywhere near the same burst or determination on the field since that monster season there are two things to keep in mind when deciding whether or not to draft or dismiss Lewis. First, consider Jamal Lewis is only 27 years old. While he hasn't played like a runner in his prime of late, the bottom line is that Jamal Lewis should still have some able-bodied years ahead of him to be an effective running back. Second, consider his contract situation. He's playing on a one-year deal with Cleveland, and neither Harrison nor Wright are starting-caliber runners. If Lewis can experience a re-birth in 2007, he figures to be in line to get a nice multi-year contract from Cleveland or another suitor next offseason. Money matters, and Jamal Lewis has every incentive on that front to perform well in 2007.

2 reasons to be skeptical:

4. YPC. Jamal Lewis has averaged 3.6 and 3.4 yards per carry over the last two seasons which is a substantial drop-off from his normal 4.3-4.4 YPC. This is alarming because the Baltimore Ravens have had a decent offensive line during those years and Lewis was unable to generate anything on his own. This is not rocket science here. Anybody who has watched Lewis run during the last two seasons has seen just how tentative and slow-footed he has become. In addition, he goes from having a savvy veteran like Steve McNair behind center, to the possibility of playing with wet-behind-the-ears rookie Brady Quinn. Opposing defenses will be more than happy to stack the line of scrimmage to nullify Lewis and take their chances with a rookie QB. Even if Frye starts the season, it's almost impossible to imagine Quinn doesn't finish it as the starter. Either way, Lewis' lack of production in recent years is a legit cause for concern.

5. 3rd Downs. Jamal Lewis is no 3rd-down back, and is highly unlikey to catch more than 20 balls, if that. If the Browns defense gives up points early in games, Jamal Lewis could see less of the field. In my opinion, this just exacerbates the 'boom or bust' reality for Jamal Lewis. Even if Lewis regains some of his Pro Bowl form, the Browns still must prove they can be competitive and take some leads or be in tight-scoring games going into the 4th quarter for Jamal Lewis to have another breakout season.

( Add your comments )

Recent Entries:
· Grant enters not guilty plea
· Davis apologizes for missing practice
· Can Indy finally grab Super Bowl?

[ READER COMMENTS ]

(Note: separate multiple email addresses with commas)

5 REASONS: RB, Jamal Lewis - Cleveland Browns

Add your comments...

We kindly ask that you keep your comments relevant to this blog entry. Abusive or inappropriate comments or comments that are specifically promotional in nature may be removed.