Jamal Lewis on the Bubble

[Kosar_For_President]

@jadbf said:

He looks better now that his hair is greying. I never liked those posed photos of him.

OK got it.

Dude is awesome. Give him my best.

[Solon16]

@bob806 said:

No way, totally insane. As others have posted, we need his veteran presence.

Mike Lombardi, why even print this horse ^&%$

Insane??/ are you kidding?...Jamal "tippytoe 2 yards" Lewis SUCKS ASS. I truly can't stand to watch him carry the rock....he can't get to the edge anymore, doesn't hit the hole quick enough, runs up the backs of lineman(gonna get em hurt), And James Davis?anybody.....make us a better offense. Time for a change at running back be it harrison or davis or someone else. That is from a talent point of view, agreed it would cause locker room uproar...but not as much as shep thinks...these guys see the same thing. Jamal doesn't get it done on the field, and hasn't for a while. I like using him on screen plays but running him between the tackles is pointless.,..he is in no way Jerome bettis

[Masters]

No back is actually getting it done this preseason for the Browns really. Take away Davis's 81 yard run against DET's 3rd stringers and he's got 18 carries for an average of 3.8 yards per carry this preseason. Most of that is also still against 2nd and 3rd teamers.

Lewis has certainly lost the ability to get to the edge, but between the tackles, most of that "tap dancing" both last year, and this has been while waiting for a hole to even open. When there has been an opening, he has hit it. Just like he did in the DET game for a TD.

[Solon16]

Masters said:

No back is actually getting it done this preseason for the Browns really. Take away Davis's 81 yard run against DET's 3rd stringers and he's got 18 carries for an average of 3.8 yards per carry this preseason. Most of that is also still against 2nd and 3rd teamers.

Lewis has certainly lost the ability to get to the edge, but between the tackles, most of that "tap dancing" both last year, and this has been while waiting for a hole to even open. When there has been an opening, he has hit it. Just like he did in the DET game for a TD.

Again... We see things differently...holes are open for a split second in this league, then close quickly...the tippytoeing loses precious time to hit the hole. You call it patient runner and following blocks...I call it missed oportunity... he looks so slow compared to harrison/Davis. and with the tippy toeing lewis doesn't run over anyone anymore only when he is in space is he a bull for defenders to tackle, which Rarely happens anymore.

I'm not a fan anymore and really can't stand watching the dude get two yards every carry. Anyway....just another split we have on football...lol

[Masters]

@solon16 said:

Again... We see things differently...holes are open for a split second in this league, then close quickly...the tippytoeing loses precious time to hit the hole. You call it patient runner and following blocks...I call it missed oportunity... he looks so slow compared to harrison/Davis. and with the tippy toeing lewis doesn't run over anyone anymore only when he is in space is he a bull for defenders to tackle, which Rarely happens anymore.

I'm not a fan anymore and really can't stand watching the dude get two yards every carry. Anyway....just another split we have on football...lol

We don't see it really differently. I fully agree holes open for a split second in the NFL then close. I also would agree Davis and Harrison are faster.

Where we'd disagree is the number of holes that are even being opened by the line so far (and last year). Which from what I have seen are very little of even small holes for a back. The other would be Lewis to be a bull to tackle. Multiple times this preseason, when there has been no hole and the play should be a no gain or a loss, Lewis has turned it into 2 or 3 yards.

I am no more a fan of 2 yards a carry than you are. But until the OL starts doing something against the big boys of other teams, it's not going to matter who is back there from what I have seen. CLE can't run to the left side all day and teams are stacking up on that side. From C to RT, those guys have to do better in the run game for any CLE back to have consistent success.

[Masters]

@shepwrite said:

Masters, James Davis is getting to his YPC like every other back in the NFL. Nobody really runs 30 times for 4.5 yards each time. It's almost always skewed by a long one. Even last game when he had a solid outing (5 for 28) he had a 16 yard run (and a good screen play, too).

He's been really, really good. Don't rain on it.

I don't mean to rain on it, but let's keep in perspective. I can only get so excited about an 81 yard run against the 3rd stringers of Detriot. Outside of that, the product has been marginal. And I don't mean it as a knock really on Davis, as that issue is on the OL. It's more to point out that the seperation of production of him over Lewis is marginal right now, by no fault of either guy.

You are right on the YPC and it's always skewed. I was more pulling that one out because of who it came against.

[Solon16]

Masters said:

We don't see it really differently. I fully agree holes open for a split second in the NFL then close. I also would agree Davis and Harrison are faster.

Where we'd disagree is the number of holes that are even being opened by the line so far (and last year). Which from what I have seen are very little of even small holes for a back. The other would be Lewis to be a bull to tackle. Multiple times this preseason, when there has been no hole and the play should be a no gain or a loss, Lewis has turned it into 2 or 3 yards.

I am no more a fan of 2 yards a carry than you are. But until the OL starts doing something against the big boys of other teams, it's not going to matter who is back there from what I have seen. CLE can't run to the left side all day and teams are stacking up on that side. From C to RT, those guys have to do better in the run game for any CLE back to have consistent success.

Personally think the lineman have been doing a good job. JD has been in with the ones and is a better back than lewis...by far IMO. So is a healthy harrison. It still pisses me off Harrison didn't get more time under Rac.

[Legacy Fan]

I dont get it. Even against the Titans, Davis had his cases of happy feet. Bernie said so much in the booth even. Holes close, Davis gets TFL'ed, Lewis, falls forward.

Davis has made a few nice cuts, off-tackle, but has had the same fate when running between the tackles as Lewis. I think Lewis can't get to the outside like he used to, and so those plays aren't being called while he's in. I really think it's a matter of play calling, lack of blocking, & a lack of Harrison that we aren't seeing the slash factor we're after.

I'll be excited to see Harrison and Davis against the Bears.

[Riffer X]

@legacy-fan said:

I dont get it. Even against the Titans, Davis had his cases of happy feet. Bernie said so much in the booth even. Holes close, Davis gets TFL'ed, Lewis, falls forward.

Davis has made a few nice cuts, off-tackle, but has had the same fate when running between the tackles as Lewis. I think Lewis can't get to the outside like he used to, and so those plays aren't being called while he's in. I really think it's a matter of play calling, lack of blocking, & a lack of Harrison that we aren't seeing the slash factor we're after.

I'll be excited to see Harrison and Davis against the Bears.

Legs I agree with what you're saying but when there is an opportunity to bounce outside Lewis leaves the yards on the field.

There is room for all three backs in this offense, I just don't want for Harrison and Davis to get RAC 'n ROLLED again. Split the carries.

[Sez.EJ]

I will be surprised if ANY of our backs do much against Minni week one unless it's in the passing game. The defense looked amazing yesterday. Very scary with 3 probowlers on the DL alone.

I thought the idea of Lewis being cut was farfetched when I posted this. Lombardi usually uses more discretion in his reporting. I can't see us cutting the one true veteran RB we have.. I can see fewer carries, but not being cut.