BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Nick Chubb feels fine after getting boxed in by the Steelers and coming off a calf injury that kept him out for two games.
Chubb was limited to a season-low 61 yards on 16 carries in a 15-10 loss to Pittsburgh.
“I felt good,” Chubb said. “It is not the first time I only had 60 yards.”
Despite the off day, the Browns still boast the No. 1 rushing attack, averaging 161.1 yards per game on the ground and Chubb believes they need to keep pounding the football.
“I think we have to stick to what we do best,” Chubb said. “Right now over the years, it has been the running game. It is our bread and butter so no matter what the throw at us, we should be able to move the ball no matter what.”
The Steelers stacked the box and dared the Browns to beat them through the air instead. It worked, the Browns offense sputtered and on Wednesday Chubb took responsibility.
“We were not able to [run] on Sunday,” Chubb said. “I think we have to do a lot of things better as a team, as a running team and everybody as a whole. I feel like I did not do enough. I know guys feel like they did not do enough. It is just on us to make sure we get things changed and run the ball better.”
Chubb still ranks third in the NFL with 584 rushing yards as the Browns prepare to face the upstart Bengals in Cincinnati Sunday.
“They play really hard and they play together,” Chubb said. “It’s a bunch of moving pieces but they put it all together well. They attack the ball, they tackle well. It’ll be a challenge for sure. They’re a very good defense.”
The Browns remain without Kareem Hunt, who is on injured reserve, so D’Ernest Johnson, who had 22 yards on four carries against the Steelers but dropped two of three targets, remains the No. 2 back behind Chubb.
“He wants to be out there with us,” Chubb said of Hunt. “He has to be patient, has to be smart about it. But when he comes back, I know he’ll be ready.”
Helpful Hance – Blake Hance assumes the starting right tackle job following the loss of All Pro Jack Conklin, who dislocated his left elbow Sunday and is expected to miss multiple weeks.
“It is nice to be a little focused on one spot,” Hance said. “As a backup in the NFL, you have to be able to bounce around everywhere. Just knowing to work on one spot will definitely build some comfort. I have been doing it for a while now so I am feeling comfortable at this spot.”
Hance has filled in at both tackles spots this season due to injuries and last week he was forced to deal with T.J. Watt coming off the bench.
“You have to prepare like a starter even when you are a backup because as we have seen too often this year, things can change quickly,” Hance said. “Especially when you are going against a top player like that, you have to go into the game preparing like a starter and thinking the very first play something could happen, like what happened with (T) Jack (Conklin) unfortunately. You always have to be ready for a situation like that as a backup.”
The strength of the offensive line is a major reason for the Browns’ success running the football and Chubb is confident they won’t skip a beat with Hance.
“Blake has done a great job when he has to come in,” Chubb said. “No matter where we ask him to be, he’s a great blocker. He’s big, strong, he’s fast, he does a lot of great things well. I don’t mind having Blake in at all.”
Keep up – The Bengals rank seventh in the NFL in scoring and are averaging 27.5 points per game while the Browns offense has fallen off a cliff since the 47-42 shootout loss to the Chargers in Los Angeles October 10.
In the three games that have followed the Browns have scored just 14, 17 and 10 points and unless the offense gets it together, that type of production will lead to a fourth loss in five games.
“We will see how it shakes out,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said. “Offensively, our mindset is always to score a bunch of points any which way can. Defensively, it is a tall task to slow this offense down. They have a bunch of really good players.
“Again, they have been in this scheme. The quarterback is playing at a high level. We understand the challenge here. When you add [Ja’Marr] Chase to this group, he is a dynamic player. We have to make sure that we are locked in from a preparation standpoint.”
Pocket presence – Baker Mayfield is trying to prove he can play with the injured left shoulder, but can he play at a high level and the Browns win while he plays through the injury?
While teams want to force Mayfield to beat them from the pocket, the injury almost necessitates it as well with rollouts ill advisable, but Stefanski believes Mayfield can still be successful throwing the ball.
“I have seen Baker win football games making a ton of plays from the pocket,” Stefanski said. “Some of those plays on the perimeter that you mentioned have really been the defense designing to take some of those away. We have opportunities that we can make big plays from the pocket. We have this season. I think we will continue to.”
Stefanski is maintaining a calm demeanor about their recent offensive struggles and he’s not putting it all on Mayfield’s shoulders either.
“You are not going to hit every throw,” Stefanski said. “Quarterbacks across the league, you watch it, and it is hard. Sometimes you are going to miss a throw. Sometimes you are going to have a drop. We are realistic about that.
Having said that, I would tell you that I know what this group is capable of. I have seen it. We just have to do it more consistently.”
Flipping fullbacks – Fullback Andy Janovich was designated to return from injured reserve Wednesday, and he’ll likely suit up this weekend after missing three games due to a hamstring injury.
Tuesday the Browns waived fullback johnny Stanton IV with the hope they’ll get him back on the practice squad Thursday.
Injury report – DNP: WR Odell Beckham Jr. (shoulder/not injury related-personal matter), DE Jadeveon Clowney (ankle, knee, hip), RT Jack Conklin (elbow), DT Malik Jackson (ankle), S John Johnson III (neck), WR Jarvis Landry, DT Malik McDowell (illness), DE Takkarist McKinley (groin); LIMITED: CB A.J. Green (groin), DE Joe Jackson (shoulder), WR Donovan Peoples-Jones (groin), C J.C. Tretter (knee), CB Denzel Ward (hamstring), LT Jedrick Wills Jr. (ankle); FULL: QB Baker Mayfield (left shoulder), TE David Njoku (neck)
Up next – Practice Thursday.