BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Patience is a virtue.
And the key to unlocking the full potential of the Browns’ top two running backs – Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt according to their position coach Stump Mitchell.
“When they're on the field, they're capable of being the best in the league by far,” Mitchell said prior to Monday’s practice.
Chubb and Hunt are the Browns version of Batman and Robin – a powerful one-two punch but their first two seasons together haven’t been as prolific as projected, but they’ve been very productive.
Chubb has rushed for 3,820 yards, 28 touchdowns, a 5.3 yards per carry average while adding 72 receptions for 602 yards and a touchdown over the last three years while Hunt has tallied 1,406 and 13 touchdowns and a 4.6 yards per carry average on the ground along with 97 catches for 763 yards and six more touchdowns receiving since joining the Browns.
“You all have not seen the best of Kareem, by no stretch of the imagination,” Mitchell said.
Why is that?
“Because of the type of player he is,” Mitchell said. “He is an aggressive player. He just needs to be a little more patient and then he can be the best in the league.”
So what about Chubb?
“No. Hell no, we haven't seen the best of Nick Chubb yet,” Mitchell said.
Please explain how Chubb, who has made three Pro Bowls and finished second in the league in rushing twice in the last three years, can get better, especially as a receiver.
“Nick's got to be a little more patient,” Mitchell said. “He's gotta attack defenders. He's got to make the field longer. Those are things that he's working on, and he's catching the ball starting from the spring and running routes a heck of a lot better than he did in the past. So we'll see more from him.”
Hunt, who would like a new contract and even sat out team drills for two practices in the hopes of getting one from the Browns, led the NFL in rushing as a rookie with 1,327 yards and eight touchdowns. Mitchell explained why he feels that season didn’t even begin to scratch the surface of Hunt’s potential.
“He was physical, but he didn't give his offensive linemen an opportunity sometimes to make the blocks because he cut too fast,” Mitchell said. “But that's because of his hunger. I've gotta teach him to be a little more patient. Because he's by far much better than a 4.9 yards per carry back.”
Mitchell believes Hunt is capable of averaging over five yards pr carry. That seems to be the benchmark for all his running backs to hit.
“I think he's playing to be the best that he can be. He's practicing to be the best that he can be, and I think our system, our system allows those guys to be the best in the league,” Mitchell said.
“He’s hungry to play football so if he can stay healthy, he’ll be ready to perform the way he’s performing and hopefully better. I don’t think any of the running back coaches Kareem has had, including me, being No. 1, has gotten the most out of Kareem. He’s a physical, talented guy but we got to get him to play within the… well, I have to get him to play within our system. You all have not seen the best of Kareem, by no stretch of the imagination.”
Preaching patience is one thing. Getting them to practice it is a whole different ballgame.
“He hadn't gotten it yet. He understands what I'm saying. But it's a habit he has to break,” Mitchell said of Hunt. “And I think he's working on it. He's seen that. D'Ernest averaged over 5 yards, Nick averaged over 5 yards, John Kelly, even though he only had two carries, he averaged over 5 yards. And Kareem has not. So he knows the system is right but he's just gotta make it happen.”
Fans have been clamoring for Chubb and Hunt to be on the field more, but in his own way Mitchell preached patience there too.
“Well, I think it was a concerted effort last year, but unfortunately, Nick got first hurt first then Kareem,” Mitchell said. “So it's a good idea but if the guys aren't there it's tough to do it. And if they're not practicing it's tough to think you want to do that when you're not getting a look at doing it. We're only going to call what we see. So everybody's got to be practicing, gotta be healthy and afford us the opportunity to do that.”
Patience is key. For everyone.