Nick Chubb finished second in the NFL in rushing yards in 2019. The Browns running back was incredible at consistently turning out big runs and grinding for extra yards.
Chubb’s feat is even more impressive when you consider an incredible analytical study from Football Outsiders. Their game charting and evaluation determined that no offensive line was worse at run blocking on runs wide of left tackle than the Browns.
Cleveland’s run blocking was generally quite good, but the combination of left tackle Greg Robinson and the tight end sometimes flanking him, primarily Demetrius Harris, was simply dreadful at run blocking on runs that went outside the tackle box to the left. The Browns created just 2.13 adjusted line yards on those runs, handily the worst in the league.
That’s a big reason why the Browns are excited to have first-round rookie Jedrick Wills as the new starting left tackle. Robinson was a league-average pass protector but has always struggled mightily as a run blocker. Wills should bring a much higher ceiling to both facets of playing left tackle.
