THE APEX TIMES
Cleveland is trying to fix what happened early against Pittsburgh, where it fell behind and recorded a season-low 34 net rushing yards while Harold Fannin Jr. kept the passing game moving.
The Cleveland Browns are entering Week 9 with a clear priority, establish a more effective rushing attack earlier in games. After the Browns fell behind early and lost 27-6 to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 8, head coach Todd Monken said the team needed to quickly identify what can be improved and then move on quickly to its matchup with the New Orleans Saints.
Cleveland’s inability to get into a running rhythm showed up in the rushing numbers. The Browns recorded a season-low 34 total net rushing yards against Pittsburgh, and the game script limited their ground output. Running back Quinshon Judkins led the team with 11 carries for 25 yards.
Monken linked the problem to getting behind and not building sustained runs and “auxiliary” rushing plays, including options that create perimeter production without only relying on long runs. He said when the offense starts slowly and cannot stay ahead of the chains, it tends to eliminate the short, efficient run opportunities that help a team keep balance.
The Browns are aiming to run the ball more efficiently at the start of games, paired with an auxiliary rushing approach, to maintain a steadier rhythm across all four quarters. Through eight games, Cleveland ranks 24th in the NFL with 97.6 rushing yards per game, and Week 9 presents an opening to climb that list.
Cleveland will likely lean on tight end Harold Fannin Jr. as it tries to improve the run game’s early impact on the rest of the offense. In Week 8 against Pittsburgh, Fannin posted career-highs with 10 receptions and 154 receiving yards, and through the first eight games he led the Browns with 35 receptions and 411 receiving yards.
Monken also pointed to Fannin’s progression as a receiver and after-the-catch playmaker, saying the tight end has “really good hands” and is improving as a blocker. Over the previous two games, Fannin compiled 245 receiving yards on 21 targets for Cleveland.
On the broader offensive picture, Cleveland acknowledged issues in pass protection that showed up in Week 8, including eight sacks allowed and five offensive-line penalties for a combined loss of 35 yards. Monken said the way the Steelers game unfolded contributed to the pass rush pressure, noting quarterback Deshaun Watson threw 39 times, the highest attempt total of his season, as Cleveland chased the deficit early.