Is the Cleveland Browns running back position well stocked?

If there was one resounding lesson learned by the Cleveland Browns last season it was to make sure that you have plenty of depth at running back. Key injuries, sickness, and a contract dispute left the Browns dangerously thin at the running back position scrambling for help where they could. But with the drafting of RB Trent Richardson, is there plenty of depth? Or will there be an odd-man-out?

The Cleveland Browns entered the 2011 season with Madden cover-boy Peyton Hillis as their starting tailback. The two guys planning on backing him up was 2nd year man Montario Hardesty, and free agent acquisition Brandon Jackson. It appeared as if the Browns were deep with talent in the backfield but as it turned out they weren’t. Unfortunately Jackson’s season came to an end with a foot injury in the preseason. Hillis missed multiple games first with strep throat, then (depending on which you believe) he missed a large chunk of the season due to a hamstring injury or contract dispute. Hardesty found himself in a position to make the most of his first active season (missing all of last year due to injury), but a partial hamstring tear took him out of the starting lineup for a few weeks as well. In fact the one actual bright spot of the running game was Chris Ogbonnaya who actually started the season on the Houston Texans practice squad. Needless to say essentially anything that could go wrong for Cleveland, did go wrong. The Browns finished 28th in the league with a rushing average of 95.7 a game.

This year the Browns will rely heavily on their #1 draft pick in Trent Richardson. Richardson is an every down running back who has shown not only his excellent vision in the running game, but he has also demonstrated an ability to catch the ball well out of the backfield. Finding a player who has his kind of premier talent in both areas is rare. He is expected to be an integral part of the offense this season.

The chance to back up Richardson this year has become a bit of a competition. Brandon Jackson is healthy and so is Montario Hardesty. Both received equal reps during the team’s first OTA and are the early frontrunners to compete for the 2nd spot on the depth chart at running back.

But Chris Ogbonnaya has also earned the right to compete for playing time. He was able to transition quickly to the Browns offense after the start of the season because of his familiarity with the West Coast Offense. He has come to camp in great shape and ready to compete for playing time.

The start to the NFL season is still three months away, and it is too early to decide how the 53 man roster and depth chart will shake out. When the Browns kick their season off on September 9th all four of these talented players could all be playing their roles in the Browns’ offense, or it may be that one or even more of these guys get a shot to compete on a different team. Only time will tell but if the Browns keep all four running backs they can be sure they will have a productive 2012 season.

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