Browns want to feed Chubb the ball

Browns offensive coordinator Todd Haley, son of former Steelers Director of Player Personnel Director Dick Haley, plans to call more plays for rookie running back Nick Chubb or face the consequences.

Chubb has just 10 carries through four games, but he scored on gallops of 63 and 41 yards against the Oakland Raiders last week. He gained 1 yard on his only other carry in Oakland.

The increased workload for Chubb, 5-foot-11, 227 pounds, could come as soon as Oct. 7 when the Browns host the Baltimore Ravens at 1 p.m. at FirstEnergy Stadium. Chubb and Carlos Hyde, who has five rushing touchdowns, could end up giving the Browns the most potent ground attack they’ve had since the days of Kevin Mack and Earnest Byner 30 years ago.

“I think you have to (give Chubb more carries),” offensive coordinator Todd Haley said. “Otherwise, my dad would be mad, because his rule is if a guy is averaging double-digits you better give it to him enough until it’s single digits. I can’t go against what he taught me a long, long time ago. When a guy is averaging 50 yards a carry, you better keep giving it to him.

“It’s a good problem because Carlos has done nothing but get stronger as each game has gone on. He’s our workhorse, but at the same time, we have a guy that’s making huge plays, differencemaking plays. Around here, I believe strongly in you earn the right to make plays, and he has certainly earned the right with a couple of those runs.”

Teams in the NFL, the Browns included, divide the season into four quarters. The Browns are 1-2-1 as they begin the “second quarter” of their 2018 season. The Ravens are 3-1 and tied with the Bengals for first place in the AFC North.

The good vibe created when the Browns clawed out of a 14-0 pit to beat the Jets, 21-17, behind rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield still exists because fans and players are convinced the Browns should have beaten Oakland.

Knocking off the Ravens, a team the Browns have beaten only twice in the last 10 years, would be convincing evidence Coach Hue Jackson is right when he says, “This team feels different. This team is more talented. I don’t think there are any remains of the past teams.”

But if the Ravens swoop in and pick at the Browns’ bones again – Baltimore is 10-1 in Cleveland since 2007 – the good feeling still remaining from beating the Jets (now 1-3) could dry up quickly.

“We’re just coming ready to play Sunday,” linebacker Christian Kirksey said. “I’m not really out here trying to say, ‘Oh, if we beat the Ravens, then we’re putting ourselves in this position.’

“We’re just taking every Sunday, one Sunday at a time. Just go out there and compete. Our biggest thing is to win. Win at FirstEnergy Stadium. That’s our home turf. That’s our focus. It’s not too much of ‘Oh, let’s make a statement here. Let’s make a statement there.’ It’s just win the game that we have coming up. That’s the Ravens.”