Is the Browns Shotgun Offense Holding Back the Run Game?

Five weeks into the season, it's hardly a secret that the Cleveland Browns cannot run the football very effectively. 

Heading into Week 6, the Deshaun Watson has accounted for over 35% of the Browns 471 rushing yards and they rank 21st in rushing yards per game (94.1) and 23rd in yards per attempt (3.5). If you extrapolate out Watson's rushing numbers, they rank 30th in rushing yards from running backs and 28th in yards per attempt by running backs. 

The continued struggles have left everyone inside and outside the organization searching for solutions to get the run game on track. One theory pointed to the fact that the Browns have run the least number of rushing plays from under center this season and that leaning more into that style of offense could help the cause. 

Speaking on the subject on Wednesday, head coach Todd Monken conceded the fact that operating from under center can help the run game, but also noted that every coach has their preference.

"I think everybody’s comfortable with where they’ve been ... and you can only coach what you know. I think obviously some of the run game, it’s more advantageous to be under center. I think your play-action game, your nakeds, I think play off of that. I think everybody would say that. So that’s a part of it."

Monken's offenses have generally functioned out of the shotgun throughout his career as an OC. That was certainly the case during his three-year stint in Baltimore, where Lamar Jackson was his QB. For signal callers like Jackson and Watson, running the offense out of the shotgun allows an offense to take advantage of their skill sets as athletic quarterbacks.

As Monken noted, that's a lot harder to do from under center.  

“It’s a lot more difficult," Monken said of designing a QB run game from under center. "So, it’s not very common. It’s not very common. You’re going to have more nakeds. You’re not going to use the quarterback nearly as much." 

There is something to be said for leaning into Watson's ability to run. In many ways, it's been one of the Browns' greatest weapons on offense this season. It's also the style of offense Watson is most comfortable in, although he argued on Wednesday that he doesn't care where he gets the snap from. 

"I think every quarterback would probably [ prefer the shotgun], but I don't have a preference," he said. "The only way you can kind of get QB runs is from the shotgun. I don't think necessarily you're going to do it under center." 

Monken and Watson are in lockstep there, and they are right. It's not very common to see much of a QB run game from under center and Cleveland should still be able to run a functional run game from the gun.

As the struggles continue, though, it may be time to go against what's most comfortable for Monken and Watson and just try something else in the name of building some momentum on the ground. 

It's not a perfect fix by any stretch. Most of the run game failures stem from the o-line's inability to get much push and create lanes for backs like Quinshon Judkins. That's probably something that can only be improved with more reps together, but probably not fully resolved until the offseason. 

That said, without the threat of a competent run game, Cleveland's one-dimensional offense will continue to face problems getting off the ground.