The Browns like Jerome Ford more than Kareem Hunt. Just not around the goal line. They like to use the veteran in that part of the field.
Since Nick Chubb suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 2, these two have operated as a one-two punch. Ford plays more, gets more carries and has been more effective. But Hunt has a 6-2 edge in rushing touchdowns, and he’s averaging a yard more per carry.
Playing time in general goes to Ford. When healthy, he’ll be on the field for up to two thirds of their plays. He’s finished with a 64 percent snap count in each of the last two games. Hunt hasn’t been on the field for 40 percent of the team’s plays in any of their games all year. Ford has finished with at least 5 more carries in each of the last three games that both backs have been healthy.
The Browns like Ford more than Hunt in the passing game. He’s caught 21 passes for 141 yards and 2 TDs (with 3 catches for 25 yards and a touchdown coming in the game before Hunt joined the team). Hunt has been a highly regard third-down type back in the past, but he’s caught only 6 passes for 58 yards, with no touchdowns, including only 1 reception in his last four games. They’re not using him in that capacity.
It's at the goal-line where the Browns turn to Hunt. When they’ve been inside the 5-yard line, he’s carried 6 times for 11 yards, with 5 TDs (scoring on all but one of his carries). Ford in that part of the field has carried only once, and it came in their first game together, when Hunt had been with the team for less than a week.
Pierre Strong had 2 goal-line carries back in the Steelers game, but that was before Hunt was on the roster.
| BROWNS RUSHING INSIDE THE 5 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk | Opp | Yd Ln | Player | Yds | TD |
| 2 | Pitt. | 1 | P.Strong | 1 | yes |
| 2 | Pitt. | 1 | P.Strong | 0 | no |
| 3 | Ten. | 3 | J.Ford | 3 | yes |
| 7 | Ind. | 3 | K.Hunt | 1 | no |
| 7 | Ind. | 1 | K.Hunt | 1 | yes |
| 7 | Ind. | 2 | K.Hunt | 2 | yes |
| 8 | Sea. | 1 | K.Hunt | 1 | yes |
| 9 | Ariz. | 3 | K.Hunt | 3 | yes |
| 10 | Balt. | 3 | K.Hunt | 3 | yes |
Inside the 5-yard line, this is Hunt’s show. Elsewhere, Ford is the dominant back. In their seven games together, he’s averaged 72 total yards per game, compared to only 40 for Hunt.
—Ian Allan