May 21, 2013

Peyton Hillis is My Pick for Offensive Sleeper

August 2, 2010 by 21 Comments

Today’s reports out of Berea have clinched it for me.  Peyton Hillis is on my radar as the “under-the-radar” player for the Browns this year on offense.  During practice, Peyton Hillis did damage to the Browns’ defensive unit on a 30-yard play and a 40-yard play.  I didn’t see them, but they were reportedly short passes that Hillis converted into giant amounts of YAC (yards after the catch.)  When I brought his name up this morning, the fine folks at Denver’s Mile High Report concurred with my hopes by saying, “I always thought Denver could have used him as an H-Back, in the Chris Cooley mold…”  Obviously aiming for Chris Cooley type production might be aiming a bit high, but if Hillis can even be “in the mold” of Chris Cooley, he will be a welcome addition to the Cleveland Browns.

Hillis doesn’t have much to show for the 2009-10 season as he got lost on the bench when Mike Shanahan lost his job in Denver and Josh McDaniels took over.  For the season, Hillis only had 54 yards rushing and 19 yards receiving.  That level of production is a clear indicator of why the Broncos were willing to include Hillis in the deal for Brady Quinn.

The key to Hillis and the Browns is what he did in 2008-09 when injuries got his name called in his rookie year.  In week nine, Hillis exploded for 7 catches and 116 yards against the Dolphins.  His most impressive running game was against Eric Mangini’s Jets when he ran 22 times for 129 yards.  Also, in a game against Atlanta, Hillis only ran the ball for 44 yards, but managed to punch in two touchdowns.

If the Browns can find ways to use Hillis that are more similar to the way Shanahan used him in the second half of his rookie year, he could be the H back the Browns need.  He could look like a tight end, full back and running back all in the same game if he wanted.  He is a sure-handed, powerful, and deceptively quick player.  The Browns can always use more players like that.

He also fits the mold as to what Browns fans love the most.  He is an underdog because he was drafted 20th in the 7th round of the draft in 2008.  He is versatile.  It is no secret that one of the reasons Browns fans love Josh Cribbs is his versatility.  Hillis loves to hit defensive backs trying to tackle him. That is why Browns fans love Lawrence Vickers. Combine this with the fact that he was traded as a part of the Brady Quinn deal, and his story has all the makings of a Browns fan fairytale.

Check out this highlight reel from his career in Denver and imagine him doing this against the Steelers, Ravens, and Bengals.

Related Posts

Zemanta
Filed Under: Browns Tagged With: , , , ,
  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com DP

    Uhh, Craig? How can he be on your radar if he’s, uhh, “under the radar”?

  • The Conductor

    Undersized white guy running slowly up the middle? I like it!

    xoxo,

    Bizzaro Eric Metcalf

  • stin4u

    “imagine him doing this against the Steelers, Ravens, and Bengals.”

    It would be nice but the video consists of highlights versus sub par teams (Raiders, Chiefs, Dolphins) with the exception of the Jets. I’m excited to see what the kid can do but I am tempering my expectations.

  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com Scott

    White? High motor? Versatile? Smart?

    Sold!

  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com Craig Lyndall

    @DP, I thought it was funny to say it like that.

    @stin4u I realize. Still, how many Browns players have looked that good even against sub-par competition? Remember our 6-3 “victory” over Buffalo last year? Oof. I’ll take a guy who beats up on crappy teams.

  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com DP

    For me, the over the shoulder catch against Miami was the best of those highlights. I mean, who didn’t drag Kam Wimbley for seven yards back in his day?

  • BrianRut4

    “Undersized white guy running slowly up the middle? I like it!”

    Dude is like 250lbs. Not exactly undersized.

  • bobby

    I hope hillis puts up some yards. Our rushing attack could be like the “Earth, Wind, and Fire” for NYG 2 years ago. Hillis is gonna be fun to watch plowing behind Vickers… throw in Harrison and Hardesty once healthy, and it could lead to some good ol’ time football.

  • The Conductor

    @BrianRut4, any chance you could take a break from putting that turd in the punch bowl and come over here and explain to my kid that Santa isn’t real?

    ….there’s a slight chance I might have been joking in @2.

  • Harv 21

    That’s your third down guy. Little dump pass over the middle, deke a linebacker, bowl over a safety. Salute and repeat.

  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com Denny

    Peyton Hillis is the new Z.

  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com Scott

    “Peyton Hillis is the new Z”

    Seems more like a laser disc bro than DVD peddler

  • Bridgecrosser

    Peyton Hillis’s arms should mate with Matt Roth’s arms. Their bizarro arms would be steroid-filled, yet massive.

  • JM

    THIS YEAR OUR THREE HEADED MONSTER WILL BE A THROW BACK TO THE DAYS OF BYNER AND MACK!

  • Daniel Tyler

    Slow? he ran the same exact time as Beanie Wells did and Hillis weighs 250 pounds, I am not sure when 250 pounds became undersized, its oversized, the fact that he has that type of agility and speed with that much weight is impressive. Did you see him tip toe the side line to get a first down?

    4.58 is good for a powerback. There were plenty of backs at the past two combines that couldn’t get under 4.6 (like Shonn Greene), the bigger guys like Dixon and Blount couldn’t get under 4.7. It doesn’t matter his 40 though, LeRon McClain ran a 4.88 and had about 900 yards rushing the other year. Its clear that Hillis can excel wherever you put him, but obviously his best position is halfback. He has dominated with the ball every time he has gotten a chance. His high school career is almost identical to Beanie Wells, they both had a 65 yard rush against LSU. The difference is, Hillis was only recruited to play fullback while Wells got a scholarship to play halfback. So the only difference between the two is the opportunity they received to get the ball.

    The video contains the team he happened to get the ball against. When the main runningbacks went down was when they happend to play those teams. The Chiefs and the Raiders are in the Bronco’s division.

    He had 44 yards, 2 tds against the Falcons with only 10 carries, he also put up 26 yards that game receiving.

    The only game he got a decent amount of carries was against the Jets, who happened to have the number 1 rush defense at the time, and hadn’t allowed 1 guy to rush for 100 yards all season long, putting up 129 yards averaging 5.9 yards per carry. That is pretty impressive.

    He was averaging 7.3 ypc against the Cheifs until he got injured, catching a pass while landing on his head, guess what? he held onto it.

    Hillis will impress if the coach has enough balls to give him the opportunity he deserves.

  • ben

    2 years ago, he was really impressive in Denver.
    There is nothing sexy about this guy, he just gets it done.
    (as an aside, i feel this is the kind of back Gerhart is going to be)

    You can never go wrong w/ having someone like him around.

  • Ike

    I first noticed this cat when he was in college, blowing holes open for McFadden and Felix Jones. I was ecstatic when the Browns picked him up.

  • Justin

    I played with Peyton in High School, and have followed his career ever since. He is the genuine deal- he works hard, he’s happy to have a job, and he dedicates himself 100% once he gets in the game. See how he puts his head down and mows over people- he’s been doing that for years. Watch out AFC-North, Hillis is here to hurt.

  • http://www.dolphinshout.com Paul Smythe

    I have to say that you are a genius, Craig. I stumbled upon this article, and I wish I had talked to you before my fantasy draft.

  • Snap

    CALLED IT!

  • TSR3000

    Just saw this on the “you might like” thingy.

    NICE CALL!