While We’re Waiting… Browns Lose, Bad NBA Contracts, Heisman Favorites
August 22, 2010While We’re Waiting… Big Ten Realignment, Knapp’s Debut, and AP Voting
August 23, 2010
Well, it looks like Eric Mangini is going to spoil my pick for Browns secret weapon by showcasing Peyton Hillis in the pre-season. Last night Mangini even showed us a package of Peyton Hillis at running back with Lawrence Vickers in front of him. The energy in seeking out opposing defenders to make contact with was both impressive and fun for Browns fans to watch. Browns fans loved Vickers already because he seems to relish the opportunity to smash someone’s face in. Now that he has an equally tough runner behind him, he seems to take even that much more joy in the effort.
In the Browns’ loss to the Rams last night, Peyton Hillis ran the ball 12 times for 51 yards. That seems modest to anyone who watched Hillis punish opposing defenders and refuse to go down. Meanwhile, Hillis didn’t have the opportunity to hit anyone that Vickers targeted ahead of him as Vickers blew up plenty of players all by himself. Yes, Hillis failed to convert on a short yardage play at one point, but still. The prospect of watching Vickers and Hillis on short yardage situations is invigorating.
Hillis also shows good hands out of the backfield. He caught two balls for 12 yards. It is fun to watch though. Hillis hits people when he isn’t making people miss or surprising them with his speed. Combine that with Maurice Carthon’s attempt to have Lawrence Vickers throw the ball in the Romeo Crennel era and is it too far out of the realm of possibility to see a Vickers to Hillis connection before the end of the year?
(Yes, I am kidding.)
17 Comments
That 4th down play call was brutal. Hillis alone? Set 5 yards behind the line. Right after he ran great with Vickers in front of him? PLEASE do not bring that play into the regular season.
The worst part of that failed 4th down was that no one lined up anywhere near Mack and the linebackers were not anywhere near the center of the field. Why wouldn’t Delhomme be intelligent enough to audible to a sneak?? I mean the whole middle of the defense was empty!!! Evevn if they tried to close that gap at the snap, he could’ve at least gotten a yard and a half and fallen forward to get the first down!!!
I like Hillis, and he has already done more that quinn and it’s only the preseason.
Die hard Broncos fans are pissed that Denver let Hillis go. His nickname is the ‘BoneCrusher’. He is a winner and a classy guy, Arkansas loved him, Denver loved him as a rookie then the next year he barely played because they drafted KnowName Moreno. This is his THIRD year in the league and he has potential of being a Dallas Clark kind of player. His highlights on YouTube are unreal. Hopefully Mangini utilizes him, he needs to have a fair amount of touches every game. PERIOD.
That sequence was too much fun to watch. I don’t remember seeing a Browns RB punish people like that in a while.
Hillis sure seems scrappy.
ManCrush
It seems like with every passing season the NFL gets faster and flashier. I take a lot of pride in having smash mouth, head cracking, physical players like Vickers, Brown, Hillis, and Ward on the roster.
I hope Hardesty’s job is secure. Hillis is nice, so is Harrison. But those guys are specialty runners. They aren’t primary backs. I would like to see Hillis get at least 5 carries a game, along with 10 for Harrison and 15 for Hardesty. 30 carries is a reachable mark.
I don’t know, so far, as Mangini said, “There is no timetable for his (Hardesty’s) return.”
watching vickers and hillis dish out pain better than our defense brought a huge smile to my face
It felt like they stopped one of Hillis’ plays while he was still making forward progress, because he was dragging 4 defenders and they didn’t want anyone to get hurt.
Also, Bone-Crusher is an awesome nickname.
@Matty – I’m with you, Hillis looks good but he’s a situational guy. I think the love is going a bit too far, I’d love for him to find the field frequently, but I’d still rather have Hardesty (assuming he’s not a dud) in for a larger portion of carries.
I’d like to see a backfield of Wallace, Cribbs, Vickers, and Hillis. They could run the Flash or shift into the Wishbone. Or the Single Wing. They could run three fakes into the line and hit one of the two tight ends on a post. Then drop-kick the extra point.
Mr. Cleaveland, you are a man after my own heart. I love the thought of a situational wishbone. Goal line anyone?
And extra credit for the single wing reference.
[…] Peyton “Thunder” Hillis is doing his best to ensure that the team will be alright if Hardesty were to miss any regular season time, the […]
The Browns running attack is formidable, and will only get better/deeper when Hardesty returns. Again, it underscores the notion that if Delhomme can just be solid, the Browns can steal some Ws..