What does it mean to have Kareem Hunt back?

The return of Kareem Hunt

Kareem’s role in the offense

How is Freddie going to utilize Kareem’s skillset? What makes the most sense? We all know that Nick Chubb is the featured back. Currently, Dontrell Hilliard is being used as the third-down back in certain situations and handling kickoff return duties. When the Browns are ready to activate Kareem, this will probably mean the end for D’Ernest Johnson. You will see Hilliard become a special teams player primarily unless and injury were to happen.

Kareem will at first be used as the third-down back, and you should see some two-back sets. Hunt is the better pass catcher, so you will probably see him split out more often when they are both in the game. It should be interesting to see how Freddie and Todd Monken come up with formations and different play combos with them in the game. This hope is it will create matchup problems for defenses and open more running lanes for Chubb. Kareem’s career stats are 2,151 yards rushing with a 3.7 yards/carry average. He has 15 TD’s and has 79 receptions.

What does this do for Baker

Kareem will obviously give Baker another weapon at his disposal, but will he use him. I think this should help Baker not to force the ball into double coverage like he has the first six games. He has a reliable pass catcher who he can use as the crackdown and can easily bust a big play. The screen game should improve as this was something Kareem did well with the Chiefs. The way Freddie schemes up formations will be interesting to see. Freddie did really good with formation disguise last year, so he should be able to get creative when Kareem gets to play week ten versus the Buffalo Bills at home.

With Hunt roaming around on underneath routes, this should open up space for the wide receiver’s. This gives the Browns offense the threat of dumping the ball off into the flat. This threat has a two-fold effect on the defense when this happens. If they are in man coverage, Kareem can beat any LB in the league as he will be in the open field. If the defense is in zone coverage, this will draw up the corner and free up the wide receiver to get into the voids. Kareem will draw attention, and this should help Baker to distribute the ball better to Jarvis, OBJ, and Higgins.

How will the season end up

This should only help the Browns and the offense. After the Browns play the Patriots on CBS at 4:25 as the national doubleheader game, the schedule gets much easier. The Browns will play five division games, which they should be able to win at worse four of those. They have much better talent than the Steelers and the Bengals. The Browns have the Ravens at home, if anything happens like week four, that will be a sweep of the division.

The Browns have a real chance to go either 8-2 or 9-1 over the last ten games. If they cut down the penalties and the turnovers, they should be able to get that. Kareem should be a significant factor in opening things up on offense once he returns. With a 10-6 or 11-5 record, the Browns should make the playoffs for the first time since 2002. Let’s see if they can get their act together and utilize all their weapons and stop beating themselves.

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