Browns 2023 Gameplan: QB Run Game

The Cleveland Browns offense is constantly evolving and adapting to the strengths of it's players. The team having a full offseason with Deshaun Watson will be crucial to the success of the offense as a whole in 2023, including with him as a running threat.

The quarterback run game can be a dangerous weapon when a team has an athletic, mobile player like Deshaun Watson at the helm. There's a bevy of designed runs that Kevin Stefanski can utilize going forward to take advantage of his natural ability to run the ball. 

Cleveland wants to spread the field out in 2023 in order to facilitate a more successful passing game. Though using more 10 and 11 personnel gives the team more weapons for Watson to throw to, it also means that there will be fewer defenders in the box.

If defenses are consistently forced to try and defend the box with five or six defenders, then utilizing a QB run game with Watson should be a compelling option for Stefanski. There are three core reasons why it should be successful.

1. Cleveland's elite offensive line unit. No matter who's running the football, they don't have to worry about blocking assignments being blown.

2. Nick Chubb. Chubb is one of the best running backs in the league, especially between the tackles. Teams must respect and account for him on any type of run or play fake. He will always influence at least one 2nd-level defender's movement.

3. Deshaun Watson himself. Not only do teams have to account for his arm talent on a consistent basis, but he's an elite ball carrier when he decides to tuck it and run. Defenses won't have the option to consistently stack the box when he's in shotgun with three or four receivers on the field. Quarterback runs are designed to take advantage of defenses by gaining a numbers advantage in terms of the blocker/defender ratio inside the box. 

There is also one main benefit that could be directly correlated to the success of a quarterback run game. It allows the offense to add another element to basic RPO's (Run-pass options). If the quarterback performing RPO's can actually be an effective runner, then it gives the defense a third threat to gameplan for instead of just two.

QB Counter

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The quarterback counter is a classic, designed QB run play where the backside guard and tackle pull in order to kick out the frontside defensive end and seal off the SAM linebacker. 

Play Analysis:

The pulling guard must attack the inside shoulder of the defensive end to ensure that they don't cross his face and blow up the play. The pulling tackle needs to stay flat down the line of scrimmage so he can cut up inside of the pulling guard's block, to find the SAM linebacker. As soon as the tackle makes it to the second level, he needs to break down so that he doesn't overrun the linebacker and miss the block. The playside tackle has a free release to the MIKE linebacker, while the playside guard and center both gap block the 1 and 3-Techniques. The tight end releases up to block the strong safety.

Depending on the style of the offensive coordinator or game situation, the running back has a couple of options on this play. They could either carry out a backside fake (such as in the diagram), or they could have a free release on the play side to act as a lead blocker. The wide receivers stalk block the defensive backs that are assigned to them on the outside.

Watson's Role:

Watson will key on the pulling guard's block on the frontside defensive end. If the guard kicks him out, then Watson will cut up inside of him on the originally intended path. If for some reason the guard turns and logs the defensive end inside, Watson will take it outside and then get vertical. Basically, the pulling guard's block dictates where Watson will go.

QB Power

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The quarterback power play is similar to the QB counter, but it's meant to hit a lot faster. The backside guard this the only puller this time, while the backside tackle fills and scoops the defensive tackle.

Play Analysis:

The backside guard pulls and kicks out the frontside defensive end. The backside tackle essentially "replaces" the guard and scoops the defensive tackle in order to prevent them from disrupting the play on the interior. The frontside offensive tackle has a free release to the SAM linebacker, while the frontside guard and center double team the 1-technique up to the MIKE linebacker. The tight end releases up to block the defender assigned to him. The wide receivers perform stalk blocks on the defensive backs that are assigned to them on the outside.

The running back immediately releases downhill and acts as a lead blocker through the "B" gap. He looks for the first unblocked defender that he can find.

Watson's Role:

Watson is once again reading the pulling guard's block. If the guard kicks the defensive end out, then he continues on the intended path. If the guard logs the defender inside, then he takes it outside that block and gets vertical.

QB Dart

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The quarterback dart is a superb power play when facing light boxes, such as when the offense is in 10/11 personnel.

Play Analysis:

The backside tackle pulls and leads up through a path between the frontside tackle and guard in the B gap. The backside guard is responsible for scooping hard inside to make sure that the defensive tackle doesn't get any penetration. The frontside tackle either walls-off the frontside defensive end, or drives him towards the sideline. The frontside guard and center double team the 1-technique up to the linebacker. The tight end releases up to block the defender assigned to him, whether it be a safety or linebacker. The wide receivers perform stalk blocks on the defensive backs that are assigned to them on the outside.

The running back has a few options in terms of his path or what he does. He can take a fake hand-off backside, be a lead blocker inside the B gap, or take a really wide path outside in order to keep defenders wide/horizontal.

Watson's Role:

Watson reads the block of the frontside tackle. If he isn't able to turn or drive the defensive end away from the play, then Watson takes it outside in order to avoid all of the traffic inside. If the play goes as planned, then he takes the most efficient path inside the B gap.

QB Draw

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The quarterback draw play attempts to take advantage of the defensive line's penetration, as well as linebackers that are consistently dropping back into coverage.

Play Analysis:

The most important aspect of this play, at least initially, is that it looks like any other passing play in the team's repertoire.

Usually, the offensive line uses man-to-man protection in order to make sure that each defensive lineman has an assigned player to block them. Once the ball is snapped, the offensive lineman and quarterback "sell the pass" for one to two seconds, and then initiate the "draw sequence". The offensive linemen allow the defensive line to get depth, and then they try their best to fan the defenders out and away from of the pocket. 

The wide receivers can usually run any type of route combination, but it's smart to have the inside receivers run horizontal routes such as arrows or faking a bubble screen. This pulls their assigned defenders outside, creating more open space for the quarterback to run.

Watson's Role:

Watson does a normal 1-3 step drop to sell a quick pass, then tucks the ball and takes the cleanest path to the second level. This play usually only gains around 4-5 yards, but athletic quarterbacks like Deshaun Watson have the ability to gain much more if run properly.

Zone-Read

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The zone-read play is effective because of the ability to manipulate where the ball goes based on the "read man". Though you could make the "read man" any defender inside of the box, it's usually the backside defensive end more often than not.

Play Analysis:

The entire offensive line takes and performs their wide-zone steps and blocking assignments. The tight end usually gets a hand on the defensive end to help get an initial push before releasing up to block the SAM linebacker. The wide receivers perform stalk blocks on the defensive backs that are assigned to them or run vertical routes to carry them away from the play.

The running back needs to be prepared to take the handoff and continue on a normal wide-zone path, or carry out a fake based on the quarterback's give-pull read.

Watson's Role:

Watson will be reading the unblocked backside defensive end. He uses that defender's actions to determine what he does with the football. If the defender fires outside to contain or rushes upfield, then Watson hands the ball off. If the defender fires inside, or attacks the running back, then Watson keeps it and runs backside.

Power-Read

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The power-read play contains all of the same elements as the zone-read, it just utilizes aspects of the power run game and gap-blocking schemes.

Play Analysis:

The backside guard pulls and kicks out the frontside defensive end, while the backside tackle pulls up behind the guard's block and into the open lane. His target should be the SAM linebacker, or the first unblocked player outside of the tight end. The frontside guard and tackle double team the defensive tackle back to the linebacker. The center will gap down on the backside defensive tackle. The tight end will fight and rip underneath the frontside defensive end on his release to block the MIKE linebacker. It's very important that the tight end fights to get across the defensive end's face for two reasons. It allows the pulling guard more time to reach the defender, and it ensures that the defensive end doesn't shoot inside and blow up the play early. The wide receivers perform stalk blocks on the defensive backs that are assigned to them.

The running back needs to be prepared to take the handoff and continue on his path to the intended gap, or carry out a fake based on the quarterback's give-pull read.

Watson's Role:

Watson's responsibility once again will be to read the backside defensive end. If he fires outside to contain or rushes upfield, then Watson hands the ball off. If the defender fires inside, attacks the running back, or chases the pulling offensive lineman, Watson will keep it and run backside.