One yard. That's it. And there wasn't a soul in the Browns locker room who was upset about it.
That yard was all quarterback Johnny Manziel mustered on three rushing attempts Sunday against the Titans. It was a stark contrast from one week earlier, when the second-year quarterback and veteran Josh McCown were the team's top two rushers.
Browns coach Mike Pettine wasn't complaining.
"I think he has a good sense of when to get out of the pocket if it opens up," Pettine said. "I thought they did a good job of running some interior line games where you could tell they game planned for it, whereas New York did not. Just my sense from the sideline there weren't kind of as many gaping scramble lanes. I thought they did a good job of keeping him the pocket."
Pregame preparation begins before the Tennessee Titans take on the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium
A fan watches pregame warmups
Browns DL Xavier Cooper gets loose in pregame warmups
Browns DL Danny Shelton gets loose in pregame warmups
Browns LB Paul Kruger high-fives fans before the game
Browns QB Johnny Manziel warming up
Browns CB Joe Haden signs autographs before pregame warmups
Browns PK Travis Coons (6) and Titans P Brett Kern (6) talk before the game
Browns FS Tashaun Gipson stretches before the start of the game
Browns OL Joe Thomas takes the field for pregame warmups
Browns back up QB Austin Davis takes snaps in pregame warmups
Browns fans watch pregame warmups against the Titans
Browns QB Johnny Manziel warms up before an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans
Browns LB Barkevious Mingo catches a pass during warm ups
Former Cleveland Browns running back Jim Brown watches before an NFL football game between the Tennessee Titans and the Cleveland Browns
A Cleveland Browns fan holds up a sign for QB Johnny Manziel
Cleveland Browns DL Danny Shelton is introduced
Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel celebrates after a 60-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Travis Benjamin
Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel pumps his fist after a 60-yard touchdown pass to Travis Benjamin
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Travis Benjamin runs for a 60-yard touchdown against the Tennessee Titans during the first half
Browns RB Duke Johnson (29) is tackled by Tennessee Titans outside linebacker Brian Orakpo (98)
QB Johnny Manziel and WR Travis Benjamin celebrate the 60 yrd TD pass in the endzone
QB Johnny Manziel lines up under center
DL Randy Starks ready and in position
WR Travis Benjamin dives into the stands after his receiving TD
Browns CB Joe Haden (23) is congratulated by teammates after recovering a fumble
The Cleveland Browns and the Tennessee Titans play at FirstEnergy Stadium
Browns RB Isaiah Crowell (34) runs in for an 11-yard touchdown against Tennessee Titans
Browns RB Isaiah Crowell (34) runs in for an 11-yard touchdown against Tennessee Titans
Head coach Mike Pettine at the end of the first half of the game
Fans cheer as the Browns take a 21-0 lead over the Titans
Browns WR Travis Benjamin (11) returns a punt towards the end of the first half
Browns WR Travis Benjamin (11) returns the ball for a 78-yard punt return during the first half
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Andrew Hawkins (16) tries to get past Tennessee Titans cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson (25) after a pass reception
WR Travis Benjamin returns a punt
DL Danny Shelton (71) congratulates LB Paul Kruger (99)
DL Jamie Meder sacks Titans QB Marcus Mariota
Head Coach Mike Pettine signals touchdown on the sidelines
Browns D-line teams up for another sack on Titans QB Marcus Mariota
Browns RB Isaiah Crowell runs for 8 yards in the third quarter
Tennessee Titans QB Marcus Mariota, center, is tackled by Browns CB Joe Haden, left, and LB Craig Robertson
When Manziel was flushed out of the pocket, his focus remained downfield. On top of his highlight-reel, game-sealing touchdown pass to Travis Benjamin, Manziel made a number of controlled passes while moving to his right or left.
On a first-and-10 from Tennessee's 40-yard line, Manziel rolled to his right and identified Andrew Hawkins, who created some space for himself near the hash marks. The pass went for 18 yards and preceded the Browns' second touchdown of the first quarter.
Late in the second quarter, Manziel attempted his only true scramble run of the game. He evaded a few tacklers and slid for a 2-yard gain, narrowing avoiding the kind of big hit that was far too common against the Jets.
Cleveland's running backs, meanwhile, combined for 115 yards on 27 carries after gaining just 42 the previous week.
This was more like it.
"The way our offensive line worked today, really pushing them around, was awesome to see," Manziel said. "When it's not on the quarterback having to run the ball, only having to run when it's a third down or trying to make something happen, we can have the running backs take most of those blows and really push the ball down the field. That's all you can ask for."
What will be asked more of Manziel this week, whether he's starting or not, will center heavily on his ball security. Manziel put the ball on the ground twice for a second consecutive week, but was helped out both times by teammates who were able to fall on the ball and prevent a turnover.
Manziel's focus on it sounds a lot like the advice a Little League coach preaches to his players: Two hands on the ball.
"I don't know what's going on, but it can't happen," Manziel said. "Luckily able to get both of those back, but that could have been a huge turning point. That's one of the things that I'm still really hard on myself. I think I did a better job of last week, having two hands on it, but still not the result we want."
