Even after averaging just more than two yards per carry against the Bengals, G Joel Bitonio wants a few more games before he makes any judgments on the Browns' run game.
In the 17-16 loss against the Bengals in Week 1, the Browns were held to 49 net rushing yards on 24 attempts, not recording a run of more than five yards. Bitonio said the struggles running the ball in Week 1 came from not getting hats on hats. In Week 2, facing a Ravens defense that allowed just 3.5 yards per carry against the Bills, the Browns need to find a way to break through in the run game to find offensive success.
"I thought there were a few times where we had unblocked guys and it's hard when there's an NFL linebacker that can tackle, unblocked from the hole at two yards for anybody to be successful," Bitonio said. "I think we didn't take advantage of the opportunities. They ran a little bit different defense than we thought they might run, but it wasn't something we hadn't planned for. We'd seen it, and I think we just need to make sure we have a hat on a hat and then kind of go from there."
How the Browns game plan for Baltimore's run defense will be key after their AFC North rivals had the NFL's best rush defense in 2024. Last season, the Ravens allowed a league-low 80.9 rushing yards per game. Players like DT Nnamdi Madubuike or linebackers Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh headed the run defense and stopped runners before they got past the line of scrimmage. The trio of Madubuike, Van Noy and Oweh all found their way into opposing backfields and each recorded nine or more tackles for loss.
Bitonio and the other four Browns offensive linemen blocking the Ravens defensive line, especially those three players, is crucial in allowing the running backs to flourish. Their ability to run the ball with success will force the Ravens' defense to not be able to just key in on Cleveland's passing game.
For that to happen, offensive coordinator Tommy Rees said it's going to take all 11 offensive players. He said the quarterback needs to make the right IDs defensively and the offensive line needs to work in tandem to create a path for the running back.
Browse photos of the Cleveland Browns practicing at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus as they prepare for their Week 2 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.
Running back Quinshon Judkins (10) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Quarterback Joe Flacco (15) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins (96) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Running back Quinshon Judkins (10) and Quarterback Joe Flacco (15) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold (42) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Running back Quinshon Judkins (10) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Running back Ahmani Marshall (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Linebacker Jerome Baker (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Defensive Assistant Zach Dunn during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Offensive lineman Garrett Dellinger (52) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Tight end Brenden Bates (82) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Safety Rayshawn Jenkins (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Wide receiver Gage Larvadain (84) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Tight end Brenden Bates (82) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Quarterback Joe Flacco (15) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Running back Dylan Sampson (22) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Defensive back Jarrick Bernard-Converse (20) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Center Luke Wypler (56) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Linebacker Jerome Baker (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Assistant Offensive Line Coach Ben Wilkerson during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Center Ethan Pocic (55) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Offensive lineman Garrett Dellinger (52) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Defensive back Jarrick Bernard-Converse (20) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 10, 2025.
Defensive end K.J. Henry (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Running back Quinshon Judkins (10) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Center Luke Wypler (56) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Running back Raheim Sanders (35) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 11, 2025.
A goal-line moment from Week 1 showcases why against a defense like Baltimore, having an efficient run game will be important. On first down from the Bengals 4-yard line, the Browns were stifled by the Bengals' defense on three consecutive plays. The Browns used three plays to get to the 1-yard line before RB Raheim Sanders bullied his way into the end zone on fourth-and-1 and scored.
Getting into the end zone against the Ravens, even while being within the 5-yard line isn't guaranteed. In 2024, Baltimore was in the top-half of red zone defenses in the NFL. However, facing a Ravens' offense that scored 40 points in Week 1, the Browns must capitalize on scoring opportunities.
"I think we left some yards out there in the run game," head coach Kevin Stefanski said after Week 1. "I think we can absolutely be better in the run game. So that would be a point of emphasis for us. There are some things that we can help our guys with as coaches but ultimately, I think that we certainly can be better."
While the run game was hampered by the Bengals' defense, the Browns had success utilizing running backs like Dylan Sampson in the passing game. Sampson led the Browns in receptions with eight and finished with 64 receiving yards, becoming an easy target for QB Joe Flacco. He capitalized on his receptions, gaining yards after the catch to help the Browns move the ball. Rees called these catches on wide and swing routes from Sampson, 'pseudo runs.'
"Just different ways to get him involved when things aren't clicking as much as you'd want them to," Rees said. "So again, frustrating on the run game part. We have to get that fixed, but to make sure that you still don't lose sight of some of those players and the different ways that they can impact games."
If the run game is slowed down by the Ravens, the Browns have a way of allowing their running backs to make an impact on the game. Stefanski said it comes down to the coaches to execute a better game plan running the ball. He talked about elements the coaches are responsible for, like straining and using technique more to help show the players the little parts of running the ball. He said those small details ultimately add up to playing a large role in creating rushing success.
In order for the offense as a whole to be successful and for drives to end in points for the Browns, they will have to find a balance. While the Browns could pass the ball, they had problems running the ball against the Bengals, helping Cincinnati put Cleveland drives to a standstill. The Browns' offense, and specifically their running game, has to move the ball in the trenches against a stout Ravens' defense.
"It is such a nuanced part of offensive football that we just have to continue to coach our tails off on the details of it to make sure that our guys are understanding where we're going," Rees said. "It's definitely frustrating to have some misses there and we need that balance to make sure that we can sustain drives and sustain series."
