ATENEARS Posted January 7, 2011 Report Share Posted January 7, 2011 Peyton Hillis, a first-year Browns running back and third-year NFL player, set a then-career high with 144 yards rushing and became Cleveland’s first 100-yard rusher against the Ravens. He gained those yards and scored one touchdown on 22 carries and followed it up with 102 yards and a touchdown in the team’s 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns Stadium on October 3. Hillis again eclipsed the 100-yard mark in a 34-14 win over the New England Patriots on November 7. He reached a new career high with 184 yards and added two touchdowns on the day. His final touchdown was a 35-yarder around right end when he followed the blocks of pulling left guard Eric Steinbach and fullback Lawrence Vickers into the open field. There would be two more 100-yard performances from Hillis as the season wound to a close. He gained 131 yards and scored three first half touchdowns in a 24-23 win over the Carolina Panthers November 28. In the team’s 13-6 loss at Buffalo two weeks later, Hillis gained 108 yards and passed the 1,000-yard mark for the season. Outstanding Performer: Hillis was just the ninth running back in team history to reach 1,000 yards in a season, but it was not all about the yards for the Conway, Arkansas native. He ran for 11 touchdowns and was the third back in team history, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Leroy Kelly and Jim Brown, to have 11 rushing touchdowns in single season. Kelly was the last Browns player to achieve the feat before Hillis and did so in 1968. In addition to the 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns on 270 carries, Hillis posted 61 catches, the second-most on the team and fifth-highest ever by a Browns running back. Only he and Mike Pruitt have gained 1,000 rushing yards and had 50 receptions in the same season. Pruitt accomplished the 1000-yard, 50-catch season twice, in 1980 and 1981. His first downs total and combined yards from scrimmage were in the top ten among the AFC and NFL throughout the season. Key Stat: 4.0. Behind the lead blocks of the offensive line and Vickers, the Browns averaged 4.0 yards-per-carry during the 2010 regular season. Hillis averaged 4.4 yards-per-rush which equaled Harrison’s per-carry production from the 2009 season. What To Watch For: The combination of Hillis and 2010 rookie Montario Hardesty coming out of the backfield during the 2011 season. One of the Browns’ two second-round Draft picks from 2010, Hardesty had an injury-plagued and injury-shortened season. He was unable to participate in training camp due to an injury and missed the entire year after being placed on injured reserve following the team’s final preseason game on September 2 against the Chicago Bears. Hardesty gained 2,391 yards and scored 26 touchdowns at the University of Tennessee despite playing a physically demanding schedule of games against Southeastern Conference foes like the University of Florida, the University Alabama and Louisiana State University. Florida and LSU have won three of the last five BCS National Championships (Florida in 2007 and 2009, LSU in 2008). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawgTracker Posted January 9, 2011 Report Share Posted January 9, 2011 If Holmgren gets his wish we will look like seattle on offense, dinking and dunking with no running game. I don't think you can win in our division without a physical running game first and foremost but I could be proven wrong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoss Posted January 9, 2011 Report Share Posted January 9, 2011 If Holmgren gets his wish we will look like seattle on offense, dinking and dunking with no running game. I don't think you can win in our division without a physical running game first and foremost but I could be proven wrong I think it is more like Green Bay when they have Ryan Grant available. You don't have to lead the league in rushing or even be ranked high, to win in the NFL, AFC North or not. You need a strong D and a healthy balance of passing and running. By the way did you see the SEA v NO game today? The dinkers and dunkers with no running game were the Saints. The Seahawks ran the ball. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrownIndian Posted January 9, 2011 Report Share Posted January 9, 2011 How long is Hillis contracted for ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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