As the Browns prepare for Sunday's opener against the Eagles, running back Isaiah Crowell is looking forward to what he and the coaching staff hope is a big role in Cleveland's offense.
"I feel like everything I've been waiting for is here now," he said Wednesday. "I feel like we have a coach that wants to establish the run game and I really appreciate that because that's something I feel like is very important and I want to be a part of it because that's something I feel like is very important and I want to be a part of it."
After all, head coach Hue Jackson has spoken highly of Crowell and fellow running back Duke Johnson Jr., saying in March that "those two guys are as good as I've seen in a while. Their talent is extreme."
So after practice Wednesday, Jackson didn't hesitate when asked whether or not Crowell — who said he'd like to rush for 1,000 yards in 2016 — would be able to meet such a standard.
"Absolutely. Only 1,000? Why not more?" Jackson said with a wide smile.
"I like Crow. Crow's done some good things. I think he's a very talented player. We just have to get a rhythm and play football the way we know we can and I think we're looking forward to it. He is, Duke is, I think our linemen are. Again, this is a tremendous challenge for us this weekend. This a good defensive football team that we're facing."
While Philadelphia finished last against the run in 2015, the Eagles have looked like an improved bunch on defense throughout the preseason.
"They're good, they're well-coached, they play hard, they play good and have good players. That's the makings of a good defensive football team, so it's a tremendous challenge but it's like that every week in the National Football League, so we get it," Jackson said.
"There's going to be great players that you face. We talked about Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham already – (Eagles DB) Nolan Carroll, the corners and the safeties, (Eagles S) Malcolm Jenkins – they have good players. But I don't think there is another team we're going to play that doesn't have good players or great players, so we have to rise up and play. That's just the name of the game in the National Football League."
Crowell said he expects the Eagles "to run to the ball, eight-man box, try to stop the run" but that won't deter the Browns from their game plan.
"We can't let anybody make us one-dimensional," Crowell said. "We are going to go out there, run the ball and do what we do."
