I like Nick Chubb. He’s a big power back who’s come up with some monster games in his first two seasons. But I don’t think the Browns have been able to maximize his talent yet. There’s more meat left on the bone, as they say.
Specifically, Chubb hasn’t been effective enough in goal-line situations. Or effective at all, really. When the Browns were in the 5-yard line last year, he carried the ball 16 times, and those plays generated a grand total of minus-9 rushing yards.
When Cleveland had the ball on the 1-yard line, they gave it to Chubb 7 times, and those plays combined to lose 7 rushing yards, with no touchdowns.
This is not all on Chubb, of course. Probably more of the blame can be attributed to poor blocking or poor play decision. I don’t think that it reveals that Chubb is a lesser back who simply can’t get it done at the goal line.
And with the Browns have a new coaching staff and a new offense, I wouldn’t worry much at all at Chubb again imploding at the goal line. But it happened, and the overall numbers are remarkable.
In the last 10 years, 152 running backs have run the ball at least 5 times at the 1-yard line (in a season). Chubb is the only one of those backs who carried the ball more than 5 times and didn’t score at all.
Only 30 other backs failed to score on at least 40 percent of their carries from the 1-yard line.
| INEFFECTIVE GOAL-LINE RUNNERS (last 10 years) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Player | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | TD% |
| 2019 | Nick Chubb, Cle. | 7 | -7 | -1.0 | 0 | 0% |
| 2016 | Tim Hightower, N.O. | 5 | -2 | -.4 | 0 | 0% |
| 2010 | Matt Forte, Chi. | 5 | -1 | -.2 | 0 | 0% |
| 2015 | Andre Williams, NYG | 6 | -2 | -.3 | 1 | 17% |
| 2017 | LeGarrette Blount, Phil. | 5 | -7 | -1.4 | 1 | 20% |
| 2015 | Chris Johnson, Ariz. | 5 | -5 | -1.0 | 1 | 20% |
| 2014 | Marshawn Lynch, Sea. | 5 | -1 | -.2 | 1 | 20% |
| 2015 | Frank Gore, Ind. | 5 | 0 | .0 | 1 | 20% |
| 2011 | Cedric Benson, Cin. | 5 | 0 | .0 | 1 | 20% |
| 2010 | Steven Jackson, St.L. | 5 | 0 | .0 | 1 | 20% |
| 2010 | Tashard Choice, Dall. | 5 | 0 | .0 | 1 | 20% |
| 2013 | Michael Bush, Chi. | 9 | -4 | -.4 | 2 | 22% |
| 2019 | Frank Gore, Buff. | 8 | 0 | .0 | 2 | 25% |
| 2018 | Sony Michel, N.E. | 8 | 1 | .1 | 2 | 25% |
| 2011 | Frank Gore, S.F. | 7 | -2 | -.3 | 2 | 29% |
| 2016 | Jeremy Hill, Cin. | 7 | 0 | .0 | 2 | 29% |
| 2011 | Jonathan Stewart, Car. | 7 | 0 | .0 | 2 | 29% |
| 2010 | John Kuhn, G.B. | 7 | 2 | .3 | 2 | 29% |
| 2010 | Michael Turner, Atl. | 10 | -3 | -.3 | 3 | 30% |
| 2010 | Brandon Jacobs, NYG | 6 | -4 | -.7 | 2 | 33% |
| 2013 | Willis McGahee, Cle. | 6 | 0 | .0 | 2 | 33% |
| 2011 | Maurice Jones-Drew, Jac. | 6 | 0 | .0 | 2 | 33% |
| 2018 | Saquon Barkley, NYG | 6 | 2 | .3 | 2 | 33% |
| 2014 | Rashad Jennings, NYG | 6 | 2 | .3 | 2 | 33% |
| 2013 | Ray Rice, Balt. | 6 | 2 | .3 | 2 | 33% |
| 2010 | Willis McGahee, Balt. | 6 | 2 | .3 | 2 | 33% |
| 2012 | Michael Turner, Atl. | 11 | 2 | .2 | 4 | 36% |
| 2014 | Mark Ingram, N.O. | 8 | 0 | .0 | 3 | 38% |
| 2015 | Chris Ivory, NYJ | 8 | 1 | .1 | 3 | 38% |
| 2010 | Knowshon Moreno, Den. | 8 | 3 | .4 | 3 | 38% |
| 2010 | Marion Barber, Dall. | 8 | 3 | .4 | 3 | 38% |
—Ian Allan