Cleveland Browns Not Sold On Ben Tate As Featured Back

The Cleveland Browns are trying to figure out their running back situation and Ben Tate might not be the answer they need.

Cleveland Browns fans are looking at a team that very well could make the playoffs in the AFC this year, but there is a lot of work that needs to be done. Regardless of if the team is in the postseason this year or not, there are things that need to be solved on the roster and that all starts with running back.

More from Cleveland Browns

The Browns brought in former Houston Texans backup Ben Tate to be their starting back, but the team is no longer sold on him being the featured back in their system.

According to Tony Grossi from ESPN, the Browns are not sold on Ben Tate being their featured back of the future. In fact, Kyle Shanahan is leaving the position up to competition, with the understanding that one single featured back may never be settled on.

"The three backs all complained to varying degrees about not getting enough touches of the ball to develop a rhythm in a game. Shanahan said he’s looking for one of the backs to separate from the others so a feature ball-carrier can be identified. While Ben Tate has been the de facto feature back when healthy, Shanahan’s comments indicated the coaches are not totally sold on him carrying the load. While all three running backs – Tate, Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell – may be dressed and active for the game, the feeling was that only two would share the rushing load."

This may be surprising given how the Browns brought Tate in this offseason, but it’s not all that shocking when considering the devaluation of the running back position. It’s a league of backs by committee and that’s something that is both holding back guys like Tate from getting the ball but making the Isaiah Crowell’s and Terrance West’s of the world as valuable as they’ve ever been.

More from FanSided

Home/Cleveland Browns