The Cleveland Browns had an impressive draft class in 2018. With their first three draft picks, they were able to land Baker Mayfield, Denzel Ward, and Nick Chubb.
Chubb helped lead the offense on the ground in an impressive rookie season. At the beginning of the season, Chubb was the backup to Carlos Hyde—until Hyde was traded midway through the season.
That left the starting job for Chubb to take, and he absolutely seized the opportunity. The Georgia product rushed for 996 yards and eight touchdowns in just nine starts.
Now, in 2019, Chubb is set to take a huge leap forward as the starting running back of the Browns. Adding a weapon like Odell Beckham Jr. this offseason helps everyone—including Chubb.
Cleveland as a whole is seemingly heading in the right direction finally. Some people even have the Browns included in the group of teams contending for a Super Bowl bid.
The second-year running back will want to improve upon his spectacular rookie season with another great season in 2019. Here are three early goals for Nick Chubb with the Browns in 2019.
3. Eclipse 1,000 Yards Rushing
Again, Nick Chubb had a fantastic rookie season in 2018. He carried the ball 192 times for 996 yards and eight touchdowns.
Not too shabby for a guy who was taken in the second round of the NFL Draft. The only reason he fell was that he was coming off a knee injury at Georgia.
The Browns and John Dorsey found a gem in Chubb in the second round. Cleveland was beyond comfortable handing the keys to the backfield to the rookie, which was proven by the trade of Carlos Hyde.
Now, there is nobody in Chubb's way of becoming the workhorse back in Cleveland, at least until Kareem Hunt returns from suspension.
The second-year running back missed his first 1,000-yard season by just a mere four yards last season. He won't let that happen again in 2019.
2. Get More Involved in the Passing Game
One of the few areas of his game Nick Chubb could work on is his ability to be a weapon in the passing game. Last season, Chubb had just 20 receptions, 149 yards, and two receiving touchdowns.
The running back will want to see those numbers go up. In today's NFL, running backs are expected to be able to be a dual-threat back.
If you aren't capable of doing both, then your ability to be a three-down back diminishes rapidly. Teams are trending toward finding one guy who can do both or getting two guys to play different roles.
If Chubb wants to get even more opportunities within the offense, he'll want to improve his receiving ability. Improving his ability to be a receiving threat not only improves him as a player but makes the Browns' offense even more lethal.
1. Help the Browns Make the Playoffs
It seems like forever now that the Browns have been the laughingstock of the NFL. Last season, though, that title seemed to be fading with the culture shifting toward a winning franchise.
At the beginning of the year, it seemed like Cleveland was set to have another disappointing campaign. They began the year 2-6-1, but then they won five of their last seven games.
Part of the reason was firing Hue Jackson and Todd Haley. Freddie Kitchens had more control of the offense and Gregg Williams led the team as the interim head coach.
Now, Kitchens is the head coach and the Browns were able to land Beckham this offseason. Therefore, the Browns are setting themselves up to finally get back to the playoffs.
Cleveland hasn't played in a playoff game since 2002. Chubb and the other young pieces on the Browns will want to contribute to Cleveland ending this long playoff drought. Making the playoffs are weighing heavy on everyone's mind, and Chubb can help lead the Browns to the promised land.
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