Cleveland News: Fired Browns Coach Delivers Message on Nick Chubb
Stump Mitchell admits he might have had one of the cushiest jobs in the NFL coaching Cleveland Browns star running back Nick Chubb.
Mitchell coached the Browns for five seasons before being fired on January 17. Since his release, he’s made headlines and provided insight into what it’s like to coach Chubb.
“I’m quiet like Nick,” Mitchell said while attending The BIGPLAY show in Cleveland. “All I have to do is find out what his weaknesses are and I don’t think that’s happened too much.
Mitchell noted that one area he would like to see Chubb improve in is receiving. Chubb has always been a clockwork guy, but his impact in the passing game has been limited. The Browns wanted change last season. “I’m really excited because this training camp has been really good. He’s probably the best running back we’ve ever had,” Mitchell said. “He had four receptions in the first game. I thought this was going to be a really great year and told Nick over the summer that he should get 80+ receptions because he was so great on screen. I thought he could be a 1,000-1,000 yard player.
Browns hope Nick Chubb stays in Cleveland.
Chubb is currently recovering from a knee injury that required two surgeries in Week 2. He had another big year, rushing for 170 yards on 28 carries before getting into trouble. This means an average of 6.1 meters per carry. Chubb has earned a reputation as one of the most consistent rushers in the league. He has 1,525 yards and 12 touchdowns in the 2022 season. It was his fourth straight season in which he rushed for over 1,000 yards and his career averages were among the NFL’s elite.
The Browns are expected to make a decision on Chubb’s contract this offseason. He will collect $15.8 million, and the Browns would save nearly $12 million with a waiver. However, the franchise hopes that Chubb will stick around and return to All-Pro form. “No one in Pittsburgh wants him to be the last guy to carry the ball for the Cleveland Browns,” Browns general manager Andrew Berry said on Jan. 22. “There are definitely areas we need to work on, but that’s not our intention. Of course we will try to keep him in the team.”
Stump Mitchell Had Harsh Critcism of Browns RB Kareem Hunt
Mitchell had only good things to say about Chubb. The same can be said for Kareem Hunt. The Browns re-signed Hunt in September after Chubb’s injury. He had 135 carries for 411 yards and a career-high nine rushing touchdowns last season. Two more points were added in the postseason. Hunt spent five seasons with the Browns, and Mitchell served as coach for all of them. Mitchell never seemed to get the best of him.
“One thing I couldn’t do when I was there was get the most out of Kareem. If they bring him back, I hope the next coach gets the most out of Kareem,” Mitchell told Justice. “As a coach, you just want to make your player better, but make sure he’s late to a meeting or a no-show. in time for training I could not confirm. Kareem is a great player, but it’s a team game.
Hunt will test the waters in free agency this offseason.
