Cleveland Browns coach Hue Jackson likes his RB group

BEREA, Ohio - The Cleveland Browns had 14 selections in the draft last month and, in a bit of a surprise, did not use one of them on a running back.

New head coach Hue Jackson is confident he can get more from third-year back Isaiah Crowell. Likewise, Jackson expects Duke Johnson, a third-round pick in 2015, to make a leap in his second year.

Both have been busy during the first two weeks of OTAs, and so has Raheem Mostert, who might prove to be more than a kick returner. Mostert was signed by the Eagles as an undrafted rookie in May of last year. He started the season on Philadelphia's practice squad, was signed by Miami in midseason last year and ended up playing with the Dolphins, Ravens and Browns. He returned kicks for all three teams, but never touched the ball from scrimmage.

OTAs at Browns headquarters were open to the media last Wednesday and again this Wednesday. Mostert showed he can catch the ball and take off when he secures it.

"I'm very happy with the guys that are here," Jackson said. "That's one of the things that once I got here that I wanted to take a strong look at. From top to bottom, I think we have some good candidates here. We still have a ways to go.

"Obviously, no shoulder pads have been put on, but the guys accepted my challenge and I think (run game coordinator/running backs) coach (Kirby) Wilson has done a really great job of really bringing these guys along. We have a long way to go, but we'll find out a lot more about them in training camp. I'm very happy with the group thus far."

Crowell and Johnson are equally excited about playing for Jackson, who has a "share-the-load" approach to his running backs. Jackson in 2015 was the offensive coordinator in Cincinnati, where Jeremy Hill rushed for 794 yards and 11 touchdowns on 223 carries. Giovani Bernard carried 154 times for 730 yards and two touchdowns. Bernard also caught 49 passes compared to 15 for Hill.

Crowell would have the role of Hill and Johnson the role of Bernard, at least as a receiver, in the Browns' offense.

"I am (excited), especially just seeing the way (Jackson) used them in the past and just splitting them out wide," Johnson said. "Getting the best out them and using their strength in every way he can so I'm excited to see. We're off to a good start already, but just happy to see how far and how in-depth we go with the offense."

Crowell led the Browns with 706 yards rushing in 2015 and scored four of the five Browns' rushing touchdowns. Jackson wants him to do a better job of hitting the holes opened by the offensive line. He would have been closer to 1,000 yards had he done that last season.

"He called me on the phone before we actually met and he told me he had been watching film and he'd seen my strengths and he'd seen what I need to work on," Crowell said. "Since we've been back, when we got on the field he tries to communicate with all of us and just help everybody get better."

Crowell rushed for 607 yards and eight touchdowns as an undrafted rookie in 2014.

--Veteran left tackle Joe Thomas said after practice Wednesday the Browns will be running more no-huddle this season, but it won't necessarily be a fast-paced no-huddle like the one the Eagles ran under Chip Kelly, Thomas said.

"We're going to make the defense guard every blade of grass on the field," Thomas said.

--Emmanuel Ogbah, the second-round draft pick from Oklahoma State, is making the transition from college defensive end to NFL outside linebacker smoothly, according to Browns defensive coordinator Ray Horton.

"Not to put an anchor around his neck, but collectively we were shocked at his first individual drill how well he moved," Horton said after the OTA practice Wednesday. "He's so much more athletic than he showed on his tape. We know he can rush, but there's a big difference between rushing and dropping in space. When he figures it out, I don't know if he knows how good he can be yet."

Ogbah had 12.5 sacks last season at Oklahoma State.