Jaguars vs. Browns: Expect runs up the middle

When it comes to the Jaguars, it's safe to assume that they're going to run the ball up the middle a lot. According to the numbers on Football Outsiders the Jaguars have run the ball up the middle on a league-leading 73% of their runs. That's on a team that has run the ball more than any team in the league with the exception of the Houston Texans.

It's probably safe to say that you can expect more of the same when the Jaguars go to Cleveland to face the 3-6 Browns. In his second year, cornerback Joe Haden has already developed into a very good cover corner and is one of the leading reasons why the Browns pass defense has ascended all the way to the top of the NFL. However, their 1st ranked pass defense is marred by their 30th ranked run defense.

Where have the Browns struggled most to stop the run? Up the middle. They rank 31st on FO's ranking of defensive lines when it comes to stopping runs that go behind the left guard, center or right guard on the offense.

Perhaps the source of their interior struggles has been the drop off in play of Phil Taylor. Despite a strong start to the season, his play has since "leveled off" in the words of Browns defense coordinator Dick Jauron.