"Handoff to Harrison" is the new "Metcalf up the middle"

Reading the play-by-play for the first half of the Browns' embarrassing 34-3 loss to the Ravens, and I got sick and tired of reading Jerome Harrison's name. It was frustrating. Kind of like driving down Mentor Ave. and catching every single red light.

Don't get me wrong, I like the fact that he's in the game and getting his touches. He deserves a shot as the team's RB1, and he's a much better fit than Jamal Lewis at this stage in both of their careers.

Starting Harrison and giving him the majority of the action would do a lot to make Lewis better when he returns to the lineup. Harrison needs a rest? Okay. Plug in the beastly Lewis with fresh legs! Short yardage situation? Okay. Plug in the battering ram! Make Lewis the big back for Harrison like Pittsburgh did when Jerome Bettis was handing over the reigns of the backfield to Willie Parker.

But damn! The Browns ran Harrison into the ground Sunday. The guy was hit by birds worse than Fabio on a roller coaster.

Check it out for yourself and tell me what you think:

1st Browns offensive series:

- 5 plays (1 run to Harrison).

2nd series:

- 5 plays (2 runs, 2 passes to Harrison).

3rd series:

- 6 plays (3 runs, 1 pass to Harrison).

4th series:

- 3 plays (2 runs to Harrison).

5th series:

- 3 plays (3 runs to Harrison).

You sick of reading his name yet? The guy was battered by the Ravens defense in the first half worse than a 9th inning Phillies game every time Charlie Manuel hands Brad Lidge the ball.

Of these five first-half offensive possessions, the Browns ran a total of 22 plays. Fourteen of them were either runs or passes to Harrison.

Remember when the Browns would have a 2nd-and-long or a 3rd-and-short and hand the ball off to Eric Metcalf, who would in turn stutter-step a few times in both directions before running straight up the middle, only to get stuffed at the line of scrimmage?

We referred to that circus act as "Metcalf up the middle," before the Browns would punt and Jimmie Donovan would lead us into another frustrating commercial break.

What the Browns are doing now with Harrison reminds me of "Metcalf up the middle," because I get the feeling that this team has no confidence in any other playmaker.

In the second half he continued to get the crap beat out of him, only it wasn't as bad as it was in the first half:

6th series:

- 5 plays (2 runs, 2 passes to Harrison).

At this point of the game, the Browns had run 27 plays and 18 of those were to Harrison. Seriously.

7th series:

- 13 plays (zero runs or passes to Harrison. Yes, he actually got a breather and saw no action on this series).

8th series:

- 4 plays (1 pass to Harrison).

9th series:

- 1 play (zero runs or passes to Harrison).

10th series:

- 5 plays (2 runs to Harrison).

11th series:

- 3 plays (1 run, 1 pass to Harrison).

12th series:

- 1 play (1 run to Harrison).

So at the end of the day, the Browns ran a total of 54 plays on offense, going to Harrison on 24 of them.

To reiterate, Harrison had the ball on 18 of the first 27. For the final 27 plays ... try just six plays for Harrison.

It was a case of either involving the guy way too much, or not involving him enough. He's 26 years old. Now is the time to start using him the right way.

*Notes on Harrison

2009 stats:

35 carries, 112 yards rushing, 0 TDs (3.2 avg)

14 catches, 90 yards receiving, 0 TDs (6.4 avg)

2008 stats:

34 carries, 246 yards rushing, 1 TD (7.2 avg)

12 catches, 116 yards receiving, 1 TD (9.7 avg)

2007 stats:

23 carries, 142 yards rushing, 0 TDs (6.2 avg)

2 catches, 19 yards receiving, 0 TDs (9.5 avg)