Browns star RB 'Mr.' Nick Chubb has earned respect of Mike Tomlin, Steelers

During his weekly news conference Tuesday, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin referenced almost four dozen individuals.

His players. Opposing players. Coaches for the upcoming opponent.

For the vast majority, Tomlin was complimentary and dispensing praise.

But for only one among those 40-plus men Tomlin spoke about did he address in a special way: “Mr. Chubb.”

Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski wasn’t “Mr. Stefanski.” Perennial All-Pro Myles Garrett wasn’t “Mr. Garrett.” Last week’s opposing star running back — the guy who torched Tomlin’s team for 169 yards, Christian McCaffrey — wasn’t referred to as “Mr. McCaffrey.”

But to Tomlin, Cleveland running back Nick Chubb was “Mr. Chubb.”

“If you’re talking about the Cleveland Browns,” he said, “man, it starts with Mr. Chubb.”

The Steelers’ chances at avoiding an 0-2 start to their season, too, starts with limiting the impact of Mr. Chubb. No small task at any point, but particularly after ranking 30th among 32 NFL teams in rushing yards allowed in Week 1.

Cleveland, meanwhile, led by Chubb, totaled 206 rushing yards over the NFL’s opening weekend, torching the Cincinnati Bengals defense.

“Nick Chubb is a great runner, and he’s really the thing that makes them go,” Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said. “If he gets going and the run game gets going, I’ve always been like this, if the run game gets going it really affects all of our defense and it makes us less effective.

“Last week was a prime example — we didn’t do a good job, and that opened it up for everything else.”

Nick Chubb established himself long ago as a special player, a stunning mix of speed, power and precision. A threat to score for the Browns every time he touches the football. https://t.co/jGaORIRHUr

— Tribune-Review Sports (@TribSports) July 24, 2023

Chubb was second-team AP All-Pro last season when he had 1,525 rushing yards on a 5.0 per-carry average and averaged 103.8 yards from scrimmage when adding his 27 receptions. His 13 touchdowns tied for fourth-most in the league, his total rushing yards third and his yards per carry fifth among running backs.

Chubb, 27, has been among the league’s most durable backs, missing just six games in six seasons. He has averaged 105.2 yards from scrimmage since 2019.

“What he is capable of doing, the way he controls the game, and so forth, it’s a little bit different, but similar to Christian McCaffrey in that he keeps them on schedule,” Tomlin said. “He controls the climate. If we’re doing anything in this football game, man, we’ve got to work to minimize that guy’s impact.”

Historically, the Steelers have had mixed results in achieving that. Chubb’s per-carry (4.3) and per-game (72.6) rushing yard averages against the Steelers are lower than his career averages. But he did have two touchdowns and 235 yards from scrimmage while averaging 5.3 yards per carry in the two games against the Steelers last season. Tomlin recalled the Week 17 meeting of the 2020 season when during the first Browns possession, Chubb had 61 rushing yards and a 47-yard touchdown.

“We had this motto we were going to slow down Mr. Chubb,” Tomlin said. “Man, he reeled off (a 47-yard run) on (the sixth Browns snap) of the game.

“We’ve got respect for that guy and them, and their ability to run the football.”

Of course, Tomlin and the Steelers defenders were saying similar things last week heading into a matchup with McCaffrey, who had a 65-yard touchdown run (the longest rush the Steelers allowed in three years).

“We gave up a lot of yards to a significant back a week ago,” Tomlin said. “It’s reasonable for us to maintain that posture, to respect Mr. Chubb.”

While McCaffrey is more of a threat as a receiver, Chubb’s listed weight is almost 25 pounds more than McCaffrey. Their differences in style, though, don’t necessarily dictate a difference in approach to stopping them.

“A running back is a running back,” Steelers defensive lineman Keeanu Benton said. “You’ve got to try to get them before they get a head full of steam, because once they’re in the open space, it’s a lot harder to tackle them.”

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