BEREA, Ohio -- Isaiah Crowell took a handoff during the Cleveland Browns team drill on Sunday and scampered through a slight opening on the left side of the line.

He was past the linebackers and heading to his right and downfield in a flash.

This was a “siren” drill, which meant Hue Jackson wanted it at full speed with tackling. As Crowell ran down the sideline, he saw a defender with an angle, but he slowed up and positioned himself so that Rashard Higgins could get the block.

Crowell ran by -- and through -- a tackle as he cut left at about the 15.

He completed a 61-yard touchdown run amid applause from the stands and his teammates.

The play was emblematic of the Browns offense. Amid much uncertainty these days is one certainty: Crowell’s running.

The case can be made, rightly so, that Crowell is probably the NFL’s most underrated back. He averaged 4.8 yards per carry last season, seventh in the league among backs with at least 150 carries. That average was just behind Pittsburgh’s Le’Veon Bell (4.9) and just ahead of Atlanta’s Devonta Freeman (4.8), both of whom went to the Pro Bowl.

In terms of yards, Crowell’s 952 ranked 15th in the league, but he was the only back in the top 20 in rushing who did not have 200 carries. Crowell’s 198 ranked 20th, and he averaged just 12.4 carries per game. There were five games when he had fewer than 10 carries and none with more than 20. Of all the oddities from a 1-15 season, the lack of dependence on Crowell was the largest -- especially since Jackson said in the spring of 2016 that Crowell had “extreme talent.”

Jackson now accepts responsibility, saying the decision not to run Crowell more was all on him. He promises it won’t happen again, to the point that the Browns are focused on winning with the running game and sound defense.

Jackson blamed what happened a year ago on feeling like he had to throw early to get off to a lead. That didn’t work, and when the Browns fell behind, they threw more. Jackson called a pass on 63.4 percent of the offensive plays, fourth-highest in the NFL.

He expects that to change, pointing to his belief that it is essential to have a strong running game and a team that plays with attitude.

“Go look at my film,” Jackson said in the spring.

It bears out. In his two seasons as offensive coordinator in Cincinnati before he joined the Browns, the Bengals offense ranked 28th and 26th in percentage of pass plays called.

“I am a coach [who] likes to run the ball,” Jackson said.

This makes Crowell a strong and perhaps under-the-radar fantasy player. The Browns improved their offensive line this offseason with new center JC Tretter and added a mauler at guard in Kevin Zeitler. Crowell said this week that no amount of carries is too much. The highest he's had in a game in 2016 was 19 in the season finale against Pittsburgh, and he gained 152 yards.

Crowell has the same ability he showed a year ago. He has new help on the line. He has a coach committed to running the ball. And he is playing in a contract year. If he stays healthy, he should not be underrated anymore.

“The guy had almost 1,000 yards a year ago when I didn’t hand him the ball,” Jackson said. “What can he do if I do hand him the ball?”