CLEVELAND, Ohio — The addition of tight end Harold Fannin Jr. makes 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends, and two receivers) a particularly promising personnel package for the Browns, especially with Jerry Jeudy as the only proven receiver.
Assuming Fannin brings the same athleticism, versatility, and receiving ability to the position as he did at Bowling Green, his presence alongside David Njoku gives the Browns two legitimate threats at tight end. By leaning into 12 personnel, the Browns can mask that weakness by keeping two tight ends on the field who can win in both the pass and run game.
Fannin’s ability to line up in multiple spots such as inline, in the slot, as the outside receiver, or even motioned in or out of the backfield creates tremendous position and formation flexibility for the offense. It allows Kevin Stefanski to disguise formations and create mismatches without relying heavily on a traditional three-wide receiver look.
In the run game, Fannin provides an additional blocker, especially if he can play some fullback, to support two young rookie running backs. Whether sealing the edge on pin and pull, leading on gap schemes, finding open space on the levels concept, or stretching the defense both horizontally and vertically, this versatility forces the hand of the defense.
Does the defense play regular with three linebackers, which creates mismatches for Njoku and Fannin in the pass game? Or, does the defense play nickel defense with more defensive backs, making them susceptible to Stefanski’s power run schemes?
The real value shows up in the play-action game, where Stefanski’s offense thrives. Defenses expecting run from 12 personnel can be punished through the air, especially when both Njoku and Fannin are capable route-runners and explosive in space. This opens up crossing routes, bootlegs, and seam throws for quarterback Joe Flacco, giving him bigger, more reliable targets than a thin receiver corps currently offers. In the red zone, the size and athleticism of Njoku and Fannin can be used to create mismatches.
Here are the three keys for making 12 personnel the foundation for the 2025 Browns offense:
1. Power run game early (identity)
Before the Browns do anything in 2025 with scheme, they need to return to their physical identity to have success. A physical style of play starts up front with a dominant run game and trench warfare, which complements the Browns’ elite defense by sustaining drives and keeping them fresh.
It also fits Stefanski’s coaching roots, which emphasize zone blocking, multiple gap schemes, play action, and efficient, hard-nosed football where winning, not numbers, is the goal.
A physical identity helps reduce reliance on high-risk passing and creates a more stable offensive approach. A quarterback can have great success if the offense can win on first down and at least gain four yards. At second-and-6 or less, the offensive coordinator is in charge with the ability to pass or run. Long yardage situations on second and third down puts the defensive coordinator in charge knowing the offense has to pass.
More than just a strategy, a physical identity becomes a cultural anchor — a way to establish accountability, unify the locker room, and build a sustainable, winning brand of football. Using 12 personnel with Njoku and Fannin helps the Browns re-establish their physical run game by adding size, versatility, and edge-blocking strength.
This formation creates matchup problems for defenses while allowing the Browns to run powerfully and set up play action. For me, Fannin must prove he can be a physical blocker so defenses are forced to stop the run first.
Below is a look at a pin and pull scheme with running back Jerome Ford during this year’s training camp. Though the offense has not been stellar with its inside double teams just yet, they seem committed to reestablishing the power run game identity.
2. Play action (after establishing run game)
Once the physical identity has been established, play action becomes the next phase in Stefanski’s scheme. As the defensive coordinators prepare, they focus on putting more defenders down by the line of scrimmage, stopping the run game, and matching the physicality of the Browns.
With eyes on pulling guards, stopping the run, and fewer defenders to cover the pass, play action off the powerful run scheme becomes wide open. The bonus for the Browns is that these play action plays are easy progressions for the quarterback that do not change regardless of coverage.
Once you’ve established a physical identity as a downhill run team, the play-action pass game opens up significantly. With the defense forced to commit extra defenders to the box to respect the run, it naturally creates voids in the intermediate and deep thirds of the field.
The following few play-action shot plays from Flacco’s initial starts in Cleveland illustrate this perfectly. Routes come open downfield because the linebackers and safeties are stepping up to fit the run, leaving windows behind them in coverage.
3. Using formations to find mismatches in the pass game
12 personnel creates mismatches by putting athletic tight ends against slower linebackers or smaller safeties and corners. Defenses often stay in base personnel with multiple linebackers to account for the potential run, which leaves tight ends matched up one on one in space. Offenses can flex a tight end out wide or into the slot, forcing defenders into uncomfortable coverage situations.
Here is a look at several run-heavy formations out of 12 personnel featuring No. 85 Njoku, No. 88 Fannin, No. 3 Jeudy, No. 19 Cedric Tillman, and No. 34 Ford that would likely force the defensive coordinator to stay in base with three linebackers in order to maintain gap integrity and stop the run.
Here is a look at a run-heavy formation out of 12 personnel.
Here is a look at a run-heavy formation out of 12 personnel.cleveland.com
Here is a look at a run-heavy formation out of 12 personnel.
Here is a look at a run-heavy formation out of 12 personnel.cleveland.com
Here is a look at a run-heavy formation out of 12 personnel.
Here is a look at a run-heavy formation out of 12 personnel.cleveland.com
Here is a look at a run-heavy formation out of 12 personnel.
Here is a look at a run-heavy formation out of 12 personnel.cleveland.com
If the defense stays in base personnel with three linebackers, the versatility, positional flexibility, and athleticism of Fannin and Njoku allow Stefanski to exploit matchups without substituting.
Using a grouping like 12 personnel in spread or bunch formations, the offense can create leverage and alignment issues for linebackers, safeties, and even corners, forcing the defense to declare or adjust post-snap.
Use of 12 personnel in a spread or bunch formation.
Use of 12 personnel in a spread or bunch formation.cleveland.com
Use of 12 personnel in a spread or bunch formation.
Use of 12 personnel in a spread or bunch formation.cleveland.com
Use of 12 personnel in a spread or bunch formation.
Use of 12 personnel in a spread or bunch formation.cleveland.com
Use of 12 personnel in a spread or bunch formation.
Use of 12 personnel in a spread or bunch formation.cleveland.com
This clip below provides a clear example of how Fannin’s position flexibility and skill set stress a defense. When Fannin is aligned as the boundary #1, the defense is forced to match him with a corner, which in turn leaves Jeudy isolated in the slot against a linebacker.
That’s a matchup advantage all day for an NFL offense and an easy pitch-and-catch against a slower, less agile defender.
What we learned
12 personnel is an ideal fit for the Browns because it reestablishes Stefanski’s physical offensive identity, provides a strong foundation for the play-action game, and consistently creates matchup advantages.
With Njoku and Fannin on the field, it enhances ball control, shortens the game, helps protect the defense by sustaining drives, and effectively masks concerns around wide receiver depth.
Lance Reisland is the former coach at Garfield Heights High School, where he spent 18 seasons as an assistant for his father, Chuck, and four as head coach, from 2014 to 2018. In 2018, his team finished 11-1 and appeared in the OHSAA Division II regional semifinals. That team went 10-0 and made history as the first Garfield Heights team in 41 years to have an undefeated regular season along with beating Warren G. Harding for the first playoff win in school history.
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