The Cleveland Browns had a very successful season in 2023, making the playoffs with an 11-6 record. Still, much like this season, most of the hope for another playoff berth in 2024 depends on QB Deshaun Watson.
You may ask why that is still the case because Watson only played in five games this past year and the Browns still won 11 times? It’s because the model of starting five different quarterbacks and still getting a post-season spot is not sustainable.
GM Andrew Berry talked about a 10-year commitment when the deal for Watson was made, and he has to look at it that way because the first two seasons have seen the former Texan start just 12 of 34 games, and really, he has only shown brief glimpses of the player he was in Houston.
Certainly, good health is needed for the trade to play out in the Browns’ favor, but we would also like to see Watson put his trust in Kevin Stefanski and the way his offense works.
Since Stefanski took over as head coach and installed his offense, he has coaxed solid QB play out of most of the players who have called signals for Cleveland.
In 2020, Baker Mayfield posted a 95.9 passer rating for the Browns, his career high (he was at 94.6 this season in Tampa). He completed 62.8% of his throws with 26 touchdowns and just 8 interceptions.
It’s easy to dismiss that success because of the injury plagued year in 2021, but Mayfield was off to a good start in ’21, with 8 TDs and just three picks in his first eight starts.
The deal for Watson was made after this season, but Jacoby Brissett was the primary starter in 2022 because of Watson’s suspension. Brissett had the highest passer rating of his career (88.9) with 12 touchdowns and six interceptions with the Browns, completing a career high 64% of his passes.
In 2023, Stefanski coaxed solid enough play out of P.J. Walker, rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson, and revived Joe Flacco’s career. The latter had the third best passer rating of his career in any season he played more than four games. Statistically, it was his best season since 2014.
FYI, Kirk Cousins’ best statistical season? 2019, when his offensive coordinator was Kevin Stefanski.
The point is, Stefanski’s “system” is QB-friendly. It seems the only Cleveland passer who hasn’t taken advantage of it is Deshaun Watson.
Recently, Watson said he didn’t like the scripted plays that Stefanski starts the game with. We found that curious, and a sign about his coachability.
We get it, when you are a gifted athlete, it is easy to become engrained that the way you have always done things is the best way. But great players are open to change, and maybe Watson needs to allow himself to play like Stefanski wants his QBs to play.
That might be the best reason to bring Flacco back.
Stefanski loves play action, and Flacco demonstrated that sometimes it’s okay to turn your back on the defense to sell the fake. Watson prefers to play out of the shotgun. Maybe, there is a happy medium.
Watson has been very successful as a “dual threat” quarterback, but next season he will be 29 years old, and maybe he needs to not play with his legs as much in order to stay on the field. We understand this injury was a little fluky, but maybe it’s time to play a little more conservatively when it comes to running.
It has been shown that Kevin Stefanski can enhance a quarterback’s productivity. The 2024 season would be a good time for Deshaun Watson to embrace that and have his best statistical season.
A second straight playoff berth will probably be the result.
Cleveland Sports Perspective 