Here Is Something To Cause Worry For Browns’ Fans

It was reported late last week that the driving force for the changes in the Cleveland Browns’ coaching staff, particularly offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, came from on top, meaning owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam, and chief strategy office Paul DePodesta.

Of all the things Browns’ fans worry about, and believe us, there are many, this should be the one most concerning.

We realize that NFL owners are very successful people or come from very successful families, but that doesn’t mean they understand football.

Of course, that’s what DePodesta is for, right?

We get there is frustration and nervousness from the top of the organization over the failure of their huge investment, Deshaun Watson to make an impact over his first two years with the Browns.

Our belief is that those two were the driving force behind making the deal. And that’s not assigning blame. We felt Watson was one of the top five quarterbacks in the league in his last season in Houston, and if you can get someone that good at that position, you have to give it a shot.

However, we aren’t sure the problem with Watson was the offensive coaching staff. It’s more about his availability, he’s only played 11 of the 34 games he has been on the roster due to suspension or injury. Van Pelt and coach Kevin Stefanski didn’t create that situation.

On the other hand, in only three of those 11 contests has Watson had a passer rating of over 100. In 2022, it was attributed to rust. Last season? He seemed to turn a corner in week three vs. the Titans but was injured in that game on a designed run.

His next complete games were against Arizona where he had a 107.5 passer rating, followed by the win over the Ravens in which he was tremendous in the second half, but also suffered a season ending injury.

To be fair, teams change coordinators all the time and as we wrote a little over a week ago, a new voice, a different perspective isn’t necessarily bad. Maybe new coordinator Ken Dorsey can bring some new elements to make Watson more like the player he was in Houston.

On the other hand, Watson will be 29 when the 2024 season starts, and perhaps Dorsey should be more judicious in how many designed runs are called for him. After all, Cleveland has a lot invested in him and needs him to be on the field.

The pressure from the top though is certainly concerning. Powerful people own NFL teams and they have large egos. Our theory about no one hiring Bill Belichick for 2024 is that some of these owners would rather have control and lose than give up some of that control and win.

That doesn’t mean Belichick is perfect, but he has proven to be a very good football coach, and if he has talent he will win. We think coaching means more in football than in any other sport. Look at what Jim Schwartz did with the Browns’ defense in 2023.

Maybe Belichick doesn’t deserve control of picking the players anymore, but he should be able to have a comfort level with the person who does.

We have to think the only reason he isn’t coaching is because an owner wants his hands on the operation.

And to that, we come back to the old saying: A wise man knows what he doesn’t know.

Sometimes Change And/Or Considering It, Is Good In Sports

Earlier this week, the Cleveland Browns made news when coach Kevin Stefanski announced he let go three members of his offensive coaching staff: Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt, running backs coach Stump Mitchell, and TE coach T.C. McCartney.

Browns’ fans, being among the most rational people on earth, had plenty to say, mostly because it is how things have been in Berea for most of the expansion era, they felt it was a sign of disarray in the hierarchy.

And of course, some blamed Paul DePodesta, because since he rarely appears or speaks to the media, he has because something like the Wizard of Oz.

First, we would think if Stefanski and the organization let these coaches go, they probably have a pretty good idea of who they are going after to replace them. We have always said, anyone is replaceable if you go and get someone better.

Second, it isn’t necessarily a bad thing to keep bringing different voices into a group, coaching staff, or a sports organization. Diverse opinions should not only be tolerated but embraced. Of course, within reason.

Like if someone keeps telling you Yu Chang is a potential Hall of Fame baseball player, you might want to check credentials.

All three coaches have been here since Stefanski was named head coach four years ago, and coaches are no different than anyone else, they get stuck in their ways, not completely open to new ideas. We are sure everyone works with people like that.

And the Browns didn’t win the Super Bowl, so there is definitely room for improvement in all aspects of the team. We think Stefanski had to be encouraged to make some changes to his staff last season, when he let go of Joe Woods and Mike Priefer. Perhaps he saw how that worked out and these changes might have the same benefit.

Among the other teams in town, we would love for the Guardians to have some different ideas in their organization. At times, they have weird attachments to players, and maybe having a new manager solves some of that.

We think Terry Francona was a great manager, but often said his weakness was the fine line between patience and stubbornness.

We would love to be in an organizational meeting for the Guards, just to hear if anyone says, “Myles Straw is one of the worst hitters in baseball” or “Yes, Gabriel Arias hits the ball hard, but he rarely hits it”.

For the Cavs, we would like to know the reasoning for ignoring height in a sport where most of the great players in the game had size advantages (think LeBron: if you are as quick, you aren’t as big, and vice-versa), or what everyone sees in Dean Wade.

We think the worst thing that can occur is when everyone is on the same page, and no one thinks outside the box. And again, that doesn’t mean arguing about something everyday. Just being able to see things from a different “perspective”.

That might be exactly what happened in Berea this week. This isn’t the same dysfunctional organization that we came to know from 1999 to when the complete rebuild started about 10 years ago.

It’s just a sign that they want to take the next step in their goal of winning a title.

Thoughts As Browns Start The Stretch Drive

The playoff destiny for the Cleveland Browns is right in their collective hands. The next two games (with the bye in between) are against the division leading Baltimore Ravens, and four of the remaining six games are against teams from the AFC North.

If Kevin Stefanski’s squad starts playing their best football starting Sunday night, they stand a good chance of playing beyond the 17th game of the year.

We think 11-6 will get a spot in the tournament for sure, but 10-7 will give you a decent chance in this year’s AFC, but you will be subject to the tie breakers. So, Cleveland needs to go at least 4-2 the rest of the way.

A split vs. Baltimore keeps them in it, but losing both (and the Browns have certainly struggled recently against the Ravens lately) has them looking toward next season.

Here are some thoughts on the Browns heading into this critical stretch:

**There has been a great deal of discussion about whether or not Baker Mayfield should be playing while he is battling his injuries. We feel it indicates a lack of confidence in Case Keenum. Remember, the coaching staff seemed reluctant to start Keenum in the Denver game.

It is crazy to think while Stefanski and Alex Van Pelt are watching practice and see Mayfield hobbling around and not being able to make plays, that they think screw it, we are just going to play Baker even though Keenum is probably better.

Conversely, we don’t believe for a minute that Mayfield is “forcing” his way out on the field.

Our guess is the Browns will have a different backup QB in 2022.

**There is no question the Browns need to upgrade the wide receiver position in the off-season. This is not an indictment on how the team handled the Odell Beckham Jr. situation either.

Jarvis Landry hasn’t been a 100% since early on, and although Donovan Peoples-Jones has stepped up, he’s been hurt lately. Anthony Schwartz can fly, but seems to have trouble getting off the line against press coverage, which can be addressed by getting stronger.

Beyond DPJ and Schwartz, no wide out is averaging over 12 yards per catch. If they were open, we think Mayfield would find them (and yes, we know Landry was open on the first pick he threw against the Lions).

**The defense against the run has slipped badly since the beginning of the season. In the first four games, the most yards given up by the defense on the ground was 82. In the seven games since, they’ve allowed more than 100 yards rushing in five of them.

We know the Browns can run the ball, and the old rule in the NFL (which still holds true, by the way) of “you can’t win if you can’t run the ball and you can’t stop the run”, only holds to Cleveland on the defensive side of the ball.

They allowed 168 yards on the ground against Detroit even though the Lions were playing an extremely inexperienced quarterback.

Is Jadeveon Clowney’s injury that much of a problem?

The Ravens love to run the football, so if Joe Woods and his staff don’t address this before the game Sunday, it could be a long night for the visiting team.

All of the concerns and worries about the Cleveland Browns can be eased by a victory in Baltimore. Win, and you get a week off to heal up before coming home for three of the last five, including a rematch with the Ravens.

It’s right there for Kevin Stefanski and his team.