Tag: Cam Newton

A Browns’ Functional Offense Can Win Games

When the Cleveland Browns were in negotiations to trade for Deshaun Watson, it was reported that the quarterback’s interactions with head coach Kevin Stefanski went amazingly well.

The two talked football, x’s and o’s, and Stefanski showed him ideas and the concepts of what he would like to do, and Watson appeared to be in agreement that it would be a beneficial relationship for both of them.

There is no doubt in our mind that Stefanski was excited. That’s how coaches are. Without any negative baggage people are aware of, coaches think they can get the best out of any player, that’s how they are wired.

Stefanski has had success running offenses as a coach in Minnesota and Cleveland, and we are sure he felt what he liked to do would mesh well with a passer who had several big seasons and a couple of playoff appearances in Houston.

And we are sure Watson was equally excited to have a coach whose offenses have had plenty of success in the NFL.

But offenses have changed in the NFL since 2018-2020, Watson’s heyday in Houston. The Kansas City Chiefs, who have won three Super Bowls since that period, do not run the same attack as they did in Patrick Mahomes’ first year as a starter.

So, hoping the Watson who played for the Texans is magically going to return wearing a Browns’ uniform is probably a wish that isn’t going to come true.

Meanwhile, while Watson was out due to suspension and injury over the last two years, the Browns’ offense has performed pretty well, ranking in the middle of the pack in ’22 (18th) and landing in the top ten (10th) last season.

Stefanski likes to run the football and throw off of play action. That usually means the QB has to play under center. Watson prefers to be in the shotgun. Stefanski likes to be ahead of the chains, usually going with a short pass on first down to gain five yards or so, and then be able to run the ball on 2nd and possible 3rd down.

Watson likes to take shots down the field, usually after he buys time in the backfield by using his legs. He also takes a lot of sacks, leading the league in 2018 and was sacked over 40 times in both ’19 and ’20.

That puts his team in obvious pass situations. Stefanski doesn’t like those situations.

The point is in spite of both people’s intentions, what they both like to do is in direct contrast with each other.

After last season, the organization decided to bring in a new offensive coordinator, Ken Dorsey, who has experience with mobile QBs, but physically, Cam Newton and Josh Allen, the players Dorsey worked with, are much bigger and would seem to be able to take more hits because of that size.

With the injuries on the offensive line, it would seem the best offense for the Browns to win with would be to run the Stefanski attack, keep the QB out of bad down and distance situations and running the football and take downfield shots with play action.

Can Watson run that offense effectively and better yet, can he be fulfilled running the attack in that fashion?

We think the Browns can have success if the offense plays at a league average level. The defense is that strong. Winning is the object of the sport, no one should forget that.

Here’s Our Rating of NFL’s Top QBs

Recently, Browns’ GM Ray Farmer made the comment that most teams in the NFL play without elite quarterbacks, so they have to figure out a way to win.

We agree with that statement because we don’t think there are that many elite passers in the game today, although many fans and media alike would disagree.

During the playoffs, we’ve seen the following players described as being in that class:  Tony Romo and Cam Newton.  Guess what?  They aren’t “elite”.

This is different from the term “franchise quarterbacks”, because which Romo and Newton are a part of because their teams aren’t looking for a new passer.  Those teams have put their future in the hands of players like Romo, Newton, Joe Flacco, etc.

And another thing, winning a Super Bowl doesn’t make you an elite quarterback either.  Yes, we are well aware Flacco did just that with the Ravens, but Eli Manning has won two championship rings, and of course, we can point to Brad Johnson and Trent Dilfer doing the same thing.

And at this point with just three seasons under his belt, one winning a title, we can’t put Russell Wilson there just yet.

In order to be at the top of the heap at this position, the most important position in team sports, you have to be a player who can win a game, basically by yourself, and demonstrate it on a regular basis.

For our money, the top five quarterbacks in the NFL are as follows, in no particular order–

Tom Brady
Peyton Manning
Andrew Luck
Ben Roethlisberger
Aaron Rodgers

Yes, we understand Manning is fading and it’s been since the 2008 season since Big Ben won his second, but those are the elite guys in the NFL.

Brady and Rodgers are playing today to get another chance at a Super Bowl ring, and Luck is trying to make it for the first time.

The next five based on the totality of their careers would be, once again in no particular order–

Drew Brees
Russell Wilson
Philip Rivers
Eli Manning
Matt Ryan

First of all, see what we mean about not being that many “elite” QBs.  Two of the players on this list (Rivers and Ryan) have never been to a Super Bowl, and have only been to the conference championship game once each.

Now, we are sure one of the questions will be about the omission of Flacco, who is a solid NFL quarterback.

First, we’ve witnessed too many “blah” games against the Browns over the years.

Second, in the seven years Flacco has been the starter, the Ravens have never ranked in the top ten in yardage, and has only been in the top ten in points scored twice.

Romo?  His history shows he makes too many key mistakes at the wrong time.  Newton?  Not enough of a track record, and the Panthers’ offense has regressed since his rookie season.

So, that’s why we agree with Farmer. Many people around Cleveland just think if we don’t have the quarterback, the Browns should either tank the season to get one, or our perpetually doomed.

The coaching staff and front office can’t think that way.  They need to figure out another way to get it done.  Guys like Manning and Luck don’t come around too often, and as we are all aware, Brady was a 6th round pick.

Roethlisberger and Rodgers feel into their team respective laps.

The Browns made progress in the win column in 2014, the organization has to keep moving in the right direction, elite quarterback or not.

JD