The Cleveland Browns’ Woes and Where the Blame Lies

Photo via Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images

The Cleveland Browns are 2-5. Yes, the same Cleveland Browns that fans convinced themselves of over the summer would be carried by the defense and Jacoby Brissett would run a safe offense featuring a great running game.

It’s not the QB’s fault

The defense has been an utter disaster, but I don’t blame Brissett for the team’s 2-5 record, he is who he is and there’s nothing wrong with that. The problem is expectations were placed on him that were unfair. Brissett is a back-up, that’s who he is. I mentioned in previous articles my doubts that Brissett could be effective over the long-term. I didn’t want to be right, but it was realistic. For him to be effective, everything has to be good around him. Where have we heard that before?

Coaching

The other aspect of the equation that wasn’t taken into consideration when prognosticating over the summer: coaching. There were doubts about Joe Woods going back to last year but hope springs eternal and there was a measure of confidence in Woods to right the ship. He hasn’t done that. In fact, one could argue there’s been regression. To this point in the season, the enduring images I have of the Browns defense are several defensive backs looking at each other with their palms in the air after a busted coverage.

Defense

It’s not that the defense is without talent, quite the opposite. There are established young veterans and promising young players. The problem is the defense plays like a bunch of individuals and not much of a team. To me there are two things to blame under these circumstances: coaching and commitment. The Browns either have a defensive coordinator who isn’t capable of using his talent appropriately or the talent he is trying to use don’t know what it takes to succeed at the NFL level…maybe it’s both.

What is Stefanski thinking?

Since we are talking about coaching…Kevin Stefanski. I have, and have had, a quite simple philosophy when it comes to football: Take The Points. Why? Because in the NFL points are hard to come by, so are wins. You have to score to win. See where I’m going? Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind the occasional gamble. A calculated risk depending on the situation is totally fine. But that’s not what Stefanski is doing.

On multiple occasions, Stefanski has put his offense and defense in terrible positions. Whether it be by play calling, poor decision-making, or not taking the points. The game against Atlanta was a perfect example. Even most recently against the Ravens. The Browns are driving with the game on the line. It’s 3rd and 2 and Stefanski had Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, and D’Ernest Johnson on his team. Three backs that could start for almost any other NFL team. What does Stefanski do? He tries to get cute; he tries to be the smartest guy in the stadium and call for a long pass from Brissett to Amari Cooper down the right sideline. The play resulted in offensive pass interference call and the wheels came off. The drive and the game ended on a Cade York 60+yd blocked field goal. That’s inexcusable, preventable, and repetitive mistakes.

The hot seat

I’m not usually a “let’s fire everybody” kind of guy. I’m 41 years old, I’ve been around the block with this team, and I’ve seen the disaster that comes with constant turnover. Here’s where things are different as compared to previous years. The Browns have elite cornerstones of their franchise under contract and in their prime. These prime years simply cannot be wasted while Woods and Stefanski try to get out of their own way. It’s not fair to those cornerstone players or the other guys in the locker room to put up with how this team is embarrassingly underachieving.

Should Joe Woods and Kevin Stefanski be on the “hot seat?” Absolutely and unequivocally. Should they be coaching for their jobs? Also, yes. I remember an old quote from back in the 1980s from then Houston Oilers head coach Jerry Glanville. He said “this is the NFL, which stands for Not For Long…” he was actually mic’ed up talking to an official during a game, but he makes a good point.

The NFL is about money and winning, that’s it. If you don’t win, you’re not long for the league. Let’s face it, coaches are hired to be fired in all major sports. It’s just the way it is. If you’re not producing the team will bring in someone who can, period. My personal opinion: the Browns need a veteran head coach that immediately commands respect. No more young up and coming coaches and coordinators learning on the job. I want hard-nosed veteran coaches that can lead a team. Bruce Arians is a good example. I’m not advocating for him; I’m just relaying a sound comparison for the kind of coach I want.

Andrew Berry

One guy I haven’t mentioned so far: Andrew Berry. That’s because AB is directly tied to Deshaun Watson, who hasn’t played a down for the Browns in the regular season yet. As Watson goes, so will AB. Berry put his job on the line for Watson when he acquired the embattled quarterback from the Houston Texans. If Deshaun Watson succeeds, AB will be lauded as a genius from a football perspective. If not, he’ll find employment elsewhere. It’s that simple. Honestly, nothing that has happened so far is Berry’s fault. He provides the coaching staff with talent. That’s where his job ends.

Looking ahead

Let me get this out of the way right now: I don’t claim to have sources and I’m not going to insult your intelligence by pretending I do.

However, I have a few educated guesses:

1) We may see a trade or 2 in which the Browns jettison players for draft picks, not the other way around. They’re trying to ‘wave the white flag’ on the season. It’s just a matter of whether there will be any takers. The first one to go potentially: Kareem Hunt.

2) We’ll see at least one coach fired going into the bye week if the Browns lose to the Bengals.

3) This coaching staff as a whole are dangerously close to losing the locker room. We’ve read comments from players questioning teammates and a story of an argument in the locker room after the Ravens game that was brushed off by Kevin Stefanski. I don’t buy this being business as usual. Think back to how many times we’ve seen this happen. These stories and comments don’t make their way into public discussion by accident, it’s because the rumblings are too loud to hide.

This team loaded with talent has 10 games left. If the coaching staff can pull this thing together and finish over .500, I’ll be impressed and immediately write a retraction of my criticism and apologize for doubting them. To have even a shred of hope to compete for a playoff spot the Browns have to go 7-3 the rest of the way. A very tall task. The talent is there on the field, but it’s up to the coaches to eliminate the back-breaking mistakes that have plagued the Browns in 2022.