Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski is not the problem..

Kevin Stefanski, the head coach of the Cleveland Browns, is a man torn between doing and not doing anything.

Since the Browns’ comeback in 1999, Stefanski has led the team to 30 victories in his 30 games as head coach. This is by far the greatest record and highest victory total in that time.

For whatever reason, there is a weekly discussion among fans on social media over whether or not Stefanski is the issue. I am come to tell you that he is not the Cleveland problem after all.

Pitchforks are out and lengthy thought papers explaining why the Browns lost are thrown into the abyss whenever they do not win lands on Stefanski.

Sure, he is the head coach, and he should take the brunt of the responsibility when it is justified. Ultimately, the players on the field must perform, regardless of the play that is called into the quarterback’s helmet.

Many angry supporters often ignore this part of the game and look for someone to blame, usually Stefanski. It is not always a negative play call if the play that is called is not the exact one you had envisioned when lounging in your recliner.

For instance, on Sunday in Seattle, with two minutes left and a third-and-three lead, Stefanski called a pass play after calling a timeout. P.J. Walker’s pass bounced against a defender’s helmet, launching the ball into the air for protection. Jamal Adams made the game-winning drive possible for Seattle by coming down with the rock.

The phrase “run the damn ball, Kevin” has been repeated countless times in the last three plus seasons, and it surfaced on Sunday once more. You can argue with whomever you choose about whether Stefanski should have called a pass play or a run, but if the play had been executed, the play he chose would have been the right one because there were three receivers who were wide open.

 

Stefanski is still waiting for his franchise quarterback

Since 1999, the Browns have been stuck in quarterback purgatory, and it looks like they are still there. In a moment, we will return to Deshaun Watson, but in the meanwhile, the following is a rundown of the quarterbacks Stefanski has had available since taking over as head coach in 2020:

Walker, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Nick Mullens, Baker Mayfield, Case Keenum, and Jacoby Brissett. That is the inventory. Even when he calls the perfect play, it does not be executed because of inept play from the most crucial position in all of team sports. What in the world is he expected to do with that group of quarterbacks?

“Run the damn ball, Kevin!”

That seems perfect and pleasant, but when you consider that this team has badly missed Nick Chubb following his injury in Week 2, forcing DTR and Walker to defeat rival defenses. Walker deserves some credit for having led two drives that won games, but he also made the expensive choice in Seattle.

In Week 4, Thompson-Robinson made his NFL debut against the Ravens and appeared unprepared. However, in fairness to both him and Stefanski, Watson was declared out of the game at 10:30 AM, which was two and a half hours before kickoff. Both the coach and the player believed Watson was participating, but this was not the case.

Watson was acquired by Cleveland for a king’s ransom, but even with him in the lineup, there are still a lot of unanswered questions regarding this team’s quarterback situation. Watson was hurt by his Indeed, he injured his shoulder during the third week of play and has not been active for a mere three minutes.

It is frustrating since Watson’s status is described as “day-to-day and week-to-week,” which is the new “I have to watch the film” or “Josh Gordon could return to the team” It has been a nightmare for the Browns since they acquired what they thought would be their franchise quarterback.

Again, until Watson is cleared to play, what is Stefanski expected to do with Walker or DTR under center? Is it fair to criticize Andrew Berry equally for not having a reliable, experienced backup quarterback on the team?

Berry made an offer to Washington, but Washington turned it down. Many fans wanted Berry to make a trade to get Brissett back.

Another amusing thing is that some people believed defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz should get credit for victories rather than Stefanski because he did not contribute enough. So let us reverse the Sunday blame game.

The weakness in Schwartz’s defense came when it mattered most. Even though the interception put the Seahawks in a favorable position at their own 43, they still marched 57 yards to win. The defense held up its part until the game was in the balance after giving up 17 points in the first half.

However, the pitchforks were aimed at Stefanski rather than Schwartz. It is funny the way things works.

Ultimately, this club is 4-3 and presently occupies the seventh spot.

for the last playoff slot, and all it takes to be a genuine contender is an above-average quarterback. When Watson returns to the field, he could help with that.

Having said that, Stefanski is not Cleveland’s issue, and the sky is not about to fall.