I’ve been a long-time Kevin Stefanski believer, nevertheless it’s changing into more and more troublesome to defend a number of the selections he’s made this yr.
With an opportunity to win on the highway in London, Stefanski fully mismanaged the clock. That they had an opportunity to burn the entire Vikings’ timeouts or get the clock underneath three minutes, however Stefanski determined to go on a third-and-long, stopping the clock and giving Minnesota manner an excessive amount of time.
Then, Carson Wentz was by no means actually pressured on a game-winning drive the place he picked aside Cleveland’s protection. And to high it off, Stefanski used the entire Browns’ timeouts on that drive, attempting to maintain time on the clock if (when) the Vikings scored.
That call was mind-numbing. You’ve your elite protection. In case you maintain them to a area aim, you’ll have an opportunity to arrange a game-winning drive the place you solely must get three as an alternative of into the endzone. And when the opponent has Justin Jefferson, you possibly can’t maintain giving them free timeouts to scheme up methods to get him open.
Talking of Jefferson, having a participant like that’s exactly what this Browns offense is lacking. After all, there’s no one within the league like Jefferson, however the Browns don’t also have a strong quantity two receiver on this group proper now.
Dillon Gabriel performed about in addition to he may have given the troublesome circumstances he’s inheriting. Like I simply mentioned, he has no receivers on the skin to throw to. Even when he did have somebody to throw to, would he even have sufficient time to truly throw the ball downfield?
I doubt it.
This Browns offensive line is possibly essentially the most pathetic I’ve ever had the displeasure to observe. Each time this offense made any form of momentum play, it was instantly known as again with a holding or an unlawful formation. It’s inconceivable for a rookie quarterback to get into any momentum when each different drive the offense is beginning on a first-and-20.
The protection for Cleveland was strong as soon as once more, however the final drive actually soured me on their total efficiency at the moment. The one man I’m genuinely happy with at the moment is Quinshon Judkins.
He’s the one piece on the offense that I can assure to be on the group subsequent yr. I’m not even positive what I’m most impressed by with Judkins. He has elite imaginative and prescient, an unbelievable leap after his first lower, and his potential to soak up contact is among the finest in soccer. The Browns completely nailed this choose. Now they’ve received to start out constructing round him.
It is a good factor the schedule opens up subsequent week with a sport in Pittsburgh following an extended flight dwelling from London. It may be a extremely lengthy season of Cleveland Browns soccer.
