Former Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens will call plays for the Giants' offense on Sunday night. (Giants.com)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
Takeaways from Browns practice and interviews …
From the outset, this 2020 NFL season has been a survival test against coronavirus. December football has intensified into not only a race for playoff seeds but also for getting to the finish line ahead of a Covid-19 outbreak.
The Browns have dealt with their share of pandemic obstacles. On Thursday, the Giants were dealt a major blow as they hunkered down for their must-win meeting with the Browns on Sunday night.
The Giants lost their offensive coordinator and play-caller, a precious practice day to evaluate their quarterback situation, and, perhaps worst of all, their best player on defense – all due to Covid-19.
Here is how the day’s events affect the Browns’ preparations for a game that can put them over the magic number of 10 victories.
Freddie’s revenge
Coordinator Jason Garrett’s daily test turned up positive early in the morning. Head coach Joe Judge immediately named tight ends coach Freddie Kitchens as his offensive play-caller for Sunday’s game.
Kitchens was fired as Browns head coach – along with GM and chief advocate John Dorsey -- after a 6-10 record last year.
Although Kitchens’ one season with the Browns was characterized by dysfunction and chaos, Kitchens was blind-sided by his firing. After the fact, team leaders begged the Haslams to bring leadership to football operations.
The day before fate put Kitchens in a key role for the Giants on Sunday, quarterback Baker Mayfield bootlegged away from a question about Kitchens.
“There were a lot of ups and downs, but not to reiterate on last year, we have talked about it … it was a roller coaster,” he said.
Receiver Jarvis Landry, who was outspoken at the Super Bowl about Kitchens calling plays on game days that weren’t practiced during the week, bit his lip on Thursday and commented, “He has experience. He knows how to call plays so they should do some things.”
Kevin Stefanski doesn’t know Kitchens, but he knows Judge and his no-nonsense approach to coaching.
“I do not expect them to reinstall an offense, and really, Coach Garrett may still be heavily involved in every single one of their meetings. He just won’t be there Sunday night,” Stefanski said. “I do not think we should look into that too much in that regard. Again, they have established an identity of who they are. We have plenty of tape to go off.”
Whatever shortcomings Kitchens had as a head coach – and there were many – remember it was his play-calling as coordinator over the second half of Mayfield’s rookie season in 2018 that earned praise, and a promotion, for getting Mayfield’s career turned in the right direction.
Who’s at quarterback?
Because of Garrett’s positive test result, Judge had to cancel practice. It cost him another day in evaluating whether Daniel Jones could be mobile enough with hamstring and ankle injuries to play on Sunday.
If Jones doesn’t exhibit acceptable mobility in the Giants’ practice on Friday, Judge will turn to ex-Brown and 11-year NFL backup Colt McCoy.
“We watched some games with Colt McCoy in there, just feeling like he may be the guy, but we are prepared either way with the slight difference with either quarterback,” said defensive coordinator Joe Woods.
Big loss at cornerback
Late in the day on Thursday, Giants star cornerback James Bradberry was placed on Covid-19 reserve as a close contact to somebody who tested positive (not Garrett) and was ruled out of Sunday’s game.
Bradberry has been termed in New York media as “the most irreplaceable player” in the Giants’ strong defense ranked ninth in points allowed and 11th in yards. His 17 pass breakups lead the NFL and his three interceptions lead the Giants.
The depth behind Bradberry is murky and the Giants may have to counter by moving players out of position.
The Browns were throttled for about three quarters by Baltimore’s excellent secondary on Monday night, but schemed their way to 42 points and a career-high 28 pass completions by Mayfield against the Ravens.
The Ravens, however, had the offensive means to outscore the Browns, 47-42. The Giants have relied on a conservative offense, playing the field-position game, and not beating themselves to put themselves in a position to contend for the NFC East playoff berth.
Brownie bits
The vibe was upbeat that cornerback Denzel Ward would be fine to play Sunday after missing two games with a strained calf muscle. “We will see come game time,” Ward said. “I feel like I am ready. I feel like I am healthy. I got out there to practice today. I was running full speed and was able to cut and do all of the movements I feel I needed to do. I am looking forward to it. Looking forward to getting back out there.” …
With free safety Andrew Sendejo out with a concussion, Woods said he felt comfortable having Sheldrick Redwine and Karl Joselph as starting safeties on Sunday. Coaches are hastily trying to get new arrival Tedric Thompson up to speed to contribute, too …
Fast-developing rookie receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones on making big plays on a team trying to end the longest playoff drought in the NFL: “I am aware. It is crazy. It is crazy that it is happening this year. Like I said, I am blessed to be a part of this team.” …
The Browns had two timeouts available when Baltimore’s Justin Tucker lined up for his 55-yard game-winning field goal attempt with :07 on the clock Monday night, but they chose not to use one to “freeze” the NFL’s all-time kicker. Why? “It’s Justin Tucker. It would not have done anything,” special teams coordinator Mike Priefer said. “I am not a big freeze guy anyway because you guys would be asking me a different question right now and you would have asked Coach Stefanski a different question if we call timeout as he is kicking or right before the snap and he misses it … I do not think it would have fazed him at all.”