Kevin Stefanski doesn't want to stay the same in 2021. (Cleveland Browns)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
Appearing on his first media Zoom session in six weeks, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski was in midseason form. He sidestepped topical personnel questions like Nick Chubb evades tacklers.
Stefanski not only would not comment on the club’s failed pursuit of J.J. Watt, he wouldn’t even use his name. He claimed he wasn’t aware of tight end David Njoku’s latest feelings about staying or leaving, professed to have no specific updates on the status of injured players Odell Beckham Jr., Grant Delpit and Greedy Williams, and declined to classify the defensive end class in free agency and the draft as strong or weak.
The most expansive comments made by Stefanski were in the context of refusing to rest on the laurels of a 12-6 season in 2020.
“We laid a foundation, but it is really, really important that everybody in this building and all of our players understand we have to get better,” he said. “To say we are just going to be right back where we left off, that is not the case. It just does not happen that way. We have to work at it.”
Stefanski said he has charged his coordinators with evolving the offense, defense and special teams in Year 2.
“I would not tell you anything in particular,” he said. “I would tell you, certainly, offensively, defensively and I know [special teams coordinator Mike Priefer] is working on it when we talked about his special teams, with your scheme year to year, you evolve. Sometimes, that is a different personnel group. Sometimes, that is a different play type. It really varies based on the players you have and moving them into different positions.
“To say that we will get completely away from who we are either on offense or defense, I do not think that is fair to say, but I will tell you that we are going to try to evolve within the scheme and continue to try to make ourselves difficult to defense on offense, and defensively find ways to frustrate an offense. That is what we are working really hard on right now.”
Here are some suggestions on how the Browns can evolve their offense and defense in 2021.
*Create ways to use Chubb and Kareem Hunt on the field together more.
This offensive package is my white whale. Yes, it’s fine to share the load to preserve fresh legs throughout a game. But some creative ways to employ Chubb and Hunt on the field together – given Hunt’s pass-catching ability -- would present unique mismatches. You want your best playmakers on the field. Last year, Hunt had fewer offensive snaps (548) than No. 2 tight end Harrison Bryant (590). And Hunt’s snap count was that high only because Chubb missed four games with a knee injury.
*Find the right balance of Baker Mayfield under center v. in shotgun.
According to Sharp Football Stats, Mayfield was under center 57 percent of plays in 2020. Only the Vikings (64 percent), Titans (59) and Rams (58), ran more snaps under center. Mayfield is a better passer – and viewer of the field -- in the shotgun, but the Browns’ run game is more efficient when the quarterback is under center. The compromise “pistol” formation was termed merely “window dressing” by coordinator Alex Van Pelt during the season.
*Get Beckham up to speed ASAP and determine, finally, if he fits or not.
The Browns chalked up Mayfield’s pristine 20-to-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio after Beckham’s knee injury to the natural evolution of the offense in the first season in Stefanski’s system. Well, let’s find out once and for all if there is a legitimate chemistry problem there or not. No more “We have to get Odell involved” lamentations.
*Get the three-safety “dime” defense operational.
Coordinator Joe Woods couldn’t deploy his favored alignment because rookie Delpit – the key hybrid piece – was injured in training camp. In theory, having a third safety on the field at the expense of a third linebacker puts a faster player on the field to cover a back, tight end or slot receiver. But if that 4-2-5 set is going to be the base defensive alignment, that safety better be a sure tackler and fast enough to spy on Lamar Jackson.
*Find a dependable complement to Myles Garrett already.
The lesson of Super Bowl 55 was nothing revolutionary. A consistent pass rush makes any legendary quarterback look mortal. Patrick Mahomes had his worst game because of Tampa Bay’s unrelenting pressure v. Kansas City’s decimated offensive line. There could be many changes to the look of the Browns’ defensive front. It needs them to approach the level of the Super Bowl champion Buccaneers.
Brownie bits