Deshaun Watson is more worried about winning games than compiling personal stats. Getting the offense in the end zone more is the immediate priority. (Cleveland Browns)
Is this the game the Browns’ offense visits the end zone more than once?
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Takeaways from Browns practice and interviews …
Deshaun Watson will be making his fifth game appearance Sunday against the Washington Commanders. That’s two games longer than a full preseason.
The weather in FedEx Field is supposed to be exceptional for Jan. 1 – 58 degrees, 10 mph winds, partly cloudy.
So, the rust is mostly shaken off Watson’s game. And the weather will not be a negative factor. Plus, the Browns’ entire starting offensive unit is intact, relatively injury-free for Game 16.
Could this be the week Watson and the Browns offense finally produce more than one touchdown?
We asked the experts.
Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt: “I do think so. I think we are ready for that. We just need to see continued improvement. I think if we can put the ball into the end zone, we would all be a lot happier. It is a really good defense we are playing, especially up front. Our challenges are there, but we should definitely see more productivity out of us, especially as we get down in the red zone. We haven’t scored when we have gotten down there like we should.”
All-Pro guard Joel Bitonio: “We certainly hope so. As a group, I think we haven’t performed up to what we want to perform. Obviously, last week was a little different with the freezing temperatures and things like that. I think the more he plays and the more he gets comfortable with us and the more we get comfortable with him. We have a lot of respect for the Commanders and their defense, especially their front guys. All very talented players. It will be a good test for us, but the elements should be less in play this week for sure.”
Watson: “I’m always expecting that. We don’t go into a game not thinking that, regardless of the weather. Last week we thought we could put up however many points that we can. Once those opportunities come, we have to take advantage of that. We can’t force the issue. We have to do the little things and make sure we have our opportunities to get down there to even put up points. This is an opportunity for us to be able to continue to improve as an offense as a whole and as a team to go out there and score points and show what the Cleveland Browns are about.”
Kevin Stefanski: “For me, obviously the focus goes to just doing our jobs so specifically to Deshaun, obviously doing his job. We want to play better. We want to play better as a team. We want to play better as an offense. That comes with doing our job a little bit better so there is not a threshold or benchmark that I am holding him, the offense or the team to specifically. Just have to try to do our job a little bit better.”
In Watson’s four starts, the offense has produced: 6 points in Houston, 10 points in Cincinnati, 13 points against Baltimore, and 10 points against New Orleans.
When Watson took over for Game 12, the Browns ranked sixth in offensive efficiency. Now they are 19th.
Watson doesn’t have enough pass attempts through four games to qualify on the league-wide list of quarterback rankings. If he did, his 69.3 passer rating would be 3.5 points lower than the last – and 33rd – ranked QB this week, Zack Wilson of the Jets (72.8).
“My main focus is winning,” Watson said. “I came to Cleveland to win the Super Bowl -- by any means. If that is throwing the ball five times or throwing the ball 40 times or scoring five touchdowns or scoring zero touchdowns, as long as we win, that is all that matters and that is all I really care about.
“The stats and stuff like that, I have done that before. I have had opportunities before. I have led the league in passing before. I have scored a lot of touchdowns. Did Pro Bowls and all of that stuff. Like I said, my ultimate goal is trying to get that ring, and I am going to do whatever I can to be able to try to have the opportunity.”
Brownie bits
Watson intends to organize some informal workouts in the offseason with players known to be coming back in 2023, such as Amari Cooper, Donovan Peoples-Jones, David Bell and David Njoku. “I know there are going to be a lot of changes,” Watson said. “That is how the NFL offseason goes, especially in the offseason. After the season, we will talk with Kevin, we’ll talk with AB [GM Andrew Berry] and try to give a guess at who is going to be here, and then get everyone -- especially offensively – who can come out and train with us and be on the same page so we can get as many reps as we can to catch up.” …
Defensive coordinator Joe Woods does not lay the blame of the team’s 25th-ranked defense on size of the tackles and linebackers: “I don’t think it is as big of a deal as maybe people think. Game to game, most of the plays that we get beat on is just because we don’t execute the defense more than an offense knocking us off the ball. Whether it is something that hits on the edge or we didn’t fit it correctly, it is more of those things. Specifically with the tackles, I don’t view it that way.” …
As for the linebackers, Woods said the injuries are to blame, not the preferred lighter size of the position group. “I think it is the injuries,” he said. “Losing our top four guys, that was tough to deal with. With our scheme, we put a premium on speed. You just have to be able to really, when you are taking on blockers, just use your length and be able to beat a block, but you can’t avoid them. That happened to us a few times this season.” …
Prior to practice, Woods said defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, in the final stages of concussion protocol, was looking forward to playing the last two games. Then Clowney missed practice with an illness. Left tackle Jedrick Wills also was out for the second day in a row with a back injury ...
Quote of the day goes to special teams coordinator Mike Priefer, commenting on how kicker Cade York can improve his consistency. “I think he has to really focus on his focus,” Priefer said.
