Kevin Stefanski’s patience with Cade York is rooted in his Minnesota experience
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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.
Second thoughts on Browns’ 18-18 tie with Philadelphia Eagles in Preseason Game 3 …
When Cade York missed not one but two tries at a game-winning field goal from inside 50 yards in Lincoln Financial Field on Thursday night, it escalated a kicking “situation” into a kicking “crisis.”
York sprayed a 47-yard try right – his normal miss this summer. After a Philadelphia penalty gave him a reprieve six yards closer, York overcompensated and pull-hooked a 41-yard try left.
Right, left, right left. He’s all over the place now, 3 for 7 on the preseason, all the misses coming from makeable range, 41 to 49 yards. His kicks are ducking and diving like bats hunting mosquitoes on a summer night.
The coaches couldn’t have written a better script in Philadelphia for York. After going 3 of 3 through the first three quarters, York faced a game-winner -- a game situation not easily set up in a preseason contest – twice. And he missed twice. Instead of silencing the noise about his rough second preseason, York amplified it.
No head coach wants to be in Kevin Stefanski’s shoes right now.
A kicking crisis is something no NFL head coach wants to endure. (Cleveland Browns)
After a taxing yet productive week in Philadelphia, a weary Stefanski said of York in a Zoom conference, “Cade’s our kicker. We support him. We have a ton of confidence in him. That’s really as simple as that.”
I think Stefanski’s professed confidence in York is rooted in his experience in Minnesota under coach Mike Zimmer, who never met a kicker he liked.
In Stefanski’s six seasons as a Vikings offensive assistant under Zimmer, the blunt and demanding Bill Parcells disciple blew through four kickers in six seasons.
When GM Rick Spielman sought to provide Zimmer with a young, powerful kicker in the draft, he traded two picks to move up in the fifth round and select Daniel Carlson, the all-time SEC leading scorer from Auburn.
Zimmer suffered only two games before cutting him.
Carlson’s sin was missing one field goal in regulation and two in overtime, resulting in a 29-29 tie with the Green Bay Packers. It was Carlson’s second NFL game as a rookie, and Zim had had enough.
Zimmer was asked what went into the decision to release Carlson.
“Did you see the game?” he responded.
Was it a difficult decision?
“No, it was pretty easy,” Zimmer replied.
Carlson found a home with the Raiders, and has become arguably the NFL’s second-best kicker.
In the last five seasons, Carlson has converted 89.9 percent of 158 field goal attempts. At the same time, Baltimore’s Justin Tucker has made 161 of 177 for 90.9 percent. Carlson has been a tad better at 50+, making 24 of 29 to Tucker’s 24 of 33.
Spielman later called Carlson “the player I regret cutting most.”
I asked Stefanski if the Carlson experience was a teaching moment for him and is influencing his patience with York.
“All of it’s a teaching experience for me,” Stefanski replied. “Everything, of course. But I don’t want to get into that specific situation. I understand the question, but I do think Cade has the right mentality to continue to work through it.”
So York has two things going for him – Stefanski’s up-close experience of a coach letting his emotions make a decision prematurely, and the fact that GM Andrew Berry used a fifth-round pick to draft York in 2022.
Browns legendary kicker Phil Dawson always said you’re only as good as your next kick. York has to be real good on his next kick. And then the one after that.
Now for the winners and losers in the 18-18 tie with the Eagles.
Winners
Wide receiver Austin Watkins
This is my third Second Thoughts column of the preseason. Watkins is the only player to be cited as a “winner” in each game. He was the absolute longest shot among 90 players to make the 53 roster because he didn’t arrive until the team landed in The Greenbrier after the Browns learned speed merchant Marquise Goodwin would be sidelined with blood clots.
In Philadelphia, Watkins was the best offensive playmaker on the field for both teams.He had seven catches for 139 yards and one TD of 32 yards on which he adjusted to Kellen Mond’s underthrown ball between two receivers at the 10, juggled it, and ran it in.
“I think he’s done a nice job running routes. Been very dependable catching the ball as well,” Stefanski said.
Watkins undoubtedly has benefitted from a spring season with USFL champion Birmingham Stallions. With the Browns, the 6-1 ½, 207-pound Watkins has looked polished, smooth and unfazed, as if he’s been in the league four or five years.
Watkins credited Birmingham Stallions receivers coach Mike Jones for teaching him to be a professional. “Looking at the playbook every night and studying, and stuff,” Watkins said.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate
The undrafted rookie from Utah via Florida made plays all over the field, finishing with a team-high seven tackles, including one in the end zone for a safety. He also stripped Eagles running back Trey Sermon of the ball after a catch and influenced a sack on a rare Jim Schwatz blitz.
“He’s a very active player, sideline-to-sideline,” Stefanski said. “You love ball-aware players. You love guys that can knock the ball out, and he certainly did that. He’s really taken the practice field to game field.”
“I had some pretty good plays. My feedback from my coaches is I’m getting better,” Diabate said after the game.
He said he “definitely” feels he’s opened eyes, but has no idea if he’s yet won a spot on the 53.
“I just been working my ass off every day. We’ll see how things turn out,” Diabate said.
Strong safety Ronnie Hickman
Vying for the backup job to starter Grant Delpit, the undrafted free agent from Ohio State had his third interception over his last four quarters of preseason football. Hickman’s good summer camp continued when he was cleared from protocol on Friday after leaving the game with a possible concussion.
Losers
Wide receiver Anthony Schwartz
Needing to make every catch to overcome two seasons of drops, Schwartz fell short. He was 4 of 10 on targets for a scant 33 yards and also lost five yards on an end-around carry. If Schwartz makes the 53 in his third season, he will rival illusionist and escape artist David Blaine for fooling the GM once again. Nothing on the field comes natural for Schwartz.
Running back Hassan Hall
The undrafted free agent from Georgia Tech via Louisville was in the mix for RB3 behind Nick Chubb and Jerome Ford because of his receiving ability and his return ability. Alas, he had two drops on receiving 2 of 5 targets for 11 yards, didn’t run particularly well (16 yards on eight carries) and was unspectacular on kickoff returns (62 yards on three returns). Hall seems destined for the practice squad, at best, with the RB3 role now clearly down to Demetric Felton and newly signed Jordan Wilkins – or someone else.
