They took away Kevin Stefanski's winning QB from last season and his offensive coordinator. Now have Stefanski's bosses taken away his play-calling role? (Cleveland Browns)
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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 …
Two weeks before their bye week and with the offense showing no improvement through a 1-6 start, the Browns are tossing up a Hail Mary. Kevin Stefanski will cede play-calling chores to offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey – something he repeatedly said he wouldn’t do.
The question is: Who called this play?
This seemed the right move when Dorsey was hired in January to “put this offense back together” with a system more compatible with Deshaun Watson. Stefanski stridently resisted it, even as he appeared uncomfortable calling plays brought to the offense by Dorsey.
But now with Watson out of sight to have his ruptured Achilles tendon repaired in surgery and Jameis Winston taking over at quarterback, it seems counter-productive for Stefanski to make this change.
Winston might be better suited to run Stefanski’s play-action passing game, especially with Nick Chubb expected to get better with each game back, and not Dorsey’s shotgun spread, RPO offense. Bizzarre, isn’t it?
“I don’t see it that way,” said Stefanski, who appeared unusually downcast for the start of a new work week on Wednesday. “I see Ken’s a guy that I have total trust in. He does a good job with the quarterbacks, does a good job with the offense. So just felt like this is the right thing to do.”
When Stefanski broke the mystery of who would call plays on the first day of training camp at The Greenbrier, he volunteered the news right off the bat of his press briefing. On Wednesday, he did not even bring up the stunning change of direction until he was asked.
“I’ve told you guys before, we have a very collaborative process in how we work both during the week and on game day,” Stefanski said. “So, I will continue to assist Ken and the offense as we game plan, as we get into the game. But I have total confidence in Coach Dorsey and the offensive staff.
“I’m just always looking at what we can do to just be a little bit better, and truth is we have to better on offense, and Coach Dors is somebody that I rely on very heavily and I just feel like this is the right thing for the team.”
Asked if it was fully his decision, he answered, “Yes, fully my decision.”
I asked if Dorsey would handle the play-calling the rest of the season or is it a week-to-week decision.
He said, “Yeah,” and then added, “We’re all week-to-week.”
Yes, we’re in the gallows humor stage of a season not yet half over.
Reaction to Dorsey taking over offense
Jameis Winston, who will make his first start for the Browns on Sunday against the Ravens:
“We’ve been with Ken since training camp. His voice has always been in my ear through meeting rooms and even on the field. So, I’m excited that he gets another opportunity to go out there and dial up some great plays.”
Winston declined to say if he was surprised by the decision.
“At the end of the day, man, my focus is on doing whatever’s required for this team to be in the best position to win football games,” he said.
Nick Chubb:
“Hopefully, it will affect us in a good way. We love Kevin and Dorsey. We have two good coordinators here, and we look forward to getting out there and playing.”
Famous Jameis
Winston was demoted last week to emergency quarterback and now he’s been promoted to make the first start of his career since September 25, 2022.
“First off, man, I’m extremely grateful to have yet another opportunity to do what the Lord has called me to do in the NFL, and that’s to be a starting NFL quarterback,” he said. “So, I’m beyond grateful for this and I am prepared, and I will do my very best.
“I view this as an opportunity to go out there and be my very best. And when I’m my very best, I’m a great NFL starter.”
So who will serve as the backup QB against the Ravens?
Dorian Thompson-Robinson injured the middle finger on his throwing hand in the Bengals game. Prior to practice, Stefanski said he wanted to see DTR throw this week before making a decision. DTR was a full go at practice and did throw in all periods.
Zappe in the house
New QB3 Bailey Zappe was making introductions with his new teammates in the early period of his first practice. He wore jersey No. 2 and took reps behind Winston and DTR in the portion of practice open to media.
Zappe was waived by the Patriots at the 53 cut and joined the Chiefs’ practice squad. Practice squad rules guarantee Zappe will receive a minimum of three game checks even if the Browns release him before then. But he said the Browns told him he’ll be on the roster the rest of the season.
“I think that’s what was communicated before I got here – be here all year and do everything I can to help this team win the last [10] or so weeks,” he said.
Zappe said he believes his time in the Patriots preseason under former Browns offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt will give him a headstart on catching up to this offense quickly. He thinks he could play on Sunday if called on.
“Just grind, obviously, get to work, study, watch film,” he said. “I’m kind of familiar with the system already so it’d be pretty easy for me to pick it up and hit the ground running. We’ll see come Sunday.”
The thing is, with Dorsey now calling plays, it would seem Bailey has more to learn than he realizes.
Brownie bits
The Browns did not add running back/return specialist Nyheim Hines to the active roster by Wednesday’s deadline, which means Hines will spend the rest of the season on injured reserve or be released. Stefanski said a decision will be forthcoming. Thus ends one of the strangest player acquisitions ever. Hines, who had ACL surgery in July of 2023, talked enthusiastically in the spring of being ready for the season. He opened the season on physically unable to perform, was then designated to return to practice, and as late as last week told TheLandOnDemand that he was ready to play. And then he wasn’t …
Right guard Wyatt Teller was designated to return from IR and was limited at practice. Stefanski said he expects Teller to return to his starting spot on Sunday …
Chubb probably had the best response when asked about the relationship with the fans as a result of the minority who cheered Watson’s injury against the Bengals. Chubb said: “I thought it was disappointing. Some people had a different reaction. I know we’re all in this together in Cleveland. I know that everyone didn’t feel like that. It’s a tough situation. But we all love Deshaun here. At the end of the day, the fans just want us to win, and we’re not doing that. So I think we sense the frustration coming from them. But beyond football, in the locker room, we’re brothers. We’re more than just football players. That’s where it hurt us because one of our brothers went down and some people felt differently [about it].”