Despite Playoff mistakes, Cleveland Browns Head Coach Kevin Stefanski proved himself this year

There are times since the 22-17 Cleveland Browns loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday that Kevin Stefanski will definitely want back. It might not have challenged Tyreek Hill’s capture in the second half if he had had a chance to think about the decision and think about wasting time. He might have been more aggressive as a player, especially in the fourth quarter on what grew as good as the team. There are more times for a nitpick, but the point is simple: Sunday wasn’t Stefanski’s favorite game.

“I’ll think later [on the season], ”Stefanski said after the loss. “I think right now it’s stopping when you don’t get the job you came for.”

And that’s okay too. This was his first moment on the biggest stage. (Remember: Because he had the coronavirus, he was in his basement for the Browns’ win over the Pittsburgh Steelers last week.) The Chiefs are also very good and Andy Reid coached a disappointing game down. the field – there’s no real shame in losing that game.

It is also clear that Stefanski is the man for Cleveland, the coach the team has been looking for since the franchise returned in 1999 and, if he could do it again, he would like to he would have been hired before the 2019 season when the Browns would replace Freddie Kitchens. Stefanski’s arrival will change things for the Browns. His play and approach got the best of Baker Mayfield, who came back heavily under Kitchens. It took him a while to settle in and break some bad habits, but it’s clear that Mayfield is the man now. That probably wouldn’t have happened if Stefanski hadn’t been in charge. It’s worth hiring for just that. A quarterback is the most important position in football and the Browns have finally solved that.

Stefanski succeeded in other ways as well. In a year of limited preseason and in-season practices – Cleveland basically lost two weeks after the COVID-19 revolution – the Browns were able to install a new system and it was a very good offense. aca. Per Football Outsiders, the Browns had the eighth best offense in the league per DVOA, with the 10th best offense passing and the ninth best offensive. That’s just smooth out there for a first-year head coach, whether the installation and usage time was limited or not. A year ago, Cleveland’s offense looked broken and now he’s the main driver where the team is headed. He (along with Bill Callahan, arguably the best offensive line coach in the league) also deserves credit for saying that the Browns unit is the best in the league.

Also of note: Stefanski is locked into Cleveland. In time, the people of the world may have Alex Van Pelt get their own head coaching opportunities. But being Stefanski’s head coach and play call gives the Browns some insulation in terms of coaching staff turnaround that will happen if the team continues to thrive. If Stefanski is the real deal – and it seems to be – they can survive coaches leaving and things change over time. This setup can go wrong (think Doug Pedersen with the Philadelphia Eagles) but it was a wise choice for the Browns to go this route even after Kitchens didn’t work in the same position.

Now, the next steps are to be taken. An extension for Mayfield is coming, as are some for Denzel Ward and possibly Nick Chubb. A way forward is needed with Odell Beckham Jr. (which is likely to be back if it ‘s not difficult to trade a player coming off an ACL injury) next year as well. The entire roster needs to be well-trained if the Browns are to take the next step. The cap may be affected due to loss of revenue associated with COVID-19 and all teams feel brutal about that.

But the basics are there. Mayfield and Ward and Myles Garrett are in their place. The line is locked in for a few more years. There is money to be spent and capital draft to get to the weaknesses of the roster. And Stefanski is the man who pulls the strings. This should only be the beginning for him as a leader and lead the Browns to success.