We’re staying in the state of Ohio for our next stop along our 2023 NFL Preview, as the Browns look to get back on track after the last two seasons have gone completely off the rails. Indeed, the 2020 campaign was a watershed moment for Cleveland, who advanced to the playoffs for the first time in EIGHTEEN years and managed to win their first postseason affair since 1994. However, producing an encore has been nothing short of difficult for a franchise who has struggled to reach those heights while being mired in controversy since that triumph, setting up a crucial campaign that will ultimately decide their direction moving forward. Will (former Pro-Bowler) Deshaun Watson bounce back from last year’s lengthy suspension and repay the team’s sizable investment in him? Will (incoming Defensive Coordinator) Jim Schwartz fix a woeful defense? How hot is (Head Coach) Kevin Stefanski’s seat at the moment? Let’s roll through the dog pound in search of answers, shall we?
Show ‘Em What Ya Got
Last Summer, the Browns made a HUGE gamble in alienating (former number one overall pick) Baker Mayfield in talks of acquiring Deshaun Watson, who despite representing a considerable upgrade at Quarterback, also came with some very concerning baggage. Indeed, Watson (pictured to the right) had effectively sat out the entire 2021 campaign following over thirty different women filed civil suits claiming that he either sexual assault or misconduct, with the NFL reserving the right to hand down judgement for months before eventually issuing the three-time Pro-Bowler an 11-game suspension. Meanwhile, Cleveland acquired the services of the 27-year-old for a treasure trove of draft picks from 2022 to 2024, including THREE first-rounders, a third, and two fourths. With the team largely disappointing at 4-7 upon his return to eligibility, Watson started the last six games of the regular season, completing just 58.2% of his passes for an average of 183.7 yards per game on a mere 5.24 net yards per attempt with seven touchdowns in comparison to five interceptions, all the while authoring a dismal QBR of 38.3. Simply put, all of those figures clocked in well below his career averages, and even further below that of (veteran journeyman) Jacoby Brissett, who performed admirably in his absence, leaving many to wonder just what kind of Quarterback the Browns actually have on their hands. Is he the guy who led the NFL in passing yards (4,823) and tossed a career-high thirty-three touchdowns two years ago or is he the shell of himself that we saw last season? Given their hefty investment in him (and the subsequent egg on their face incurred during his acquisition), Cleveland really has no other choice but to make the most of his talents, not matter how eroded they may be. With that being said, he is participating in offseason activities as the team’s number one option at Quarterback without distractions for the first time since arriving last Summer, and at least on paper looks like a comfortable fit within Stefanski’s offense thanks to his mobility and knack for improvisation. Are we on the verge of a comeback campaign, folks? If so, then that would be the most positive thing to happen to the Browns in two years…
In Schwartz We Trust
Apart from the ongoing controversy at Quarterback, ultimately the biggest reason that the Browns failed to reach the playoffs for a second consecutive season was the utter ineptitude of their defense. Simply put, Cleveland left a lot to be desired on this side of the football in 2022, ranking twentieth in points allowed (22.4), fourteenth in total defense (331.2), while finishing nineteenth on third down (39.5%) and sixteenth in the red zone (55.2%). For the second straight year, they were particularly problematic against the run, shipping 135.0 yards per game (25th Overall) on a generous 4.7 yards per carry (25th Overall) and twenty-two rushing touchdowns (29th Overall). Furthermore, they were even worse down the stretch, for after their bye week their opponents trampled them to the tune of 145.6 yards on 4.8 yards per carry on the ground. This led to the dismissal of (former Defensive Coordinator) Joe Woods, with Stefanski reaching out to the venerable Jim Schwartz to return to the Browns following a 27-year absence. Of course, the 57-year-old made a name for himself as an assistant coach under Bill Belichick prior to the franchise’s relocation in Baltimore, and since then has carved out quite the reputation as a successful, yet sometimes volatile defensive strategist. We often remember his ill-fated tenure as the Lions’ Head Coach, but Schwartz (pictured above) has been an excellent Defensive Coordinator at multiple stops, particularly with the Titans (2001-208) before later helping the Eagles to achieve Super Bowl glory (2016-2020). It will be interesting to see how he makes use of the talent that Cleveland has amassed on this side of the football, including (two-time All-Pro Defensive End) Myles Garrett and (Pro-Bowl Cornerback) Denzel Ward, with the former logging sixteen sacks in each of the last two seasons, while the latter has racked up thirteen interceptions and sixty-five passes defended since he was drafted in 2018. Known for his aggressive play calling and man coverages, there is the potential for a wealth of big plays under Schwartz’s guidance, but if he can’t plug some of the holes in that leaky run defense, then this unit will be left thriving on big plays alone, which is dangerous in today’s NFL.
On the Hot Seat
Over the last three years it has been quite a ride for Kevin Stefanski, who has seen his share of peaks and valleys during his tenure leading the Browns. In his first year on the job, the longtime play caller managed to take all of the disparate yet talented pieces in Cleveland and put them together into a cohesive unit, finishing 11-5 with a trip to the playoffs serving as their reward, their first since 2002. Furthermore, they utterly embarrassed their hated rivals, the Steelers, in a resounding 48-37 triumph in Pittsburgh, no less, before giving the (eventual Super Bowl Champion) Chiefs everything they could handle at Arrowhead. As a result, he was an easy choice for AP Coach of the Year honors, doing so before turning forty years of age to boot. However, the good times would not last for Stefanski (pictured above), who struggled to keep the momentum rolling in 2021, as the Browns floundered to a mediocre 8-9 finish thanks to a rash of injuries and COVID-related absences, along with all-around sloppy play on both sides of the football. And then came the messy Summer of 2022 in which the franchise spent months courting the aforementioned Watson, whom they eventually acquired for that war chest of assets despite his looming suspension. Essentially, he had to head into the regular season with a short-term backup plan at the game’s most important position in for the first two-thirds of the campaign, before ultimately shifting gears towards a rusty and far more expensive Quarterback who was to be their answer long-term, no matter how jarring the transition would be. Simply put, this was always going to be a lose-lose situation for the 41-year-old, particularly given the wealth of issues that plagued the defense. And it is with that said, that after getting to enjoy the first full offseason free of distractions since he arrived in Northern Ohio, Stefanski has an opportunity to right the ship in Cleveland following two years of mediocrity. No matter what you think of the man personally, Watson has a much higher ceiling than his predecessor and could easily return to Pro-Bowl levels within Stefanski’s scheme, while the decision of bringing the aforementioned Scwartz back to the franchise where he got his start could finally galvanize the defense. If those things happen then the Browns are likely to be back in the playoffs after a brief hiatus, but if one or neither materializes over the next six months, then the skipper could unfortunately be looking for a new job…
Projected Finish: 9-8
Afte two years of meandering just below .500, the Browns appear to have the pieces in place to finish with their heads above water this season. Missing eighteen months of action isn’t ideal for any player, let alone a Pro-Bowl Quarterback, and though he performed well below his own lofty standards over the final six games of the campaign, that was a necessary acclimation period for Watson, who needed to rid himself of the rust. A return to normalcy should do wonders or Cleveland, who will be counting on their Quarterback to return to his playmaking ways, while the return of the aforementioned Schwartz should light a fire under the defense, for better or for worse. As we’ve stated over and over again, the AFC is a treacherous landscape, but if this team can navigate through a difficult first half of the schedule, the latter portion is anything but arduous, with only TWO of their final eight opponents having made the playoffs last season.
