Browns' offense has extra questions after Week 1 no-show vs. Cowboys

CLEVELAND — All through the offseason and coaching camp, Cleveland Browns gamers, coaches and executives spoke glowingly concerning the state of their revamped offense constructed round Deshaun Watson and restoring the type of the beginning quarterback who was getting back from his season-ending shoulder surgical procedure.

Nonetheless, a season-opening 33-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday highlighted offseason issues that the unit must right forward of its Week 2 highway sport in opposition to the Jacksonville Jaguars. By halftime, the Browns trailed 20-3 and had totaled only one first down. It was the primary time the crew had one or fewer first downs in a primary half since Week 16 of the 2005 season. Cleveland averaged 3.3 yards per play and was 2-of-15 on third down, the worst conversion fee for the crew since that 2005 sport.

“There’s issues that I do know we are able to do higher, issues that immediately you noticed that was not how we needed to do it,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski mentioned after the sport. “However we had loads of time to arrange. Simply didn’t get it carried out as we speak.”

Watson has struggled since his debut in Cleveland within the 2022 season, recording one of many worst QBRs within the NFL in his 12 begins main as much as this season’s opener. However he hit a brand new low in opposition to Dallas; his 9.4 QBR was the bottom mark of his profession in a sport with no less than 10 passes.

Watson went 24-of-45 for 169 yards, one landing and two interceptions. He was 0-for-9 on passes thrown 15 or extra yards downfield, probably the most makes an attempt in his profession on these throws with out a completion. Watson averaged simply 2.6 air yards per try, the bottom mark in his profession.

The Browns introduced in Ken Dorsey as offensive coordinator to assist bridge Stefanski’s system with a extra shotgun-based one which higher suited Watson’s ability set. As a substitute, Watson seemed as uncomfortable as he ever has in a Browns uniform, indecisive and off-target along with his throws.

“Simply the movement of the sport,” Watson mentioned of the dearth of downfield passing. “Regardless of the play is known as, you attempt to discover the open man and the man is there and generally the frenzy is getting there, so you bought to dump it off to your checkdown. Simply the movement of the sport and the way the sport is getting referred to as.”

Whereas Watson struggled, the Browns’ points on offense weren’t restricted to the quarterback. An offensive line enjoying with out beginning tackles Jedrick Wills Jr. and Jack Conklin, who remained sidelined by final 12 months’s season-ending knee accidents, could not block the Cowboys’ defensive entrance. Watson was pressured on 22 dropbacks, tied for probably the most in his profession. Cleveland could not lean on its working sport both, totaling simply 54 yards on 14 carries, excluding Watson’s scrambles.

“There’s going to be video games and throws that you just miss, however it’s making these performs which might be there after they current themselves,” Stefanski mentioned. “After which we simply must do a greater job defending him, No. 1. … We will not enable our quarterback to get hit that many occasions.”

Self-inflicted errors exacerbated the Browns’ disjointed effort. Dallas accepted seven Cleveland penalties on offense, six of which have been pre-snap or procedural infractions.

“I might say simply offensively, it is by no means a one-man present,” Stefanski mentioned Monday. “To get in rhythm with the quarterback, it’s a must to get in rhythm as an offense. After which we did not try this nicely sufficient. And it is multifaceted, and it consists of me and consists of our coaches, so we’ll be higher.”

Watson was held out of the preseason as he participated in all however one coaching camp observe in his return from shoulder surgical procedure. Not solely did Watson not play in any exhibition video games, however his high receivers — Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy and Elijah Moore — all missed time in the summertime due to accidents. Earlier than the season opener, Stefanski downplayed any issues a few lack of chemistry for the offense. And after its uninspiring debut, Stefanski refused to make use of it as an excuse.

The Browns might get reinforcements on the offensive line quickly. Stefanski did not have an replace on Wills or Conklin on Monday. However Conklin was listed as questionable earlier than being dominated out, and Wills returned to observe final week.

Cleveland might be lacking a high pass-catcher, although, as Stefanski mentioned tight finish David Njoku is “week to week” after sustaining an ankle damage within the opener.

However the main elements of a supporting solid that rallied round Joe Flacco late final season largely stay in place. And whereas Watson and people round proceed to specific confidence that he can get again to the Professional Bowl kind he confirmed throughout his time with the Houston Texans, increasingly more time passes with out constant performances to again the idea.

“Nothing must be drastic,” guard Joel Bitonio mentioned. “You do not wish to overreact to Recreation 1. We do wish to play higher. It is not an overreaction to say that. It is simply what we have to do.”