Why the Browns' revamped offense has been one of many NFL's worst

CLEVELAND — The Browns’ imaginative and prescient of a grandeur new-look offense — a spread-out method that highlighted quarterback Deshaun Watson‘s dual-threat skill — has failed to come back to fruition via three video games.

As a substitute of a contemporary offense that might complement an elite protection, the Browns have fielded an impotent unit that has been met with boos from their residence crowd and rivaled among the worst offenses which have taken the sector for the reason that franchise returned to Cleveland.

The Browns are averaging 3.8 yards per play, the second-worst mark within the NFL and the franchise’s third worst via the primary three video games of a season since returning to Cleveland in 1999, per ESPN Analysis. The group’s third-down conversion fee –18.6% — is the worst of any group and the Browns’ lowest mark via the primary three video games of a season since 1999.

Watson, the quarterback for whom the Browns gave up three first-round picks and signed to a totally assured $230 million deal, has continued to battle since coming to Cleveland and a normally dependable pillar has develop into unstable.

Amid a 1-2 begin for the primary time underneath coach Kevin Stefanski, the Browns’ points on offense could be traced to a number of components, from personnel to teaching.

Offensive line struggles and accidents

What has typically been a energy underneath Stefanski has develop into a weak hyperlink in 2024. Cleveland’s offensive line has regressed, and accidents, each lingering and new, have solely exacerbated the unit’s points.

The Browns misplaced three offensive linemen — proper guard Wyatt Teller, left deal with Jedrick Wills Jr. and proper deal with James Hudson III — in Sunday’s loss to the New York Giants. One other lineman, proper deal with Dawand Jones, was pulled after halftime as a result of he was combating a knee damage, per Stefanski, solely to need to reenter the sport after Hudson left with a shoulder damage. The illnesses compelled a mass shuffling alongside the offensive line, which included left guard Joel Bitonio transferring to left deal with. Stefanski mentioned the group by no means practiced with the offensive line mixture that completed the sport.

Stefanski mentioned Monday that Teller will miss “a number of weeks” with a knee damage and will go on injured reserve, which might sideline him for at the very least 4 video games. Proper deal with Jack Conklin, who has but to play since his knee damage in Week 1 of the 2023 season, was dominated out the day earlier than Sunday’s sport due to a hamstring damage that Stefanski known as a “minor setback.”

Safety points have been prevalent all through the group’s first three video games, and it is a weak point that opponents are exploiting. Coming into Week 3, the Giants blitzed on 25% of opponent dropbacks. However towards the Browns, New York raised that fee to 57% of Watson’s dropbacks. Watson was sacked eight instances towards the Giants and has been sacked a league-high 16 instances, essentially the most by a Browns quarterback via their three video games of a season for the reason that 1970 merger, in line with ESPN Analysis.

The Browns’ Go Block Win Price via three video games — 60.2% — could be the bottom single-season mark since Stefanski arrived as head coach in 2020. Cleveland ranks 14th in speeding yards earlier than contact — 2.67 — but it surely’s a far cry from the dominant speeding sport usually led by Nick Chubb, who’s on the bodily unable to carry out record.

“While you’re speaking about safety, it is everyone,” Stefanski mentioned. “It is from myself, the coaches, the offensive line, tight ends, operating backs, large receivers, quarterbacks. It is everyone. And everyone has a job to do with the intention to preserve the quarterback clear. So I received to do my half. It is no secret we will not let him get hit that many instances. That is not ok and that can get mounted.”

Quarterback play

Watson’s first move towards the Giants was arguably one of the best he has thrown because the Browns’ beginning quarterback. One play after Cleveland compelled a fumble and recovered the ball on the opening kickoff, Watson lofted a 24-yard landing move to Amari Cooper in tight protection to take a 7-0 lead.

However after that, Watson reverted to the shape he has proven all through his time in Cleveland — indecisiveness and inaccuracy. After Sunday’s sport, Watson’s complete QBR — 23.3 — ranks greater than solely the Carolina Panthers’ Bryce Young, who was benched final week.

When requested on Monday about Watson’s in-game really feel and processing, Stefanski mentioned that “Watson sees the sector effectively.”

Drops have been a difficulty for the Browns’ pass-catchers, registering a 5.2% drop fee on Waton’s passes, the third-worst mark within the league. However Watson’s accuracy additionally stays an issue. His off-target fee — 24.5% — is the third-worst within the NFL and could be the worst for Watson in a single season in his profession. He appeared annoyed at instances after overthrowing receivers on Sunday and lamented the missed alternatives after the sport.

“We’re not blaming anyone,” Watson mentioned. “… There have been some throws that I missed that would have capitalized issues and helped all the things out. So, all of this can be a group effort.”

Teaching/playcalling

The Browns underneath Stefanski have usually been probably the greatest operating groups within the NFL. However Cleveland ranks twenty fourth in speeding yards and thirty first in designed rush fee, partly a byproduct of trailing for a lot time via three video games.

On the group’s third-down points, Stefanski, the group’s playcaller, mentioned he may do higher in his early-down calls to place the offense in additional manageable third-down conditions. The Browns have the third-highest common conversion distance within the NFL (9.2 yards).

“You could be higher on first and second down to assist your self on third down,” Stefanski mentioned. “I do not assume we have been ok on first and second down. Been in some robust down and distances, or in that case, distances on third down. In order that’s only a matter of enjoying higher as an offense, however there’s all the time issues that we’re taking a look at to attempt to give our guys an opportunity.”

The group has tried to make changes, from its use of a jumbo package deal in Week 2 and utilizing operating backs and tight ends to chip move rushers and help linemen. However the fixes have been too late or not constant sufficient, leaving the offense trying to find some form of continuity forward of its Week 4 highway sport towards the Las Vegas Raiders.

“Truthfully, I feel that is the NFL for you,” Stefanski mentioned of the offense’s points discovering an identification. “Week to week, sure guys are going to be unavailable or you are going to go up towards a unique rusher than you noticed the week earlier than. In order that’s our job, simply to seek out methods to be environment friendly, discover methods to be explosive, whatever the challenges that you could have.”