{"id":123081,"date":"2021-10-12T21:17:21","date_gmt":"2021-10-13T01:17:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=123081"},"modified":"2021-10-12T21:17:21","modified_gmt":"2021-10-13T01:17:21","slug":"kevin-stefanski-knows-he-must-do-better-for-cleveland-browns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2021\/10\/12\/kevin-stefanski-knows-he-must-do-better-for-cleveland-browns\/","title":{"rendered":"Kevin Stefanski Knows He Must Do Better for Cleveland Browns"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kevin Stefanski knows he must do better for the Cleveland Browns. The team is in that odd position where they have won three out of five games, yet it does not feel like they are winning. The loss against the Los Angeles Chargers<\/a> was a painful one, because the score was unusually high (47-42) and one mistake on Stefanski\u2019s part changed the course of the game.<\/p>\n

Kevin Stefanski Is Aware He Must Do Better for Cleveland Browns<\/h2>\n

The Browns scored 42 points, rushed for 222 yards, gained 531 total yards and had zero turnovers. Yet they still lost. Why? As reported by Jim Ingraham of Forbes<\/a>, \u201cThere are a thousand reasons. We\u2019ve got to own them\u2026 make corrections,\u201d said Stefanski.<\/p>\n

Has Stefanski Lost His Touch?<\/h3>\n

Stefanski\u2019s amazing play-calling was one of his greatest strengths in 2020. He led Cleveland to a 12-6 record and their first post-season appearance in 18 years. It was one of the main reasons he was named Coach of the Year. All of that was forgotten after a bizarre sequence of play calls against the Chargers. With three minutes left in the game, trailing 47-42, the Browns had the ball following a punt at their own 14-yard line. On first down, Kareem Hunt<\/a> ran for one yard. There was an incomplete pass from Baker Mayfield<\/a> to Rashard Higgins<\/a> on second down. There could have been a pass interference call on Chargers defense.<\/p>\n

But on third and nine, Stefanski called for a draw play to Hunt who gained three yards, and the Browns had to punt. This decision drew a lot of second-guessing. \u201cIn hindsight I definitely wish I\u2019d done something different. This is where I\u2019ve got to put our guys in a position to succeed. I didn\u2019t do that there, and I\u2019m sick about it. I was definitely too wrapped up in the previous play.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stefanski has not regressed, he\u2019s still doing a great job. It simply fell apart in Sunday\u2019s game during the Browns\u2019 final two possessions. Cleveland trailed by seven points and his play calls amounted to nothing. Following the odd string of calls, the final possession began with 1:31 left in the game at their own 25. The Browns ran eight plays, but the drive stalled at their own 46-yard line. Four consecutive Mayfield incompletions marked their second loss of the season.<\/p>\n

Miscommunication Amongst the Secondary<\/h3>\n

Browns defense shone in their previous two games, and they were rewarded with victories over the Chicago Bears<\/a> and Minnesota Vikings.<\/a> All that fire was nowhere to be seen against the wild Chargers. The secondary was plagued by injuries<\/a>, but Stefanski attributed their performance to miscommunication. That would appear to be the logical explanation to two monumentally blown coverages that resulted in two touchdown passes from Justin Herbert to Mike Williams. There was no Browns defender in sight.<\/p>\n

The biggest embarrassment came when the Browns were leading 42-41 and somehow pushed and pulled Chargers star running back Austin Ekeler into the end zone for what would become the winning touchdown. It was Cleveland\u2019s convoluted attempt at creating a game-winning touchdown \u2013 and that didn\u2019t happen. Browns defense allowed 47 points, 13 more than the points they gave up in three previous games combined.<\/p>\n

Arizona Cardinals Will Be a Challenge<\/h3>\n

Browns running back Kareem Hunt combined with Nick Chubb<\/a> for 222 yards rushing, but he knows the entire team is not doing enough. \u201cWe can play with anybody, but we\u2019ve got to find a way to click in all phases and finish the game strong.\u201d They will need to click in all phases against the Cardinals<\/a>, whose quarterback Kyler Murray<\/a> has enough speediness to present a challenge to Browns defense.<\/p>\n

Stefanski is by no means doing a bad job. It\u2019s possible for him to bounce back with his play-calling. Likewise, the Browns have always taken a few weeks to find momentum. Injuries are holding them back, but they have all the tools needed to start winning again.<\/p>\n

Main Image:<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>