As soon as Ken Dorsey was hired as the new offensive coordinator of the Browns, a discussion began as to who would call plays for the team. Most in the local Cleveland media speculated head coach Kevin Stefanski would continue as the play caller. I’m of the belief, Stefanski will turn the offense over to Dorsey. After the hire, Stefanski repeatedly said going forward the offense needed a fresh set of eyes and a new look. The goal is to bring out the best in quarterback Deshaun Watson. Last year, Watson showed glimpses of being a franchise quarterback, most notably against Tennessee and at Baltimore. His best season statistically as a pro was in 2020 when he was with the Texans. He set career highs in completions (382), attempts (544), completion percentage (70.2%), passing yards (4823), average per pass (8.9) and quarterback rating (112.4). The passing yards and average led the league. That year he had 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Watson started all sixteen games.

Can Ken Dorsey bring out the best in Watson again? Prior to his current stint with the Browns, Dorsey has worked with two very good quarterbacks, Cam Newton and Josh Allen. in 2011 he was hired as a scout for the Carolina Panthers and worked his way up to quarterbacks coach in 2015. That year Cam Newton was the league’s MVP and Offensive Player of the Year, leading Carolina to a 15-1 record and to the Super Bowl. Newton was 296 of 495, 3837 yards passing, 35 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He completed 59.8 percent of his passes, averaged 7.8 yards per reception and had a QBR of 99.4. The touchdowns and QBR were career bests. Under Dorsey, Newton improved in both from 2014 where his QBR was 82.1 and his touchdown passes were 18.

In 2019 Dorsey was named the Buffalo Bills quarterback coach. After the 2020 season, several teams, most notably Seattle and Detroit, approached him about their vacant OC positions. Buffalo decided to promote Dorsey to quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator. In 2021, Bills quarterback Josh Allen was 409 of 646, 4407 yards passing, 36 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. The passing completions and attempts were career bests as were his rushing yards (763) and average per rushing attempt (6.3) His rushing average led the league. In 2022 Dorsey was promoted to offensive coordinator and Allen was 359 of 567, 4283 passing yards, 35 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Josh Allen improved from 2018 every year under Dorsey. In 2019, he had a career low in interception (9) while doubling his touchdown passes from ten to twenty. In 2020 he set career bests in passing percentage (69.2), passing yards (4544), passing percentage (7.9), touchdowns (37) and QBR (107.2).

Just as Kevin Stefanski stepped back after hiring Jim Schwartz, he should do the same with Ken Dorsey. Dorsey knows how to get the best out of the quarterback.