The Cleveland Browns have started the 2024 season 1-3. With that poor start, many questions have already begun to be posed as to why the team is not succeeding on the field. The true answer to this question has many answers, whether that be missed tackles, poor blocking, the lack of run game, the list can go on and on. Today, I’d like to focus on a question that has honestly been floating around Cleveland since the beginning of the Kevin Stefanski era, should our head coach give up play-calling responsibilities and let his offensive coordinator take care of it? I will break down statistics and thoughts for both sides of the argument so that you can decide who you think should be the Browns play caller, Kevin Stefanski or Ken Dorsey.

THE CASE AGAINST KEVIN STEFANSKI

Kevin Stefanski has been the head Coach of the Cleveland Browns since 2020 and he has been the play-caller for the Browns offense in each season he has been here. Despite multiple winning seasons, the Browns have never been a top-tier team in the passing game under Stefanski. Here is the Browns’ Offensive ranking when it comes to passing yards over each of his seasons here thus far:

2023: 19th (Deshaun Watson (6), Joe Flacco (5), Dorian Thompson-Robinson (3), P. J. Walker (2), Jeff Driskel (1))

2022: 21st (Jacoby Brissett (11), Deshaun Watson (6))

2021: 27th (Baker Mayfield (14), Case Keenum (2), Nick Mullens (1))

2020: 24th (Baker Mayfield (16))

These stats show the Browns no matter the year, situation, etc. have always been a bottom half of the league team in terms of passing offense which is surprising given some of the talent that has seen time in Cleveland during Stefanski’s Stint. Furthermore, Ken Dorsey, the current offensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns was previously the offensive coordinator of the Buffalo Bills which he called plays in 2022 and 2023 before his firing midway through the 2023 season. However, in that 2022 season in which he called plays for a full season, the Bills were ranked 7th in pass offense based on yards, which is a big jump from a high of 19th from Kevin Stefanski. Fans have also long complained about Coach Stefanski’s play-calling thinking he runs the ball too little or calls passing plays at the wrong time, along with his trick play calling happening too often when we should just be running a regular, NFL offense. There is a case to be made against the 2-time Coach of the Year.

THE CASE FOR KEVIN STEFANSKI

Kevin Stefanski was brought in to be the Browns’ coach due to his offensive knowledge and don’t be mistaken Kevin is a good coach. Kevin is a two-time NFL Coach of the Year award winner from his “rookie” coaching season in 2020 as well as his recent winning season in 2023, despite playing 5 different starting quarterbacks. You don’t win two Coach of the Year awards and you don’t have a winning season with 5 different quarterbacks if you are a bad coach. Furthermore, Stefanski has the out of less-than stealer Quarterback play. Baker Mayfield was the main starter his first two years in Cleveland and Baker was not close to top-half play during his time in orange and brown, even when he played well. The same can be said for Deshaun Watson who for the most part has looked like a shell of himself since being traded to the Browns. Lastly, Stefanski has been able to do more with less, when starting NFL journeyman Jacoby Brissett, Brissett averaged 237 yards per game, which is much higher than his career average of 133.9 yards per game. The same can be said with Joe Flacco, who seemed to be in the twilight of his career, not on an NFL roster before joining the Browns in 2023 to throw for an average of 323 yards over 5 games leading the Browns to a playoff birth.

SO WHAT IS THE ANSWER?

Honestly? I am not sure. In my opinion, it wouldn’t hurt to let Dorsey give it a go, especially if the Browns continue to lose games. However, I also get why the Browns wouldn’t want to go this route, after all, you brought Kevin due to his offensive prowess. Regardless, I hope the Browns figure out the answer and fast so the team can get back on the winning track.