HC Kevin Stefanski has repeatedly said after losses this season that they are not just on the shoulders of QB Deshaun Watson or the Cleveland Browns poor offensive line. He has explained to media that coaches have to also be better and call a better game as well as prepare their players better for each week.
Stefanski seemingly ignored his own advice during Week 6 and the team’s fifth loss of the season when, on 3rd and one and with a chance to get an easy first down on a fairly solid drive against the Philadelphia Eagles, he called for a jet sweep play with backup QB Jameis Winston under center. Winston handed the rock off to Cedric Tillman for a loss of five instead of picking up a first down, which led to a missed field goal from usually accurate K Dustin Hopkins.
It was a strange call, especially as the run game was pretty effective for the Browns in the contest. Running backs Pierre Strong Jr. and D’Onta Foreman were solid in picking up extra short yardage for Cleveland despite an injury to starting RB Jerome Ford. Stefanski chose to ignore that and go with a trick play that tricked no one…