CLEVELAND, Ohio – Scribbles in my notebook after the Browns 20-16 loss at Las Vegas:
1. There are times when I believe the Browns don’t fully understand the frustration of the fans. This early season is one of those moments. It starts with the team – a playoff team a year ago – opening with a 1-3 record. But it’s deeper than that.
2. During the off-season and training camp, the fans were told how the team was going to make the offense better. It was all about Deshaun Watson and the quest to find an offense that works best for the quarterback. Offensive Coordinator Alex Van Pelt and other members of the coaching staff were fired. Ken Dorsey was brought in to change what had been a rather successful offense for QBs such as Joe Flacco, Jacoby Brissett and Baker Mayfield (at least in 2020) to one that better fits Watson.
3. The Browns offense was supposed to be more dynamic – highlighting Watson’s athleticism. There was supposed to be a faster-paced offense with more wide receivers having key roles. Along with being better, it was supposed to be more fun to watch.
4. Four games into the season, the new offense is yet to score more than 18 points in a game. In fact, the new offense has scored only six TDs in four games. It ranks 26th in scoring.
5. It’s not as if the Browns have faced the NFL’s top defensive teams. In their four games, here is where their opponents ranked in points allowed: Giants (15th), Las Vegas (24th), Dallas (26th) and Jacksonville (30th).
Dawand Jones is off to a rough start this season with the Browns. John Kuntz, cleveland.com
6. Yes, the Browns have had some injuries on the offensive line, but that is true of most teams. It also was true of the Browns last season when the guys who played the most at tackle were Daward Jones (57% of the snaps) and Geron Christian (48%). Then came Jedrick Wills (46%) and James Hudson (45%).
7. The narrative around the Browns offensive line is they are without two starting tackles. One is Jack Conklin, who played a total of 22 snaps last year. The other is Wills. When (or if) these guys can get healthy and stay healthy for a few games, it won’t be as if the Browns are getting back Joe Thomas in his prime. Part of being in the NFL is navigating the various injuries on the offensive line. And yes, offensive line coach Bill Callahan is missed.
8. Watson has been sacked and hit more than any other QB this season. But can we have a rational discussion about that? Can we look at his last three seasons (2018-2020) in Houston and check his stat total? The fact is, Watson was sacked 155 times in those three seasons, the most in the NFL. Next was Russell Wilson, sacked 146 times. Watson was a 3-time Pro Bowl QB in that span, but his style of holding on to the ball long and scrambling leads to sacks. The problem with the Browns is that it isn’t producing the same big plays as it did in Houston.
9. In his press conference, Watson mentioned the need to “get on the same page” several times. He’s correct. The Browns had just come back on the field after the 2-minute warning. Watson was in the shotgun. He was looking to his left when the snap came, hitting him in the chest. He wasn’t ready. He wisely fell on the ball after he fumbled it. Watson and Coach Kevin Stefanski blamed “miscommunication.” Was it Watson’s fault, or that of center Nick Harris? I don’t know. No one is saying. But it looks bad when that happens right after a time out.
10. Watson jumped on Jones after the second-year tackle blew a blocking assignment. That led to a rushed throw and negated what possibly could have been a TD. Watson ripped into Jones on the field. He later continued when they went to the bench, but that was more of a pep talk with Jones. I didn’t have a big problem with it. Jones has been playing poorly. This is a man’s league. It did show there was some confusion in the blocking schemes. More of “not on the same page” virus that has infected the Browns offense.
Deshaun Watson leads the NFL in being sacked this season. In his last three years in Houston (2018-2020), he was sacked 155 times – more than anyone else in that span. John Kuntz, cleveland.com
11. Another fact is the Browns were 10th in scoring last season with revolving tackles on the offensive line. They were 10th in scoring, winning 11 games with four different QBs. They were not a team where there was much discussion of the need to get on the same page.
12. I thought Watson played reasonably well in Las Vegas. He was 24 of 32 passing for 176 yards. His interception was the fault of Amari Cooper, a good pass bounced right off the chest of the receiver and high into the air. A TD to Cooper was negated when Nick Harris was called for holding. It’s been like that all season, no flow, too many mistakes.
13. Because of all the off-field baggage Watson brought to Cleveland … along with his huge contract and the trade of six draft picks to acquire him … the QB doesn’t have a lot of good will with the fans. He’s played a grand total of 15 full games. The Browns are 8-7. He’s thrown 18 TD passes compared to 12 interceptions.
Kevin Stefanski’s 2023 offense ranked 10th in the NFL in scoring. The new one ranks 26th. John Kuntz, cleveland.com
14. The explosive plays and high-scoring offense that was supposed to accomodate Watson has not appeared at all this season. It happened in a few games in 2023 – Tennessee, Arizona and Baltimore. This season has been one of frustration and futility on offense.
15. Meanwhile, Browns fans watched Joe Flacco come off the bench for the Colts and beat the Steelers. Baker Mayfield has revived his career in Tampa Bay.
BIG POINT: The Browns struggles on offense are not all the fault of Watson. Yes, the QB is part of the problem. But there is something inherently wrong with the new offense, It looked disjointed and clunky in training camp, and that hasn’t changed. The Browns dumped a top-10 scoring offense a year ago for this … whatever it is. And yes, Watson was more effective in that old offense than he is in the current one.
