CLEVELAND, Ohio - Browns veteran quarterback Joe Flacco appears to be losing his battle with father time. He sits near the bottom of the league in nearly every major passing category with a 58.1 completion percentage, just two touchdown passes, too many interceptions, and a league-worst passer rating of 60.3.
While the Browns move to Dillon Gabriel for a spark, it’s inaccurate and unfair to say he will fix all the issues with this offense.
The offensive line has failed in pass protection, receivers continue to drop passes, the run game lacks consistency, and Kevin Stefanski’s schemes often seem focused more on plays than on players.
Special teams have compounded the issues by giving up long returns, missing kicks and consistently costing the Browns field position.
Flacco has had a hand in the struggles, but there is plenty of blame to go around.
Let’s take a look at three major areas the Browns have struggled, and a possible fix for each one:
1. The QB play
Flacco has turned the football over far too often for the Browns to have success.
While poor pass protection, dropped passes, and an inconsistent run game are not on him, protecting the football absolutely is.
My biggest concern is his lack of mobility. At this stage of his career, Flacco is a stationary target. Defenses know exactly where he will be, with zero threat of him making a play with his legs.
That predictability makes life much easier for opposing pass rushers and much harder for the Browns offense to function.
The Fix
The move to Gabriel may be the best decision moving forward for Stefanski and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees.
With pass protection breaking down far too often, Gabriel’s ability to escape pressure and change launch points could be exactly what this offensive line needs.
The former Oregon star has the mobility to run Stefanski’s zone-run play-action game, extend plays outside the pocket, and create cleaner throwing lanes.
Just as important, his quick processing and ability to get rid of the football on time will take pressure off the offensive line and keep the offense on schedule.
Not only does that shift the pocket, it also opens up the base levels concepts in the passing game, which should mean more touches for David Njoku and rising star Harold Fannin Jr., two playmakers who can thrive when the ball comes out on time and in rhythm.
The clips below highlight Gabriel’s ability to make quick, confident decisions and throw with accuracy.
On one play, Stefanski dials up a curl-flat stick variation to the boundary, giving Gabriel an easy read off the flat defender. He stays on time and in rhythm to move the chains.
On another third down, the Browns motion Jamari Thrash into a stack, which tips off that it’s man-to-man coverage.
Gabriel anticipates the window and delivers a precise ball to Thrash. This is what Stefanski will be counting on against the Vikings.
2. Pass protection
The injuries to tackles Jack Conklin and Dawand Jones have left the Browns struggling in pass protection, and the problem goes beyond sack totals.
When the pocket constantly collapses, it disrupts timing, forces rushed throws and limits play-calling.
And repeated pressure creates “phantom pressure” for a quarterback -- as he thinks he’s going to get hit even when the protection is good.
The result is a quarterback who looks uncomfortable and an offense that struggles to find rhythm or explosiveness.
The Browns have helped the offensive tackles by using tight ends Njoku, Fannin and others to chip on the defensive ends before they leave into their routes.
Unfortunately for the Browns, this leaves just three players as primary targets in a pass concept, with the two players chipping becoming just a safety valve for the quarterback.
This makes it much easier for a defense and prevents an offense from stretching the defense both horizontally and vertically.
Teams have figured out how to scheme up five- and six-man pressures against the Browns, or simulated pressures, which are creating one-on-one matchups on the defensive linemen.
Below is one example of the Browns’ staple play-action levels concept from 2023. They sold counter run to the left, forcing the second and third levels of the defense to bite.
Njoku initially showed that he was blocking before slipping out as the short option underneath.
Jordan Akins came across the formation on the drag for the intermediate level, and Donovan Peoples-Jones worked the deep comeback to stretch the coverage vertically.
Browns levels concept
The Browns running a "levels" concept off play action in 2023.Lance Reisland, special to cleveland.com
Browns levels concept
The Browns running a "levels" concept off play action in 2023.Lance Reisland, special to cleveland.com
Browns levels concept
The Browns running a "levels" concept off play action in 2023.Lance Reisland, special to cleveland.com
Stefanski will use multiple personnel groups to disguise the call, but the quarterback’s read progression always stay the same: short to intermediate to deep.
If they can get the run game rolling with Quinshon Judkins, these layered concepts will get Gabriel into rhythm with easy throws and clear answers against both zone and man-to-man coverage
The fix
Trading for Cam Robinson this week was an important addition for Andrew Berry and his staff.
Robinson brings valuable experience and stability at left tackle, with 104 career starts and proven ability in pass protection. Robinson wins with a wide, balanced base, patient punch timing, and strong inside hand placement to control rushers.
He uses vertical sets to ride speed rushers deep, resets hands against swipes, and counters rip or swim moves with length and leverage.
While his run blocking has been inconsistent, he showed improvement earlier this season and could help a Browns rushing attack averaging just 3.7 yards per carry. If he stays healthy and sharpens his footwork, Robinson offers Cleveland a steady protector who can solidify the line.
Below is a look at a blown pass protection from Dawand Jones against the Ravens. The Browns recognized the overload blitz to the left, where four defenders are going to rush against three blockers. But they miscommunicated, with Jones and Ford both stepping to Roquan Smith and leaving the defensive end unblocked.
These protection mistakes have to be cleaned up, and the addition of Robinson should help stabilize communication and reduce missed assignments up front.
3. Plays over players
As a former offensive coordinator, I have studied countless schemes that have been successful over the years.
From power-heavy systems like the single wing and wishbone, to timing-based passing games such as the West Coast and Air Coryell, to today’s hybrid spread, RPO, and play-action systems that blend run and pass concepts.
There are many different factors that make specific schemes successful, but one will always be at the top of the list:
Players, not plays, are the main reason schemes have success.
It truly does not matter what scheme you run; it matters who gets the football within that scheme.
Stefanski has to make a concerted effort to force-feed his top players on offense. The focus must be on players, not plays, moving forward -- which will be a change for Stefanski.
Below is a look at a missed opportunity from Flacco that Gabriel must take advantage of.
The Ravens did a great job of bracketing the Browns’ smash concept, playing both over the top and underneath. In this situation, Flacco needed to check it down to Njoku. With Njoku’s ability to run after the catch, these underneath throws can quickly turn into the kind of chunk plays the Browns need on Sunday vs. the Vikings.
The Fix
Regardless of what play is called, Judkins, Jerry Jeudy, Njoku, and Fannin need the majority of the touches on offense.
Right now, the Cleveland offense is averaging 66.25 plays a game, and I believe at least 40-50 of those touches need to be with those four players.
Against the Vikings, look for a run-game emphasis with Judkins, quick passing game with Jeudy, and play-action with Njoku and Fannin.
What we learned
The move to Dillon Gabriel gives the Browns hope, but real change must come from protecting the quarterback and the Browns feeding their playmakers.
If Stefanski commits to those adjustments, this offense still has a chance to rebound.
Lance Reisland is the former coach at Garfield Heights High School, where he spent 18 seasons as an assistant for his father, Chuck, and four as head coach, from 2014 to 2018. In 2018, his team finished 11-1 and appeared in the OHSAA Division II regional semifinals. That team went 10-0 and made history as the first Garfield Heights team in 41 years to have an undefeated regular season along with beating Warren G. Harding for the first playoff win in school history.
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