CLEVELAND, OHIO (TheOBR.com) - Good morning, Cleveland Browns fans!
It's Tuesday after another Cleveland Browns loss, and I have questions. I don't think I have answers to the questions, but at least questions are something.
THE DAILY RANT-TYPE-THING
So, I'm wondering...
WILL KEVIN STEFANSKI KEEP HIS JOB?
Some people have low standards when it comes to who they ask questions. Those people have asked me whether I think the Browns will tire of losing again this year and reboot the front office or coaching staff heading into 2026. At this point, I highly doubt anyone is in danger because it appears that Jimmy Haslam is giving the brain trust a mulligan for the lingering effects of the Deshaun Watson disaster.
But I can see scenarios in which Kevin Stefanski's job security is threatened. The first is if the wheels completely fall off in 2025, the team loses confidence in him, and he "loses the locker room". I don't think this will happen due to the strength of the defense and its ability to keep the team in games, as well as Stefanski's leadership style, which has been built on a quiet confidence and the sharing of responsibility for failure. I've seen the wheels come off many times in the 25+ years I've been covering this team, but I don't think that the conditions are ripe for this to happen in 2025.
The more dangerous path is if Stefanski is viewed as an impediment to the offense's growth as the season wears on. The head coach has been stressing a conservative and turnover-averse style of play. We saw this against the Vikings, and it has already been pointed out in the media as something that could limit the effectiveness of the offense and hinder the growth of his young quarterbacks. I could see frustration building throughout the season unless some of the guardrails are eased as the head coach and offensive coordinator gain confidence in the rookie quarterback(s).
Unless Stefanski allows the offense to show more teeth, I believe that there's a distant risk to his hold on the job. I don't think that this will happen. I'm convinced Stefanski will loosen the reins as Gabriel gains more experience and the toughness of the defenses the team faces eases after Pittsburgh. Those among my readers who have lost faith in Stefanski will probably be disappointed.
CAN THE OFFENSE OVERCOME THEIR FIELD-STRETCHING ISSUES?
Part of the reason the Browns' offense was so ineffective in the fourth quarter is that the Vikings got one look at Quinshon Judkins and what he could do, and made adjustments. They started stacking the box aggressively as the game progressed, intent on stopping the run and certain that Dillon Gabriel couldn't beat them deep.
There were two main reasons that the Vikings, I believe, felt this way, and neither of them has to do with Gabriel himself. The first is the belief that protection couldn't hold up long enough for downfield plays to develop. Left tackle, specifically, has been a big enough issue that Gabriel will feel the pressure and check down.
The bigger issue is with the receivers themselves, who have been spectacularly ineffective thus far. Without significant receiving threats beyond Jerry Jeudy, opponents have been shading safeties in his direction and limiting his targets. When he is targeted, he's been dropping the ball. We discussed this on Gang of Three last night, and the consensus is that the drop issue might be treatable by getting the ball delivered to Jeudy closer to the point in his routes that he expects it.
Jerry Jeudy
Cleveland Browns WR Jerry Jeudy (Photo: Getty)
The Browns still badly need someone to break out of the pack at wide receiver. Isaiah Bond is still raw, Jamari Thrash hasn't been targeted often, Ced Tillman is injured, and Gage Larvadain and Malachi Corley haven't really gotten a shot.
While Jeudy can still rescue his season and I suspect a comeback is in the offing, he needs help. So do Gabriel and Judkins, who are both dependent on a looser defense to attack underneath and run with effectiveness. The Browns have to do everything in their power to resolve this issue.
WHY ISN'T DYLAN SAMPSON SEEING THE FIELD?
Dylan Sampson had what looked like a breakout game against Cincinnati, and since then, he has barely seen the field, much less gotten himself into a rhythm as a running back. When rotating Judkins out, the team has been using Jerome Ford most of the time. While Ford has acquitted himself well, Sampson should be the future for this role.
Sam Penix has been doing a fantastic job breaking down film for us, providing more film breakdowns on the OBR, and delivering a significant amount of value to our VIP subscribers. The answer to my question can be found in one of Sam's recent articles, where he dives into Sampson's strengths and weaknesses.
The short version is that Sampson is still a liability in pass protection. It's gotten to the point where the Browns struggle to put him on the field because defenses believe his presence means the Browns will either let him run or throw to him underneath. Pass protection is one of the most complex parts of a running back's job, and it will probably take some time before the Browns really feel confident putting him in that position.
While it's hard to see the progress that Sampson is making behind the scenes during the regular season, I believe that (like the previous two questions) there's a potential answer in the near future as Sampson develops these skills. They're essential to his growth in the Browns offense, and I trust that he and the coaching staff are working overtime to get him up to speed, as Ford is unlikely to be a running back solution for the Browns past 2025.
Have a good one! GO BROWNS!
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Have other NFL leadership groups gone from sub .500 to SB wins?
THE WATERCOOLER
Watch the rookie and last years players grow!
Hi ...
Gang of Three
Info from a Browns source I have
MNF: Chiefs at Jags
Trade Ford to the Chargers...
If we intend to give Gabriel a true shot we need a WR via trade
Browns Kevin Stefanski on Good TE, Poor WR Production; Defense Play, Q Judkins; Conklin, Robinson Updates
Fred Greetham on WTAM (10625)
A lot hangs on this upcoming Steelers game (not about firings)
LiveWire Thread for 106 - Twitter, Video, Articles
The rest of the season is about the Rookies
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THE LIFT
Positive news from the world of sports and beyond...
The 'ultraview effect': What happens when we bring human spirituality to outer space? - (space.com)
I spend my days generally scurrying about, going from one task to the next. Posting articles, editing, cutting up photos, uploading podcasts, and handling administrative tasks keep me busy as one day bleeds into another. It's a price I pay for doing what I love, and it requires attention seven days a week.
I often wonder if I'm missing out on other life experiences as I knock down to-do lists from day to day. There's power in just stopping and putting oneself in a different environment. It's why I got so excited about the solar eclipse a while back, and my weeks at the ocean in the last three years have been so important to me. These opportunities are rare, and I believe we should all take advantage of them.
All of that pales in comparison to going into space, which is something few of us will ever experience. You look toward the earth and experience a oneness with the planet. You look towards the stars and experience the depth of the unknown. In generations to come, it won't be as rarefied an experience, I'm sure, but I don't think I'm going to be around long enough for that. Still, it's fun to think about it and what it might mean, which today's article from Space.com discusses.
WRAPPING UP
When not wondering how he might ruin everyone's outer space experience via a mid-flight faux pas of some sort, Barry McBride is the Publisher and Founder of the OBR and bloviates this nonsense every morning. You can follow him on Twitter @barrymcbride or write him at barry@theobr.com if you are so compelled.
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