CLEVELAND, OHIO (TheOBR.com) - Good morning, Cleveland Browns fans! With the forums still resonating from Sunday's horrific-looking loss to the Steelers, the time in the morning has arrived to bloviate.
THE DAILY BLOVIATION
Worries, worries, worries going through my addled brain this morning…
When the Browns' brutal schedule was released, with the team facing six straight teams thought to have playoff or Super Bowl aspirations, many fans and pundits felt that the team would likely come out of it with a record of 1-5 or 2-4. They could have achieved that or better if luck had been on their side.
So, there's not a lot of shock right now about the team's record. Then why are a significant portion of fans calling for Kevin Stefanski's head?
As I intimated during last night's Gang of Three broadcast, it's less about how the Browns have fared than how the Browns have looked. Browns fans are aghast at how the offense, in particular, looks at this stage of the season. Against the Steelers, the offense was completely ineffectual. The Steelers' early ten-point lead looked like 30 or 40 points in the minds of Browns fans, who knew it would be a struggle to score against a tough Pittsburgh defense. Cleveland wound up with just three field goals on the day.
The Steelers didn't just beat the Cleveland Browns' offense; they beat them down. Overpowered at the line of scrimmage, the Browns couldn't even rely on Quinshon Judkins to give them a spark, relegating quarterback Dillon Gabriel to 52 passes with 58 dropbacks. Receivers were left exposed all day, with prowling Steelers safeties and corners making them hear footsteps as the game progressed, resulting in some dropped balls along with the errant throws.
It was a long, agonizing day at Acriwhatever Stadium, made worse by the fact that it was the 22nd straight loss as the away team against the Steelers in the regular season.
As inept and inferior as the offense looked, attention quickly turned to the head coach, who doubles as offensive play-caller and is supposedly one of the better ones in the league.
The bad-looking loss ramps up pressure for this weekend's contest against the Miami Dolphins, a team that is arriving as an infighting mess with a head coach whose seat is red-hot. A loss to the Dolphins? Well, at 1-6 and heading to a tougher-than-expected match-up in New England, the question would then begin to be how deep the bottom goes in 2025.
At that point, the Browns' focus would logically turn to stockpiling picks for 2026, with players like Joel Bitonio, David Njoku, Shelby Harris and more on the trade block before the November 4th deadline.
But here's the rub: Unless he has an iron-clad guarantee of coaching in 2026, Kevin Stefanski is highly motivated to show progress, especially with his young charges, as the season goes on. Improving play, particularly on offense, is how he saves his job.
Andrew Berry, Kevin Stefanski
Andrew Berry and Kevin Stefanski (Photo: Getty)
Would such a scenario put Stefanksi and GM Andrew Berry, long tied at the hip, at cross-purposes? Berry is coming off his best draft, and has a lot of holes to fill on the offensive line and at wide receiver this off-season. He's motivated to deal players like Njoku and some of the interior offensive linemen to amass an even better warchest of draft picks he can bundle in trades to move up in this draft. Stefanski, one would think, would be challenged even more by the loss of key veterans on a rookie-heavy team and would necessarily be less enthused about a sell-off.
Is this the end of the united Stefanski/Berry front?
It all depends on how Jimmy and Dee Haslam handle this. We don't know if both Stefanski and Berry are guaranteed a chance to come back next year, although it appears that the Browns owners are giving the players a gigantic mulligan for the Watson trade. Could a loss to Miami and a 1-7 start compel Haslam to bow down to public pressure and start looking hard at Stefanski's record?
We simply don't know. But it's a dynamic I'll be watching closely over the next few weeks. For Kevin Stefanski's sake, a win against the Dolphins has become a must.
Have a good one! GO BROWNS!
Newswire Bloviation Archive
CLEVELAND BROWNS STUFF
CLEVELAND BROWNS VIDEOS
Gang of Three: Browns Pasted in Pittsburgh - (youtube.com)
Browns 3D-The excuses are getting old the BROWNS NEED to perform - (youtube.com)
CLEVELAND BROWNS ARTICLES
Cleveland Browns Stock UpDown Pittsburgh Steelers - WRITER
Browns Kevin Stefanski on Quinshon Judkins with Just 12 Touches OT More Injuries Play Calling Tomlin More - WRITER
Mike Tomlin Blasts Browns GM Andrew Berry - WRITER
PFF Report Card Grades and Data from the Cleveland Browns Week 6 Loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers - WRITER
Cleveland Browns News and Rumors 1013 The Endless Loop - WRITER
Cleveland Browns Dillon Gabriel Accuracy Charting Week 6 Update - WRITER
OBR MESSAGE BOARD POSTS
ASK THE INSIDERS (VIP)
Whats the missing piece?
Being a PSUBrowns fan ain't easy
Why not package a few plays for Sanders?
How to keep faith in this regime ?
Please Make It Make Sense - LA
Wypler
Play Calling?
Bill Callahan
Ty Simpson
Locker room Leadership, do we have it?
Any help from the CFL?
Stefanski and Berry
What does the remaining contract look like for Stefanski?
Watson and Teflon Kev
I heard a rumor just now....
If Kevin goes does Berry stay?
What are the browns doing on offense ?
Why is only K S on the hot seat
INSIDER DISCUSSION (VIP)
Don't make the same mistake as Mayfield
Still a BerryStefanski Guy
Isnt maybe just as simple as saying, Its the line?
THE WATERCOOLER
The Official Last Member Standing Thread Week 7
Dillon!
OT - Deal is done between Cleveland and Haslam Sports Group
Haslam and Mayor Bibb holding press conference at 430 today
New Stadium announcement this afternoon...
Gang of 3
Titans axe Callahan
Question… do we ride out another 3-14 with HC and FO?
Tomlin Takes Shot At Berry
Who takes losing harder in Cleveland?
Denzel Ward
Callahan Fired
The Cleveland Browns are 1-5. When the schedule was released 1-5
My Source
Who do you want to be the next HC?
LiveWire Thread for 1013 - Twitter, Video, Articles
Sitting here early at work on monday
One Word Monday
THE LIFT
Positive news from the world of sports and beyond...
Browns P Corey Bojorquez puts foot to good cause with charity initiative - (news5cleveland.com)
Punters don't get a lot of attention for their off-field activities, either good or bad. They come in on fourth down or placekicking attempts, kick (or help kick) a ball, and go on their merry way. Corey Bojorquez, however, is doing some good for youngsters with cancer who need help. He and his family are providing $1000 University Hospitals' Angie Fowler Adolescent & Young Adult Cancer Institute every time he punts a ball inside the opponent's 20-yard line. With the Browns offense stalling out with regularity, Bojorquez will be called upon frequently. The good news is that some young people may benefit.
WRAPPING UP
When not devising soap opera subplots for his football team, Barry McBride is the Publisher and Founder of the OBR and spouts 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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