Browns 2021 Off-Season Thread

[Jordan]

I wouldn't be shocked if we win. I don't ~expect~ it, but I do think playing them week 1 will be advantageous for us.

For everything they say about the Chiefs and their September record in the Mahomes era (undefeated 10-0 I believe), I think the fact that our last game played vs. them may be helpful to us. They're pretty much gonna try to defend us the exact same way they did in the playoffs - I don't see why they would make a drastic change. The same thing happened vs. the Steelers in the playoffs where Baker just a few days ago confirmed that they tried to defend us the exact same way they did week 6 (with a few different disguises). He said "don't fix what's not broken" and that week 17 many of their starters were out, so the Browns coaching staff knew week 17 would be different. In the playoffs we knew they would revert to their week 6 strategy, and we tore their vaunted defense apart as a result. Stefanski might have been in his basement, but he left a footprint on that game with his meticulous gameplanning and schemes.

I really don't see why the Chiefs would do anything different, and with a ton of time to prepare, I think we're gonna score pretty good on their defense. The question is what will our defense do vs. their offense, and while I don't expect any miracles and would be cool if we kept them under 30 points, we can't exactly do much worse than what we were doing in the playoffs when they dropped 19 in one half before Mahomes went out.

I’d be shocked if Andy Reid goes into any game against any team with the same gameplan twice in a row. That’s not how he works.

 

[Vee-Rex]

I’d be shocked if Andy Reid goes into any game against any team with the same gameplan twice in a row. That’s not how he works.

I think what people don't realize is how awesome Reid is at in-game adjustments. The Chiefs have fallen behind early in soooo many of their wins it's crazy - their entire superbowl run was a series of comeback wins. What makes Reid special is his unique play-design coupled with the fact that he doesn't hesitate to do an about-face if his initial scheme isn't working. They're as close to the 2015-19 Warriors as you can get - four quarters is usually too long to keep their offense from catching fire.

Anyway, my post was moreso talking about how our offense will attack their defense, since I think we're capable of putting up some points there and I don't think Spagnuolo is going to do as well again. I already expect Reid + Mahomes to score well on our defense.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

I think what people don't realize is how awesome Reid is at in-game adjustments. The Chiefs have fallen behind early in soooo many of their wins it's crazy - their entire superbowl run was a series of comeback wins. What makes Reid special is his unique play-design coupled with the fact that he doesn't hesitate to do an about-face if his initial scheme isn't working. They're as close to the 2015-19 Warriors as you can get - four quarters is usually too long to keep their offense from catching fire.

Anyway, my post was moreso talking about how our offense will attack their defense, since I think we're capable of putting up some points there and I don't think Spagnuolo is going to do as well again. I already expect Reid + Mahomes to score well on our defense.

If you think Reid is special on the offensive side for adjusting and changing on-the-fly, then you should check out Spags.

He and Bowles are the best in the business at changing their defense in the middle of a game. With Spags, you couple that with some of the most exotic packages in the league, designed just to screw up your QB.

 

[MikeOC33]

I wouldn't be shocked if we win. I don't ~expect~ it, but I do think playing them week 1 will be advantageous for us.

For everything they say about the Chiefs and their September record in the Mahomes era (undefeated 10-0 I believe), I think the fact that our last game played vs. them may be helpful to us. They're pretty much gonna try to defend us the exact same way they did in the playoffs - I don't see why they would make a drastic change. The same thing happened vs. the Steelers in the playoffs where Baker just a few days ago confirmed that they tried to defend us the exact same way they did week 6 (with a few different disguises). He said "don't fix what's not broken" and that week 17 many of their starters were out, so the Browns coaching staff knew week 17 would be different. In the playoffs we knew they would revert to their week 6 strategy, and we tore their vaunted defense apart as a result. Stefanski might have been in his basement, but he left a footprint on that game with his meticulous gameplanning and schemes.

I really don't see why the Chiefs would do anything different, and with a ton of time to prepare, I think we're gonna score pretty good on their defense. The question is what will our defense do vs. their offense, and while I don't expect any miracles and would be cool if we kept them under 30 points, we can't exactly do much worse than what we were doing in the playoffs when they dropped 19 in one half before Mahomes went out.

You make some good points, but you are assuming KC isn't tweaking in the off season, or that they aren't watching tape of the last game.

It is foolish to think they are ok with the last game and that "Oh, Clev will do the exact same thing. If we do exact same thing...."

I think THE 2 biggest factors for this game are the changes in the KC o-line...it takes weeks to gel all the changes they've got, and for Clev that it is year 2 and there AREN'T a lot of changes. It really is a tweak and install year, not a change of new coaches, schemes, etc.

But the biggest is the revamped line for KC. I'd much rather play them week1, then after week 8 or so. They've got talent, but it cannot be a well oiled unit yet. Little mistakes here and there can be sacks or blown plays.

 

[Marcus]

Honestly, if they don't win their first game, they probably aren't making the playoffs, and they may as well start looking at QBs again, because Baker just ain't it. Thank God they didn't sign him to that early extension. The offense doesn't need OBJ, and this game just proves it. This is still very much Lamar Jackson's division, and TJ Watt is simply better at rushing the QB than Myles Garrett. All that hype about the revamped defense just for them to fall on their faces in the 4:25 slot on the road at Kansas City. Can we get rid of Joe Woods already? At this rate, the Browns will be lucky to finish above the resurgent Cincinnati Bengals and a healthy Joe Burrow, rather than in the cellar again.

Am I doing this right? @The Oi @AZ_

 

[col63onel]

2021 preseason All-AFC North Team: Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt front a dominant defensive unit

There's a whole lot of talent on defense in this division

www.cbssports.com

24 players on offense and defense (a flex in the secondary and offensive skill position) plus 3 specialists. Browns had 10 total. Ravens 8, including all 3 specialists. Pit had 5 and Cin had 3.

 

[Triplethreat]

 

[Kbiz]

NFL Network's Peter Schrager was a guest on Bill Simmons' podcast and told a story about trying to get Stefanski on his podcast series where he interviewed different NFL head coaches.

Here's what Peter said:

"I talk to Stefanski a lot. They were very keen this Summer to be like "let's lay low let's not make headlines, we're not gonna be that team."........I'll candidly tell you we had a near 100% success rate booking Flying Coach [his podcast] whoever me and Sean [McVay] wanted to have on would come on. I've known Stefanski for years. We asked him and he's like "You know I've gotta be honest, I love you guys I love the concept, I've listened to them and it's cool but like the local media hasn't had a chance to talk with me, I haven't done a lot of national media. I just don't feel right"...and we're like "No, no, no like [Mike] Tomlin's doing it and [Kliff] Kingsbury's doing it" and he's like "It doesn't matter this is a very important year for us. I'm not gonna do any media nationally".

I think they're in that bunker mode where they know they're that team."

source

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This Stefanski guy seems like a smart dude.

 

[NorthCoastBias]

When he says “we’re about the work,” he actually means it. How refreshing.

 

[Cassity14]

NFL Network's Peter Schrager was a guest on Bill Simmons' podcast and told a story about trying to get Stefanski on his podcast series where he interviewed different NFL head coaches.

Here's what Peter said:

"I talk to Stefanski a lot. They were very keen this Summer to be like "let's lay low let's not make headlines, we're not gonna be that team."........I'll candidly tell you we had a near 100% success rate booking Flying Coach [his podcast] whoever me and Sean [McVay] wanted to have on would come on. I've known Stefanski for years. We asked him and he's like "You know I've gotta be honest, I love you guys I love the concept, I've listened to them and it's cool but like the local media hasn't had a chance to talk with me, I haven't done a lot of national media. I just don't feel right"...and we're like "No, no, no like [Mike] Tomlin's doing it and [Kliff] Kingsbury's doing it" and he's like "It doesn't matter this is a very important year for us. I'm not gonna do any media nationally".

I think they're in that bunker mode where they know they're that team."

source

---

This Stefanski guy seems like a smart dude.

I fucking LOVE this dude.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Our own OL was not close to healthy against the Chiefs. Left side of the line was held together with paper clips, and it made us much more predictable.

 

[blommen]

I just don’t think our defense with the amount of new and Young players are going to be ready to deal with KC, especially with Mahomes coming off a SB loss and wanting to reassert himself.

 

[Cassity14]

I just want to see the Browns look like they belong on the field with the Chiefs.

I know that's cliche and approaching "moxy" levels, but I want the game to feel like a battle of heavyweights. The hearbreaker against the Ravens at the end of last season is the type of game I'm looking for. I want to see the Browns be able to go toe to toe with a top team that's not actively beating itself.

 

[Marcus]

I just want to see the Browns look like they belong on the field with the Chiefs.

I know that's cliche and approaching "moxy" levels, but I want the game to feel like a battle of heavyweights. The hearbreaker against the Ravens at the end of last season is the type of game I'm looking for. I want to see the Browns be able to go toe to toe with a top team that's not actively beating itself.

All kidding aside, that would be about as "acceptable" a loss as you could hope for. Obviously we'd love to see the Browns start off 1-0 for a change, but that's a tall order for Week 1 during a nationally televised game in Arrowhead.

 

[KCOTT]

when do we build the Stefanski statue?