Browns Bye Week To-Do List on Offense
The most frustrating element of the loss to the Baltimore Ravens isn't that the Cleveland Browns lost, it's the fact that nothing has changed. Without Deshaun Watson playing, the Browns didn't address any of the lingering issues they have on that side of the ball, leaving them in the same place they found them entering the matchup. Now on their bye, the Browns still have to come up with answers for their ongoing issues.
The offense goes as far as Deshaun Watson takes them, which works as long as he plays at a franchise quarterback level. But between the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers game where he played poorly and now this game against the Ravens where he couldn't play all, when the quarterback position struggles, the offense lacks answers.
Three chaotic weeks didn't help. A Monday night self immolation by Deshaun Watson against the Steelers is then followed by a short week trying to stabilize the situation, which it did against the Tennessee Titans. Unfortunately, it also came with a shoulder injury that shut down Watson for the next week trying to get ready for the Ravens.
Watson's status is still a question mark as the team prepares for a week six matchup the San Francisco 49ers, but much of the work the Browns have to do is self scout and make an honest assessment of where they are and who they are.
The bye week is the best time for any NFL team to do that and the Browns need to make the most of it.
1. Limit turnovers, negative plays, eliminate hero plays
Through four games, the Browns have turned over the ball ten times, an average of 2.5 per contest. Even if one were to simply ignore DTR's three interception, that number is still too high given the team's output on offense. Turnovers are the reason they lost to the Steelers.
34 of the 60 points the Browns have given up this season are off of turnovers, 14 of which were defensive touchdowns.
Additionally, whether it's been the quarterback or their skill players, the Browns have had too many examples of players trying to make something out of nothing only to make the situation infinitely worse.
That is a summation of Watson's game against the Steelers, but Elijah Moore's decision to run backwards on a run that simply wasn't going to happen is a prime example. The Browns didn't get the block they hoped for to give him running room. The Ravens win the play, but to then run backwards and lose 20 yards is ridiculous.
They need to trust the fact the defense is good, but they also just need to believe in the offense that they can get the next play. The Moore decision killed the Browns best opportunity to get in the end zone, forcing them to settle for a long field goal.
They have to get better to sustain success both in games as well as over the course of the season.
2. Find a way to run the ball
The Browns are facing a notable handicap, losing both Nick Chubb and Jack Conklin for the season, but they must find a way to run the ball with the players they do have.
The Browns have an unproven second-year back in Jerome Ford. They have a rookie right tackle in Dawand Jones, who is far better at pass blocking than run blocking. Along with Jedrick Wills, the tackle play is a weakness on this team, which is exacerbated by the overall struggles of the offense.
Additionally, the Browns have tried to utilize mainstay concepts this offense has relied on in the past that aren't good fits for what the Browns have. They aren't equipped to run outside zone with their current personnel; at least they can't lead with it.
Wills can execute it, but he's not doing so at a high enough level. Jones is going to get better in run blocking overall, but it's easier said than done to adjust to moving targets in space with his agility.
However, the Browns do have David Njoku, who does provide a major boost to the running game. He's an effective blocker and a means to help to stretch the field horizontally, but that still doesn't make it a great option currently.
Particularly if they have a healthy Ethan Pocic at center, the Browns have beef up front and particularly up the middle. Pocic is not overly mobile, but he's stout at the point of attack. Joel Bitonio can do anything, but Wyatt Teller is more suited to be a bulldozer than anything else. Dawand Jones may not be great as a run blocker, but they can at least use his size as an asset.
That would suggest gap concepts. The Browns do run plenty of pin and pull in the form of counters. They've mixed in some traps as well. The execution there needs to be more consistent. Additionally, it suggests the Browns should utilize more inside zone, mixing in split zone looks to keep the backside end from chasing down plays and provide additional playaction options.
Move people off the ball, another area that must improve, and present multiple run options. That not only applies to designed runs to the back, but that also needs to include run-pass option looks. The Browns haven't employed many of those to this point and that needs to change and may be their best method to get to the perimeter.
It could help Watson avoid taking some of the hits he's taken, though he needs to do his part with his reads and decisions. It forces the defense to play more honest and keep defenders aware of the possibility of either keeping the ball or throwing it quickly.
That not only fits the Browns personnel up front better, taking some of the pressure off of the offensive line, but also fits their personnel better. If the Browns want to keep utilizing Elijah Moore as a run threat, do it as part of an RPO look where the decision to give him the ball is made with evidence he will be open.
Anything that takes pressure off of the offensive front and the tackles in particular, putting more of the onus on the quarterback (mentally, not physically) and skill players is a step in the right direction. Especially with the amount of shotgun the Browns are using, they need to be more effective with their personnel usage.
Clearly, the Browns were hoping they could ease into some of these transitions with Watson at quarterback, perhaps until they got to the bye week. As long as he was effective, it could mask some of the issues they were having, including the running game. Given the issues they've had already, now with time and 13 games still to be paid, they've got to be honest with who they are and make a hard pivot now and live with the potential bumps in the road that may arise in the process.
3. Lean into Deshaun Watson
I've touched on this a little bit, but the Browns have the quarterback the organization wanted in Deshaun Watson. They need to lean all the way into him as the answer to their offensive problems. The more success he has, the easier it is to do everything else.
So long as the shoulder injury Watson has isn't a long term issue, the Browns don't have to panic. They simply need to act. Combined with their strong defense, they've proven the ability to produce enough points to win games. It's a matter of improving their efficiency and consistency. That's the nature of any football season. The Browns offense that plays the Cincinnati Bengals in week 18 should be unrecognizable from the one that hosted them in week 1. It should be better.
The Browns need to ask themselves one simple question and make that the focus on offense during the bye, but just in general. What's going to put Watson in the best situation to succeed? Runs, passes, screens, protection calls. They've got four games to evaluate and problem solve based on what opponents are doing to cause them problems. They also have some difficult questions about their identity they need to answer.
This is also Kevin Stefanski's history. Whatever complaints people have, he's consistently put quarterbacks in position to succeed throughout his career. The stakes have never been higher given the capital surrendered to acquire Watson, but the challenge remains the same. He has talented offensive coaches and listens to his players.
As bad as all of this may sound, the Browns are a 2-2 football team with everything to play for with a great defense and a talented quarterback. There are far worse places to be, but they have work to do.
