Kevin Stefanski responds to criticism for Game 4 on Sunday

[ad_1]

(Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Early in Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Cleveland Browns faced a fourth-and-one down from the Cincinnati 25-yard line, and head coach Kevin Stefanski decided to go for it – with Jacoby Brissett at quarterback instead of Deshaun Watson.

His pass attempt to Donovan Peoples-Jones was incomplete, and they then lost to Joe Burrow and company 23-10.

Browns beat writer Mary Kay Cabot asked Stefanski about the move, and he made it clear he was focused on the future and had a constructive mindset.

#Browns Kevin Stefanski on the criticism he’s getting today for 4th and 1/Jacoby and more pic.twitter.com/PEdOuJhiln

— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) December 12, 2022

“As you can imagine, I focus on what I can control, what’s going on in our building, that sort of thing. So always looking for ways to improve. Always looking for ways to put our guys in a position to succeed. That’s what I have to do.

Watson, in his second game after his 11-game suspension, was shaky again, going 26 of 42, though he managed to throw for 276 yards and his first touchdown pass as a member of the Browns.

It’s understandable that it will take him a while to look like the Watson who led the NFL in passing yards in 2020, but fans want to see progression and improvement from him from game to game.

With a playoff berth nearly out of reach for Cleveland, it’s time for the team to build momentum next season, when they’ll likely have a full training camp together as a unit.

Maybe Stefanski should focus on another issue

One can criticize Stefanski for this decision on fourth down and perhaps other questionable play calls, but it would be better served to divert much of his attention to the elephant in the room – his team’s porous defense .

Despite having All-Pro passing thrower Myles Garrett and studs such as Denzel Ward in the secondary, the Browns rank only 18th in touchdown passes allowed, 22nd in rushing yards allowed and 27th in points allowed.

Defense is something that will need to be rectified if they want to become a very competitive team in 2023.

[ad_2]