Browns: Kevin Stefanski and Joe Woods are holding the team back

The Browns need to make significant changes after their loss to the Patriots.

It’s not even the 4th quarter yet as this is being typed and the game is all but over. The Browns couldn’t figure out the Patriots’ secondary, something the CBS broadcasters have been pointing out all game. The New England defense has taken away every one of Baker Mayfield’s receivers, forcing Mayfield to try and find something that wasn’t there. The Browns’ defense was equally as bad, being unable to stop the Patriots at any point in the game. Even allowing them to muster a 99-yard-drive at one point. It’s safe to say that Kevin Stefanski and Joe Woods are not who the team needs calling plays.

For Stefanski, no one is suggesting he be fired, but his gameplan, schemes, and philosophy are not being executed by Stefanski and his staff well enough. This isn’t the first time that Stefanski has abandoned common sense when Nick Chubb gets hurt. Decisions like trying to convert a third-and-short from a shotgun position, and not trying other runners in the backfield when the Patriots’ defense took away the passing game, highlight how shortsighted Stefanski can be on offense.

The Browns had two active fullbacks for the game in Johnny Stanton and Andy Janovich but you’d be flabbergasted to find out how rarely either saw the field. Why carry two bruisers if you don’t use them?

For Woods, it comes down to one thing; his fear of blitzing. His greatest sin, however, may have been running a dime package in the second quarter when the Patriots were on the half-yard mark and starring at nearly 100 yards ahead of them. Letting the Patriots get out of the endzone and go 99-yards is a fireable offense. Clearly, the 4-2 defense doesn’t work and it’s clear that the Browns need to run fewer three and four corner sets if Greedy Williams isn’t healthy.

Both coordinators refuse to make adjustments and its costs this team half of their games this year.

The Browns need changes at the top because this season is all but lost.

The Browns have to make the call to fire Joe Woods and remove Stefanski as the play-caller. Neither man are consistent enough in those roles to warrant their spots and with the season all but lost, the only thing they can do at this point is something drastic to try and salvage this thing. This team can’t afford to miss out on the playoffs after last year.

The saddest part of this game against the Patriots isn’t how bad the coaches played, but how bad their players looked trying to execute their game plans. Stefanski and the fanbase can’t blame this on the lack of Nick Chubb. They can’t blame it on Baker Mayfield. They can’t blame it on the offensive line. No one played well, and when no one plays well that’s on the coaching staff.

You can’t do much as a player if the defense knows how to negate your passing routes. That’s what happened against the Browns, the Patriots knew what the Browns were running and instead of being smart, Stefanski tried to be clever.

Again.

It’s why the Browns are 5-5 on the season now.