CLEVELAND, Ohio – A year ago, with a new head coach, a new general manager, new game callers on both sides of the ball, two new offensive tackles and a pandemic that eliminates the semblance of a normal off-season, the Cleveland Browns somehow repeated continuity.
They will admit that losing 38-6 to Baltimore in Week 1 was a “hey, it’s not us” moment, but they recovered quickly and managed to play mostly, and often win, like a team that had not yet been introduced to himself. Kevin Stefanski did not look like a first coach, and the Browns did not act like a team in transition.
All of the successful change amid distance learning is why the Browns are particularly excited about one aspect of the upcoming season.
Nothing.
Same old, same old. Start it back. The glorious monotony of the status quo. For the first time since 2017 (Hue Jackson and Sashi Brown), the Browns will open the season with the same head coach and general manager as the previous season began. For the first time since 2008 (Derek Anderson, Romeo Crennel and Phil Savage) they start the season with the same three-man quarterback, head coach and general manager that started the previous year.
Baker Mayfield, Stefanski and Andrew Berry are a well-known foundation. But it does not end there. The biggest offensive moves were made last season, not only to help Mayfield immediately, but also to start the clock to get to know each other. The tightening offensive additions (Jack Conklin, Jedrick Wills, Austin Hooper, Harrison Bryant) were done simultaneously so the Browns could get to this point and revel in nothing.
This does not mean that the browns will not add a free agency this week. They will. That means they already believe they are adding by not losing. Teams in the league, spurred on by an unforeseen, pandemic cause of salary tax, let go of good players they want to keep because they can not afford it. The Browns do not. The offense must return his quarterback, his entire offensive line, the first two backs, two best receivers and at least two of his three tight ends. The ten browns with the most attacks in 2020 should be part of the offense in 2021, and it could be that the top-15 in offensive attacks are back.
This is a new area for this organization. And they absolutely regard it as an advantage. They won a year ago without continuity, but the Browns believe they can jump level with everyone on offense again, while restructuring the defense around a handful of his best players.
The Browns don’t just win with ‘nothing’ compared to themselves. They win by ‘nothing’ compared to the rest of the league. Let’s eliminate teams in different categories based on the important pieces they will not have in 2021. In some of these cases, talent or coaching is definitely an upgrade – the new man is better. But he is not known.
So we will start with 32 teams and wipe out a team once that changes. One team may have several changes, but once you are gone, we do not care about the rest, because it is already clear that the team does not do “nothing” like the browns.
Former San Francisco defense coordinator Robert Saleh is the new head coach of the New York Jets, replacing Adam Gase.
Have you changed from head coach?
Yes (7): Houston, Jacksonville, LA Chargers, New York Jets, Detroit, Atlanta, Philadelphia.
If No, go ahead: 25 teams.
Explain: Stefanski was one of five new head coaches a year ago and the only one with a winning record, although Ron Rivera of Washington also made the playoffs at 7-9. For example, swapping former Jets head coach Adam Gase for everyone is a positive step. But new is new, and that puts these seven teams behind the Browns.
Carolina fired general manager Marty Hurney while retaining head coach Matt Rhule.
Have you changed CEOs?
Yes (1): Carolina.
If No, go ahead: 24 teams.
Explain: Several teams that changed from coach also changed GMs. Carolina was the only one who could do it without a coaching change, although John Elway was at the helm in Denver, but took himself away from the GM role. But in Carolina, the philosophical shift will take a while to adjust.
Matthew Stafford is the new starting quarterback for the Rams after Los Angeles after five years the former no. 1-choice Jared Goff gave up.
Are you changing the starting quarterback?
Yes (4): Indianapolis, LA Rams, New Orleans, Washington.
If No, go ahead: 20 teams.
Explain: More teams than that can change the onset of QBs, but we know of those that have not changed from coach or GM, and these four teams are exchanging signal callers. Philip Rivers retired in Indy, Drew Brees officially retired in New Orleans, and the Rams and Washington changed guys. This may be an upgrade for some teams, but you would rather have a guy you like and you know you’re driving the offense.
The Steelers have released Randy Fichtner (left), who was an assistant to Pittsburgh, and the quarterback for much of Ben Roethlisberger’s career (right). Fichtner was the offensive coordinator for Steelers in 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Have you changed offensive coordinators?
Yes (5): Miami, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, Minnesota, Seattle.
If No, go ahead: 15 teams.
Explain: Move the offensive plan? Miami, Pittsburgh and Seattle ushered in their game callers, while Minnesota’s retirees and Tennessee got a head coach position. Change everywhere.
The Packers have not given a new contract to defense coordinator Mike Pettine, the former Browns head coach, who managed the Green Bay defense in 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Have you changed defensive coordinators?
Yes (5): Las Vegas, Dallas, Green Bay, San Francisco, Chicago.
If No, go ahead: 10.
Explain: Many defensive problems here, including former Browns coach Mike Pettine, who lost the DC concert in Green Bay. Meanwhile, there’s a chance that defense coordinator Joe Woods will take a big step with the Browns in year 2, and with better talent, in 2021.
Kansas City full-back Patrick Mahomes, 15, is obviously not going anywhere, but the Chiefs had to be forced for financial reasons to drop Pro Bowl starters Eric Fisher (72) and Mitchell Schwartz (71).
Have you cut important offensive line starters for reasons of salary cap?
Yes (2): Kansas City, NY Reuse.
If No, go ahead: 8 teams.
Explain: The cap is rough. The Chiefs both lost their tackles, while the Giants released former Brown Kevin Zeitler to save money on their hats. This is just an example of beginners who got lost in the league or get lost as a result of the cap. But on the offensive line, there are teams of guys who really wanted to keep what they could not afford but could not afford. And none of the Browns Big 5 are going up front.
Bill Belichick and the Patriots have not lost much from the 2020 team at the moment, but there are questions about whether veterans like attacking linebacker Joe Thuney and cornerback Stephon Gilmore will be back.
Did you miss the playoffs last year, and might you need to make more changes instead of keeping so many in place?
Yes (4): Cincinnati, New England, Denver, Arizona.
If No, go ahead: 4 teams.
Explain: Denver is a bit lost, and Cincinnati is heading in the right direction, but adds many more pieces. The Patriots and Cardinals are close to the playoffs, but the Browns are the playoffs.
What are Josh Allen (17) and the Bills going to look like in 2021? Very familiar faces.
Are you good and return most of what you did well, and therefore an experienced, talented and cohesive Super Bowl contender?
Yes (4): Tampa Bay, Buffalo, Baltimore, the Browns.
Explain: Tom Brady restructured his deal with the Bucs. Why? To facilitate change? No, so Tampa will have more money to try and keep as many pieces of their Super Bowl team as possible. This is because you do not want to change if it works.
Brady saw it in Tampa Bay while winning a ring last season. The Browns also saw it with an 11-5 record and a playoff game.
The Ravens can actually lose a decent amount of their pass-rushers in free agency. The Bucs still have some important pieces to go. It is the Bills and Browns who will likely lead the league in continuity in 2021. The Browns are undoubtedly in the top group for togetherness. Keep this in mind when starting free agencies. As the Browns add, they think they’re already ahead of it.
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Brown play shirts, hats for sale: Here Cleveland Browns fans can order shirts and hats the celebration of the team that qualifies for the NFL playoffs in 2020.
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