Cleveland Browns Kevin Stefanski, Jim Schwartz, Myles Garrett and Joe Flacco Finalists for NFL’s Top Awards
The Cleveland Browns are well known as finalists for the NFL’s top four awards.
BEREA, Ohio – The Cleveland Browns went 11-6 in the 2023 regular season and advanced to the playoffs for the first time since the 2020 season. Additionally, the Browns have two players and two coaches who are among the best at their respective roles.
The five finalists for the Associated Press NFL Awards were announced Thursday. Out of eight categories, the Browns were finalists in four. The award is voted on by 50 NFL media representatives. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski is one of five finalists to win Coach of the Year for the second time in four years. Defensive lineman Myles Garrett is a first-time Defensive Player of the Year finalist. .
Quarterback Joe Flacco is a finalist for Player of the Year and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz is a finalist for Assistant Coach of the Year.
The other four categories in which Brown was not a finalist were MVP, Offensive Rookie of the Year, Offensive Rookie of the Year and Defensive Rookie of the Year. .
The awards will be announced on February 8 at the NFL Honors program in Las Vegas. In addition to Stefanski, the other finalists are DeMeco Ryans of Texas, Dan Campbell of the Lions, John Harbaugh of the Ravens and Kyle Shanahan of the 49ers. Ryans was named PFWA Coach of the Year. Texas defeated the Browns 45-14 in a wild-card playoff game. Voting took place before the play-off. .
Garrett was named the PFWA Defensive Player of the Year. Other players he will compete with include linebacker T.J. Steelers on the outside. Watt, Cowboys outside linebacker Micah Parsons, Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland and Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby. Watt led the NFL with 19 sacks, Crosby had 14.5 and Garrett and Parsons each had 14. Bland set an NFL record with five interceptions returned for touchdowns. Flacco joined the Browns on November 20 and appeared in five regular season games and one playoff game. He passed for 1,616 yards and 13 touchdowns in five starts, leading the Browns to a 4-1 record as they advanced to the playoffs. Flacco has thrown for more than 300 yards in five of the Browns’ six games this season, including a playoff game against the Texans. The other four finalists for the Player of the Year award are former Browns No. 1 overall pick and current Buccaneer Baker Mayfield, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and Bills safety Damar Hamlin.
#Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, #49ers RB Christian McCaffrey and #Cowboys QB Dak Prescott are finalists for the Associated Press 2023 NFL MVP and Offensive Player of the Year awards. Brock Purdy and #Bills QB Josh Allen are also MVP finalists. #Brown has finalists in 4 categories. Full list: pic.twitter.com/oeiLNykUwW
Schwartz led the Browns’ No. 1 defense in his first season with the team. The Browns led the league in total yards, passing yards, first downs and third down conversions. The other finalists are Ben Johnson, Lions offensive coordinator Mike McDonald, Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken and Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slovic.
Performance Summary 2023: Running
The next step in evaluating the 2023 position is the running back group, where due to unforeseen circumstances, a new face and an old face have entered the field in 2023. The Cleveland Browns season came to an abrupt end last week when the Browns lost the wild card game in Houston. After the season is over, it’s necessary to look back at how the team performed at each position and analyze them on an individual level. This research allows us to determine who has worked best on which teams and who has a future with those teams. You can also dig deeper into the roles each person played and how they were able to fulfill their roles in a valuable way. Here’s the rating scale I use to think about each player’s season:
10.0 – The perfect season
9.0 – Awards Season
8.0 – All-Pro Season
7.0 is the Pro Bowl season
6.0 – Good start to the season
5.0 – Average early season
4.0 – Below average start to the season
3.0 – Preliminary Season
2.0 – Fringe Roster Season
1.0 – Player worth cutting
Today we go for a run. It was obviously a position with high expectations, starting Nick Chubb and hoping to bring Jerome Ford into a complementary role, but Chubb’s devastating injury changed the scope and expectations of the room.
Let’s take a look at the position’s worst performance of 2018. 2023 stats: 26 carries, 170 yards (113 TD) — 6-of-10, 2-of-15 — 7 forced fumbles — 4 receptions, 21 yards.
Performance Notes: It’s hard to gauge this in such a short period of time, but when Chubb took the field against the Bengals and Steelers, he was once again the best player on the field.
Despite missing the entire season, he had as many interceptions as the Browns’ first basemen in the rotation. When healthy, he is as elite a player as ever.
Performance Rating: 6.0
Future Outlook: There are many unknowns here. If Chubb can get back to 90% of what he was before, the Browns will continue to make room for Chubb, but if his knee shuts up, things will get dangerous. Andrew Berry pointed out that Chubb is still in the early stages of his rehabilitation process despite being only five months old, which reflects the severity of his condition. His contract has been restructured and he is expected to receive less money overall. This comes from game bonuses etc. It turns into a guarantee. This is the way.
jerome ford
2023 Stats: 213 carries, 830 yards (611 yards after touchdown), 4 TDs – 23 carries for 10 yards, 8 carries for 15 yards – 43 tackles – 44 receptions, 319 yards, 5 TDs -hate.
Performance Note: This is a serious problem. I think Jerome Ford has natural talent, but there is no doubt that he has done well. The problem in the actual analysis is that his offensive line has been more of a problem than a solution at times. Ford’s job as a drop runner is something the quarterback isn’t used to when under center. There was flash, but there were too many inconsistencies. As the year went on, he improved in pass protection and his receiving skills became stronger when called upon.
Performance Rating: 4.9
Future Prediction: Hopefully Ford will return and have a supporting role worth filling. 2023 will be a very important year for his development and there is room for him in the backfield, but the Browns can’t expect him to carry the team in 2024.
Karim Kant
2023 Stats: 143 carries, 437 yards (307 yards after touchdown), 10 touchdowns – 6 carries for 10 yards, 2 carries for 15 yards – 9 forced fumbles – 15 receptions, 84 yards.
Performance Notes: Hunt was signed after Chubb’s breakout season and was brought in to fill a role near the end zone and in short-yardage situations. It seemed like his body couldn’t handle it anymore and it was clear that his anger wasn’t what it used to be.
His 10 tackles added to the Browns’ goal-line offense and he was effective from short range, but that depends on Hunt’s role. Performance Rating: 3.5
Future Outlook: It’s difficult to predict what the future holds for Hunt with the Browns, but this trip has been productive and he should be well-positioned to fill that role in 2023. The Browns will be looking for a more efficient and younger quarterback this season. Pierre Strong JR.
2023 Stats: 63 carries, 291 yards (215 yards after touchdown), 1 touchdown – 7 carries for 10 yards, 3 carries for 15 yards – 9 forced fumbles – 5 receptions, 47 yards.
Performance Notes: The Browns traded for Strong before the season started after a preseason slump prevented them from landing a viable third pick at the position. He was acquired to develop Tyrone Whitley. His profile clearly lacked skill, but his open-field explosiveness and speed were appealing when needed. Strong never regained his original role due to his poor passing ability and ineffective running. He could take on more of a role if he had real rush ability, but that’s not promising. Performance Rating: 2.5
Outlook: Strong is closer to a new roster or practice squad member than a lock for the Browns in 2024, but it could be a lot worse if he goes No. 3 or No. 4 on the 53-man roster people. His speed is enough for Deuce Staley to team up with him and see if there is more to come. Now I expect him to come back next season.
