Browns Issue Statement on Firing of Coaches After Abysmal Season

Stefanski gave up play calling for the first time as a head coach in October, hoping it would spark the offense. The Browns started to score more points after the move but that could also be attributed to the gunslinging Jameis Winston taking over at quarterback for Deshaun Watson. Stefanski was asked if he regretted handing over the play-calling duties.

“Listen, we are where we are. There are decisions that you make every week, every season, seemingly every quarter of a game, and then you learn from those decisions,” Stefanski said. “What I’m always trying to do, as you guys know, is just trying to do what’s best for the team.”

Stefanski said he’s unsure if he’ll take play-calling back, opting to wait on the hiring process. The team will start the search for their next coordinator right away, per Stefanski.

Browns Hope for Shift in Offensive Scheme
The Browns hoped Dorsey’s hiring could help Watson. He was coming off season-ending shoulder surgery but hadn’t played up to standard in Stefanski’s offense.

It didn’t help, and Watson struggled before a season-ending Achilles rupture. The offense failed to break the 20-point mark even once, and Watson never threw for more than 200 yards.

Offensive linemen Jack Conklin and Joel Bitonio both expressed that they’d like to shift back to a wide zone, which worked very effectively for the Browns previously.

“I think that’s what coach Stefanski is comfortable with. … I think it’s what we’ve had the most success with,” Conklin said.

Bitonio added, “Where we had the most success was as a wide zone team. We brought in guys that do that and that do that and we’ve been very successful doing that. So I just hope that’s what we return to.”

Stefanski didn’t go into detail about what the changes going forward could look like, and he also did not want to point the finger at Do