Browns OC Tommy Rees holds no words back regarding Kevin Stefanski giving him play calling duties
The Browns made a big change coming out of the bye week hoping it would spark the offense.
The Cleveland Browns have to implement change coming out of the bye week to try and jumpstart what has been a disappointing 2-6 season. Cleveland’s defense is strong enough to compete with any team they face, but the offense has been among the worst in the NFL and the primary reason they’ve managed just two wins.
Last season told a similar story. The Browns finished 3-14 with an offense that was historically bad and ultimately held them back. Coming out of the bye week, head coach Kevin Stefanski has decided to make a significant change, handing over offensive play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Tommy Rees.
Tommy Rees comments on Stefanski’s decision
“I came to Cleveland to work for Kevin. That’s really the reason I took this job two years ago,” Rees said on Thursday. “I think the world of him—still do. I’ve been really fortunate for the support he’s given me over the last week and over the last couple of years. I wanted to come to Cleveland to work for Kevin.
“I think the timing of it, you have a bye week, you have some time to step away and look at things through a different perspective, and you want to create a spark for the offense. And again, how I feel is, whatever they want me to do, whatever’s asked of me to help us win games—that’s what I want to do at the highest level.”
Cleveland is averaging just 15.8 points per game and 279 yards of total offense. That simply isn’t good enough to win in the NFL, and the Browns aren’t going to find consistent success with that kind of production. This isn’t to say Stefanski’s play-calling was the root of the problem, as there are several other issues holding the offense back. Cleveland’s lack of playmakers at wide receiver has been evident time and time again this season.
When you’re starting a rookie quarterback—as the Browns have for the last four games—you need help around him. Outside of rookie running back Quinshon Judkins and rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr., there hasn’t been much support for quarterback Dillon Gabriel. Gabriel hasn’t played particularly well himself and has struggled to push the ball downfield. The result has been a collection of issues all showing up at once on offense.
Rees has never been a play-caller at the professional level, but Stefanski has been high on him for a while, which is why he brought him in as the team’s tight ends coach last season. The Browns are hoping this move can spark a change, and the next step could be giving quarterback Shedeur Sanders a shot to lead the offense. Cleveland isn’t heading toward the playoffs this season, but there’s no doubt they must show more on offense, or major changes could be coming at the end of the year.
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