Four Prospects For Cleveland Browns Offensive Coordinator To Examine (And Others To Ignore)
As Alex Van Pelt’s replacement, the Browns offensive coordinator should think about four possible NFL coaches (and three who shouldn’t).
Generally speaking, teams who lose their starting running back, starting quarterback, and both starting offensive linemen don’t get very far. Nevertheless, Cleveland decided to split ways with a large portion of their offensive staff this week, despite managing to squeak out an 11-6 record. Alex Van Pelt, the offensive coordinator for the Browns, is among them. Since Kevin Stefanski assumed the position of head coach in 2020, Van Pelt has been a member of the team.
That thing is certain: the Browns will have a new offensive coordinator in 2024. Who will really call the plays remains a mystery. To the dismay of Cleveland Browns supporters, Stefanski has obstinately maintained playcalling responsibilities during his tenure. Stefanski hasn’t always made the right play calls. He is intelligent occasionally. Other times, he exhibits much too much cunning, sometimes with disastrous results.
The offense had the most turnovers in the NFL in 2023. They gained the questionable distinction of being the first NFL club to qualify for the playoffs in spite of having the highest turnover rate in the league.
Four Potential Candidates for Cleveland Browns Offensive Coordinator (and Others to Pass On)
The Cleveland Browns hired Bubba Ventrone as their special teams coordinator and Jim Schwartz as their defense coordinator following the 2022 season. At the time, there was a clear indication of ownership participation in each of these hiring. Both hiring were for strong coaches seen as independent, and neither came from Stefanski’s prior coaching circles. The up-and-comers Stefanski had previously hired were people he had previously worked with.
It would have been simple to keep the offensive coordinator and his staff in place for the Browns given the injuries the squad endured in 2023. At this point, the firing has a comparable sense of ownership participation. Fans might so anticipate that the next offensive coordinator for the Browns will resemble Schwartz: incredibly knowledgeable, independent, and Idea for the Browns offensive coordinator: Tim Kelly or Bill O’Brien
Deshaun Watson is the subject of a quarter of a billion dollar investment from the Cleveland Browns. Forty percent of his contract remains unfulfilled, with little to show for it. Therefore, it would make sense for Watson’s previous offensive coordinator to be the next Browns offensive coordinator.
Watson spent his whole career as the head coach of the Houston Texans, under Bill O’Brien. For two of those seasons, Tim Kelly oversaw offensive playcalling, and in 2020, he served as the quarterbacks coach. Watson had possibly his greatest season that year, completing almost 70% of his throws for 4,823 yards and 33 touchdowns.
2023 proved to be a difficult year for O’Brien and Kelly. With the expectation that he would turn around Mac Jones and Bill Belichick’s fast sinking ship, O’Brien was lured back to the New England Patriots. That was not the case. Kelly also received a promotion to Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator. The group expected him to lead the changeover at quarterback and bring in a new era.
Both clubs will have a new coaching staff in 2024 because neither of them occurred. Nevertheless, neither club have the quality that the Browns do, and unlike the current Cleveland coaching staff, both teams have enjoyed success with Watson in the past.
Go ahead, Josh McDaniels
For some reason, Josh McDaniels’ name seems to come up in almost every coaching cycle. In his two stints as head coach, he has been a complete failure. The previous time, he went back to New England. There might not be any New England to return to this time, though. Jerod Mayo took over when Belichick was dismissed.
Given their prior coaching experience, Mayo could be drawn to McDaniels. However, McDaniels hasn’t been successful without Brady as quarterback. It’s also commonly known that McDaniels has a harsh demeanor. Despite his attractive name, he doesn’t belong in Cleveland.
Think about: Kellen Moore
