Depends on what and how it's graded. Is it forecasting ? Or based on their empirical grading system on each play/each game? ... Is it a single game? or - Is it based on a single season? or multiple seasons? .... if a single season, which single season? Based on 2019 - and based only on the season on field performances Baker would be lucky to be considered below average. My guess is this is more a touchy feely, estimate on future performance.
I don't have an issue with any of these, but I could see RSJ not being retained and looking for another TE in that regard - depending on the new views of Njoku too consider as well. We don't know.
Hodge I was not impressed with at all.
I think Burris showed grit and showed up decently when asked. But I see him as a fill in guy.
I will support Stafanski as head coach .... but, frankly, this is almost the same news conference we have seen multiple times.
I don't see much in Stafanski's coaching record that would recommend him as head coach ..... but hopefully he has far more that he has shown so far.
We'll see.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
can somebody explain to me why a constant narrative i see is that Kubiak was the driving force on offense this year and not stefanski?
is that true or out of context?
Stefanski liked what he saw of the Kubiak/Shanahan offense when he would see cut ups of it from other teams. He wanted to run that offense if given the chance. The Vikings hired Gary Kubiak to help him get up to speed (it helped that Kubiak's son was on the Vikings staff).
Agree...I've watched a lot of new coach press conferences over the years...way too many, but this guy spoke with more intelligence, was articulate, and seems like he knows how to to utilize our strengths. He did not boast or make claims...showed some class I thought...maybe some of that will rub off on the team.
The Cleveland Browns were the final team to fill their vacant head coaching job this offseason, deciding to go with the man who was runner-up in last year’s search, Kevin Stefanski.
A thorough process that was headed by chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta, two things that seemed to enrage some Cleveland media and a large swatch of the fanbase. After years of disappointment and embarrassment, their supporting base just wanted change and for this franchise to go with the most qualified candidate.
That person was either Josh McDaniels, who has the best resume you’ll likely find for a coordinator, or Mike McCarthy. McDaniels was the expectation amongst insiders I spoke to, but ultimately his justified desire to turn the Browns’ organization upside down was too much change for Jimmy Haslem. Though that plan may have worked brilliantly and was worth the risk, Haslem’s decision to pair Stefanski with familiar faces that are either currently within the building or have been recently, can fairly be called conservative, but it’s too early to decide that this was the wrong move or typical for the Browns.
A first-time head coach, Stefanski will certainly face a learning curve. But the early word on his potential coaching staff shows more promise than his two predecessors, Hue Jackson and Freddie Kitchens. And his press conference resulted in the words that certainly pleased Haslem in his interview, notably acknowledging that creating informed decisions via analytics is how modern teams create an edge, and that results matter most.
The buzz word analytics has sparked countless tiresome debates on social media, and has caused fatigue amongst fans as if it were the boogeyman. Often times there’s condensation given to DePodesta because of his analytical background, and he’s called a “baseball guy” despite the fact he played football at Harvard. The perversion with discrediting him because of a non-traditional background led to disdain when Stefanski was announced as the head coach selection despite his solid resume.
Look no further than the possibility of Wade Phillips as the new Browns defensive coordinator. While Phillips was fired from the Los Angeles Rams due to a drop in effectiveness last year, the Rams lacked the upper-echelon talent that the Browns have on that side of the ball. Phillips has routinely entered a new situation and elevated his unit, and is a terrific hire for a first-time head coach.
Phillips has always tailored his scheme to his talent, which is exactly what the Browns haven’t had on that side of the ball in years. Few coaches adapt in that way, and the Browns can build the unit around Myles Garrett, a talented defensive tackle position, Joe Schobert, and two good young cornerbacks. I expect this defense to be much more successful if Phillips is indeed the hire.
Most will focus on the offense for good reason. Fixing Baker Mayfield is the franchise’s top priority, and this unit is a sleeping giant. Stefanski comes from a proven foundation thanks to Gary Kubiak influences, and we’re seeing both San Francisco and Green Bay benefit from that same offense. Stefanski himself elevated an offense eerily similar to Cleveland’s: a shaky offensive line, two star receivers, a flawed quarterback, and a star running back.
There’s much more upside in Mayfield than Kirk Cousins, though. He’s more mobile, has a better arm, is more accurate outside of the pocket, and has the gamer trait. Improving his play within the pocket is going to be key for Mayfield to become a special passer but there’s no reason to write him off at this time despite last year’s struggles. Where Kitchens failed to create continuation from their hot run at the end of 2018 is exactly where Stefanski can pick up from, so there’s already a recipe in place for early success.
The rest of the personnel is more promising as well. While Minnesota had two star receivers, they lacked an NFL-caliber third option at the position. Cleveland would be wise to retain Rashard Higgins and actually use him, and there’s a high probability they continue to invest at tight end as well. Not only do they need to protect themselves from David Njoku’s injury woes, but also to help Stefanski use more 12 personnel if he chooses.
There’s a good chance that the Browns offense doesn’t fully resemble the Vikings’ offense under Stefanski and that’s a good thing as well. The numbers will show Baker’s drastic efficiency jump on play-action, and his effectiveness on RPOs. That may lead to more shotgun snaps and less designed deep drops, which led him to drifting into pressures and panicking when his back foot struck the ground.
Maybe Stefanski will struggle and prove to be the wrong choice, but being pro-analytics won’t be the reason why. He must establish respect from the locker room, be willing to self-evaluate, make changes quickly when presented with barriers and data, and continue to build a strong coaching staff. His willingness to delegate is already a good sign that he knows it’s hard to manage a team as well as operate the offense.
Had McDaniels come to the Browns, this franchise would absolutely be using numbers to make these informed decisions like the Patriots, Ravens, Chiefs, Packers and 49ers do. That fact simply wouldn’t have been as paraded around as much because of media narratives and preconceived notions.
It’s more worrisome that Haslem seems intent on winning his way, but the right coach and quarterback will make that a moot point. Even bad owners can get lucky on those two things, and really the right quarterback can even transcend a mediocre coach, ala Aaron Rodgers with McCarthy after their Super Bowl win. McCarthy became stale, outdated and consistently underachieved with Rodgers, a quarterback who should’ve had two or three titles to his name in his prime.
Stefanski will have much to prove in a short amount of time. Mayfield can’t fail, or else this job could be open again within two years. However he has a good background and should mesh well with ownership and a rebuilt front office, and the roster is there for this team to make a playoff push in 2020. We just need to look at the facts instead of the narratives.
There is another view of the Nate and Kevin interview...in the back ground there is a Freddie Quote hanging on the wall that says "two is one and one is none" I was like that that dang stupid thing down
The broken wrist was all on the QB. Didn't throw to him when he was open, and then when he threw it, it was way high. He broke his wrist trying to break the fall after the defensive player upended him while in the air.
He is an impressive man. I can see how he won the job. It takes little time to get comfortable with him. Nathan does a good job as an interviewer.
He is inexperienced. It will be important that he surround himself with guys he can count on.
Sometimes when someone lacks the experience you would like to have; you have to look to see if that will be in the way of becoming successful.
You can have a resume with years of experience on it. That may not tell if you will be a great head coach. You may have been a head coach before. Maybe you had success. Maybe not. Lot of factors at play.
All of the Hall of Fame Coaches started somewhere. Guys like John Madden. Madden was 32 when he became a head coach. He had a short resume.
I like the guy as a person. He comes across well.
Hopefully the stars are aligned. and we have the right guy at the right time.
Like Kevin said. You can't talk your way there. You have to work your way there.
I think apathy has finally set in for many fans. Most people I talked to were like... meh. People are sick of hearing the same story every year and the same comments from coached with a few key buzzwords.
They really need to get things turned around asap or they wont be able to save the franchise from utter failure.
Btw, Depo's presser was equally unimpressive. These guys were not looking for what the team needed. They were looking for what Depo and Jimmy wanted. They failed to recognize that what the team needed and what they wanted were not the same thing. They failed to put the Browns first instead of themselves as usual.
LOL - The Rish will be upset with this news as well. KS just doesn't prioritize winning...
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