DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Kevin Stefanski named Browns head coach

Could be just the way it was worded in the tweet, but I don't like how he's singling out OBJ specifically. He should be sitting down with everyone and going over expectations.

Was this in response to the LSU-cash-buttsmack incident?

Kevin Stefanski will meet with Odell Beckham Jr. Thursday & lay out how his players should ‘conduct themselves’
Updated Jan 23, 2020;Posted Jan 22, 2020

By Mary Kay Cabot, cleveland.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Odell Beckham Jr. will go straight from the operating table to the operating manual of new coach Kevin Stefanski.

Stefanski said he’ll meet face to face for the first time on Thursday with Beckham, who’s coming to Browns’ headquarters for a post-op meeting with athletic trainers after undergoing core muscle surgery on Tuesday in Philadelphia with Dr. Bill Meyers.

Among other things, Stefanski will address Beckham’s actions after LSU’s national championship victory over Clemson, in which he handed out money to student-athletes such as quarterback Joe Burrows and slapped the butt of a Superdome police officer to earn an arrest warrant for simple battery.

The warrant was rescinded on Monday after the officer decided not to press charges. But the NFL is still monitoring the events of that night, a league spokesman told cleveland.com, and LSU is still investigating the cash payouts.

“I’m looking forward to sitting down with Odell face to face,’’ Stefanski said. “At that point, that’s when I can start laying out my expectations for Odell and for all of our players.’’

In regards to giving money to student-athletes, Stefanski said, “again, we’ll talk about that and lay out the expectations for our guys and the conduct and how we want them to conduct themselves.’’

Stefanski noted that he must talk to Beckham better before commenting on drama vs. productivity.

“I don’t have a relationship yet with Odell, so we need to sit down and get to know each other,’’ he said. “He needs to get to know me, I need to get to know him, and then we’re going to move forward with our eyes ahead to 2020.’’

He had no exact timetable on Beckham’s recovery, but it’s expected to be about the same as Kareem Hunt’s sports hernia surgery — about eight weeks.

“I don’t have a medical degree, so I’m not going to talk about injuries, I’ll have the experts do that,’’ he said. “But he’s certainly going to get to work with our trainers, and I’m confident that they’ll put in the work and put in the rehab necessary to get him back to full speed.’’

Stefanski also admitted he was relieved that Jarvis Landry won’t need surgery on his hip, which would’ve sidelined him six to eight months.

“Sure, anytime you can be conservative with an injury and get him back without going under the knife is always good because there’s no surgery that’s not invasive, so excited for him,’’ he said. “I know he’s going to play in the Pro Bowl, which is a great honor for him, he earned that. So looking forward again, get him back up here and sit down face to face and start to develop a relationship there.’’

Stefanski will undoubtedly address Beckham’s mindset heading into the 2020 season. At one point late last season, Beckham admitted that he didn’t know what the future held in regards to being back with the Browns next season, and several national reports said he told opposing players and coaches to “come get me.”

But Beckham, who wants to win a championship here with his best friend Jarvis Landry, later said he’ll be back and better than ever in 2020.

“I’m not going anywhere,’’ he said. “I’ll be here. We’re going to figure this thing out. It’s just too special to leave.’’

Stefanski undoubtedly plans to make sure that’s true.


https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2020/01...themselves.html

Kevin Stefanski has ‘no problem waiting’ for 49ers’ Joe Woods DC; Bill Callahan to double as a senior advisor
Updated Jan 23, 2020;Posted Jan 22, 2020


By Mary Kay Cabot, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Kevin Stefanski has been so busy hiring assistants that time is flying until he can officially hire 49ers defensive backs coach Joe Woods as his defensive coordinator after the Super Bowl.

“I have no problem waiting,’’ Stefanski said Wednesday night at the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards.

Stefanski worked with Woods for eight years in Minnesota, and is eager to bring him on board.

“[He’s] another one of those great coaches I’ve been around among many guys,’’ he said. “But he’s in the Super Bowl, which is the ultimate that we’re all trying to get to, so I’ll wait to talk about any of those scenarios until after that Super Bowl.’’

Stefanski is also holding off on hiring some of his defensive assistants until Woods is in the house and able to add some of his own guys. Incumbent Brown defensive backs coach DeWayne Walker, for instance, is “under consideration” to remain, but interviewed with the Eagles on Wednesday and could be gone by the time Woods is officially hired.

Bill Callahan as senior advisor

Stefanski acknowledged that Bill Callahan, former head coach of the Raiders and interim coach of the Redskins, will serve as a senior offensive assistant and mentor as well as offensive line coach.

“Yes, and that’s the idea behind bringing coach Callahan here,’’ Stefanski said. “He’s been there, he’s done that at the collegiate level, at the pro level, so I’m going to lean heavily on him among other guys on the staff, but coach Callahan brings a very unique perspective and I just like to be surrounded by smart people.’’

He noted that “I’m excited to add him to the mix. He’s a great teacher, first and foremost. He and I had a lot of mutual friends, so I understand the man and he understands me, and what we’re looking for, what we’re looking to do. Ultimately, just having someone of his stature is very important.’’

Stefanski, who’s also hired former Dolphins offensive coordinator Chad O’Shea as receivers coach and passing game coordinator, confirmed special teams coordinator Mike Priefer and assistant Doug Colman are staying, as well as running backs coach Stump Mitchell.

“So some really good coaches I think are going to contribute to our success going forward,’’ he said.

As for Mitchell, he said, “I like the way he teaches. I like the toughness that he brings to our staff room to the field, and I think the proof is in the pudding, he had two really good players playing this year, so I think he’s an excellent coach and excited that he’s a part of our future.’’

OC or no OC

Stefanski said he doesn’t know yet if he’ll hire an offensive coordinator. He’s interviewed former Broncos OC Rich Scangarello but hasn’t hired him yet.

“It’s not like we’ve said we’re not hiring an offensive coordinator,’’ he said. “We’re just trying to work through it and make sure we add the right people.’’


https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2020/01...r-and-more.html

The may not hire an offensive coordinator worries me .. regardless of if Callahan is helping him or not.

I really like Stefanski so far. He seems pretty level-headed and seems to take his time and calculate each decision. I think thats a great trait to have as head coach. If we get Woods as DC, and with callahan and preifer, pretty solid staff. He seems like he's ok with letting his coaches coach and realizes he can't do everything. You can't really be a control freak as HC, you'll get overwhelmed. I believe thats what happened with FK

Agreed. I also feel that MR. Haslam should let his coaches coach and stay out of it. You hire your people and let them do their jobs with the understanding that my door is always open if you have problems and need me. If not I will stay out of it and let you run things. Bring the Cleveland Browns a Super Bowl. I hope after 7 years Mr. Haslam has learned this.

He was asked about OBJ. He didn't just bring up his name out of nowhere.

It’ll be interesting to see what it is ... Kubiak being there last year muddies it up some ...

The one thing I’d love to ask depo is what is it he saw in Kev last year that he liked over Freddie ... Freddie actually had a 1/2 year calling plays and Kev had none at that point I don’t believe ... love to hear what it was that moved them Kev’s way last year ...

Maybe he wasn't worried about Stefanski calling plays. There is a possibility Stefanski was liked for his overall knowledge and ability to get the most out of players, as well as administrative skills. He could always hire an offensive and defensive coordinators.

That very well may be why ... I’d really love to know ...

Leadership skills, ability to communicate effectively, attention to detatil, preparedness, understanding of analytics, i.e., the antithesis of Freddie Kitchens.

Side note, Stefanski did call the final three games for the Vikings after DeFilippo was fired in 2018.

I agree Mac...I spelled out the same thing in another thread...we must have been typing at the same time in different threads. Nobody here knew Stephanski. We knew that Williams and Freddie looked good going down the stretch.

I would have gone with Williams, but was good with Freddie.

It is good we went with Freddie. Had we gone with Stefanski last year, there would have been a riot. He would have never been given the chance in the court of public opinion..

I don't agree that everybody selected Freddie. Depo wanted Stefanski. Not sure if anybody else did. I do know John flexed his muscle...his words...and got his guy.

The easy road sometimes leads to the cliff's edge.

Get off it Mac, the Dummy flexed his muscle and hired HIS coach. It was well documented. If you didn't read any of that, it is there for you to find. I am not going to do your homework.

That is your assignment for the day. Chop Chop

I don’t recall that either ... I remember everyone in the org signing Kumbaya over the hire ... like there suppose to ...

Once things started going south with my boy that’s when the “Depo wanted Kev started” ... and we have NO CLUE who anyone else on the dumb ass committee wanted ... way to MANY COOKS ... but let me guess ... i just don’t understand the thief’s genius ... ...

This is incorrect.

Freddie was Dorsey's choice with Haslam reluctantly giving his GM what he wanted.

He [Kitchens] knows he wasn't a fashionable choice, but he was Dorsey's choice, just as the Mayfield pick was Dorsey's pick.

Today, Dorsey not only got his preferred coach but also his preferred structure. Kitchens will report to Dorsey, forcing collaboration and eliminating the appeals court to Haslam. Nobody knows if it will matter, given how Haslam operates. But for one day, at least, it feels good to be a Brown. As Dorsey privately told an associate: "I flexed my muscles and got what I wanted."

In the front row, Haslam looks pleased but also a little bored. He dips his head as Kitchens talks and rubs his eyes, as if eager to move on with the day, if not on to next season's opening kickoff. As Mayfield's head coach, Kitchens might be the defining hire of Haslam's ownership, but Haslam is not basking in the glow of someone who believes he has finally figured it out. Even when he and Dee are called to the stage to pose for the typical photo with a Browns helmet and the new coach, he barely smiles. He knows the routine and the language, of both beginnings and endings. When the news conference is over, Haslam doesn't linger. He's done all he can do right now, which is to appear to step away. He moves quietly down the hallway with Dee as the cameras focus on his new coach, who smiles and speaks of promise and potential, having not yet lost a game.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/2579...history-collide

I’d love to know and the reason why is the analytics .... did Depo wanted Kev have everything to do with analytics ... to me analytics was a big part of it ... I’d like to know much ...

If Freddie was as outwardly bad with the other traits u noticed KJ would have noticed and never made the hire ... EVERYONE got to see Freddie first hand and how he handled the O last year ... based off that alone ... he blew Kev away ....

AND THIS IS NOT ME POO POOING the process or the hire ... i think its a sensible hire ... were gonna be an org, run by analytics so Kev or the other two alleged finalist were all big on them ...

Hiring Freddie based on the results of the offense at the end of the previous year (and without the benefit of hindsight) was at least defendable. I didn't agree, but I understood the thought process that got us there. Then Wiley put out his sour grapes quote while coaching in the CFL about how the offense was mostly Zampese and the other coaches and not Freddie, and it sounded like just that (sour grapes). Turning hindsight back on for a moment, we know that Wiley was probably correct.

How did JD not see that prior to hiring Freddie? I still can't wrap my head around that. Freddie was hired based on his working with Mayfield and his crafting of an offense, and he wasn't even the one that did the crafting. I don't get how JD didn't know that.

That is absolutely not the first question he should ask.

He should spend an hour with him talking about family and getting to know him.

If I were in Stefanski's position, I would spend some time just getting to know the guy outside of football to create the right initial environment. Just be human with the guy.

At some point when it seemed right, I would start talking about my plans with the team, the processes that I would be putting in place and my vision for next year.

I would talk about how I tend to operate, how I like to communicate and how I see OBJ fitting in before even addressing the off the field "issues" with OBJ.

I'd talk to him as a person and say something like... Hey I get that you were trying to show the world how ridiculous the NCAA regulations are on college players and I get that you were just trying to get that security guard to lighten up after the game. I respect your intentions as a person and appreciate what you were trying to do in your own unique way.

The reality of the situation is that you are always going to be unfairly scrutinized by the media because of who you are. They are looking for any excuse to stir the pot and create another headline. It's my job to find ways to get this team on the same page to achieve our collective goals.

As a coach, I have the burden of understanding anything and everything that impacts the team, even if unfairly portrayed by the media. You, as you know, have the burden of dealing with however the media decides to portray you. I know for a fact, that having to deal with that has to seem extremely unfair, be frustrating and distracting to your goals and what you want to achieve personally and as a member of this team.

Even if you don't consciously think these things impact you, they can have a subconscious impact.

The reality of the situation is that when these things come up, it has the potential to impact the cohesion of a team.

They can become a distraction to the rest of the team even if they aren't founded in truth.

As a coach it is my job to make sure that my team understands that and that we are the healthiest unit as a team that we can be. As a coach, it's also my job to make sure that the players on this team lead by example and put themselves in a position to grow as a team and add to the cohesion as a team.

At the end of the day that is all that I am asking for from my players and I hope you would demand the same from me.

I want you to authentically be who you are. I also want you to be authentically who you are in ways that drives toward our collective team goals and enhances our effectiveness as a team, as a unit.

I hope that clarifies in some way how I operate and I want you to to be authentically yourself to me as a person and as your coach. How does all of that resonate with you? What are your thoughts on what I said, my approach, the situation at the national championship game, how you intend to approach 2020 and the offseason?

Hearing his response after all of that and reading his body language here would determine how I would approach the situation moving forward.

/armchair internet coach

Here's when Dorsey "flexed his muscles."

Back in Jan. 2019 when it was reported it was down to Stefanski vs Kitchens for the HC job:

Browns job could come down to an in-house tug of war

The Browns reportedly are considering Freddie Kitchens and Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski are the two finalists for the head-coaching job. How that question gets resolved may come down to the manner in which an internal struggle is resolved.

Per a league source, the choice may come down to an internal battle of wills, with the football guys (led by John Dorsey) pulling one way and the analytics guys (led by Paul DePodesta) pulling the other.

The problem is that both Dorsey and DePodesta report independently to owner Jimmy Haslam. The reality is that quarterback Baker Mayfield could break the tie, and his input definitely matters.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20...use-tug-of-war/

If he is the great communicator some claim he is, that would be the smart way to approach it.

Yeah, I am going to go ahead and disagree with all that. I mean it all sounded nice and would be cozy in a corporate environment, but this is an NFL locker room (well it would be an office), but you get my point.

You are dealing with guys that were turned millionaires overnight, some of which had very hard upbrinings, with little to 0 guidance in their life because all people did was give them passes and free slides cause they could play ball. enough is enough with OBJ. He works for the Cleveland Browns, the Cleveland Browns do not work for OBJ.

Since OBJ has been here all we heard was "what can we the browns do for OBJ, what can we do to make him comfortable. etc. etc." Eff that.

My response:

Odell, I respect your an individual and have a persona, however on MY football team - we are one. It is about the name on the front of the jersey, not the name on the back.

I don't care about your time with the Giants, I don't care about your time here last year. I don't care about the way the offense was ran last year. I care about running a cohesive unit, determined to win a SB, and players making the sacrifices and work needed to do so.

Play time is over for this roster. You work for the Cleveland Browns, last year, it sounded like Cleveland browns were trying to work for you.

You have undeniable skills that are not rivaled in this league, however skills are an empty shell to someone without heart, determination, or accountability to their team and coaches.

I fully expect moving forward that you will be a professional and hold yourself accountable to the Cleveland Browns and your teammates. If not, we can make arrangements for you. But I mind you, it will not be whats best for OBJ. It will be based on whats best for the Cleveland Browns.

Personally, with my vision of what this offense is going to be, and what we can be with you, Nick, Jarvis, Baker - I fully believe what is best for you is to play here. But that decision is entirely up to you. Production is required.

Sounds like Dorsey focused on the tape.

Depo looked at the whole picture.

Jimmy talked to Dorsey last.

I'm okay with Depo putting things into perspective last before Jimmy makes a decision.

I'm not sure how much influence I want Depo to have, but I think him assimilating other people's opinions could take some of the ego/emotion out of our decision making.

"Is he injecting his (ego) now?" is the question.

Tony Rizzo, is that you?

Thanks for the info ... not sure how serious to take it ....

Was it click bait or someone talking out his butt or true ... this is like 3rd or 4th hand info ...

Articles like this are a dime a dozen ... and I’m not sure how y’all pick witch ones to believe ... truth ... I often ponder that ... like with the PFF grades .... same person will crap all over the grades when then they don’t agree with them but will proudly use them when it fits their agenda ... I can’t roll like that ... *L* ... i think there grades are useless but that’s just me and for that reason you’ve never nor will u ever see me use them one way or the other in a debate ... and man was that hard when discussing Vernon’s play ... *LOL* ...

It could very well be true ... and I would say it’s highly possible ... If u put a gun to my head ... I’d agree with it ...

When u googled it ... how many “like” articles came up? ... problem with that is all the other articles may be based off this one ... *L* ...

I’d need to see more before agreeing with my friends mis guided take ...

Yeah, when a HC uses the term "my football team" and not "our football team" you screwed up from the jump.

And u said “flexed his muscles” ... its not his fault depo don’t have none ... *L* ...

That’s one of the problems with the thief ... his mantra is CONSENSUS CONSENSUS CONSENSUS ... good luck with that ... there’s gonna be disagreements and someone needs to be the final decision maker ... not in the thief’s world ... he seems to get off on pitting people against each other ... like with the asking coaches questions about how the “gm” side is doing and then vice versa ... its BS and no way to run an org ....

Eric Mangini is that you?

I think this is more of an old school approach that works with some personalities. I don’t know if it would work well with Odell.

With hindsight being 20/20 and Stefanski now being named the HC and the reports afterwards.

It's reasonable to assume DePo was Team Stefanski and Dorsey was Team Kitchens.

From back at that time as well...

Surely this guy isn't Ivy League Freddie 2.0???

LOL!

Did we have someone else back for a 2nd or only Kev? ...

Just curious as none of this matters ... water under the bridge ...

Have you seen Dorsey's bare arms? There's a reason he still wears a sweatshirt when it's 95 degrees outside!

If i can set it up ... I’ll take KJ with a 1st round submission ...

How much u in for ... *L* ...

In 2020 all candidates were interviewed only once.

In 2019 Stefanski was called back for a second interview, but if I recall, the interview never happened and Kitchens was named the HC.

Depo with a rear naked choke in the 2nd.

You mean Depos go to move would be to choke Dorsey's bare naked rear?

If that is where KJ's head be, then yes.

Ty sir ...