• Changing RCF's index page, please click on "Forums" to access the forums.

BROWNS OFF-SEASON 2020

Do Not Sell My Personal Information
One area of concern during the usual pre-season optimism will be the tension between OBJ and Stefanski's play calling. I brought this up when Stefanski was hired, but Stefon Diggs was not happy with his lowered targets in this offense, eventually leading to the off-season trade. OBJ, on the other hand, has a track record of demanding more targets, especially as the game progresses and the offense has a drive or two stall out. I believe two wide receivers can thrive in this offense, but egos will need to be monitored.
 
One area of concern during the usual pre-season optimism will be the tension between OBJ and Stefanski's play calling. I brought this up when Stefanski was hired, but Stefon Diggs was not happy with his lowered targets in this offense, eventually leading to the off-season trade. OBJ, on the other hand, has a track record of demanding more targets, especially as the game progresses and the offense has a drive or two stall out. I believe two wide receivers can thrive in this offense, but egos will need to be monitored.
I dont have any stats to back this up, but Thielen (Landry) thrived and Diggs (OBJ) had many, many missed opportunites mostly due Kirk Cousins. I want to say both WRs threw Cousins under the bus at the beginning of last season when they started slow.
 
I dont have any stats to back this up, but Thielen (Landry) thrived and Diggs (OBJ) had many, many missed opportunites mostly due Kirk Cousins. I want to say both WRs threw Cousins under the bus at the beginning of last season when they started slow.

I'm blatantly stealing a stat from an ESPN fantasy football article, but Stefanski was second lowest in wide receiver target shares to Jon Gruden. That is because the Vikings didn't run that many plays overall, but they were among the highest for running back and tight end targets.

The wide receivers were near the basement in routes, targets and receptions, but fifth in aDOT. So, again I hope everything works out and the Browns are just clocking on offense. However, I think we all saw entire series last season where the running game was put on pause and Baker forced a lot of balls to OBJ. I don't see that working under Stefanski. I want to see how OBJ handles that.
 
"Meet the Rookies" is live right now, for those interested:

 
One area of concern during the usual pre-season optimism will be the tension between OBJ and Stefanski's play calling. I brought this up when Stefanski was hired, but Stefon Diggs was not happy with his lowered targets in this offense, eventually leading to the off-season trade. OBJ, on the other hand, has a track record of demanding more targets, especially as the game progresses and the offense has a drive or two stall out. I believe two wide receivers can thrive in this offense, but egos will need to be monitored.

If we are a playoff team and OBJ acts like a bitch, then I'll be worried. Hard to blame a guy for being pissed about not getting targeted on a trash team, but winning has a tendency to solve a lot of problems.
 

Open competition at the LB spot. I know it's our worst position group by far, but between Mack, 2Tak, and Phillips, if just ONE of those guys is a diamond in the rough, I'd be happy.
 
I'm blatantly stealing a stat from an ESPN fantasy football article, but Stefanski was second lowest in wide receiver target shares to Jon Gruden. That is because the Vikings didn't run that many plays overall, but they were among the highest for running back and tight end targets.

The wide receivers were near the basement in routes, targets and receptions, but fifth in aDOT. So, again I hope everything works out and the Browns are just clocking on offense. However, I think we all saw entire series last season where the running game was put on pause and Baker forced a lot of balls to OBJ. I don't see that working under Stefanski. I want to see how OBJ handles that.
When you're looking at these stats, are you using the entire Minnesota WR corps in comparison to other full corps, or are you using just Thielen and Diggs?

Because if you're using just full WR corps, I think the stats would have to be adjusted for the amount of snaps WR's played. I have a feeling the Vikings used 3 or more WR at one of the lowest rates in the NFL last year.
 
I'm blatantly stealing a stat from an ESPN fantasy football article, but Stefanski was second lowest in wide receiver target shares to Jon Gruden. That is because the Vikings didn't run that many plays overall, but they were among the highest for running back and tight end targets.

The wide receivers were near the basement in routes, targets and receptions, but fifth in aDOT. So, again I hope everything works out and the Browns are just clocking on offense. However, I think we all saw entire series last season where the running game was put on pause and Baker forced a lot of balls to OBJ. I don't see that working under Stefanski. I want to see how OBJ handles that.

This also goes back to a point that has been made by me and others about how much of that Minnesota offense from the playcalling and play sequencing perspective was what Stefanski actually wanted to do and how much was it Zimmer mandating on Stefanski.

My hope is that Stefanski is smart enough to know that running the ball as often in lower advantageous situations (2nd and long specifically) as the Vikings did last year is not a great strategy and was only doing it because Zimmer gave him a firm “RUN THE BALL ALL THE TIME” mandate.
 
I'm blatantly stealing a stat from an ESPN fantasy football article, but Stefanski was second lowest in wide receiver target shares to Jon Gruden. That is because the Vikings didn't run that many plays overall, but they were among the highest for running back and tight end targets.

The wide receivers were near the basement in routes, targets and receptions, but fifth in aDOT. So, again I hope everything works out and the Browns are just clocking on offense. However, I think we all saw entire series last season where the running game was put on pause and Baker forced a lot of balls to OBJ. I don't see that working under Stefanski. I want to see how OBJ handles that.
I think our whole offense was screwed from the beginning. There was no identity, no rhythm to the play-calling. We have Nick freaking Chubb. Establish the run then bust the defenses ass with arguably the best 1-2 WR combo in the league using playaction. It didn't seem like a hard formula.

Instead, Freddie and company tried to establish Baker and the Wr's most games. Also, the play-call timing was such shit that Baker didn't get up to the line with enough time to decipher the defense, so of course he's going to hone in on the best player we have on the field as his first (and only because of shit line play) read.

I think the formula is the same for OBJ as it's always been. If we are winning and he's catching 5-8 balls a game we won't hear a peep. If we're 5-11 and he's catching 5 balls a game then there's a chance for unrest.
 
I think the formula is the same for OBJ as it's always been. If we are winning and he's catching 5-8 balls a game we won't hear a peep. If we're 5-11 and he's catching 5 balls a game then there's a chance for unrest.

That's what I think. And I think it helps tremendously if Jarvis is popping off when OBJ has his low-catch games. I think OBJ had like 2 catches vs. the Ravens in week 4 but Jarvis torched them, and OBJ seemed perfectly happy with the results.
 

Rubber Rim Job Podcast Video

Episode 3-13: "Backup Bash Brothers"

Rubber Rim Job Podcast Spotify

Episode 3:11: "Clipping Bucks."
Top