The Kevin Stefanski: Two-Time Coach of the Year Thread

[Ohio]

Imagine if Stefanski was hired to be the Head Coach last season. How much further along Baker & the offense would be...

Ugh.

 

[FiveThous]

Imagine if Stefanski was hired to be the Head Coach last season. How much further along Baker & the offense would be...

Ugh.

I was going to post this but we have to factor in going full dorse in 2019 so it's hard to say. I think a lot of this is due in part to organizational alignment.

 

[JDailey23]

I mean, it looks pretty obvious that Zimmer did all that NOT to lose him, correct?

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Stefanski also deserves credit for the Bill Callahan hire, which has been huge. In addition to the stellar performance of the OL through the first 3 games, Callahan has given us a successful schematic identity as a zone blocking team. That gives us a clear direction/focus in terms of the type of OL acquisitions to target moving forward, and should make it easier to acquire the best fits moving forward to build depth, and to enhance continuity moving forward into future seasons.

 

[Jordan]

Stefanski also deserves credit for the Bill Callahan hire, which has been huge. In addition to the stellar performance of the OL through the first3 games, Callahan has given us a successful schematic identity as a zone blocking team. That gives us a clear direction/focus in terms of the type of OL acquisitions to target moving forward, and should make it easier to acquire the best fits moving forward to build depth, and to enhance continuity in future seasons.

I never understood the idea that head coaches are not responsible for their assistants. Kevin Stefanski hired Bill Callahan. Stefanski surrounded himself with the best possible o-line coach and he deserves credit for that.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

I never understood the idea that head coaches are not responsible for their assistants. Kevin Stefanski hired Bill Callahan. Stefanski surrounded himself with the best possible o-line coach and he deserves credit for that.

And I don't think Callahan would have agreed to take the job unless he spoke with Stefanski and thought he was a guy with whom he could work well.

 

[Amherstcavsfan]

Stefanski also deserves credit for the Bill Callahan hire, which has been huge. In addition to the stellar performance of the OL through the first 3 games, Callahan has given us a successful schematic identity as a zone blocking team. That gives us a clear direction/focus in terms of the type of OL acquisitions to target moving forward, and should make it easier to acquire the best fits moving forward to build depth, and to enhance continuity moving forward into future seasons.

We should also credit Berry as well.

Callahan is great and all, but he's nothing without massive investments into the offensive line in the form of Wills and Conklin while also restructuring the contract of Hubbard.

This is what we mean in a unified vision. Stefanski was sold on Callahan's vision of the offensive line and Berry has brought in the players that will be maximized by their vision. Should also credit Stump Mitchell for incorporating different styles in the running game instead of all zone blocking all the time.

 

[Lee]

Stefanski also deserves credit for the Bill Callahan hire, which has been huge. In addition to the stellar performance of the OL through the first 3 games, Callahan has given us a successful schematic identity as a zone blocking team. That gives us a clear direction/focus in terms of the type of OL acquisitions to target moving forward, and should make it easier to acquire the best fits moving forward to build depth, and to enhance continuity moving forward into future seasons.

So that is an interesting point. Some hires aren't really up to you, they are up to the person themselves. What I mean is Bill Callahan was a very wanted man, one of the best out there, job offers are not an issue for him. So when giving credit to Stefanski, its more than Kevin wanting Bill, its Kevin's reputation and ability to sell Bill on the job that comes into play.

While you are 100% correct, it goes so much deeper that a very desirable coach want to come to Cleveland AND work for Stefanski.

We will lose games again, and soon, we are not a contender even if we sneak into the playoffs. But we also know we are not a finished product and we are seeing a plan being properly executive right in front of our eyes. It is really beautiful.

 

[Lee]

I never understood the idea that head coaches are not responsible for their assistants. Kevin Stefanski hired Bill Callahan. Stefanski surrounded himself with the best possible o-line coach and he deserves credit for that.

Like I said, its really that Stefanski's reputation and sales ability GOT Bill Callahan to commit to Kevin's staff and come to Cleveland. We should have known Stefanski was a good hire when a coach of Bill Callahan's reputation is willing to work for a rookie coach based upon that rookie coach's reputation.

Just amazing.

 

[Scholar]

Imagine if Stefanski was hired to be the Head Coach last season. How much further along Baker & the offense would be...

Ugh.

As much as I think about some of that, it would never have worked as well as it is now. Plus, we have likely have been stuck with Dorsey as he wouldn't have stunk out the place. We needed the investment in the two tackles to truly get where we are now. Wouldn't have happened with Dorsey here instead of Berry. Things worked as they were suppose to. We got rid of him and Freddy and the other inferior coaches that I think Dorsey was the one to pick them, not Freddy. Plus, management is now in sync and listening to each other unlike the past couple of years. Last years mess got us Wills. Always remember that. i doubt we would have picked that high with Stefanski here instead of Kitchens, Plus, Teller got a year to mature and experience Callahan's guidance. Things went as they were suppose to. You just have to accept it had to get as bad as it did for us to get to the point we are now. It is also possible that Baker needed things to get as bad as it was for him to be as responsive to instruction as he is now.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

We should also credit Berry as well.

Callahan is great and all, but he's nothing without massive investments into the offensive line in the form of Wills and Conklin while also restructuring the contract of Hubbard.

This is what we mean in a unified vision. Stefanski was sold on Callahan's vision of the offensive line and Berry has brought in the players that will be maximized by their vision. Should also credit Stump Mitchell for incorporating different styles in the running game instead of all zone blocking all the time.

I agree that it is great to have them all on the same page, but no way is Callahan nothing without massive investments. He's been just huge on his own. and that's demonstrated by the across the board improvement of every single lineman from last year to this year. I'd give RB coach Stump Mitchell credit for getting a lot out of Chubb, but Mitchell was here last year as well, and that didn't seem to help the performance of the offensive line. That didn't change until Callahan.

Hubbard was a pile of poo last year -- he had a PFF grade of 50.6, gave up a team-high 38 QB pressures and six sacks, and had eight penalties. He was one of the reasons we went out and got Conklin. Wyatt Teller had a PFF grade of 56.7, gave up 16 QB pressures in 11 games and had a run-blocking grade of 48.2.

How Browns offensive players graded for the 2019 season

Every team in the NFL uses Pro Football Focus data in some capacity, so it makes sense to see what PFF analysts have to say about how the Browns performed in 2019.

www.cleveland.com

But this season, under Callahan, Hubbard has a grade of 74.0, and Teller at 94.0 has the highest grade of any lineman in the entire NFL. That's just a ridiculous level of improvement from those two guys year to year. Seems to me the offensive line coach has to be the major person to credit for that.

Chris Hubbard | Cleveland Browns T | NFL and PFF stats | PFF

NFL and PFF player stats for Cleveland Browns T Chris Hubbard on Pro Football Focus.

www.pff.com

NFL G Position Grades | PFF

PFF's exclusive metrics provide Guard (G) position rankings, grades, and snap counts.

www.pff.com

Conklin also is playing better than he did last year (albeit for a different team) His PFF grade went from 77.9 to 85.4.

Jack Conklin | Cleveland Browns T | NFL and PFF stats | PFF

NFL and PFF player stats for Cleveland Browns T Jack Conklin on Pro Football Focus.

www.pff.com

Bitonio went from 74.2 to 77.9

Joel Bitonio | Cleveland Browns G | NFL and PFF stats | PFF

NFL and PFF player stats for Cleveland Browns G Joel Bitonio on Pro Football Focus.

www.pff.com

And Tretter went from 72.0 to 80.4

J.C. Tretter | Cleveland Browns C | NFL and PFF stats | PFF

NFL and PFF player stats for Cleveland Browns C J.C. Tretter on Pro Football Focus.

www.pff.com

That's kind of insane when you think about it -- every single starter playing better. The bonus in this is that we are finally in a position to draft/acquire OL and develop them for a specific scheme, and not shove them in as starters before they are ready. Hubbard went from being horrible to stepping right in for Conklin when he's been hurt. That's huge. There were good reports on Nick Harris when it looked like we might be without Tretter, and he's another example of a guy built for this kind of wide zone blocking scheme. And we got him in the 5th round.

We'll probably draft 1-2 OL in each draft moving forward who can excel in this scheme, and develop them. Those Denver Bronco offensive lines of the mid/late '90s and 2000's were built that way under Alex Gibbs and his zone blocking scheme. They acquired guys that fit that scheme, often in lower rounds, and then dominated with them. That's how you build depth, and also how you develop the guys who will replace starters who retire or become too expensive.

What's kind of frightening for our opponents -- but very nice for us -- is that we shifted over to wide zone blocking just this year, and that's usually something that teams/players get better at the longer they do it. For us to have this much success with that scheme early on....just damn.

 

[J_J]

We finally have a coach who can help us win games. Again we run out of the clock in the first half so the Colts could not get a drive and we got 3 points. We find ways to make plays when we have a misplay beforehand. And better yet 2 penalties today!

Props to Stefanski.

 

[prf100]

Kind of crazy to think about Freddie doing an interview and Kevin doing an interview... and choosing Freddie.

Thank god for the mulligan.

PS—> I was all about Freddie

 

[Jordan]

Man, this guy is just a perfect play-caller. The only time the Browns have had anyone like this is Shanahan in 2014. Stefanski is legit.

 

[CBBI]

What else can we say about Kevin Stefanski?

It's early, but it sure seems like he's could be our Kyle Shanahan/Sean McVay.

A smart, calm, organized coach who also happens to be a really dynamic play caller with a multi-layered offensive scheme that he wholeheartedly believes in.

Plus it seems like he has a real eye for coaching talent, bringing in two of the very best offensive position coaches in all of football in Bill Callahan and Chad O'Shea.