Monday nights loss at Pittsburgh was ugly for many reasons. FIRST very sad about Nick Chubb, one of the NFL's good guys. He is Cleveland. He works hard, plays hard and is intent on making a difference. He is the heart and soul of this Browns team, and I'm not sure those in charge of the Browns realize that yet, but they're gonna learn - reluctantly it would appear.
Last week against Cincy, when the offense was not at all effective, they had no choice but to turn to Chubb and he bailed them out and got things right. Early in the Steeler game, the same thing until his devastating injury. But that's not at all what this organization wants to do. They want Watson to win them games and chuck the ball all over the yard all day. Well, now he pretty much is going to have try to do that, becaue their backup plan just had knee surgery.
The Browns are much more talented this year as opposed to last year, mainly on defense and that's great to see. But the defense had nowhere to go but to get better. The main issue with the Browns is this puzzling, myopic view of the game and the way they run this team. They are stubbornly committed to one way to play a game. In NFL reality, you have to do - what you need to do that day - to win that game. They did that in game one and I was thrilled to see that. But not in the Pittsburgh game.
Stefanski watches and manages a game through a porthole and not a picture window. He is so focused on what HE wants to do, he fails to see the game, place, and situation in its entirety. He continues to think he is the smartest person in any room. He's gonna "fool them." That he's of superior intellect. And he continues to get beat by far better football men who break the game down to its guts, nuts and bolts. In the end, that's what football is. You know why the Steelers won Monday? They out-footballed us. They lost virtually every single statistical category by a mile, but they knew what it takes to win. They did, they do, and have for 21 straight years against us in their yard. My feeling is Tomlin told his team before this game, "We don't lose to the guys here." And they listened.
As a head coach and organization, you have to take in the totality of the environment with game in front of you. The place, the crowd, momentum, situation, the ramifications of the moment, and the hour. Also THE reality, and not YOUR reality. Look at the big picture and not the tunnel visioned kaleidoscope of your rigid plan. We don't do that well. Play calling that is just silly, decisions that are reckless and self destructive. The time has come for this entire organization to quit trying to BE right, and focus on DOING right. There was none, zero excuse for not winning Monday night, except the Steelers knew how to win it more from the owners box to the equipment box.
And here come the Titans into our yard. We are better than them and we have no excuse for not winning this game. This is the third straight game we are better on paper, having an overall superior roster. BUT Tennessee comes in after watching the Pittsburgh game too. They are tough, well coached and thinking about the playoffs. And now they have no fear of us after Monday nights debacle.
Get ready coach. These are football men coming to town who have the ability to see the whole thing better than us. If you allow them, they will find a way to get this done too. Put down the Denny's menu, hand off play calling to people getting paid to do it. And finaly at long last get in the whole game, not just the portion you have interest in. Look around, feel the crowd, the day, the mood. Take it in, read the room and lead.
The time has come to widen the lens and be the head coach. The team needs one. And - I feel there is one in waiting.
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