Grades from the Week 6 loss to the Titans
Coaching: F
Fortunately for the coaching staff, our grading system goes no lower than “F”. Head coach Hue Jackson may be the coach fans want moving forward, but he has done nothing to verify these sentiments thus far.
The primary priority of coaching is discipline, and making the most of the talent given to them to play an efficient game. For the Browns though, eleven penalties and an atrocious lack of balance in the offensive play calling made the difference in what should have been a competitive game.
The offense put the ball in Kessler’s hands and said “good luck” 42 times, while only dialing up 14 rushing plays. Instead of an ideal 50/50 ratio against a defense which does not have a clear strength, the Browns threw the ball on 75 percent of their offensive plays.
Also, special teams coach Chris Tabor is running a special teams which has played downright miserable. The field-position mentioned on the previous slide is a testament to this. Lack of discipline is mostly responsible, which is a direct reflection on both coaching and youth. While the coaches can’t change the youth factor, they can hold their players more accountable and teach what is teachable; playing fundamentally sound and disciplined football.
Even the comeback attempt was mismanaged. Many will argue that the two-point conversion attempt on the first touchdown late in the game was a mistake, but there is evidence that it actually was the better move. However, the unnecessary timeout as well as the decision to pursue the end zone while in field goal range late in the game could have been costly.
The Browns wouldn’t have needed to recover the onside kick if they had made a field goal, and could have realistically gotten the ball back with about 30 seconds remaining down six points. This was apparently not considered though, even though it would have been a logical way to approach the final minute.
Next: 3 takeaways from the loss to the Titans
Maybe Jackson is the long-term answer, as many Browns fans are still convinced that he is. But what basis do they have for this thinking? Judging strictly on the way the team has been coached the first six games of 2016, they have none.