Cleveland Browns roster wants to see potential changes for 2020 season
By Dan Justik
The Cleveland Browns 2019 season has not gone the way they have expected, and it has made some players want to see what changes for the 2020 season.
With all of the expectations surrounding the Cleveland Browns before the season, 2019 can be viewed as a massive failure. After going four games below .500 at the start of the season, the Browns almost effectively took themselves out of the playoff hunt.
Browns rookie head coach Freddie Kitchens has been overwhelmed and has been a key reason for Cleveland’s struggles. Even as the offensive play-caller, which is what earned him the head coaching job, Kitchens has had issues.
How Kitchens would handle being a first-time head coach and trying to manage a locker room with big personalities, as well as calling plays, was what many assumed would Cleveland’s pitfall this season. That has been the case.
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Kitchens’ performance this season and how he managed to diminish the talent on the offensive of the ball put his job in question. However, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Sunday the Browns want Kitchens to be their long-term head coach and do not plan to fire him this offseason unless a catastrophic end to the season.
Despite Cleveland’s confidence in Kitchens, the roster does not have the same confidence. Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reported Sunday that Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. wants to see potential changes for the 2020 season.
"Beckham is among a core of veteran Browns players, however, who are interested to see what changes, if any, are made to the team’s staff and scheme in 2020, with some deep concerns about the lack of evolution in a passing game many expected to be among the best in football. – via CBS Sports"
Beckham is one of the league’s most talented wide receivers, but Kitchens has been unable to heavily involve him in game plans week in and week out. It has caused visible frustration from Beckham, leading to rumors Beckham wants out of Cleveland following the season. However, La Canfora also reported Beckham will not request a trade this offseason.
Kitchens and his coaching staff have caused the roster to regress in 2018, most notably Baker Mayfield. Despite emerging as one of the top young quarterbacks during his rookie season, Mayfield has statistically been one of the worst starting quarterbacks this season.
One of the potential changes for 2020 is for Kitchens to hand over the offensive play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Todd Monken, who has built a reputation as a top play-caller in the NFL. This would allow Kitchens to focus more on game management and helping coach and develop players.
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It is clear the Browns organization wants to give Kitchens more time as the head coach, but changes should be made for the 2020 season. It is not only Kitchens who needs to make changes, but general manager John Dorsey is going to have to do more roster tweaking in the offseason. How the Browns handle the upcoming offseason will be important for the 2020 season.