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5 things that went wrong for the Cleveland Browns in 2019

By Elliot Kennel

CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 29: Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam listens to general manager John Dorsey prior to a preseason game against the Detroit Lions during a preseason game at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 29, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 29: Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam listens to general manager John Dorsey prior to a preseason game against the Detroit Lions during a preseason game at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 29, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 15: Head coach Freddie Kitchens of the Cleveland Browns during the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on December 15, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Browns 38-24.(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 15: Head coach Freddie Kitchens of the Cleveland Browns during the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on December 15, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Browns 38-24.(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

The Freddie Kitchens debacle

The Freddie Kitchens disaster was a group effort, but Freddie Kitchens is taking the fall, fair or unfair. Something magic happened in the second half of 2018, and the thinking was that Kitchens was the main force behind it.

That was certainly logical reasoning, but unfortunately it was just wrong. Maybe the offensive explosion was more about Gregg Williams or Ken Zampese. Maybe it was offensive line coach Bob Wylie. At any rate, the vast majority of observers saw the Browns offense take a gigantic step backwards under Kitchens this season and the entire team was an undisciplined mess.

The Kitchens hire made complete sense at the time the decision was made. It just did not work out. It does not mean that Dorsey has bad judgment, but the NFL is a results-oriented business.

Scuttlebutt says that Paul DePodesta was the dissenting voice against the hiring of Kitchens.  DePodesta wanted Vikings interim offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski, who is currently the Vikings full-time offensive coordinator. DePodesta felt Stefanski was the best candidate for the job. DePodesta also wanted Sean McDermott, the successful head coach of the Buffalo Bills, instead of Hue Jackson in 2016.

Well, DePodesta was right. Rumors abound that he will take a larger role in the search for the next coach.

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