Three keys to success for the Cleveland Browns in 2020
By Greg Newland
3. Stefanski must control the locker room
While it is easy to point finger at Baker Mayfield, Odell Beckham, Damarious Randall, and Myles Garrett for the failure last season, it just isn’t fair. While even I was excited when John Dorsey hired Kitchens, it was evident early and often that it was just too much for the previous quarterback coach to handle.
Think about it, Kitchens went from quarterback coach to offensive coordinator to head coach in a matter of 12 months. Shame on Dorsey for thinking that was a good idea, as there are a very limited number of coaches who have made that progression that quickly and been successful.
Fortunately, the Browns have a lot of talent on the roster, but with that comes big personalities that can be a challenge to manage. Stefanski must step up quickly and let the players know he is on their side, while not allowing the locker room to turn into a three-ring circus. There is no doubt that will be a difficult challenge for a first-year head coach, but to this point, Stefanski has done a tremendous job as there have been zero headlines that are negative about the Browns.
What’s the old saying? “Winning cures all”. There is no doubt that there is some truth in that. It will be important for the Browns to get off to a fast start to keep morale high. The worst-case for the Browns would be a slow start and start of bad attitudes in the locker room.