Cleveland Browns: Grading head coach Kevin Stefanski at the first quarter mark
What is Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski’s grade after 4 games?
With four games in the books, we evaluate how Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski is handling his various duties and assign the first-quarter grade to the rookie head coach.
Staff Management
A head coach is only as good as the assistants that he surrounds himself with. When assembling his staff, Stefanski only retained two coaches, special teams’ coordinator Mike Priefer and running backs coach Stump Mitchell.
The coaches that Stefanski decided to bring in varied in experience levels. Defensive coordinator Joe Woods is a third-year coordinator and offensive line coach Bill Callahan is a veteran coach with head coaching experience.
After four games, the retention of Mitchell and the hiring of Callahan have proved to be excellent decisions. Both assistants are a major reason for the offensive success the Browns have enjoyed in the early portion of this season. However, the defensive additions to the staff have yet to prove themselves after the first four games of the season.
Staff management first quarter grade: B-
Implementing a Team Identity
Imagine landing a dream opportunity, constructing a detailed plan to ensure success, and then crumbling it up and tossing it in the trash. That’s exactly what coach Stefanski had to do when the COVID Pandemic destroyed every sense of normalcy we had come to know. Instead, the normal free agency, NFL draft, rookie OTA, off-season workout program cycle was replaced with Zoom meetings.
Stefanski adapted and overcame. After only a few meetings, Stefanski had implemented a mentality that the players resonated with. There was a noticeable change in the player’s demeanor, down to even how they answered questions. It was as if Stefanski was speaking for the players himself.
The fact that Stefanski was able to begin to change the culture of the team without any player stepping foot in the facility is a testament to his leadership skills.
Implementing a team identity first quarter grade: A