Cleveland Browns: 3 reasons Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry might be split up in 2021

2. The need for more speed on offense

There’s no denying the Cleveland browns offense was better in 2020 than the season before. There were several reasons for the improvement. They were vastly improved on the offensive line, and Baker Mayfield also took some huge steps forward as a quarterback. However, the biggest reason for their improvement was the play-calling of new head coach Kevin Stefanski.

It’s not just Cleveland fans that felt Stefanski was a great addition either as the NFL just named him Coach of the Year for his work with the team. He was a steadying force for a franchise that has been desperate for such a leader for decades.

While all of that is true, even Stefanski couldn’t get things figured out in the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Browns were trailing in Kansas City 22-10 with Patrick Mahomes out with a concussion. Trailing by two scores late in the game, Cleveland needed to move the ball quick and they just couldn’t.

Their final score took 18-plays and 8:17 off the clock. Their inability to stretch the defense helped the Chiefs milk the clock and kept the Browns from moving the ball in their final possession — which covered 12 yards on seven plays.

As for Jarvis Landry, he finished with fewer than three yards per catch, netting 20 yards on seven receptions. He’s been a great player over the middle of the field but he cannot stretch the defense. The hope was that OBJ could do that but now, they have to wonder how he will look following ACL surgery.

Expecting Beckham to return to form right out of the gates is a tough ask, so there’s a chance the Browns could be looking for someone else who could beat man coverage down the field.