Why did Browns play Baker Mayfield Sunday?
By Joel W. Cade
The Sophomore Slump continues . . .
Kevin Stefanski is good head coach. He is currently taking his lumps and getting that much-needed experience. But he will be better off for having walked through the valley of the shadow of death.
It’s Kevin Stefanski’s job to see the big picture for the team. It’s his job to understand that the Browns will be playing the Ravens twice in three weeks. It’s Stefanski’s job to see past this week and make decisions that are best for the team.
Yes, he wants his team focused on this week. Winning is a week to week adventure. Stefanski wants his players focused on this week. But he has to focus on more than this week.
Players need the blinders, the tunnel vision to only see what is in front of them. But the coach has to see two to three weeks down the road. The coach has to coach with those upcoming weeks in mind. The coach has to guide the team through a season, not just this week.
Stefanksi drank is own Kool-Aid. Somewhere along the way he forgot that not only does he have to win now, but he has to balance winning now with winning next week and beyond. Playing Baker this week was a mistake. Mayfield was clearly injured and could not perform at his best. Playing him not only hurt the Browns this week but it may have caused more problems in the next two or three weeks.
Kevin Stefanski may have had Baker in his ear wanting to play, but at some point he has to pull a Primetime Deon Sanders, i.e. Stefanski has to make a “business decision” with his quarterback.
A business decision for Sanders was refusing to tackle running backs in the open field. He refused to do this because those plays often led to injuries to the cornerback. Injuries prevented people from playing which in turn prevents you from getting paid. So, Sanders made a decision to stay healthy, extend his career and get paid. In short, he made a “business decision”.
Baker needs someone to make a business decision for him. The person to do that is the man who needs to be thinking about what is best for his players, the head coach. Baker’s job is to push to play no matter what. Stefanski’s job is to make business decisions.
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Stefanski is still learning on the job. He is doing a good job. But now it is time to Stefanski to make some business decisions.