The Browns will have to make some crucial personnel decisions this offseason, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, where a number of players who signed one-year contracts with Cleveland will be eligible for free agency next month.
Safety Rodney McLeod is one such veteran who matches that description, having emerged as a vocal leader on defense this season.
On Monday, McLeod spoke on the NFL Network’s Good Morning Football to reflect on his Super Bowl LIII journey with the Eagles, which took place five years ago this weekend. Before getting nostalgic, the 33-year-old discussed his season with the Browns, stating a desire to return to Cleveland next year despite sustaining a season-ending bicep injury.
“At age 33 getting injured is never what we envision and it makes it a little difficult for recovery” McLeod said in a statement. “But things are going nicely. Very thrilled about what I’ve been able to do in recovery. We will see what the future holds. I have a strong desire to contribute, and I hope to return to the Browns next season.”
The 12-year veteran was one of many Browns players who ended the season on injured reserve, but the team nonetheless finished 11-6 and qualified for the playoffs as a wild card. Unfortunately, the wonderful run came to an end on Wild Card Weekend, when the Houston Texans defeated them 45-14. While McLeod would have like to be on the field with his teammates, he took advantage of the spectacular ride.
“We were battle tested I think from Week 2 all the way through,” McLeod said in an interview. “I believe our identity last year was perseverance, which was displayed by innumerable members of our team. We’re calling folks off the street, like Joe Flacco, who was sitting on his couch, playing backyard football with his kids, and is now throwing for 300 yards and guiding us to the playoffs. That is simply a testament to the team’s leaders, coaching staff, and the culture we established there.
“I think there’s a lot to build upon and a lot for us to celebrate despite not ending up in Vegas this upcoming weekend.”
Before going on injured reserve in Week 11, McLeod recorded 29 total tackles, two for a loss, and one pass breakup as Cleveland’s backup safety. McLeod did start five of the ten games he participated in and was an important voice in the Browns’ locker room.
It’s unclear whether general manager Andrew Berry and team brass will try to re-sign McLeod. At the very least, they now understand his wish to return in 2024.
Cleveland Browns’ Ken Dorsey Tasked with Getting the Offense to Take ‘Next Steps’; Discusses Calling Plays
BEREA, OH — The Cleveland Browns have chosen Ken Dorsey as their offensive coordinator, and he was officially unveiled on Monday in Berea. Dorsey was given the position of offensive coordinator rather than quarterback coach.
He was also not given the title of ‘play caller’–at least not right now.
Kevin Stefanski introduced Dorsey and briefly discussed who would call the plays.
“Play calling, which I know everybody wants to talk about, we’ll get there,” Stefanski went on to say. “It is February 5th. What’s most important, what I’m looking forward to the most, is reassembling this attack with Ken leading the charge, which is why he’s here, and I’m very happy to have him here.”
Dorsey was asked about the significance of calling plays for him.
“Calling to me is not as important as winning football games,” he told reporters. “To me. It’s more about the decision we’re most comfortable making to assist our team win. And, throughout my career, I’ve been more concerned in what I can do to help this team win than anything else.
“And that’s the only thing that matters to me,” he continued. “So whether Kevin calls it or I call it, the most important thing for me is our team. So, if Kevin calls, what do I do? “I could do my job to the best of my ability.”
Dorsey most recently served as the Buffalo Bills’ offensive coordinator, but was fired in the middle of the season.
“Ken was a guy that we identified that could help us, help me be an integral part of this offense,” Stefanski went on to say. “Ken and I had known one other for a little while. We’ve sort of grown up in this career together, if you will. Just watching Ken in college and now in the pros, having success as a player and as a coach. He really fits with our cultural identity…
“Really, a smart person who fits us from a culture standpoint just has had a ton of success, really every stop along the way,” he went on to say. “And really pleased to add Ken to this group.”
Dorsey played quarterback for the Browns from 2006 to 2008. Overall, Dorsey has 16 years of NFL playing and coaching experience. He has worked with some of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, including Cam Newton, who was awarded MVP in 2015 and led the Panthers to Super Bowl 50. He most recently worked with the Buffalo Bills for five years, first as quarterbacks coach (2019-20), then as passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach (2021) and offensive coordinator (2022-23). In his debut season as offensive coordinator, the Bills ranked second in the NFL in total offense (397.6 yards per game) and points per game (28.4).
Dorsey assisted quarterback Josh Allen in setting multiple NFL records, including becoming the first player in NFL history to have at least 4,000 passing yards, 30 passing touchdowns, and eight rushing touchdowns in a single season in 2020. Dorsey spent six seasons in the NFL after breaking multiple school records at Miami (Fla.), where he led the Hurricanes to a 38-2 record as a starter and helped them win the national championship in 2001.
Dorsey thinks he can help Deshaun Watson improve, overall on his game.
“I think that’s the exciting thing about Deshaun is from everything I’ve been told from Kevin and the guys here, this guy, he wants to be coached, he wants to be pushed and driven and I think I’ll be able to pick up where the staff has left off on that,” Dorsey said in a telephone interview. “And I think they’ve done an excellent job here over time. It’s clear what we’ve been capable of doing in recent years, and now it’s time to pick that up with Deshaun and really get going. We’ll obviously evaluate those things, and then we’ll go in and build a great base of fundamentals that we can rely on throughout the year to ensure we’re doing those things in the fourth quarter of our games.
“We’ve still got a great base that’ll help us be accurate,” he went on to say. “And when things become messy, we can still trust on those things to provide accurate throws and make sound decisions. So that is half the battle. Our objective in the quarterback room is to go out and score points to help us win football games, whether it’s one point, twenty points, or more. And I believe that if you have a guy like him, he will assist you do it.”
Dorsey was drawn to Stefanski because he worked with quarterbacks.
“Ken has worked with and elevated some of the top quarterbacks in this league and will bring a fresh approach to our offense,” Stefanski told the media. “He understands what it takes to be successful at that position because he was one of the most successful college quarterbacks of all time, which has helped him become an excellent coach.” He has a history with this franchise and understands what the Browns mean to the community. We are very happy to hire Ken as offensive coordinator.”
Dorsey’s coaching expertise with quarterbacks such as Newton and Allen is part of his appeal to the Browns. Watson is a strong quarterback with the ability to create with his legs, and Dorsey has expertise running offenses that capitalize on those qualities. Newton has a history with Watson, and it’s likely the two quarterbacks have discussed what Dorsey could provide Watson as a coach, as well as his contribution to the offense.
Dorsey was asked about his experiences with dual-threat quarterbacks.
“I think the understanding of those guys can do things that a lot of people can’t and look at the same time,” he went on to say. “There will be occasions, as I’ve seen with Cam and Josh, when they’ll make unbelievable plays that everyone will think are amazing. But then there will be instances when we scramble around and take a sack or something, and it’s like, ‘Well, just toss the ball’.
“Sometimes there’s a give and take there, but it’s the understanding, we’ve got to make sure we’re playing smart, not conservative in terms of what we’re doing and we’re doing the things that we’re taking chances and we’re extended plays and we’re doing things in a way that isn’t going to be detrimental for us as a team and us as an offense.”
One of the issues Dorsey faces is integrating an offense that appeared to be more dynamic vertically in the passing game under Joe Flacco than it did under Watson prior to his injury. Flacco led the Browns to five 300-yard passing games, including the playoff game, in his final six games of the season.
“I think we’re always going to evaluate those types of things to make sure we’re doing the best thing for us and an offense and us as a team,” Dorsey said at the time. “So, we’ll look at those things and say, obviously, there’s some things that I’ve done in the past from, to your point, maybe specifically from a drop back perspective, and say, ‘Hey, here’s an area where we can expand some things and do some things and look to add, or Hey, here’s some things from a play-action standpoint that are also good. So I believe that part of the offseason is to sit down and examine what we believe is the best path forward, whether it’s a drop back, play action, or whatever it takes to help us take the next step.
“What it’s all about, what can we do for us as an offense to take the next steps to help us get where we want to go and get some home playoff games late in the year,” that’s what he stated. “That’s all it’s about for us. Yeah, the drop back could be part of it, but as Kevin mentioned, the entire offense is on the table. We’re going to look at this thing from the ground up, from cadences to formations to how we’re calling things or terminology, and make sure that everything is in the best interests of our offensive from every single player who steps foot on the field for us.”
The Browns have hired Ken Dorsey and three other assistants to their coaching staff.
The Cleveland Browns officially announced Ken Dorsey as their offensive coordinator before to his press conference on Monday. Along with him, the team announced Tommy Rees as tight end coach and pass game specialist, Jacques Cesaire as defensive line coach, and Duce Stay as running backs coach.
While all of the hires had been rumored and confirmed, the club was yet to make an official statement. Dorsey, a former Browns quarterback, has coached Cam Newton with the Carolina Panthers and Josh Allen with the Buffalo Bills, guiding both to their most successful seasons.
“Ken has worked with and raised some of the best quarterbacks in the NFL and will provide a new perspective to our offense. He understands what it takes to be successful at that position since he was one of the most successful college quarterbacks of all time, and that experience has helped him become an excellent coach. He has a history with this franchise and understands what the Browns mean to the community. We are very happy to hire Ken as offensive coordinator.” – Kevin Stefanski, per the team’s news statement.
Notably, there is no mention of Dorsey being the quarterbacks’ coach. Dorsey might wind up in that post, possibly as a formality stated during the press conference. His predecessor, Alex Van Pelt, was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach last year. It’s also feasible that the Browns will bring in someone else to coach that position group.
Rees’ position was always going to be more than just coaching tight ends. The title of pass game specialist refers to his time as offensive coordinator at both Notre Dame and Alabama. And, as Stefanski points out, the Browns want to get some of the ingenuity from the collegiate game.
“Tommy has established himself as one of the best assistant coaches in college football, and I have no doubt it will translate to the NFL. He has excellent football knowledge, and I’m excited to bring his insights and unique perspective from top college schools to our offense.”
Duce Staley has not only coached running backs, but he has also served as an assistant head coach for three different teams, including the Philadelphia Eagles, who won the Super Bowl.
“Duce was a tough, hard-nosed running back in this league, and his teaching style reflects the mindset and energy required in the running backs’ room. He understands how to get the most out of his athletes, having worked with some of the top running backs in the NFL. “We are thrilled to have him leading our running backs,” stated Stefanski.
Staley’s replacement, Stump Mitchell, was also the running game coordinator. Staley, at the time, just holds the title of running backs coach. The title element may be overstated, but Staley will be a key component in helping the Browns improve their dismal running game in 2022.
Jacques Cesaire coached the Houston Texas defensive front for the past two seasons, and the group was effective. He is replacing Ben Bloom, who was the defensive line coach in 2022. Bloom is still with the organization and could be shifted to a different function.
Aside from the lack of mention of the quarterback’s coach, the offensive line coaching role remains undetermined. Bill Callahan is reportedly departing for the Tennessee Titans, but this has yet to be confirmed. The Browns may still be seeking for his replacement.
Cleveland Browns News 2/3: OL Vacancy Begins, Ratbirds Poached Again, and a Bagel Appears
Good morning, Cleveland Browns fans!
So I have a confession to make. The only thing people wanted to speak about in yesterday’s Newswire comments was the fact that I didn’t get the bagel I requested for breakfast, which turned out to be a huge misunderstanding. The bagel was, in fact, there; it was just smushed to about a 3-millimeter height and wedged between two other bags. My wife discovered it later, and I ate the relic of prior bagel glory in my sad manner, in dour contemplation of the utter failure of the remainder of my newswire, which was a jokey snarky lecture about not doing foolish things I requested, which had no response and had record-low page views.
So, back to fundamentals today: going over what happened in the Cleveland Browns news from yesterday and sharing my thoughts on it.
The “biggest” topic in Brownsland right now is the team’s unexpected opening at the offensive line coaching position, which would likely go undetected in other places but piques a lot of interest in Cleveland, where the value of trench play is well appreciated. The near-legendary Bill Callahan exits to join his son, and… who enters? Scott Peters is the logical internal candidate, and he has some supporters.
As long as the team is seeking for new perspectives (and if Peters is ready to wait a year or two), there are undoubtedly other people out there who might be able to perform the job, and some are recommending that the team explore in that direction:
Look, you cannot replace Callahan. He’s a legend in his specific field. His technical lessons will be missed. I do, however, hope the Browns look outside of their present staff to find the new offensive line coach. Another area where scheme design could benefit from a fresh approach.
In a slightly sillier vein, there has been some click-searching in relation to bringing in Browns icon Joe Thomas. Everyone loves Joe, and he is a Hall of Famer, but it does not always translate into successful coaching. Sometimes (see Dorsey, Ken), the guys who have to work hard to develop every ounce of their innate talent make the best coaches in football and other sports. Steve Carlton was not a terrific pitching instructor, but a number of lesser pitchers were. Anyway, Joe is self-aware enough to recognize that being an OL coach is not the obvious next step in his life.
Elsewhere, the poaching of the Ratbird defensive coaching staff continues, which can’t be a bad thing, blogs continue to write bloggy things, and more people are debating whether Ken Dorsey should call the plays. It’s just another early February day on the OBR Newswire.
Have a good one! Go Browns!
YOUR MORNING NEWSWIRE SOUNDTRACK
Jake and Andrew are back for a Saturday talk that begins with the AFC’s coaching transition and who it is most affecting in the AFC North. They then proceed to the first of the 2023 positional reviews with the quarterbacks. They rate collective performance, who stays/leaves in 2024, and the position’s greatest “path to improvement” early in the off-season process, which includes free agency and draft opportunities.
Cleveland Browns News 2/5: Loser Bowls, Flag Football, and Dallas Is Dallas
Good morning to Cleveland Browns fans!
Maybe I am waking up too early. It’s barely after 6 a.m., and I’m already composing my bloviation since I completed the rest of today’s newswire in less than 45 minutes. This is how light we are on genuine links, folks. I should definitely get some more sleep before things pick up again.
The only significant event that occurred yesterday was the Loser Bowl. Excuse me, “Pro Bowl”. But it’s truly the Loser Bowl because it’s made up exclusively of guys who will not play in next week’s Super Bowl. Hence, losers. Unfortunately, there can be only one winner. That’s how the NFL operates. The remainder of these individuals are LOSERS. Do you hear me? Losers! Never mind that they are one-third my age and have earned more money than I will in my lifetime; they are a bunch of losers. So there.
Baker Mayfield, the subject of our cover shot, answers the question “Who is King Loser?” by standing confidently on the dais after winning an imaginary football game. All of the thrilling action can be found below in a couple of links that I threw together without reading since, well, it’s the Pro Bowl. I hope they don’t disappoint if you go in and click them. If not, I cannot be held responsible because, as previously stated, it is the Pro Bowl.
Look, if you want to spend your weekend watching the Pro Bowl and its games, that is fine. I have no issues with you. I’m just cranky because I have a lot to accomplish between the end of the season and the start of free agency, so I’m just as busy as usual and can’t relax while watching defeated players from defeated teams play flag football. If you enjoy it, that’s fine with me. Live and let live. The photographs show that the players were having fun.
Denzel Ward reportedly had a fantastic one-handed interception catch (picture below), and David Njoku responded to Micah Parson’s Browns trash during a Madden game. So that was the Browns’ Pro Bowl excitement.
Aside from that, there are some off-season previews of what the Browns should do from PFF, Tony Grossi, and others in another area of the Newswire.
Meanwhile, the rest of us are off on another Monday work-week adventure, which I hope goes well for you. As grumpy as I may appear today, I enjoy getting up and doing this stuff, and I hope you do too.
Have a good one! Go Browns!
