A mystery that had gripped Northeast Ohio for weeks has been solved. Ben Bloom, who was the Cleveland Browns defensive line coach in 2023 and whose situation was uncertain, has accepted the post of outside linebackers coach with the Tennessee Titans, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2.
#Titans coaching staff: offensive line Bill Callahan, receivers Tyke Tolbert, running backs Randy Jordan, quarterbacks Bo Hardegree, assistant receiver Payton McCollum, linebackers Frank Bush, secondary safeties. Steve Jackson, defensive lineman Tracy Rocker, and outside linebacker Ben…
The Browns never issued a public announcement regarding Bloom’s situation. The team interviewed Ryan Crow, the previous Titans’ outside linebackers coach under former head coach Mike Vrabel, for the post of defensive line coach. However, because the team never made an official announcement about Bloom, it is possible that he will be reassigned within the Browns coaching staff. Bloom had previously served as the team’s run game coordinator for the defense before being moved to defensive line coach this season. Crow has since accepted a position as the Miami Dolphins’ outside linebackers coach.
The Browns hired Jacques Cesaire as defensive line coach, but there has been no statement about Bloom. Bloom might have been reassigned before taking the offer to work with former Browns offensive line coach Bill Callahan as part of the Titans’ new head coach Brian Callahan’s staff.
Bloom joined the Browns as a senior defensive assistant in 2020 after working as the Dallas Cowboys’ linebackers coach in 2018 and 2019. He had been with the Cowboys in various capacity since 2011. He was with the Browns in 2009 and 2010 under then-head coach Eric Mangini.
Bloom’s stay at Tufts University near Boston coincided with new Browns offensive line coach Andy Dickerson’s. Bloom studied at Tufts from 2001 to 2004, while Dickerson attended from 1999 to 2002.
With Bloom joining the Titans and the Browns’ coaching staff consisting of only one Jumbo, the Browns may have an opening on their coaching staff. They may want to hire another defensive run game coordinator if Bloom was able to reclaim his post with the Browns. To date, this is only the second change to the Browns’ defensive coaching staff this offseason.
The Browns’ defense performed admirably this season, and Myles Garrett was named Defensive Player of the Year. However, because defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz frequently refers to the defensive line as the motor of the defense, the Browns may have been dissatisfied with the group’s performance, prompting them to make a change at that position. Garrett and the Browns defensive line under Cesaire will face high expectations this season as they attempt to build on their success from 2023.
Consider the Browns’ Play Calling Decision Through the Lens of Super Bowl 58.
While some Cleveland Browns fans are obsessed with removing play-calling from head coach Kevin Stefanski, Super Bowl 58 featured two teams with head coaches who call offensive plays. It’s worth examining the circumstances for the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers when analyzing Stefanski’s ability to best serve the Browns on game day.
Andy Reid has not only been one of the league’s best playcallers, but his teams have been nearly flawless when they had extra time to prepare. The Chiefs don’t make many operational blunders, and they performed flawlessly in almost every facet of the Super Bowl.
Reid, a lock for the Hall of Fame, best serves his team by calling plays, and it would be ridiculous to imply that he should take on more game management responsibilities on game day. There is no spot where Reid can have a greater influence than being continually engaged with Patrick Mahomes on every play.
Meanwhile, Kyle Shanahan is unrivaled as a playcaller and offensive design architect. Shanahan’s offenses have been at the forefront of the NFL during his time as head coach with the 49ers, as well as other stops as offensive coordinator, including a brief stint with the Browns. Shanahan helped Brock Purdy become an MVP candidate.
It’s also true that Shanahan has a bad reputation for in-game management. He has been accused of making poor use of timeouts and failing to comprehend when it is prudent to be more aggressive, particularly in the postseason.
There have been other playoff games in which the 49ers should have lost because Shanahan punted at midfield on fourth-and-2 or less. He surprised many people when he chose to go for it on fourth-and-3 against the Chiefs rather than settle for a field goal. Most expected him to attempt to draw the opponent offsides before settling for a field goal to tie the game. Shanahan not only went for it, but he converted, giving the 49ers a touchdown and the lead. If the 49ers had won, that would have been the game’s most crucial decision. The failed extra point following the score could have been the difference in the game.
The criticism of Shanahan taking the ball first in overtime appears exaggerated. The Chiefs defense was fatigued, as evidenced by the 49ers’ previous drive. The 49ers intended to press them and take advantage. Unfortunately for San Francisco, the Chiefs’ defense collapsed at the goal line, and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo activated blitzes that disrupted the 49ers’ offense and forced them to settle for a field goal.
Shanahan’s unusual decision to take the team’s timeouts into the locker room at the end of the first half, when he had a chance to force the Chiefs to punt, appeared to be more open to criticism than his selections in overtime.
So it seems reasonable for Shanahan to give up play-calling so he can concentrate on game management, such as enhancing their use of timeouts and decision-making in important moments. However, this would be an overreaction. Shanahan’s value as a playcaller much outweighs any improvements he may make in terms of game management.
It’s criminal that the 49ers haven’t already solved this problem. They should simply empower one individual who is completely focused on these decisions. Timeouts, when to go for it—these decisions should be primarily influenced by the gameplan. That person would simply be given the authority to carry it out. The Chiefs, for example, had decided ahead of time to go for two rather than settling for a tie in overtime if the scenario required.
The Browns make many of their point-scoring decisions before to the game. Even if they have to divert to deal with a game, pre-planning allows them to evaluate potential game scenarios and how to address them, resulting in a more efficient operation.
In his most recent press conference, Stefanski stated that no decision has been made on who will call plays for the Browns this season. Some of this is simply kicking the can down the road in order to remove it from the debate for a few months, but Stefanski is also maintaining an open mind. The Browns offensive most certainly has broad strokes of where it wants to go but lacks specifics at this point. Stefanski may believe Dorsey is better able to call plays because he is more familiar with the offensive concepts.
Nonetheless, it’s tough to imagine Stefanski not being the team’s playcaller this year. Aside from understanding what opponents are trying to do and dialing up the appropriate plays in critical circumstances, continual communication with his quarterback may bring value and help shape how the game is played.
Deshaun Watson discussed this on QB Unplugged during a conversation with his private quarterback instructor, Quincy Avery. Having a smooth play-calling process allows the coach to transmit more information related to game management. And, while it’s frequently just reminding the quarterback of something they already know, given some of the crucial mistakes that quarterbacks make in late-game circumstances with the clock, it might spell the difference between winning or losing.
It stands to assume that Stefanski’s ability to provide assistance that puts the quarterback in a position to succeed has contributed to the Browns’ success with four different quarterbacks. It is critical that Watson trusts Stefanski for this to work, yet the more Watson speaks about Stefanski, the more reverent he appears to be. That rapport will be a crucial component in this selection, and if all else is equal, it may be the deciding factor.
There will always be play calls that are disappointing, like as the final play call against the Seattle Seahawks, but this applies to both Shanahan and Reid. The now-two-time Coach of the Year has clearly proved his importance in calling plays and positioning the squad for success. Stefanski should only give up that role if someone else is better at it, which is easier said than done.
