From the outside, sports appear to offer simple answers. Simply ask fans and journalists, who will frequently point out one or two aspects that only need to change for greatness to emerge.
If Joe Flacco could just quit turning the ball over, which he can’t, the Cleveland Browns might have made some noise in the playoffs.
If the Cleveland Cavaliers could just find a huge 3-and-D wing.
If the Cleveland Guardians would only spend some money in free agency.
This article discusses the Browns offense in 2024.
Almost every number or metric shows that Cleveland’s offense was awful last season. DVOA ranks them 28th in the NFL. Given the losses to several quarterbacks, Nick Chubb, and three offensive tackles, it’s understandable that Kevin Stefanski’s team couldn’t generate the production it required.
The 49ers’ quest for another last-second miracle merits a thorough rewind.
Deshaun Watson, the quarterback, had a few solid games but struggled at times in 2023. Everyone understands that Watson’s play is critical to the squad, but using motion more frequently is also likely to be beneficial. In 2023, Cleveland moved to the bottom of the league, while some of the finest offenses were at the top:
In 2022, the Browns were 25th in the league, while in 2021, they were 20th.
Why is motion so important? JP Acosta expressed his thoughts on motion taking over the NFL this season as follows:
Much praise has been written about the McVay-Shanahan-McDaniel link, but each of these coaches is maybe executing the finest on-field design of their careers in 2023, and it’s by leveraging motion at the snap to their particular personnel’s strengths.
Using motion is not a miraculous panacea that will cure any ailing offense, but it can provide advantages on the margins. As defenses begin to respond, it stands to reason that these attacks will remain near or at the top of the NFL rankings.
“Within the margins” is critical in the NFL as teams get more sophisticated and winning football games becomes more difficult.
Motion gives the attack control. In his article, Acosta does an excellent job of providing examples of how various moves disadvantage the defense and open up opportunities for the offense in both the run and pass games. Tyreek Hill moves all over the formation before the snap, creating uncertainty and allowing for a massive gain:
We can see how motion is employed immediately before the snap to get the tight end into position to block the edge defender and allow the left side of the line to double-team at the point of attack.
While motion is not “magical” and does not guarantee offensive success (the Atlanta Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers were top ten in motion last year), the Browns would benefit from intentionally moving players to get advantages for their running backs and receivers.
Stefanski should only have one quarterback to work with in 2024, if Chubb and the offensive line stay healthy. The delicacy and timing involved in mobility are critical, and the team’s injuries last year made it much more challenging. If Cleveland can get closer to the top 15 in motion by 2024, the offense may find another gear.
