The Browns started last season with optimism; powerhouse running back Nick Chubb coming off another 1,000 yd season and Watson was poised to become his previous self and a new face in Elijah Moore across from Cooper. However, as it usually does it did not pan out how we expected. Chubb and Watson went down and the offensive sputtered at times. As a result, Alex Van Pelt was let go – fair or not.
Then here comes a familiar face… Ken Dorsey. On January 28th of this year, Dorsey was hired to replace Van Pelt. If you don’t remember Dorsey was the quarterback of the Browns way back in 2006.
What will be different under Ken Dorsey offensively this year compared to Van Pelt? I don’t think much.
Let’s be real, this is Kevin Stefanski’s offense. He already said he was continuing to be the play caller and him being an offensive mind it’ll be difficult to move him off some of the styles he likes to play. I think Dorsey was a smart hire. He helped evolve Josh Allen into the QB he is today and consistently had the Bills high in the offensive rankings.
People have been asking what role he will play since he won’t call plays.
Coaching hires isn’t always just about the scheme or calling plays, it’s how one effectively communicates to players and how they relate to them. In-game, I suspect Dorsey will spend a great deal of time with Watson, sitting with him and going over reads, missed plays and future opportunities. Dorsey after all has experience in doing just that, as he was the QB coach in Carolina and the same in Buffalo before going on to become the OC. It’ll be vital for him, Watson and Kevin Stefanski to all be on the same page.
To sing the same song as you will.
Dorsey has a history of coaching quarterbacks to their top potential. Cam Newton coached by Dorsey in 2015 made it to the Superbowl and won the MVP. He also has had Josh Allen in the MVP conversation, although Allen never won one. And now, he has the opportunity to turn Watson back into the Pro Bowl quarterback he once was. I think it is also worth noting that what all three quarterbacks have in common is their ability to run and throw on the run. We know Newton was a dynamic runner and Josh Allen makes incredible plays with his legs as well. Now, I don’t think Watson is quite on their level in open-field running, but he is mobile enough and I think is a great passer on the run. In 2019, according to PFF, he graded out 4th for QBs outside the pocket, while throwing for over 1,000 yds and 10 td’s.
Watson and the offense must come out the gates swinging, as this hire will likely be the tipping scale for all parties included. If things don’t go right with Dorsey, I don’t think Watson nor Stefanski will survive another offensive coordinator… so it’ll be imperative to find success quickly and with preseason set to start, we are going to get a glimpse of what this offense will look like in this 2024 campaign.
The post Browns Start Season Under New OC, Ken Dorsey appeared first on Cleveland Sports Talk.