The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Kitchens: Bucs loss is learning opportunity
Freddie Kitchens found a bright side to the dismal performance put on by the Browns’ offense Aug. 23 in a 13-12 preseason loss to the Buccaneers in Tampa.
“I think last night is going to be a tremendous learning opportunity for our offense and the guys that were competing to attempt to get a spot on this team,” Kitchens said during a conference call Aug. 24.
The Browns’ starting offense looked ready for prime time in the only series it played in the preseason opener. In that game, Baker Mayfield was on the field for one possession and seven plays — an 89-yard drive resulting in a 24-yard touchdown pass to Rashard Higgins. Mayfield completed five of six passes for 77 yards and posted a 158.3 passer rating.
Mayfield did not play against the Colts on Aug. 17. He played the entire first half against the Buccaneers.
He was 10-of-26 for 72 yards on six possessions, not including a snap with eight seconds left in the second quarter that ended with a throwaway interception.
The Browns were 1-for-9 on third down in the first half and totaled 75 yards of offense. The Buccaneers netted 78 yards offensively. Tampa Bay quarterback Jameis Winston was sacked five times.
Kitchens said the defense “did an exceptional job of competing,” but his focus is on fixing the offense.
“I don’t know what the
disconnect was,” Kitchens said. “It was very clear that we have to figure out what we were doing as a staff and see if we were asking them to do too much or what. I don’t know what it is, but some of the stuff that we weren’t right on we’ve been doing for several months now.
“There were a couple of instances of just not running routes the way we’re supposed to. They have to be in rhythm, they have to be at the proper depth and the ball has to come out on time or you don’t really have a play. There were several instances last night where we didn’t get to where we were supposed to get to. Our protection was just a little off. We were on
the edge of some people and not down the middle of them. It was just a recipe for disaster all the way around, but there are a lot of good opportunities for these guys to learn from, and I don’t want to lose sight of that.”
Starting receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry did not play against the Buccaneers, but they didn’t play against the Redskins, either.
The Browns are off Aug. 25. Though the starters will not play against the Lions in the final preseason game Aug. 29, they will definitely work Aug. 26 and 27 in the two practices before playing the Lions.
The season opens Sept. 8 with a home game against
Tennessee. Kitchens is confident there is time to work the bugs out.
“This is going to be in a group setting because I want them to be accountable to each other,” Kitchens said. “These corrections are going to be made as a group. That’s no different than what we always do, though, from the standpoint of we play a game, make corrections after the game and then we move on.”
One thing was settled. Eric Kush has won the job at right guard. The announcement comes as no surprise. The seven-year veteran in his first season with the Browns started each of the first three preseason games.