The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Kitchens takes time on right guard and kicker
Every time Freddie Kitchens speaks, he proves the job of coaching the Browns is not too big for him.
Every time Freddie Kitchens speaks, he proves the job of coaching the Browns is not too big for him.
Kitchens is in a unique position for a first-time coach, or for that matter any coach taking over a team that hasn’t won a playoff game in 25 years. Kitchens is expected to win immediately because General Manager John Dorsey has blessed him with an abundance of talent on both sides of the ball.
Yet stars like Baker Mayfield, Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, Nick Chubb, Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward were not the subjects of a conference call with Kitchens on Aug. 18. Instead, questions dealt with inconsistencies of kickers Greg Joseph, the unsettled job at right guard and depth across the offensive line with time running out before the Browns open the regular season with a home game against the Titans on Sept. 8.
“Something I’ve always believed in, that I learned from somebody I coached for, if they make your 53man team, they’re going to have to play,” Kitchens said. “Eventually they’re going to play. It might not be Week 1. It might not be Week 8, but they’ll eventually play.
“And if they’re not good enough to play, and they have to play, they’re going to get you beat. I don’t care what position it is, they’re going to get you beat. So we’re looking for guys that are good enough to win. Our roster is not set right now. There is still a lot of competition going on.”
Eric Kush started at right guard in the 21-18 victory over the Colts on Aug. 17 in Lucas Oil Stadium. He also started at right guard against the Redskins in the preseason opener, but he does not have a lock on the job. Rookie Drew Forbes played right guard against Indianapolis. Austin Corbett has spent most of training camp and the first two preseason games as the backup center. But he is still a candidate to start at right guard, Kitchens said.
“When you do cut your roster down (to 53 on Aug. 31), you need a certain amount of guys that can snap the ball, a certain amount of guys that can play guard and a certain amount of guys that can play tackle,” Kitchens said. “If you ever have somebody that can play all three, you’re kind of ahead of the game.
“I don’t know who sets the rules as far as to (when you have to name a starter). I thought we only needed a starter by the time we get to September 8. That’s the way I’m approaching it. You may see something you haven’t seen in a guy up until then. I think a couple of the guys we’ve been playing there are just now getting kind of comfortable. We’ll see. We still have two games left and in theory six practices before we start preparation (for the Titans).”
The Browns, 2-0 in preseason, play the Buccaneers in Tampa on Aug. 23 and host the Detroit Lions on Aug. 29 to wrap up their summer games.
Kitchens is patient as a teacher, but he is not patient with mistakes. That includes missed field goals. Greg Joseph missed a 53yard try wide right at the end of the first half. Rookie Austin Seibert missed wide left from 52 yards in the fourth quarter.
A hands-to-the-face penalty on offensive lineman Willie Wright pushed the line of scrimmage back 10 yards to the Colts’ 35 before the Joseph missed. Kitchens put part of the blame on Wright, but he expects his kickers to perform, and he does not want to hear about problems adjusting to two holders. Britton Colquitt and Jamie Gillan are battling for the punting job and holding job. The winner has to do both.
“We need somebody who can put the ball between the two yellow poles,” Kitchens said. “I know there are no excuses coming from that room. There will never be any excuses coming from that room. Their job is to put the ball through the uprights. I don’t care who is holding. I can go out there and hold it for them, and it better go through the upright. That is their job.
“Are they expected to make a 53-yard field goal? Yes, they are. Am I concerned about it? No because we’re not playing for real yet, but I will be. I want everyone to succeed and get better. That’s what I am looking for out of all positions.”
Joseph kicked for the Browns in the final 14 games last season after replacing Zane Gonzalez before the third game. He made 17 of 20 field goal tries but missed four of 29 extrapoint attempts. He missed a PAT against the Redskins in the preseason opener.
The Browns drafted Seibert in the fifth round. He made 63 of 79 career field goals (.797) with a career long of 51 yards kicking for the Oklahoma Sooners.