Stefanski might surprise with Browns offense
Kevin Stefanski was voted NFL Coach of the Year, and we don't know who he is.
Nor do we know what the 2021 Browns offense will look like.
Stump Mitchell, 62, the Browns run game coordinator/running backs coach,
believes much of Stefanski's offensive expertise remains untapped.
“The more toys that Kevin has, the better he is as a play-caller,” Mitchell said. “You just never know what's going on in his mind. It's always something creative to kind of catch the defense off guard.”
Mitchell has worked under some of the best offensive minds in the game. He was with Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren for nine of Holmgren's 10 years in Seattle. Defending Super Bowlwinning coach Bruce Arians was Mitchell's boss for four of Arians' five years with the Arizona Cardinals.
In terms of personalities and playcallers, Mitchell has seen it all. He has an idea why Browns players were so quick to follow and praise Stefanski: He's not afraid to think outside the box in terms of how to use them.
“If you've got skill, Coach Stefanski finds a way to make it happen,” Mitchell said. “You're not just a receiver. You're not just a back or a tight end if there are some things that you can do. And I think that makes it exciting for the football players, it makes it exciting for the fans and it makes it exciting for us as an offensive unit.”
Stefanski, 39, was a sponge during his 14 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, but he called plays for just 19 games there. In Cleveland in 2020, he held that role for 17 games, missing only the AFC wild-card victory at Pittsburgh after testing positive for COVID-19.
And Stefanski has admitted the Browns used the offensive system of his mentor, Gary Kubiak, in 2020 because he didn't have time to install one of his own.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced Stefanski to rely on what he'd learned, yet the Browns still reached the playoffs for the first time since 2002 and recorded their first playoff victory since Jan. 1, 1995.
This year Stefanski has had a full offseason to put to work the creativity that's already impressed Mitchell.
Imagine the wrinkles, the gadgets, the surprises in store, especially with the versatile players he has.
We think we have a handle on the reigning NFL Coach of the Year. But when it comes to his offense, we probably don't know him at all.