Opinion: Despite The Win: Why Freddie Must Go

Browns fans are all excited tonight after their beloved team  defeated Buffalo 19-16 earlier today. Sure, it felt great to get a win, but there is no denying that it was far too little far too late to save what has become a trainwreck of a season.

The shame of it remains that this team has more talent that most teams in the AFC, and is by far the most talented squad in the AFC North. They have two of the best receivers in football, perhaps the best tailback in football and no one can deny the game changing ability of Myles Garrett.

So why are they 3-6 and on the verge of playoff elimination for the 17^th straight season? The answer can be summed up with one mans name, “Freddie Kitchens.” I never thought the Browns could find a worse coach since returning in 1999 then Chris Palmer or Pat Shumer, but by God they have done just that!

Kitchens team leads the league in penalties, and not only that, but “pre snap” penalties as well. His talented young QB Baker Mayfield has no time to audible or read a defense because the play takes forever to come in from the sidelines and they have to rush from the huddle. Thus, the pre-snap penalties and multiple misread defenses.

These issues may be common in the pre-season, but not in week nine of the season when your loaded with talent on that side of the ball. Lack of discipline does not appear to be getting any better and they have a defense that cannot create turnovers or stop anyone on third down.  Today was a mirage, but it must become a reality soon.

They are towards the very bottom in the takeaway/ giveaway stat, and that doesn’t appear to be changing anytime soon. They have no urgency on either side of the ball, and it is clear that the coaching isn’t working. Why would you continue to call for zone after zone as Josh Allen carved you up underneath all game long?

I’m 37 years old and have been watching football weekly for 33 years, writing about it for the past 8. How does a team with this much talent, play so bad week in and week out? Coaching!

Look at today alone, that’s all the example you need. Coach Kitchens did everything he could to blow that game. Wasting timeouts before the two-minute warning. Calling a horrendous shovel pass that the Browns should be thanking their lucky stars wasn’t called a fumble that would have sealed the game for the Bills.

Oh, and stop thinking the rest of the schedule is “easy”.  Most of those teams have the same number of wins you do, if not more.  Cincy should be a cupcake, but even the Dolphins and Cardinals are playing with purpose suddenly.

Why did he wait until the very end to play Higgins when it is clear that defenses cannot stop the Browns when Jarvis Landry, OBJ and Higgins are on the field at the same time? Need further proof? Go back to the opening drive week one against the Titans. It hasn’t been the same since because Freddie carries a grudge against Higgins for getting hurt. How insane?

And what about OBJ? How does the most talented wideout in football only have 1 touchdown and under 600 yards 8 games into the season before today? Again, the answer doesn’t change, bad coaching and horrendous play calling.

Trust me, I hate to sound this negative after a crucial win today, but watching this team gives me little to no hope. 0 for 12 on goal to goal until Higgins finally hit pay dirt. That cannot happen, that is the mark of a losing team.

Also, if you have no faith or ability to get the ball in the endzone, just kick the field goal on fourth down. Down 7-6, Freddie was ready to go for it again before a penalty forced him to think better of it.  Had he kicked the field goal earlier in the game last week against Denver, the outcome would have been diferrent.  Today, it almost cost them big again. TWICE!

The Steelers are 5-4 and look incredible right now, it kills me to type those words but they are doing it with great coaching and stout defensive play. Baker Mayfield is far superior to Mason Rudolph, but until he has a competent coach calling the plays, it will never show.  Why is Hodge on the field and not Higgins?  Who in the heck is Hodge?

Finally, and this shouldn’t even need to be said. When you’re backed up against you own goal line with a QB and a line that has been shaky all year under pressure, you don’t continue to run the empty backfield QB package. The results will always be the same.

Bottom line, fire Freddie and bring in a competent staff and this team will be in the Superbowl in three seasons or less. Keep him through next season, and the biggest open window since 1999 will be closed for good.