That’s the phrase Browns GM Andrew Berry used to describe the plans for the 2025 season back at the beginning of the year. I only bring this up because fans and local Cleveland media are using what the owner said back in July to justify their reasoning to fire everybody associated with the team. He said, three and fourteen this year won’t cut it. You have to look at the time and situation this was said. At the time, the plan was for Kenny Pickett to be the starting QB so the rookies would fight it out to be the backup. Joe Flacco was a break glass in case of emergency QB. You have to also remember at that time the team was unsure if starting running back, Quinshon Judkins, would even play due to his legal troubles. Situations and circumstances. Hell, last August I told my wife I’d like to lose 20 pounds by the end of the year. Not even close.
What does strategic pivot mean? Based on what I’ve seen this year, it was seeing what kind of off-season the team would have with different scenarios. They chose to resign Garrett and build around him on defense. Defensive tackle Maliek Collins was the best off-season move this team made and now we’re seeing his value because the Browns can’t stop the run. I wished they had addressed the offensive line in the draft, but they did sign two linemen that I thought would work out. Cornelius Lucus and Treven Jenkins. Lucus was the guy I wanted and said so many times. I didn’t think Jenkins was obtainable due to price. I would resign Jenkins for depth and let Lucus walk. As for the wide receiver position, they didn’t draft one, but I’m more impressed with Isaiah Bond with each game he plays. On defense they drafted the defensive rookie of the year and a DT who is in the top ten at his position. The big pivot came when they decided to go with so many rookie and young players, including the quarterback position.
The local media works on emotions not logic. The head coach of an NFL team basically has three primary jobs, win games, develop players and keep the respect of the locker room. So far Kevin Stefanski has done two out of three. While Sheduer Sanders still plays like a rookie, he is getting better, and you can see the difference between now and the third preseason game. Judkins and Fannin are future stars this team will count on in the upcoming years. This team needs one more year of stability to rebuild the offense, hopefully around Sanders. Both tackle positions need a serious upgrade which can be addressed in both free agency and the draft. The same goes with the wide receiver position.
If Jimmy and Dee are going to fire the head coach, they had better already have a plan. In the past when the owner shot from the hip, we got Hue Jackson and Freddie Kitchens. But here’s the rub, I’m hearing Jimmy wants stability for once. It sounds like he’s learned his lesson from his past mistakes. Right now, some in the Cleveland media want the owner to act like he did in the past, that way they can complain about it, again. Good times. I still think, based on what I’m hearing, Berry and Stefanski come back in 2026. If there’s no improvement, Jimmy will clean house prior to 2027. Stay safe and GO Browns.