In the midst of controversy over the Cleveland Browns’ legendary collapse in Week 2, head coach Kevin Stefanski is focusing on a very specific facet of his defense for the team’s next matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. It would seem that the coach thinks that confusion on defensive substitutions played a role in the meltdown against the New York Jets, and he told reporters on Monday that they will be a key point of emphasis in practice this week.
“What we have done is you practice substitutions in practice,” Stefanski explained. “There are ways to not let the defense or offense know which group is going in next so you make them lock in on those type of things. We practiced in the crowd noise defensively knowing that we are going to have to be using signals. You do practice those type of things, and that is really your operation.
“Those are the type of things that you got to continue to be really, really sharp because it does present challenges to the defense when you are at home. Our crowd was great yesterday. That is what we expect so you have to be able to communicate in the crowd noise, just like when the offense goes on the road to be able to communicate.”
Whether substitutions, or miscommunications as a result of substitutions, were to blame for the utter failure of the defense on Sunday is unclear, but if Stefanski thinks they could deliver the Browns a win on a short week, then so be it. Based on their performance against the lowly Jets, the Steelers squad Cleveland will face in Week 3 could prove to be more than the team can handle.
The Browns will need to make every effort to stay in the same league as Pittsburgh strategically, and figure out how to not beat themselves if they intend to pull out a win on Thursday night.
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