Kevin Stefanski – Page 35 – Syndication Server

Kevin Stefanski has given his players a virtual library to learn from remotely

New coach Kevin Stefanski created a virtual video library for Browns players to learn his offense remotely during this odd offseason

Learning a new offensive system is tough enough for NFL players in a normal offseason. This offseason is anything but normal, but the Browns players are still expected to pick up on new head coach Kevin Stefanski’s system.

It will be the third offense in as many years for the Browns players, and Stefanski has never been a head coach before. He is molding an offense based on his time as Minnesota’s coordinator and QB coach in recent years, but also on some of his other influences and mentors.

To help explain it all to his players while he’s unable to be in the room with them, Stefanski has arranged a virtual library for all the Browns players to study and learn from remotely.

“Our offensive guys can watch tape from the Vikings, they can watch tape from the Cincinnati Bengals, Packers stuff that we’ve cut up,” Stefanski said during the team’s draft special last week. “We have stuff cut up from the Vikings back in 2009. I’ve got stuff from Kub (longtime NFL coach Gary Kubiak) when he was down with Houston.”

Stefanski stressed that his offense will be a blend of all the influences, and that’s why its critical to have so many different sources.

“We want a really big library of plays because I think so many of our players learn from film, and that’s our job to put a bunch of film in front of them.”

Coach Stefanski then talked about the process of aggregating it all and distributing it out on video access for all the players.

“Our coaches are doing an outstanding job and using video and using certain apps that can test these guys. We’re trying to be as creative as we can because we want to hit the ground running. So when training camp starts up, this is a nice part for us where we can teach these systems to our players and then get together and really take off,” Stefanski said during the draft special.

It’s hopeful

The Hurry Up Podcast: National Perspective w/ NFL Network’s Marc Sessler

Marc Sessler, NFL Network and Around the NFL Podcast, stops by to give his thoughts on the Cleveland Browns offseason, the difference between the national perspective and local perspective on the team, and choosing to be a Browns fan growing up.

Host Mac Robinson also breaks down the Browns later round draft picks, his favorite pick of the Browns draft, and even goes into some of the Browns’ recent roster moves!

Be sure to follow Mac (@MacRobinson95) and the podcast (@HurryUpPodcast) on Twitter for all of the latest news and notes surrounding the podcast, the Browns, and all things football! Feel free to support the podcast today by becoming a patron!

Andrew Berry, Kevin Stefanski prove men of their words on David Njoku

Andrew Berry, Kevin Stefanski prove men of their words on David Njoku by exercising the Browns TE’s fifth-year option

The Cleveland Browns have been a difficult team to trust in the last few years. The ever-changing front office and coaching staffs have often operated with just one hand clapping.

It’s early, but thus far the new regime of GM Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski are joined in hand. Even better, they have proven that their words mean something.

Unlike when Freddie Kitchens would gruffly state he’s not answering any questions on a topic and subsequently spend the next 10 minutes discussing said topic, or when Sashi Brown would tell players they were more than numbers before treating them exactly like a faceless number, the new Browns regime is backing up its words with actions. Picking up the fifth-year option on tight end David Njoku’s contract is a great example.

The Browns exercised the option on Njoku’s contract on Monday. Even after the first reports of the action started to leak out, skeptical fans and media wondered if it was legit. The team signed Austin Hooper in free agency to the richest deal ever signed by a tight end, then drafted promising young Harrison Bryant over the weekend.

Would they really keep three prominent tight ends? Are they still confident in Njoku, who has occasionally flashed greatness but largely underwhelmed in his first three seasons?

Berry and Stefanski both insisted to the skeptical masses that they did highly value Njoku. It wasn’t just diplomatic speak. They proved it by exercising Njoku’s option that will keep him in Cleveland through the end of the 2021 season.

Think of what that means to a player like Njoku, still precocious at just 23 years old. Think of what it means to the locker room, telling players that they’ll get the chance to prove themselves and won’t get thrown away hastily.

Men of their word. That’s a refreshing way for the Browns to conduct business.

The Hurry Up Podcast: NFL Draft recap with Stephen Thomas

Host Mac Robinson wraps up Draft Week with Mock-Draft-aholic Stephen Thomas (@BrownsMockDraft on Twitter) as they breakdown all seven members of the Cleveland Browns 2020 Draft Class, as well as look at some of the undrafted free agent signings! They also look across the division and the league to give some of their favorite draft picks and who could be the stars of tomorrow!

[protected-iframe id=”6381bb369335c09b415b6575e4c534af-105974707-80829973″ info=”https://anchor.fm/hurryuppodcast/embed/episodes/Browns-Select-OT-Jedrick-Wills-at-10-NFL-Draft-Reaction-ed6kg8/a-a20d536″ width=”400px” height=”102px” frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”]

Kevin Stefanski gives vote of confidence to Olivier Vernon’s future in Cleveland

The Browns did not draft an EDGE

Entering the 2020 NFL Draft weekend, many expected the Cleveland Browns to do something to address the EDGE position opposite Myles Garrett. You know, Olivier Vernon’s spot.

Vernon played well but didn’t produce on the stat sheet (3.5 sacks in 9 games) in his first season in Cleveland. The veteran also had injuries. Coupled with his hefty contract — Vernon is due a team-high $15.5 million in 2020 — there was a common school of thought that the Browns would replace or at least reinforce the position.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski shot that line of thinking down pretty quicky in his post-draft press teleconference. He was asked if Vernon remains in the Browns’ plans for 2020.

“That’s my assumption,” Stefanski quipped. “Obviously, I think Olivier is a really great player, unfortunately he was banged up a little bit. We look forward to all our guys contributing next year.”

He cautioned against reading too much — or too little — into the team not selecting any defensive ends or outside linebackers in the draft.

“I wouldn’t say it was a message of any sort, the fact we didn’t draft a defensive end. We’re not in the business of sending messages via the draft. We trusted the board and as the players came up, we made sure that we had the right people for the job,” Stefanski said.

Kevin Stefanski ‘very confident’ Jedrick Wills can play left tackle

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski is ‘very confident’ Jedrick Wills can play left tackle after being a right tackle at Alabama

The Cleveland Browns had a glaring need at left tackle. With their first pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Browns selected Jedrick Wills, a right tackle from Alabama.

It can be difficult for tackles to switch sides, particularly from right to left. But the Browns don’t seem too worried about it with Wills. New Browns coach Kevin Stefanski is certainly confident in his new left tackle.

“We’re very confident Jedrick has that ability and it’s something he’ll work at,’’ Stefanski said via teleconference. The coach then went into more elaborate detail on why he’s so bullish on Wills moving to the left side.

“I am very confident in Jedrick for a bunch of reasons,’’ Stefanski said. “First and foremost, I point out Bill Callahan. He’s top-notch at developing players. This is something that he has done before.

Then you have to look at Jedrick’s skillset and you have to look at the makeup of the kid. To some players, it may be a tougher transition than others, but I am very confident that Jedrick has that ability.”

Coach Stefanski continued,

“He has already been working on it. He was down there protecting the blind side of Tua (Tagovailoa, Alabama’s left-handed QB) as everybody knows. It is something that he will work at and he will continue to get better, but I feel confident that we have Coach Callahan there to lead that development.”

Wills can lean on Browns right tackle Jack Conklin, who switched to the right side as a first-round pick of the Tennessee Titans in 2016 after playing as a left tackle in college at Michigan State. Conklin made first-team All-Pro as a rookie at his new spot.

Building the Browns 2020 Ep. 1 breakdown and review

Building the Browns 2020 Ep. 1 breakdown and review of the behind-the-scenes documentary production by the Browns

Episode 1 of Building the Browns 2020 was appropriately titled A New Beginning. In this episode, the Cleveland Browns take us behind the scenes of the initial public reaction to the hiring of head coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry.

Fast-forwarding past introductions, the Browns personnel immediately spring into action and begin the process of preparing and arriving at the 2020 NFL Combine where they will have their first introduction to the rookie class of 2020.

When do we get to work

When Stefanski is shown his new digs, he immediately says “When do we get to work?” and as we get to know our new coach throughout the episode his intelligence, work ethic, and expectations are made clear. He even shares “this team is going somewhere, and I want to be a part of that.”

We also hear from Paul DePodesta, Cleveland Browns Chief Strategy Officer, talking about his experience interviewing Stefanski. DePodesta reflects on interviewing Stefanski during the 2019 offseason and also talks about how he now had two opportunities to sit down and dive into what Stefanski brings to the table.

A familiar face

Andrew Berry was the next headliner on the Browns’ marquee. It was mentioned he is the youngest general manager in the NFL at 32-years old and his familiarity with the franchise. Above all, Berry’s interview was different than other candidates. Because of his knowledge of the Browns, Berry was asked to answer questions on a deeper level during the interview process.

My favorite quote from this episode, when Berry is addressing Browns personnel, illuminates his approach to management style, “my expectation for everybody in this room is to come to work with a positive attitude and energy every day they enter the building. Those behaviors they don’t start in the fall, those are habits that we form right now.”

Meet the staff

During this episode, we were introduced to key Browns staff.

Dan Zegers, Personnel Coordinator

Megan Rock, Manager, Fan Experience & Special Events

Rob Pavlas, Video Director

Adam Al-Khayyal, Scout

Formal combine visits

There were five players formal player interviews flashing throughout the NFL combine section of the episode.

Adam Trautman, tight end, Dayton

Jalen Hurts, quarterback, Oklahoma/Alabama

Harrison Bryant, tight end, Florida Atlantic

Hunter Bryant, tight end, Washington

CeeDee Lamb, wide receiver, Oklahoma– Lamb was asked during his interview who the best quarterback he ever played with was and his answer was Baker Mayfield.

Review

During the introductions of Kevin Stefanski and Andrew Berry it was obvious what the Browns were trying to convey. The Browns want everyone to know they hired “smart people” who know a lot about football and managing people.

Additionally, it is great to see behind the scenes at the NFL Combine. There is still plenty we don’t know, but the comments by DePodesta and Berry show what they are thinking about. Paul DePodesta mentions how he is sifting through the information that’s relevant and what’s not so relevant to see what matters. Andrew Berry comments on how he is scouting for skillsets that fit within the construct of the offense and defense of Stefanski and Joe Woods. This builds the alignment narrative the Browns are really pushing.

This is exactly what I was expecting to kick things off. The Browns need positive momentum and for the fanbase to see this organization as settled. While this was a puff episode, there was plenty to glean from it as there are obvious obstacles ahead for everyone.

Next week: The coronavirus pandemic and how it is impacting the Cleveland Browns operations.

Kevin Stefanski confirms Jack Conklin will play right tackle for the Browns

Jack Conklin earned All-Pro honors as a right tackle for the Tennessee Titans. He’s played right tackle his entire NFL career. So when the Cleveland Browns forked over $42 million to sign Conklin as a free agent, it seemed pretty certain the team would keep him at his natural position.

However, the Browns still don’t have a viable starting left tackle on the roster. In addition, two of the top tackle prospects under presumptive consideration at No. 10 overall, Jedrick Wills and Tristan Wirfs, played right tackle in college. Could new Browns coach Kevin Stefanski choose to move Conklin to the left side to accommodate the team?

Stefanski snuffed out that idea in his conference call with reporters on Thursday.

The question was phrased precisely to avoid any ambiguity. Will Conklin 100 percent be playing right tackle?

Stefanski did not hesitate with his answer.

“I would say that is the plan right now, yes.”

There’s a little wiggle room in Stefanski’s answer. He gave himself an out, but that is just a smart coach making sure he doesn’t paint himself into a corner. Conklin will be the right tackle in Cleveland.

Kevin Stefanski keeping his children entertained back in Minnesota amid coronavirus pandemic

Kevin Stefanski might be the head coach of the Browns, but the former Vikings offensive coordinator is staying in Minnesota amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Kevin Stefanski is the current head coach of the Browns, but because of the coronavirus pandemic, Stefanski has been staying in Minnesota for the time being.

Stefanski was the offensive coordinator for the Vikings before taking over for Cleveland this offseason. He said he is throwing the “kitchen sink” at his four children, according to the Browns, keeping them entertained while staying in the house in Minnesota.

“You’ve just got to make it work,” Stefanski told the Browns. “I do not look at it from any other perspective than that. I think all 32 teams are at the same disadvantage and that is the truth.”

Stefanski inherits a Browns team with plenty of promise, despite disappointing in 2019-20. The offense has the likes of quarterback Baker Mayfield, wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., running back Nick Chubb and wide receiver Jarvis Landry.

If Stefanski can help Mayfield recover from his sophomore slump, he could find success in Cleveland. It’s a shame his first offseason as head coach comes at a time where he has to stay in Minnesota.

Start of Browns offseason program delayed indefinitely

Browns were to begin their offseason program on April 5th

One of the advantages teams like the Cleveland Browns get for hiring a new caching staff is a jump on the competition. Kevin Stefanski and his crew get an extra few days of offseason activities and get to start it before teams with returning staffs get to kick off their programs.

Alas, the coronavirus pandemic has changed the plan.

The NFL and NFL Players Association announced this week that the start of all teams’ offseason conditioning programs will be delayed indefinitely. The Browns were scheduled to begin their program on April 5th, but that will not happen.

With travel restrictions in place, it could be some time before Coach Stefanski gets to work with his 2020 Cleveland Browns.