As the Browns prepare for their first matchup of the season against the Ravens, better execution in all three phases will be a top priority in practice this week.
Special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone, offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz each emphasized the importance of better execution and playing up to team standards if the Browns are to snap their five-game losing streak.
Here’s a breakdown of what each coach said of their respective units’ need to play better ahead of the Browns’ Week 8 matchup.
Special teams
In their first divisional game of the season – which resulted in a loss to the Bengals – the Browns kickoff unit allowed a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Just 12 seconds into the game, the offense found itself playing from behind.
“Got to execute better, got to start faster,” special teams coordinator and assistant head coach Bubba Ventrone said on Thursday. “That’s on me. We’ve got to do a better job, got to coach it up better and got to have a better result. That unit’s been a good unit for us this year and I think we’ll bounce back moving forward.”
The issues on special teams continued, with K Dustin Hopkins missing both a 49-yard field goal attempt as well as a point after attempt after the Browns’ first touchdown of the game.
Hopkins has made 10 of his 13 field goal attempts and has missed a pair of extra point attempts this season. Last year, he set a Browns record with eight successful field goal attempts from 50 or more yards.
“He’s done a good job for us since he’s been here,” Ventrone said. “I think he does a good job of I would say self-diagnosing and making the corrections. He’s hit a lot of big kicks, including a game-winner versus the team we’re about to play here this upcoming week.”
Offense
Playing clean and efficient football will be important in all three phases against a Ravens defense that has the fourth-most sacks in the NFL with 22.
For the Browns offense, there will be two important factors that will be unique to the Ravens game. After QB Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending Achilles injury, Jameis Winston will start at quarterback. Additionally, head coach Kevin Stefanski announced Wednesday that Dorsey would take over play calling duties against the Ravens and moving forward this season.
Dorsey said Thursday that the corrections needed on offense transcend who is calling the plays.
“There’s not a magic coach or a magic pill to play better on offense,” Dorsey said. “It’s going to be work. It’s going to be attention to detail. It’s going to be us at the end of the day locking in and fighting and going out and playing with extreme physicality, playing with speed, playing with confidence.”
The Browns offense has yet to score over 20 points in a game, while the Ravens defense is allowing 25.7 points per game, the sixth-highest point total in the NFL. For the Browns to snap their streak of scoring under 20 points, eliminating penalties and correctable errors will be crucial.
False starts and offensive holding penalties have prevented the Browns from capitalizing on offensive drives this season. Only the Seahawks have a higher combined false starts and offensive holding penalties, with 24 to the Browns’ 22.
“We really have to focus on us and our execution,” Dorsey said. “I think that’s the biggest focus I have. And the thing you learn from in the past is if you focus on yourself and you focus on your execution, a lot of times that other stuff is going to take care of itself.”
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