Browns offense has an identity problem

The Cleveland Browns offense seems to be torn between wanting to methodically move the ball and taking endless deep shots.

Another game and another lackluster performance from the Cleveland Browns offense. The continuous effort to attempt plays that are clearly not working is puzzling. Regardless of what certain blocking metrics say, the Browns offensive line cannot sustain their blocks long enough to allow deep routes to develop. This again leads to a serious question. 

What the hell are the Browns doing offensively?

There is a clear and distinct difference in the effectiveness of what plays the Browns run. When Cleveland has Baker Mayfield execute an RPO the offense appears to be a well oiled machine able to march right down the field. Baker Mayfield looks like Baker Mayfield, the Browns score a touchdown and all is right with the world. The Rams defense looked like they were in hell as Baker executed RPO after RPO. 

Then there are the times when Cleveland deploys a different approach. An approach which is yet to be successful. Long developing pass plays which require the offensive line to block for more than the 2.5 seconds that an RPO requires. These concepts end up allowing the opposing pass rush to get in the vicinity of Baker Mayfield, disrupt his timing and potentially result in a sack. These plays get Baker and the offense out of rhythm and there is no excuse for them to continue to be called. 

Three games worth of film should indicate the effectiveness of certain concepts

At this point in time we have three weeks worth of tape that clearly shows what works and what doesn’t work. RPO’s are clearly working. Defenses have a hard time defending them. Until a defense can show they can defend them, the Browns should just RPO them to death. 

What isn’t working is the deep shots. They didn’t work in Week 1 or Week 2 and they clearly did not work in Week 3. These plays need to be eliminated from the game plan. They are only leading to ineffective offense and terrible play calls. Most notably this 3rd and 10 from deep in their own territory. 

Several deep routes on the right side of the field coupled with an underneath route well short of the marker. There is no reason to be running this. It has not worked up through the first three games and did not here. Opposing defenses want the Browns to run these plays because they know that they can defend them and pressure Mayfield at the same time. Until the Browns are able to protect Mayfield on these long passing plays defenses will continue to do this time and time again. 

One final thing 

It is perfectly fine to take some deep shots during a game (the key word here is some), but it cannot be so frequent that a defense expects them. A deep shot can keep a defense honest, but if there are too many of them it is only putting the offense in a bad situation. Especially when the tackles cannot block consistently. 

If the Browns are going to get their offense to where it needs to be they need to focus on what works and what doesn’t work. Through three weeks it’s pretty clear that the RPO’s work and the deep shots do not.