Berea, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Freddie Kitchens isn’t getting fooled by Baker Mayfield’s cadence and false starting. He’s also not holding, or jumping offsides, or using his hands improperly, or fumbling, or throwing interceptions.
But the first-year head coach is overseeing a sloppy, undisciplined team that shoots itself in the foot more than it strings positive plays together, which paints a pretty ugly picture about the job he’s doing roaming the sidelines and leading the Cleveland Browns.
“Everything about the program should reflect on me and I will accept it,” Kitchens said. “But I also have a hand in fixing it.”
And boy does Kitchens have a lot of fixing to do.
The Browns, who were supposed to be a juggernaut under Kitchens' innovative offensive scheme, are hardly that.
They lead the NFL in penalties with 70 – that’s 10 a game they average.
Mayfield leads the NFL with 11 interceptions.
They have a -9-turnover ratio through 7 games, and that’s just scratches the surface of their problems.
It's also hardly a winning formula, which is why the 2-5 start is of little surprise, no matter how infuriatingly disappointing it is. Better players have equaled less production, and fewer wins than a year ago through 7 games.
“Eliminate the penalties, eliminate the turnovers and we will be fine,” Kitchens said.
For weeks Kitchens has harped on discipline, attention to detail, taking care of the football and eliminating penalties.
At this point, talking to himself might be more productive. The players, as a whole, have yet to respond.
“It takes commitment from each individual that is committing these penalties to do it,” Kitchens said. “I think moving forward these guys are going to be committed to doing that.”
Kitchens credited Pro Bowl defensive end Myles Garrett, who racked up 5 flags in the first 2 weeks and has 1 penalty since, with making a commitment to his focus and attention to detail.
“We need more guys doing that,” Kitchens bemoaned.
Kitchens called on them Monday to do so.
“It is a commitment that they have to have to each other and accountability to each other because it is very evident that it is costing us football games,” Kitchens said. “When they decide that, it will change. We are going to do the things to speed up that process, which we have been doing. Everybody understands the problems. We are going to work to fix those problems.”
Kitchens also has to be better.
The game operation he runs on the sidelines needs to be better. The communication needs to be faster, concise and clear between his staff and players.
It wasn’t against the Patriots and they paid dearly for it.
The most embarrassing moment came with 6:17 remaining in the fourth quarter and trailing 27-10 in which Jim Nantz and Tony Romo could hardly contain their befuddlement and laughter during the CBS broadcast.
On fourth-and-11 from their own 24, the punt unit took the field; except they weren’t supposed to. With just 1 timeout in his pocket thanks to another poor challenge earlier in the half, Kitchens had them false start intentionally so he could put the offense back on the field for a fourth and 16 from their own 19.
Another epic moment of incompetence in Browns history. You seriously can’t make this stuff up.
“The buck stops with me,” Kitchens said. “I should not have let that happen, but once the punt team was out there, there were two choices: use your last timeout or take a penalty. I decided to take a penalty.”
It wasn’t Kitchens first gaffe, and if history is any indicator, it won’t be his last either.
Mistakes happen, but fundamentals related to the basic operation of a team are inexcusable when that team is built to and expected to win.
The replay challenge system Kitchens has in place has yet to produce many positive results. The decision-making process remains slow and they aren’t winning many of them either.
“I think we have a pretty good setup in the box,” Kitchens said. “Those guys, they give their opinion pretty quickly.”
Being an NFL head coach is not easy. Few can do it. Kitchens has yet to prove he’s capable, and we’re 7 games into this thing, which doesn’t exude confidence better days are ahead.
One thing we know, Kitchens isn’t giving up play calling, no matter how bad or disorganized things get.
“I am calling the plays. I am the head coach,” Kitchens said. “That is not happening.”
