TRUSTING THAT DORSEY WILL MAKE THE RIGHT CALL ON FREDDIE

By STEVE KING

This Browns season has, of course, become a mess.

It was 3½ months ago that a year that, in the opinion of everyone, carried with it so much hope and promise, began to crash and burn before it ever really got started with a stunning 30-point home loss to the very average Tennessee Titans.

Now the Browns, at 6-9 out of any shot at the postseason, returned to the scene of the crime on Sunday to play the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium in their home finale. The Ravens came in at 12-2 and with the AFC North championship already secured.

So, just where, specifically, are the Browns at in the big picture?

Overall, with obviously some pieces yet to be added, such as on the offensive line, the Browns have a lot of talent on both sides of the ball. Most importantly, they have two-thirds of the necessary pieces at the all-important top of the flow chart in General Manager John Dorsey and quarterback Baker Mayfield. Although both have failed to produce as expected this year, I believe – strongly so – in them and their ability to do their part to get it done – get the Browns to where they want to go – in the long run.

The only thing missing in that equation is, of course, the head coach. We just don’t know about Freddie Kitchens. Should he stay or go? We’ll find out shortly, as an announcement on that will certainly be forthcoming almost as soon as the season ends next Sunday in Cincinnati.

Now it’s incumbent on Dorsey, who went out on a limb to hire Kitchens 11 months ago, to make the right call on whether to retain him. I trust Dorsey implicitly to get it right. Moreover, he has to get it right, for until the Browns get the correct coach to go along with the correct GM and the correct quarterback, this team will never reach its goals.

BROWNS END HOME SEASON IN CONVINCING FASHION

Following their convincing 31-15 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday at FirstEnergy Stadium in their home finale, here are some things of which I’m totally convinced about the Browns:

*Head coach Freddie Kitchens has to go. He was brought here to win, and, as evidenced by the Browns’ 6-9 record with one game next Sunday at Cincinnati, he hasn’t done nearly enough of it, especially in a number of key, season-defining and season-altering instances. It’s no more complicated than that. After all, as Herm Edwards likes to say, “You play to win the game.” But if you want other, more specific reasons, there’s the fact this team is nether disciplined nor prepared to play, which is a direct reflection on Kitchens and his assistants. The Browns make major mental mistakes way too many times. Plus, the Browns have quit on Kitchens. They gave up again on Sunday, this time defensively toward the end of the game. It is an ugly look.

*We’re not the only ones who agree Kitchens should get fired. Jim Nantz, the CBS-TV play-by-play announcer who did the telecast of Sunday’s game, was interviewed on the Browns Radio Network pre-game show and listed a lot of reasons for hope for next year. Not one time did he mention Kitchens’ name. Was Nantz told of something on the QT? Perhaps.  

*The Browns went into the season needing help on the offensive line, and now they need even more. Quarterback Baker Mayfield is running for his life on most passing plays. That is totally unacceptable to put a guy considered to be the franchise quarterback in such a perilous situation so often.

*I can see now why defensive coordinator Steve Wilks was fired as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals. His defense this year has been absolutely awful on most occasions. The line play has been pathetic. Defensive line, offensive line, it doesn’t matter. Both position groups have struggled. And I don’t want to hear about injuries and suspensions for the defensive woes. Those things are part of the game. You have to deal with them. The Browns defense didn’t.