Joe Flacco will probably never be mistaken for Deshaun Watson.
But Flacco’s run of 300-yard games might have reset expectations for the Cleveland Browns’ 2024 starter.
It could be that the offense we saw over the last five games is what Kevin Stefanski hoped for back in September.
And 92.3 The Fan’s Anthony Lima thinks any new staff coming on board has one priority next year.
Browns coaching staff moves proved to be extremely beneficial last season, so there's some evidence they can responsibly conduct a search
This move has to be about getting Watson to resemble the player he was in Houston. If they're being honest, it's obviously been night and day
— Anthony Lima (@SportsBoyTony) January 17, 2024
Lima asserts the coaches have to get Watson to resemble the prolific passer he was in Houston.
To that end, Watson averaged a career high 9.2 air yards per throw this season.
But the results were a paltry 5.9 air yards per catch and 3.6 air yards per pass, his secon- worst only to 2022.
How much weather and injuries came into play can be debated to a point.
Watson will never look as smooth as Flacco, preferring to move around and extend plays.
But it worked for him in Houston to the tune of a 69% completion rate and a success rate of 50%.
Mixing that style with Stefanski’s offensive patterns has been a struggle.
Browns fans saw a glimpse of vintage Watson in the second half of the Week 10 comeback against the Ravens.
But overall, Cleveland’s $230 million man’s success rate is just 34%, with barely a 60% completion rate.
The most important statistic is wins and to that end, Watson is 8-4 as a starter for the Browns.
New voices in his ears only help if they speak the player’s football language, making a familiar hire a possibility.
As Lima points out, helping Watson find his groove has to be the biggest factor in choosing new staff.
NEXT: Insider Says 1 Browns Position Group Needs To Improve
