A lot of things went wrong with the Cleveland Browns in 2019.
According to Jarvis Landry, there was one issue that stood out above the rest of them.
Landry recently joined Fox’s Undisputed to talk about it.
“Communication, you know. It’s the biggest thing… When you don’t have everybody on the same page at all times, it can definitely screw a lot things up. And I was a part of it. I was a part of it, and you guys saw,” said Landry.
“Running a team is a lot more than being personal with and coaching one guy. Not that Freddie Kitchens was in over his head, but we just couldn’t find a way to get on the same page and figure out what our identity was.” — @God_Son80 pic.twitter.com/yebEoVyn8e
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) January 29, 2020
Skip Bayless then asked Landry if the hiring of Freddie Kitchens was the beginning of the end and Landry disagreed.
“I wouldn’t say that. I think the transition that I believe the organization was trying to make from the first year was, I think it was the right thing to do. The relationship he had formed with Baker. But running a team, it’s a lot more than being personal with one guy, and coaching one guy,” Landry said. “Not that he was in over his head or anything like that, but we just couldn’t find a way to get on the same page and figure out what our identity was.”
“We would go into games, ‘this game we want to run the ball 50 times’ or ‘this game we want to throw the ball 50 times’ instead of just doing whatever it took to win, making in-game adjustments”
Landry also believed that injuries limited the chemistry between Odell Beckham Jr and Baker Mayfield in 2019.
Despite topping 1,000 yards, Odell Beckham Jr. did not live up to expectations after the blockbuster trade that sent him to the Browns in the offseason.
In his first season, Beckham finished with 1,035 yards and only 4 touchdowns.
“It starts with getting healthy and from there spending as much time with each other as possible, learning the new system, learning what we’re trying to do, what we’re trying to accomplish,” Landry said on First Things First. “That’s the biggest thing, trying to find our identity.”
“It starts with getting healthy and from there spending as much time with each other as possible, learning the new system, learning what we’re trying to do, what we’re trying to accomplish. That’s the biggest thing, trying to find our identity.” — @God_Son80 pic.twitter.com/cQCyKS8W17
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) January 29, 2020
After a stellar rookie season, Mayfield struggled mightily in 2019 finishing the season with 3,827 yards with 22 touchdowns and 21 interceptions.
He also finished with a passer rating of only 78.8 and seen his completion percentage dip to 59.4%, despite having more offensive talent in Landry and Beckham.
“I’m sure Baker will be the first to tell you that he didn’t really play his best this year,” Landry said. “We have to do a better job as wide receivers making plays out there. I know I was in a lot of situations this year where I could’ve made a play or knocked the ball down and I didn’t.”
“I’m sure Baker will be the 1st to tell you that he didn’t really play his best this year. … We have to do a better job as WRs making plays out there. I know I was in a lot of situations this year where I could’ve made a play or knocked the ball down & I didn’t.” — @God_Son80 pic.twitter.com/n0RvJvR0b7
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) January 29, 2020
Landry excited to work with Stefanski
Landry also talked about his new head coach Kevin Stefanski in the interview.
“I talked to Kevin Stefanski briefly. Our talks have been, ‘Let’s get ready to work.’ There’s no real plans on what the system totally looks like,” Landry said. “But Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen and Dalvin Cook found a way to survive and co-exist. I’m excited to see what we can do.”
I believe communication was the big issue. It’s clear from the front office, the coaching staff and the players were not on the same page, and it shows. I’m hopefully that 2020 can bring us a great season, much like we had hoped from the 2019 season originally. And I think we have the right people in place now.