Ken Dorsey Changes the DNA of the Cleveland Browns
Credit: Jamie Germano/Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Cleveland Browns hope that this is the season they can finally get over the hump and find some playoff success. There’s a primary reason why these hopes are founded this year, and no, it’s not because of a player. Instead, it’s new offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey that’s the key to the Browns breaking through.
Dorsey was fired by the Buffalo Bills after a 5-5 start to last season, and Cleveland snatched him up in February. Even though Buffalo dismissed him, it can’t be overstated how much good he did for Josh Allen and company. Dorsey became the Bills offensive coordinator in 2022, and the team immediately finished second in both points and yards per game. The Bills made a bit of a rash decision by firing him, and as the saying goes, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. With Dorsey now in charge of the Browns, the offense is about to find a whole lot of treasure.
The first couple of years with Deshaun Watson in Cleveland were a struggle, and at times, it looked like the offense didn’t fit his strengths. Dorsey is expected to bring his own wrinkle to the offense, and the first order of business will be to ensure that all the offense’s strengths are emphasized.
“I mean, it’s going to be a constant evaluation to make sure we’re doing the right things,” Dorsey told the Beacon Journal. “That’s part of developing an offense and coaching and making sure we’re maximizing our personnel as much as possible. And, of course, that starts with Deshaun. So we’re constantly going to be evaluating that, making sure we’re doing the right things, especially as he gets out there and those reps continue to grow from a full-speed standpoint.”
Watson is still working his way back from shoulder surgery. Although he hasn’t been a full participant in OTAs, it’s a good sign that he has been able to participate, even if it was just during individual drills. He hasn’t been throwing, but he has still been taking the reps, doing everything he can to install the new offense. Dorsey believes that even though Watson might not be throwing, these practices are still key.
“He’s trying to get all the reps he possibly can from a mental standpoint, but we still want to install the offense, and we still want to get everybody else involved up to speed,” Dorsey said. “So that puts a lot on us as coaches and in the quarterback room to make sure we’re maximizing every learning tool possible, from the different camera angles to on the practice field, making sure we’re talking live as plays are going on and all that stuff.
The Browns’ offense all starts with Watson, and his success will depend on Dorsey’s play-calling. Dorsey did wonders with Allen and gave him the best chance to succeed, which is exactly what his hire was designed to bring to Cleveland this season. Some offensive coordinators come in with an agenda and believe their way is the only way, but Dorsey has made it clear all he wants to do is help the Browns win. Kevin Stefanski has called plays the last couple of seasons, and it’s still unclear who is going to call them this season.
“You know, it’s not my system,” Dorsey said. “It’s not Kevin’s. It’s our system, and so we’re developing our system.”
The good news for Dorsey is that he has playmakers all over the field at his disposal. At wide receiver, Jerry Jeudy, Amari Cooper, and Elijah Moore must be excited about working under Dorsey, who is known for his passing attack. In 2022, Stefon Diggs caught 108 passes for 1,429 yards and 11 touchdowns. Gabe Davis also had a strong year, catching 48 passes for 836 yards and seven touchdowns. Sometimes, a different voice is all that is needed, and Dorsey brings that outsider perspective to the table for the Browns.
There is a lot of pressure on Dorsey, but his years in Buffalo also came with expectations, and he still led that offense to great success. A lot of things have to go right for the Browns to get over the hump, but bringing Dorsey in is a great start to getting everything to fall into place and the Browns to get back atop the AFC North.
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