Camp thoughts Vol. IX

 

Alex Van Pelt said something the other day that resonated and needs strongly to be taken into consideration as the launch of the 2020 National Football League season rapidly nears.

 

The Browns’ offensive coordinator – whether by design or sudden realization – acknowledged the side of the football for which he is responsible is “still trying to figure out who we are.”

 

That’s a rather frank admission with the season opener in Baltimore less than three weeks hence. “The sense of urgency has to be high,” Van Pelt told the Cleveland media. “We don’t have any time to waste.”

 

Ya think?!

 

Installation of a brand new offense and teaching it are still in the early stages. Contrast that with the Ravens getting ready for the Browns with the same offense that propelled them to a 14-2 record last season.

 

This is going to be a slow-growing process for the Cleveland offense. It is rhythm-based, making it even more difficult to get used to, let alone master. It will take time.

 

The lack of spring OTAs and minicamps would have helped with the early stages of overall installation. The pandemic waylaid that, leaving head coach Kevin Stefanski with precious little time to totally convert the offensive philosophy of this club.

 

It is now relegated to being an offense still in progress, a stage that might continue into the early stages of the season, perhaps even a little beyond. Developing an entirely new personality on offense does not happen overnight.

 

It is being radically converted from a pass-happy attack to one that is much more methodical and features significantly more running. That requires even more precision, which might be tough at first with a rebuilt offensive line.

 

Van Pelt, who might or might not call plays this season (more on that later), is correct. Time’s a-wastin’. Honing the offense by the time the Ravens game arrives is much more hope than realism.

 

“As we get through this next stage . . . and we start scaling down our installations and start repping who we want to be and who we are, I think we’ll see that tighten up,” he said optimistically.

 

Taking Wednesday off doesn’t help the situation even though it was scheduled. At this point, the players, especially on offense, need all the work they can get. Offense is all about rhythm and timing. Working on it every day should be a must.

 

When the team resumes practice Thursday, Van Pelt said he would zero in on personnel groups and specific schemes as he takes the program to the next stage. “We are moving in that direction,” he said, citing the urgency of the situation.

 

Stefanski, who called plays for the Minnesota Vikings offense last season, has not indicated who will call the plays for the Browns. He originally said Van Pelt would handle some of the exhibition games, but that plan evaporated with the pandemic.

 

It is not often that rookie head coaches in the NFL succeed when also being responsible for one side of the football. It tends to interfere with the most important aspect of a head coach’s job: Responsibility for the performance of the entire team.

Meanwhile, the clock is ticking. At the rate the Browns are adjusting to a new offense and new defense, there is a distinct possibility they will be nowhere close to where they need to be on Sept. 13.