Browns offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey goes from listening on the headset to calling plays this week, one of the numerous moving parts in Cleveland entering Week 8.
Jameis Winston will start with Deshaun Watson out for the season and the Browns (1-6) searching for answers to their poor output on offense.
“Just trying to win a football game. Just trying to win a game,” Dorsey said. “Just like players, if somebody takes a step back or is not in there, players have to be ready to step up. It’s no different for coaches.”
His first test comes against the Baltimore Ravens (5-2), who are riding a five-game winning streak. The Ravens are averaging 35 points per game since starting the season 0-2, but aren’t without weaknesses. Baltimore is last in the NFL in pass defense (287.1 yards per game).
The Browns’ season-high point total was 18 in the team’s lone win of the season. Cleveland’s scoring average — 15.6 points per game — is 29th in the NFL, but the Browns are last in offense (253.9 yards per game), yards per play (4.00), yards per pass play (4.43), third-down conversion percentage (23.71) and sack percentage (13.89).
Dorsey was handed the play-calling responsibility by head coach Kevin Stefanski in hopes of a new voice bringing a spark.
“It’s a lot of reflection, evaluating where we’re at. It’s just a decision that’s for right now. We take these things week-by-week,” Dorsey said.
“There’s not a magic coach or a magic pill to play better on offense. It’s going to be work. It’s attention to detail. At the end of the day, it’s us locking in and fighting. Playing with extreme physicality. Playing with speed. Playing with confidence.”
Dorsey said he evaluated where the offense is and covets the chance to help Cleveland turn the season around.
“There’s a lot of great coaches out there. A ton of great coaches,” he said. “During the week you do a lot of game-planning and put your guys in position to make plays. The great coaches are the ones throughout the years that make those adjustments in-game. Not just coaches but staffs. Because you want to utilize all of your eyes on game day. We’ve been able to do that at a high level. That’s where you saw those second halves, doing some good things. We want to make those adjustments so you don’t come in Sunday and say, ‘Oh, we didn’t see that.'”
