The Opening Drive 10/31: Finishing Mailbag Questions and Friday Special Teams Analysis
Kick off your weekend Browns coverage with special teams banter and elite questions.
Happy Friday, everyone! We’re back for the usual here at BFB where I finish up any leftover questions from the latest Mailbag Edition of the podcast — which you can listen to here.
BFB Bye Week Subscriber Mailbag
In this week’s Browns Film Breakdown Subscriber Mailbag, we answer questions from our Founders Chat and Substack Chat during the Browns’ week off.
Let’s get it rolling.
Is it just coincidence browns won two games at home and looked horrible on road while attempting to set ticket prices in new stadium
Is there an NFL franchise out there you wouldn’t switch with?
Greg Jahnke
Listen. PSLs are no secret and I don’t quite know how people didn’t expect this nonsense. It’s a big part of how the billionaires try to recoup their investment. But the timing of that survey was pretty rough!
As for teams I would NOT trade positions with right now, the list is small. I know the Titans have a quarterback but he’s playing poorly and lack any elite talent around him. I don’t think I would swap there. Also, probably not the Saints — they have a roster also lacking talent in many ways. But the margins here are not wide.
Why do you think Stefanski has gone so far away from concepts that have worked for him in the past and doesn’t seem to be layering plays on offense? Has he regressed, someone else influenced it in the past, doesn’t have the players, or maybe just inside his own head?
Jeffrey Buchanan
I wish I knew that answer. I watch without fathom every Monday trying to solve what they’re trying to do with the gameplan and it’s tricky to solve. I’m tracking it to try and prove the issues run deep and it’s hard to envision it getting better. But I wish I knew why it felt so disjointed. Some of it is on the talent, but not all of it. Not even close.
Say another team with an underperforming highly-drafted QB or WR decided to engage in a full rebuild and sell off assets at the end of this season. Should the Browns try to trade for that player (like Tua, Kyler Murray, Trevor Lawrence) using the Jaguars 2026 1st Round pick? Baker, Sam Darnold, and now Daniel Jones have all found major success with a change of scenery
Zachary Schiefer
I don’t envision the throwing another first-round pick at the quarterback problem who is already at the NFL level but I do think they could be interested at a lower cost or interested if one hits the free agent market. At this point I see little reason why they would totally avoid it outside of the financial hindrance it could have. If the price is right, they’ll be in.
Is 2024-2025 Kevin Stefanski basically the 2021 Baker Mayfield of Head Coaches? (Neither played well and both had injuries, Mayfield’s arm and Stefanski’s roster).
The Daily Obsessive
It’s a fair question. I think if Kevin didn’t have the previous two seasons of serious success we wouldn’t be in this situation and we obviously wouldn’t be doubting firing him. It’s a benefit of the doubt he’s earned with his awards won, but the evidence happening here is so tough to ignore. The same way it was with Mayfield. The question would be, and the same one existed with Baker, is what would it take to get him back on track and is that worth it in the long run? I don’t have that answer. Only those who know him best inside the building can answer it.
Below you’ll find the latest in the BFB catalog for supporters to dig into. Click the link to become a supporter if you haven’t already, and enjoy all the latest from Browns Film Breakdown.
Latest Podcasts:
Stefanski Play-Calling Role, and if the “Free Pass” Will Come To Pass
Tracking Browns Tanking Evidence, and Comprehensive All-22 Defense
Latest Film Rooms:
Latest Articles:
Opening Drive 10/30: Browns Offense Doesn’t Resemble What We Thought
Opening Drive 10/29: Deep Issues Facing Browns During BYE Week
Opening Drive 10/28: Trying To Keep Appreciation for this Defensive Line
Below you will find your weekly Special Teams update in the form of EPA. The Browns moved up once again as they had a net neutral day. Still among the lower rated special teams in the league, though. Here’s a comparison of last week to this week.
Punt
For the day, Corey Bojorquez averaged 40.3 yards per punt. He just isn’t connecting on punts the way he did in previous seasons. He had two punts with less than 40 yards distance on the day and it just seems to keep getting worse and is failing to help the Browns with field position. They only allowed one return of 8 yards so the coverage was fine, but this was mostly due to short punts that were not returned.
If it holds right now, Bojorquez will be among the worst at the position for the year.
Punt Return
Gage Larvadain handled return duties and did well enough catching the ball clean. He had one return for just seven yards and fair caught the other two. Again, not much of note here.
Kickoff and Kickoff Return
This was one of the more quiet kickoff coverage and return days. The Browns seem to struggle to find cohesive running lanes and return structures as they had just 21.8 yards per return between Malachi Corley and Dylan Sampson. They have to solve their blocking issues on the dropback part of the return. The Patriots only returned two kicks on the day but went for 27.5 per return. Not bad coverage, but also better than the Browns for return sake and starting field position. Mohamoud Diabate (43) had a nice tackle on the Patriots second return.
The Browns did accomplish the rare onside kick recovery. Szmyt got a great secondary bounce that went over Austin Hooper’s head and Gage Larvadain plucked it out of the air. Wish they had this outcome when they need it more desperately.
Field Goal and Field Goal Block
Andre Samir pulled his lone field goal attempt left. You can see him sweep across the ball a bit too hard and it narrowly misses left. His process has been better since Week 1, though.
The rush unit on the left side came after two of the three short kicks from the Patriots and Denzel Ward keeps getting close off the edge. He’s going to get one of these at some point. I keep saying it.
Overall Special Teams Grade: (B-) They didn’t hinder the game in any way significantly but they also were just clearly not as efficient as what the Patriots brought to the table. Overall, a net neutral at best but certainly worse of the two units on the field.
Browns Film Breakdown will return soon with some fresh All-22 weekend content.
I love the Special Teams reviews, would really like to know what Bubba is doing every week.
Bonus question: Are there any coaching highlights? I know you mentioned the Linebackers in the pod this morning but it doesn't seem like we are getting good coaching at any position besides LB. Shout out Jason Tarver.