Cleveland Browns Shockingly Fire Offensive Coordinator Alex Van Pelt
In a stunning and unexpected move, the Cleveland Browns have decided to part ways with offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. The decision, which was made in January, has left many wondering why such a drastic step was taken. However, new information has come to light that sheds some light on the situation.
According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, who appeared on the “Zolak and Bertrand Show” in Boston, the reason behind Van Pelt’s firing is none other than star quarterback Deshaun Watson. It seems that the front office was not satisfied with Watson’s progress over the past two years, leading them to make this difficult decision. This revelation has left members of the coaching staff shocked, as they considered Van Pelt to be an integral part of the organization.
“Alex Van Pelt was the ‘glue guy’ on Cleveland’s staff,” Breer stated during the interview. It is clear that Van Pelt played a crucial role in holding the team together, especially considering head coach Kevin Stefanski’s more reserved personality. Van Pelt’s outgoing nature and ability to connect with players made him a unifying force within the organization.
The decision to fire Van Pelt raises several questions. How can you dismiss an offensive coordinator who helped lead the team to 11 victories with multiple quarterbacks and key injuries? It seems that ownership and chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta were solely focused on Watson’s lack of progress, failing to recognize Van Pelt’s value to the staff.
As Van Pelt moves on to become the offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots, it remains to be seen how the Browns will fare without him. Will they be able to find someone who can fill his shoes and maintain the same level of cohesion within the team? Only time will tell.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has been a disappointment since joining the team. Despite the Browns making a significant trade and paying him a hefty sum, Watson has struggled to perform consistently on the field. In the past two seasons, he has had limited playing time and has failed to show significant progress.
The Browns made a big investment in Watson, trading away three first-round picks to acquire him from the Houston Texans. They also gave him a massive contract worth $230 million. However, Watson had not played a regular-season game in a year and was facing a suspension for his off-field behavior.
Watson’s suspension lasted for 11 games, severely limiting his ability to practice with the team. When he finally returned, he had a lackluster performance, completing only 58.2% of his passes for 1,102 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions in six starts. The results were not what the Browns had hoped for.
The following season started off better, with the Browns winning five out of six games with Watson as their quarterback. However, he suffered an injury early on and was unable to make a significant impact. Overall, Watson’s performance remained mediocre, completing 61.4% of his passes for 1,115 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions.
Watson’s season was cut short due to a shoulder injury that required surgery. This injury, along with his underwhelming performance prior to it, limited his ability to improve under the guidance of offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. It remains to be seen if Watson can turn things around and live up to the expectations placed upon him by the Browns.
Former Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey has been hired by the Cleveland Browns in a last-ditch effort to salvage quarterback Deshaun Watson’s career. Dorsey, who previously served as a quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator for the Bills, will now hold the same position with the Browns.
Dorsey has a history with the Browns, having played as a quarterback for the team in 2006 and 2008. However, his record as a starter in the NFL was not impressive, with a 2-11 record overall.
Dorsey’s coaching career took off in Buffalo, where he worked closely with Pro Bowler Josh Allen. He joined the Bills as a quarterbacks coach in 2019 and later served as a QBs coach/pass game coordinator in 2021. In 2022, Dorsey became the offensive coordinator, but was fired in November after a 5-5 start to the season.
With the hiring of Dorsey, the Browns are once again taking a big gamble on Watson. After a disastrous deal for the quarterback, the team is hoping that Dorsey’s expertise can help transform Watson back into the Pro Bowl player he was from 2018-2020. If Dorsey fails to achieve this, major changes could be on the horizon for the Browns organization.
