Lions Week 4 preview: Breaking down Browns’ offensive, defensive schemes

The Detroit Lions have only faced the Cleveland Browns once in the Dan Campbell era, a 13-10 loss in his inaugural 2021 season. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski was at the helm in that game, but he has since swapped out his coordinators, including adding a former Lions head coach to run his defense.

Let’s take a closer look at the Browns’ coaching staff, the scheme that they run, and some scouting notes from previously viewed games.

Browns head coach: Kevin Stefanski

NFL coaching seasons: 20 (2006-2019 with Vikings, OC in 2019)
Head coaching seasons: 6 (AP Coach of the Year, 2020 and 2023)
Influences: Gary Kubiak, Norv Turner, Brad Childress, Pat Shurmer, Bill Musgrave, Leslie Frazier
Playcaller: Yes
Note: Stefanski was the Browns playcaller in 2024, but when the offense regressed, he passed those duties to then-OC Ken Dorsey. When Dorsey couldn’t improve the offense in the final eight games, he was fired in the offseason. The solution for 2025 was to promote from within, and Stefanski is re-assuming play-calling duties in 2025.

Offensive coordinator: Tommy Rees

Playing career: QB at Notre Dame 2010-13, Commanders practice squad in 2014
NFL coaching seasons: 2 (Notre Dame OC 2020-22, Alabama OC 2023)
Offensive coordinator seasons: 1 (promoted from passing game specialist/tight ends coach)
Influences: Mike McCoy, Brian Kelly, Marcus Freeman, Nick Saban, Ken Dorsey
Key staff: Duce Staley, Running backs coach

Offensive scheme

Passing game: Pro Style, Shanahan/Kubiak-influenced
Running scheme: Shanahan wide-zone, with Gap, Duo, and Trap folded in
Staples of scheme:

• Approximate personnel groupings: 11 (48%), 12 (43.5% – 2nd highest), 13 (2%)
• Run-first concepts
• Pulling interior OL on run plays
• Play-action
• Lots of pre-snap motion
• Condensed formations
• Speed out-routes
• RB/WR/TE screens
• Hi-low reads on the perimeter

Scouting notes

• QB Joe Flacco very much looks his age (40 years old)
• Flacco through 3 games: 2 touchdown passes, 4 interceptions, and a fumble
• Heaviest passing team in the NFL, but… Passing DVOA is 31st, Pass yards per play is 31st, EPA per drop back is 30th
• OL allowed 53 pressures (31st) but only six sacks (12th)
• Pressure arrives in 2.69 seconds (18th), despite defenses only blitzing 17% of the time (lowest rate in NFL)
• Passes typically target the 5-12 yard range
• WRs don’t get quick releases, especially vs. man coverage (teams using man at a top-5 rate vs. Browns)
• Zone coverage shrinks and stretches to the sidelines to take away the 5-12 yard area
• RB Quinshon Judkins may already be their best offensive weapon
  • Contact balance, strength (4.3 yards after contact, sixth best)
  • Burst leads to stacking explosive plays recently (two last week, three on season)
• IOL can be a strength, but you can see miscommunications passing off stunts
• OTs Cornelius Lucas (19 pressures on 141 pass blocks) and KT Leveston (6 on 52) are bad
• OL is getting beaten on the edges very...