Pro Bowler Joel Bitonio Breaks Silence On The Browns Firing Offensive Coaches
The Cleveland Browns’ offensive coaching staff is undergoing significant changes, and one of its most distinguished members revealed his thoughts on the changes Tuesday night.
On the evening of January 23, left guard Joel Bitonio spoke with media at the 24th Greater Cleveland Sports Awards. Media members questioned the five-time All-Pro about the Browns’ decision to replace offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, the organization’s most significant decision thus far this summer.
I adored AVP. “He was a great guy and did a lot of good things for us,” Bitonio told Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. “I know him and [head coach Kevin] Stefanski, and the entire staff did an excellent job of putting us into the appropriate plays. I had no idea about [Van Pelt’s] until I saw it on Twitter, like everyone else, so it’s always a little surprising.”
Bitonio went on to say that the decision to replace Van Pelt may have been Stefanski’s rather than general manager Andrew Berry’s.
“I think Coach Stefanski just wants to keep tweaking things.” “He did some things on defense last year, some things on offense this year, and special teams last year,” Bitonio noted. “But I have only positive things to say about an AVP. He was a nice guy. He definitely personified the play-for-your-brother mentality with us, and you never want to see guys leave.”
Josina Anderson of CBS Sports was the first to disclose Cleveland’s decision to terminate Van Pelt, running backs coach Stump Mitchell, and tight ends coach T.C. McCartney on January 17. Anderson also mentioned in her article that “some players [were] upset from the news.”
The decision was puzzling given that the Browns offense, particularly the passing game, clicked under Van Pelt’s direction after the team brought in quarterback Joe Flacco and moved him to a starting position. Flacco averaged more over 300 yards passing during Cleveland’s 4-1 run, securing the No. 5 seed in the AFC.
The Houston Texans defeated the Browns 45-14 on Super Wild Card Weekend, thanks in large part to Flacco throwing back-to-back interceptions on the offense’s first two possessions of the second half, both of which were returned for scores by Texans defenders.
However, Cleveland’s top-rated defense surrendered 24 first-half scores as Houston quarterback CJ Stroud ripped the secondary apart. He had time to do so since 2023 Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett and his teammates failed to get home once on the day, recording zero sacks in loss.
The Browns offense is likely to see adjustments to their offensive scheme, including substantial roster additions and/or subtractions.
Chubb is coming off a season-ending knee injury suffered in Week 2 that will require two operations to correct. Chubb is entering the final year of his $36.6 million deal in 2024, and the team can save more than $11.8 million by cutting or trading him this summer.
Second-year running back Jerome Ford had a breakout sophomore season in 2023, which might allow Cleveland to move on from Chubb in order to save contract space for other pressing roster needs.
