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Freddie Kitchens: Cleveland Browns’ program ‘to continue to evolve, not that far away’

Cleveland Browns coach Freddie Kitchens is confident the program will ‘evolve, get better’ as the 2019 season continues.

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns are not where they want to be.

Not with the record, within the AFC North Division standings or with a consistent level of production from the offense, but heading into Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, nobody is sounding the warning alarms.

“I am not panicking,” Browns coach Freddie Kitchens said Wednesday. “I am not panicking about anything about our program. Our program is going to stay the same and is going to continue to evolve and continue to get better.

“That is the way we are going to approach it. That is the way it was in March. That is the way it was during the spring. That is the way it was during training camp. That is the way it is going to be during the season. We feel like that gives us the best opportunity to get better every day, every week, every month, every quarter of the season, and then, play our best football every time we go out onto the field in relation to the previous game. That is what we are striving to do.”

Credit: AP
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) stands beside head coach Freddie Kitchens during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019, in Cleveland. Los Angeles won 20-13. (AP Photo/David Richard)

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That calm displayed by Kitchens seems to be contagious, as to a man, the players have taken on a similar mantra.

“I’m not panicking at all,” wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. said after Wednesday’s practice. “I feel like I’ve been here before.

“There’s no real panic. Yeah, there’s a sense of urgency. We want to win. We want to win now. You want to be able to go down the backstretch not having to win each and every game. You want to be able to play the games out without every game being a must-win.”

Credit: Bill Kostroun/AP
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) throws a pass during the first half of a Monday Night Football game against the New York Jets in East Rutherford, N.J. on Monday, September 16, 2019.

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Through the first three games, it has been a struggle for quarterback Baker Mayfield to find consistency running the offense.

Mayfield has completed 62 of his 109 attempts (56.9 percent) for 805 yards with three touchdowns, five interceptions, 14 20-yard throws and one 40-yard pass, all while taking 11 sacks for 81 lost yards.

Over 17 career games played, including 16 straight starts, Mayfield has completed 372 of his 595 attempts (62.5 percent) for 4,530 yards and 30 touchdowns against 19 interceptions.

“It is about doing what you are supposed to do when you are supposed to do it,” Kitchens said.

“It is about me putting them in better situations. I have to start doing my part, they have to start doing their part and that is how things come together. It is not that hard of a solution. Now, just because you know the solution, you do everything you can to increase the ability to have different results.”

Credit: AP
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield throws during the first half in an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)

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The reason why Kitchens and the Browns are confident is because they have seen flashes of what the offense can be when Mayfield is on the same page with his skill players.

“Contrary to popular belief, we are not that far away,” Kitchens said. “It is my job to make these guys understand that, and I think they do. They bought into the fact that they do not really care what is going on outside of our building.”

Mayfield added, “It is realizing how close we are. The film is never as good as it looks and it is never as bad as it looks. It is really finding out what is going on, eliminating the mistakes and playing to our strengths. The defense is playing great. I said that after the game. It is our job to pick it up.”

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