The last time Freddie Kitchens took on the offense of another coach, his career began to skyrocket.
Drew Stanton was there in October 2018 as the Browns ’third-string quarterback when a shake-up lifted the kitchens from the runners-up coach to the first call-up. The Kitchens face a similar task for the Giants on Sunday as Jason Garrett’s substitute offensive coordinator, who tested positive this week on COVID-19.
“Freddie is the perfect man to play that kind of role,” Stanton told The Post. “When Todd Haley was fired, it wasn’t an offense from Freddie, but he adapted it to the players around him. That bit of adversity will be nothing new. I know that without a doubt, Freddie will be willing. to advance his best foot ”.
There’s no quarterback anywhere with a better read at Kitchens than Stanton, who retired this offseason after a 13-year career. Kitchens coached the Cardinals quarterbacks for four of Stanton’s five seasons in Arizona, even when they teamed up to upset the Giants in 2014 with Carson Palmer offside.
The Giants could be forced to pair a secondary quarterback: Colt McCoy would start if Daniel Jones ’multiple leg injuries restrict his mobility with his secondary interlocutor. The Giants offensive ranks second in yards and points per game, but as is the way the NFL works, most of the game plan was already in place when the kitchens rose Thursday morning.
Kitchens is the coach of Garrett’s offensive selection, but has a 15-year relationship with head coach Joe Judge.
“We still want to follow what has really worked our offense this season,” the judge said. “Make sure we’re not throwing too many curveballs at the guys outside the group. That said, certain elements can be worked on. Ultimately, when the time comes, the caller should call the works of theater ”.
Stanton recalled how Kitchens kept Haley’s verbiage to make the transition smoother for the Browns, who led the NFL in yards per game with kitchens calling plays. Quarterback Baker Mayfield’s finishing percentage went from 58 to 68 and two of his five wins in the final eight games came after a draw in the half.
“Freddie understands personalities and how to manage people,” Stanton said. “Freddie will call a game how comfortable he feels, but ultimately, the way the quarterback he plays is more comfortable (either Colt or Daniel) because he wants them to have the confidence to run. It’s all about that. quarterback doesn’t believe in a play, Freddie will pull it off. He’s not afraid to push the limits of some things in the running game or in the action game. “
The Browns ’offense didn’t repeat the same success last season, with Kitchens calling up plays as head coach.
“When he becomes head coach, there’s a lot on the plate,” Stanton said. “Freddie really thrived in this role in 2018 when he had the opportunity to put his fingerprint on it. He was so good at adapting. We would go into the break and make adjustments. It was a clearly sketched roadmap on how we would win the second half “.
Will the extra turn of coaching the Giants against the suddenly thriving Browns (a revenge game just 11 months after their dismissal) distract the team’s goal?
“It couldn’t have worked better, especially on‘ Sunday Night Football, ’” Stanton said. “For him, unfortunately, he gets a season, it’s a class event. When he says he’s happy for the city of Cleveland, he really is. He stands by what he says. “