It is the bye week for the Browns, and that means instead of working on a game plan for the next opponent — the Saints on Nov. 17 in New Orleans — Browns’ coaches spend time “self-scouting” to find ways to fix what is wrong with their own team. Where to begin as they sift through the wreckage of this disastrous 2-7 season? It’s like a teenager being told to clean his bedroom, but with clothing and junk strewn around making it impossible to even see the carpet, he doesn’t know what to do first. “Big picture, we need to play better on offense, defense and special teams,” Coach Kevin Stefanski said Nov. 4 on Zoom. “This gives you the ability to zoom out for a minute and see what those big adjustments are, small adjustments are that can help you do a better job in all three areas.” Three things will not change; Ken Dorsey will continue as offensive coordinator and will continue to call plays. The bye week, especially when it comes midseason, sometimes leads to a coaching shakeup, but that won’t happen. Not that he has abundant choices, but #Browns coach Kevin Stefanski is sticking with Jameis Winston at quarterback as the bye week begins. pic.twitter.com/5qYrK1zKZ0 — Jeff Schudel (@jsproinsider) November 4, 2024 “We’ll look at everything in terms of what we can do better, but no major changes expected,” Stefanski said. Jameis Winston will continue as the starting quarterback and Dawand Jones will remain the starting left tackle, Stefanski said. Adding the word “expected” to Stefanski’s answer leaves room for General Manager Andrew Berry to make a swap before the 4 p.m. Nov. 5 trade deadline passes. Rumors persist the Browns will trade defensive end Za’Darius Smith, but the way these rumors grow sometimes is one person writes about it then another picks up on that and it just continues to spread until the player is either dealt or the deadline passes with nothing happening. It is a safe bet Berry isn’t revealing his trade deadline plans. As far as sticking with Winston, Stefanski is very limited in his options. Dorian Thompson-Robinson did not play well when he was forced to play after Deshaun Watson was injured in the game with the Bengals on Oct. 20, and he was inconsistent in games he started as a rookie in 2023. Bailey Zappe has been with the Browns for only two weeks since being signed off the Chiefs’ practice squad after Watson was diagnosed with a ruptured Achilles tendon. Winston passed for 334 yards and three touchdowns in his Browns’ debut in a 29-24 victory over the Ravens, but he followed that by throwing three interceptions in the 27-10 loss to the Chargers on Nov. 3. Stefanski after the game said he is sticking with Winston. “My focus is on us playing better as a team,” Stefanski said on the Nov. 4 Zoom call. “Obviously, there were moments yesterday that we fell short. Jameis can play better. He knows that. Turning the ball over is just not a way to win in this league. He knows that. But that’s really where we are, just focused on getting better.” Committing to Jones at left tackle is different. Jedrick Wills, the first player Berry drafted in his role as Browns’ general manager with the 10th overall pick in 2020, is healthy, but Stefanski has decided to ride with Jones. Jones, a fourth-round pick in 2023, was a right tackle at Ohio State and a right tackle with the Browns as a rookie. He was a right tackle this season before being switched to the left side for the game with the Ravens. “I do plan on keeping (Jones) there,” Stefanski said. “He’s a young player that’s going to continue to get better. It’s not perfect. There are things he can get better at, but I do believe leaving him there and letting him develop there is the best thing. “I’m not trying to say anything about (Wills). I’m just trying to put Dawand out there and let him get better. Jed’s still a player that we believe in, and right now he’s got to be ready to go.” Wills is in the final year of his contract. He is a candidate to be shipped to another team at the trade deadline.