Browns' Kitchens won't concede play-calling duties: 'Not gonna happen'

Cleveland Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens won't surrender play-calling responsibilities despite his offense's early-season struggles.

"That's not even feasible," Kitchens told reporters Monday, according to Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. "That's not being considered. No, it's not."

The Browns hired Todd Monken, formerly of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as their offensive coordinator in the offseason but never planned to have him call plays.

"Not gonna happen," Kitchens said, according to Marla Ridenour of the Akron Beacon Journal. "It's me, it's my fault. Todd does a great job during the course of the week ... but when things mess up it's going to be on me."

Kitchens finished the 2018 campaign calling plays as the interim offensive coordinator and the results were fruitful. But that hasn't been the case through three games in 2019. The Browns are averaging just 16.3 points per game and have looked particularly sluggish in the red zone, where they scored one touchdown on four trips in Sunday's loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

Kitchens' questionable calls Sunday included a fourth-quarter draw for running back Nick Chubb on fourth-and-9. He also drew criticism for failing to get Chubb or Odell Beckham Jr. a touch in the final seconds as Cleveland came up empty on four chances to tie the game from the 4-yard line.

The rookie head coach noted the 1-2 Browns are far from a finished product, especially offensively.

"I understand what's going on with our program," he said. "With a lot of guys, it's learning curve. There's a lot of things new for us right now and I'm included in that. I'm not shying away from our shortcomings, my shortcomings."

Cleveland faces the Baltimore Ravens (2-1) on the road in Week 4.