Browns have multiple issues on offense, but it all starts with the play call operation

The Cleveland Browns offense has more talent than it did last year, but the results aren't as good as they were last year through two games. The operation to get play calls in is the biggest issue right now, but some of the calls, Baker Mayfield being too aggressive and injuries are also contributing.

Through two games of the regular season, the Cleveland Browns offense looks disjointed and Baker Mayfield doesn't look comfortable. It all starts with the operation to get play calls in to Mayfield.

The addition of Todd Monken appears to have added an extra layer to the process of getting calls in and they're coming in way too late. Whether it's Kitchens pitching a play and then Monken more or less vetting it, Monken pitching and Kitchens vetting it or just a conversation about what to do, the entire operation takes way too long. Who is calling the plays is irrelevant. The operation of calling them has to get much faster.

Beyond the pair of delay of game penalties, Mayfield is having to scramble to get plays off. He doesn't have time to look at the defense presnap, identify where certain players are, likely Jamal Adams last night, possibly check out of a bad call and into a better one. It's putting Mayfield and the offense as a whole at a disadvantage.

And just about every time the Browns are pressing to get the play off, it's a pass. So the pass rush can get a great jump to attack the quarterback. It's creating a significant number of zero or negative plays.

The marriage of Kitchens and Monken offensive philosophies, to this point, doesn't have Mayfield looking comfortable running the offense. He's not playing at the same level as he did much of last year, but even when he's making plays, he's having to work much harder. One of the reasons Mayfield looked so impressive last season was because it so often looked effortless.

More needs to be done to get the ball out of Mayfield's hand quicker, allowing him to operate on time and in rhythm. That's when he's at his best and does the most to counteract the issues they have at offensive tackle and frustrates the pass rush. There are too many plays where every route is going down the field on a deep drop and when nothing is there, Mayfield has nowhere to go with the ball.

Some of this is on Mayfield as well. Odell Beckham is phenomenal, but at times it seems like Mayfield is forcing passes to him. Last year, by not having a true #1 receiver, he was more dangerous and the offense was more effective. There have been some situations where Mayfield could have gone for surer things and opted to be more aggressive, which resulted in the interception last night.

Injuries have also become a factor. Mayfield misses having Rashard Higgins out there. David Njoku going out left the Browns with nothing in terms of passing threats at tight end and Antonio Callaway is halfway through his suspension now. The only carryover he has from last year right now is Jarvis Landry, Nick Chubb and Damion Ratley.

Hopefully the Browns get Higgins back this week, but Njoku's likely out until week four. The rest of these issues, particularly the play calling operation have to get fixed immediately. The Browns offense should've put up at least 40 on the Jets. And as the team evolves over the course of the season, they should get to that point, but facing the Los Angeles Rams in six days, the Browns are relying heavily on their defense right now.