Dan Orlovsky, an NFL analyst member at the Get Up crew tried to defend Kevin Stefanski, but even he couldn’t cover up what everyone saw.
Browns fans are roasting the head coach for tossing Shedeur Sanders into a pack of wolves without giving him real preparation.
Shedeur never got first-team reps, never built timing with the starters, and it showed the moment he stepped on the field.
Cleveland Browns’ offensive line looked lost, communication was off, and the rookie was left surviving instead of competing, making Stefanski the main target of the backlash.
How Dan Orlovsky Defended Stefanski
Dan Orlovsky tried to calm the storm around Kevin Stefanski, but his defense only stirred up more debate. When the conversation shifted to Shedeur’s lack of preparation, Dan stepped in with confidence, insisting people were exaggerating.
“I know there’s been a lot made of no reps with 1st team. I would go weeks, months without reps. Is #12 not running the scout team?” he argued, trying to downplay the concerns.
Yet he also admitted, “I think it’s odd that Shedeur hasn’t had a single snap of at practice rep,” added Orlovsky. “But I don’t think it’s something worth everyone trying to make like ‘He should be splitting the reps with Dillon Gabriel.’”
He later doubled down, saying what Shedeur Sanders is facing is “more common than people anticipate,” a take that instantly drew sharp reactions from the Get Up crew, who fired back with their own opposing views.
Other Get Up Crew Members Counter Dan Orlovsky Opinions
Dan Orlovsky suddenly found himself on the defensive as the rest of the Get Up crew pushed back on every point he tried to make. They reminded him that his own experience wasn’t comparable to what Shedeur Sanders is facing right now.
One colleague cut straight to the truth: “But you were sort of a seasoned veteran backup who was there for that reason because you didn’t need reps, and they could throw you in incase of trouble.” That left Dan Orlovsky with no real counter.
Another analyst followed up, stressing that Shedeur Sanders is stepping into the league with none of the foundation Orlovsky once had.
They pointed out that he’s a rookie who has never gotten a rep in an NFL game, and the lack of preparation changes everything.
Then came another question that Dan Orlovsky couldn’t answer clearly: “As the backup quarterback, obviously, you’d run the scout team, right?”
That wasn’t all. Even the prominent American sports commentator, Stephen A. Smith had much to say about Shedeur’s debut.
Stephen A. Smith Blasts Stefanski for Setting Shedeur Up to Fail
Stephen A. Smith came in swinging, adding even more heat to the debate after Dan Orlovsky’s defense of Kevin Stefanski. His first question cut through the noise: “How does he get zero snaps with the first team?” questioned Stephen Smith. “He wasn’t prepped at all.”
He didn’t stop there. “You’re QB2. Your QB1 is an undersized dude. A hit away from getting concussed and taken out of the game.”
Stephen A. pushed further, wondering how Shedeur Sanders entered his debut looking unprepared when he’s never been known for that. He pointed straight at Kevin Stefanski, reminding viewers, “Kevin Stefanski is a two times NFL coach of the year,” highlighting how experienced the Browns coach is.
Then he pressed harder: “How unprepared did Shedeur Sanders look? Suddenly he’s not comprehending plays?… That’s not the reputation that we’ve ever heard of Shedeur Sanders,” he added, noting his strong grasp of the playbook and his intelligence.
To Stephen A. Smith, this wasn’t a case of a rookie melting under pressure. “I really viewed him as being set up to fail. Or at least not prepared to succeed.”
And while he refused to outright attack Stefanski, he made his position clear: Shedeur wasn’t given the preparation he needed to thrive.
It was a tough moment, and an even tougher reality for everyone defending Kevin Stefanski’s coaching decision.
Also Read: Emanuel Acho Breaks Down Shedeur Sanders’ Tough Reality as a Backup