Coach Mike Pettine's staff shared views about their own sides of the ball with writers before players cleared out for a mini-vacation. Here's the view from assorted coaches:

As head coach Mike Pettine puts it, the bye week gives the Browns ample time “to get a feel for who we are and where we’re headed.”

Blunt opinions have been shared. Variations of “that stinks” have been expressed. The good stuff has been bottled up for the next game.

One bye-week exercise has been for Pettine and the defensive coaches to analyze the Browns offense as if it was from some other team. Kyle Shanahan and the offensive coaches will do the same thing in reverse.

The coaches take their own little secrets from those confrontations into a game at Tennessee next Sunday.

Meanwhile, Pettine’s staff shared views about their own sides of the ball with writers before players cleared out for a mini-vacation.

Here’s the view from assorted coaches entering the team’s bye week:

Chris Kirksey

Rookie inside linebacker Chris Kirksey was a preseason star, drawing comparisons to Bears star Lance Briggs. It has been different in the real games — his playing time was scaled back against Baltimore. In the time-share opposite inside linebacker Karlos Dansby, who played every down, Craig Robertson played 44 snaps, Kirksey 31.

Position coach Chuck Driesbach on Kirksey:

“He played some inside linebacker at Iowa, but mostly he was outside. Some of that comes a little bit slow to him. We spent time this off week with film study. It’s not like he’s doing a bad job.

“He’s very physical, as physical as anybody I’ve got in there. I think he’s going to end up being outstanding as a full-time linebacker.”

Dividing time among the linebackers

Outside linebackers coach Brian Fleury on dividing reps for two positions among starter types Paul Kruger, Barkevious Mingo and Jabaal Sheard:

“They push each other for more and more reps. It’s a difficult decision, but it’s a good decision to have to make. The goal at this point is to give them balanced reps.”

Paul Kruger

Defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil on Kruger making more conspicuous plays than he did in 2013, when he jumped from Baltimore to Cleveland as a free agent:

“Baltimore’s system was similar to what we play here now. Brian Fleury is doing a great job with him. Paul has dedicated himself to learning multiple positions, which allows us to move him around and create some mismatches.”

Possible moves for Phil Taylor, Ahtyba Rubin

Defensive line coach Anthony Weaver isn’t biting on suggestions to move 2011 Round 1 pick Phil Taylor back to nose tackle and veteran Ahtyba Rubin from the nose to end, where Taylor has been starting.

“Those guys are playing well. They’re rolling off the ball, using their hands, creating opportunities for other guys. All you want is your guys to give it their absolute best effort and make plays when they present themselves. We’ve just got to wait for their plays to come.”

Taylor Gabriel’s would-be TD

Taylor Gabriel dove to catch a deep pass on which he could have scored, had he kept his feet. A touchdown would have given the Browns a 28-17 lead in a game they lost 23-21. Instead, they missed a field goal.

Wide receivers coach Mike McDaniel on whether Gabriel’s dive was a moment of rookie panic:

“I’ve seen him track many deep balls in practice. He doesn’t waver at all, and he hasn’t wavered as a rookie.

“I knew he lost it in the sun. He didn’t see it until it was like 10 feet in front of his face. The second I saw him stutter, I was just happy that he caught it.

“As an undrafted rookie who came here on a tryout basis, every moment has been big for him. I have complete faith that as long as there’s no sun in his eyes, he’ll catch that in stride and take it to the house.”

Mitchell Schwartz

Right tackle Mitchell Schwartz was being portrayed as a wasted 2012 Round 2 pick as the preseason played out. Coaches didn’t think about replacing him then, and line coach Andy Moeller says this of him now:

“Mitch has been really strong in the run game. From what I saw when I came in here and studied him ... he’s a much better football player.

“He fits what we do. People that don’t know need to watch a little closer, because Mitch has done a damn good job for us, and I’m proud of the way he’s progressed.”

Ben Tate’s return

Running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery on how veteran Ben Tate will be worked in with breakout rookies Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell when Tate returns soon from a knee injury:

“We had three guys active when Tate was healthy, so I don’t think that’s going to change anything. All it does is give me one more experienced guy. I don’t have to worry about a lot of the small things. Tate is beyond (rookie issues), whereas the other guys still have to climb that mountain.”

Crowell ‘downhill’

Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan on Isaiah Crowell, who leads the team in yards per carry at 5.2:

“Crowell does a good job of getting downhill. He doesn’t mess around.”

Andrew Hawkins

Shanahan on wideout Andrew Hawkins, who ranks No. 8 in the league with 21 catches and No. 14 with 244 receiving yards:

“Everyone can tell how quick he is and how fast he is, but I never realized how good of a football player he is. He is extremely competitive. He wants the ball. He wants to block. He gets after the defense in every aspect of the game.”

Jordan Cameron

Tight ends coach Brian Angelichio on the importance of having a healthy Jordan Cameron on the field:

“It was good to see him out there in the Baltimore game. When they leave him out there one-on-one, you saw ... he’s going to win that matchup.”