CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens is putting the finishing touches on his coaching staff and then heading to the Senior Bowl Monday in Mobile, Ala., where he'll help John Dorsey scout draft-eligible players.

After that, he'll get back to integrating his new coaching staff and refining schemes and systems. Then, it's on to preparing for the NFL Combine at the end of February in Indianapolis, mapping out the offseason schedule, and preparing for free agency and the draft.

It's been a whirlwind for Kitchens, who began hiring his staff the day he got the job last Wednesday, and he had his three coordinators in place in a matter of days with Todd Monken on offense, Steve Wilks on defense and Mike Priefer on special teams.

Kitchens acknowledges that he's "not a finished product" and that he'll have to find the answers to things he doesn't know.

"Am I ready or not? I don't know. I mean, were you ready to be a parent?" he said during his introductory press conference. "I know this, they had confidence enough in me that I would figure it out and I'd get the job done. I promise you this, I will not let them down."

Here are five challenges facing Kitchens.

Don't Edit

Mayfield and Kitchens talk during the Texans game. (John Kuntz, cleveland.com)

Don't Edit

1. His relationship with Baker Mayfield

Kitchens quickly won over Mayfield by being honest with him and soliciting his input. But their relationship will have to evolve now that Kitchens is head coach. He won't have as much one-on-one time available with his QB. He'll have to delegate more of that to Monken and quarterbacks coach Ryan Lindley.

Kitchens and Mayfield have a playful relationship, with both teasing each other and with Mayfield even joking in one mic'd up segment on the team's website that "that guy's an idiot."

They shouldn't lose that banter, but Kitchens will also have to come down hard at times on Mayfield, who says "I'm going to speak my mind" and "I'm not looking for anybody's approval."

Kitchens should have no problem with that, as demonstrated during the first half of the 29-13 loss to the Texans when Mayfield threw three interceptions and got an earful from his OC.

"Those tough conversations -- those butt chewings -- those are the ones that get them better,'' said Kitchens.

Kitchens acknowledged he won't change his way with Mayfield or anyone else.

"It kills me with some guys that they think they have to be more head coach-ish, or whatever you call it,'' he said. "I won't be that. I'll be who I am. I can be myself and we're going to have fun. We're going to win and we're going to have a damn good time doing it.''

Don't Edit

Todd Monken will bring his own thoughts to the offense. (Chris O'Meara, AP)

Don't Edit

2. Uniting the staff

Kitchens has never been a head coach at any level, and now he must blend a staff of assistants from different football families and philosophies.

Remember during HBO's Hard Knocks when Kitchens and former offensive coordinator Todd Haley challenged Hue Jackson for giving veterans days off in training camp? Kitchens will have strong-minded individuals bringing their beliefs to the table, and it will be up to him to mold the staff into a cohesive unit.

Associate head coach/offensive line coach James Campen, who spent the past 15 years in Green Bay, will bring his own protection schemes, and Monken, who ran the No. 1 pass offense last year, will bring Air Raid concepts and other offensive nuances. Kitchens, who will call offensive plays, will have to familiarize himself with the defensive scheme of Steve Wilks, who runs a 4-3 base, and the special teams philosophy of Priefer.

But Kitchens is determined to make it about "we' and not "I.''

"Everybody is going to be on the same page from a coaching staff perspective,'' Kitchens said. "Everything we do within this organization is going to be trust- and respect-oriented.

"Different people have different beliefs and if you spend time listening, instead of just hearing, then sometimes maybe you can learn some things.''

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Kitchens talks to Baker Mayfield during the Browns' loss to Kansas City. (David Richard, Associated Press)

Don't Edit

3. Upgrading and diversifying the offense

NFL teams will be gunning for Flying Freddie and Burnin' Baker this season after they lit it up in the second half of the season. Mayfield threw for 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions in the final eight games, and set the NFL rookie record with 27 TD passes on the season.

Teams will have a chance to dig into Mayfield's tape and try to identify weaknesses, although they won't find many.

They'll also be ready for the wishbone, the receiver option pass and other gadget plays.

The Browns will face some better defenses than they did in the second half of the season. In 2019, the Browns will face the Bills (No. 2 on defense in 2018), the Ravens (No. 1), Titans (No. 8) and the Steelers (No. 6).

Opponents will bring their A-game. Granted, John Dorsey will add more talent and Mayfield figures to improve, but the Browns must be ready to take it to the next level.

Monken will also add a lot to the offense and be great for Mayfield.

Don't Edit

4. Dividing his time between playcalling and the other demands

With Gregg Williams as interim coach, Kitchens was able to turn the offense into the the explosive unit it was down the stretch.

The Browns finished the season tied for sixth in the NFL with 60 plays of 20 yards or more, and tied for eighth with 11 of 40 yards or more. They were also nearly perfect in red zone TD percentage.

But now, Kitchens must divide his time among the offense, defense and special teams, especially on game day. During the week, he'll be pulled away for media responsibilities, emergencies, injuries, meetings with the other units and a million other things he hasn't even thought of yet.

Fortunately, Dorsey helped him assemble an experienced coaching staff. Wilks has head coaching experience, Monken has playcalling experience and Campen has extensive playoff experience.

But the Browns must also see to it that Kitchens doesn't spread himself too thin.

Don't Edit

Garrett will have to get to know his new head coach. (Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com)

Don't Edit

5. Learning the defense and special teams

After games, Kitchens often went around the locker room congratulating and consoling offensive players. Now, he not only has to learn the new defensive and special teams schemes, he must get to know the players' diverse personalities.

But Kitchens is a people person, and will enjoy developing new bonds. When asked about Myles Garrett after Monday's presser, he described how he's gotten to know him so far.

"Ask him who beat him at pool,'' Kitchens said. "We've got a pool table in there. I don't know when coaches became above everybody else. In saying that, I don't know how many people know (Clete Deiner, coordinator of stadium operations) downstairs at our stadium. I know Clete, I talked to Clete, I understand where Clete lives, I know how many kids he's got. You know what I did? How I found that out? I talked to him and I asked him, so I'm invested in people.

"That's how you start building relationships. Do I know everything about Myles? No. I know he thinks he's good at pool and I know I beat him at pool, and I know he enjoys pool and he enjoys watching his video for the next opponent and I know he enjoys watching that at night. That's a start of a relationship right there.''

One player at a time, Kitchens will develop bonds the way he has with his offense.

Don't Edit