The Here We Go Yet Again "New and Improved" Browns Coaching Search Thread

Well.........I may as well point out that large elephant in the room and kick this off with its own thread instead of haphazardly all over the other threads.


I woke today exceptionally pissed after yesterday's game. Just absolutely atrocious. (Most of) the team had just given up. And since you're only as good as your last game, the Browns were shittier than a 2-14 Bengals team. And earlier in the week, the FO had expressed confidence in Freddie.......(no doubt he was sure to return)

But.....lo and behold, I read they canned him and the Browns jump right back on the coaching carousel. Round and round it goes. Where it stops, nobody knows. I'm just expecting another 2-3 year slight rebuild to the new coaches likings/preferences and a few more sub-par seasons. And ultimately another new HC in maybe 2 years.

Enough ranting from me. What does this team need from its new coaching staff (discipline, playing styles and schemes, etc.) and who are the big names up for the job?

 

Here's something from Cleveland.com about how we got here:


https://www.cleveland.com/browns/20...html?outputType=amp&__twitter_impression=true

 

Thank God they fired Freddie. I was worried that Dorsey wouldn't, given he had made that choice just a year ago.

The fact that he made Freddie the HC leaves me wondering about Dorsey's ability to evaluate Coaching candidates. He's shown a penchant for making "risky" choices throughout his tenure, and some have worked, some not. I'd like to believe he's learned from swinging for the fences and will make a more studied search, this time.

 

I don't necessarily think Rivera was the perfect fit, but someone in that mold would be good for this team. You can't have a guy like Freddie here again. The next head coach needs a tried and true structure, needs to be able to motivate and discipline simultaneously, and needs to get the team pulled together without distraction. There aren't a lot of coaches out there who fit that bill, unfortunately.

I don't think the roster needs too much shake up, and I do think that Dorsey is willing to do with it what's necessary. But the next HC needs to be in lock-step with the front office, and needs to get this team structured right from day one. Rivera would've been a good candidate to make all that happen. We'll have to see who else fits that mold.

 

So, coaching is under construction, now, but what of our roster? We have 2 outstanding WRs who's physical health is questionable, and O line that needs upgrading, and mgt has elected not to sign our best LB.

The handling of personnel was erratic this season, and the erosion of roster depth through injury, suspension, and questionable roster moves, coupled with odd "disciplinary" actions that left players we had come to believe in, not suited up, was mind boggling.

Not all of that was Freddie, and those kind of moves and actions have to become focused on the best interests of the team, not random, ill timed and absent of awareness on their impact on the roster and the players in that locker room.

Dorsey has some ground to make up IMO. He was too quick to take bows for his off season acquisitions, building a "star studded" arsenal of weapons, yet ignoring the basic building blocks up front.

I gotta wonder how much damage he's done to his reputation with the Haslams, who gave him the authority to choose and then structure the chain of command to run through him. I have to wonder how the players feel about the moves as well. He's got work to do.

 

On another front: Baker may have learned his most valuable lesson this season. The NFL rewards discipline and results, not flash. I expect he'll have a lot more time to study his craft this off season, as commercial opportunities shrink.

He was a lousy QB this year. I love his passion, but without results it feels more like ego. He actually lost game for us this year, and IMO failed to learn how to read defensive coverages, and how D's were coming at him.

It's a shame to have wasted a year of development, and that falls on Baker and on the coaching staff. Time to move on.

 

Are you guys thinking offensive or defensive minded for the HC?

 

I'm thinking Tom Coughlin type coach. Get their shit in order.

 

I think it's a mistake for the HC to be hired on the basis of calling an offense and being best buds with the QB. I'm not saying it can't work, but... well, Kitchens is out of a job, and that was the basis for which he was hired.

I'd rather hire a coach that focuses on team structure and philosphy, and have him bring on board an OC that can dedicate himself solely to the success of this offense. With a young QB, and the pieces they have, you can't afford to have the HC mired in the offense, or give them half his attention. Hire someone to run the team, and have that person hire good coordinators who do their jobs. That's the popular set up structure for a reason. I just don't think a HC should be your primary playcaller, especially when they're new to the position as a whole.

I think, in that vein, you might do well hiring a defensive minded guy - only so that there's no conflict over who's running the offense, whatsoever. Point the team in the right direction, and maintain that.

 

I'm not sure if they'll be keeping anybody yet, so I'm not quite sure. I'm guessing they'll pretty much clean house with the coaching staff except maybe a few positions/strength coaches, etc.

As for offensive or defensive guy.......At this point it depends on who's available (note: most likely to take the job IMO) and what is left of other coaching options to fill the OC or DC spot depending on which side of the ball the new HC falls. But I have to agree with @gidion72 , they need to hire a no-nonsense disciplinarian who lays down the law to straighten out the team's mentality and restore order. Hopefully somebody who has a pet peeve for penalties.

IMO I have to believe that the Haslams will want this done ASAP before anybody else gets a shot at their top choice/s. This may get done in the next few weeks even before a few coaches get freed up to interview after their playoff runs are over.

Also......Wanted: HC with big boot to kick a few asses back into line and to "inspire" team play and loss of me-first attitudes.


Edit: I hear Pat Shurmur is looking for a job. (Sorry my fellow Browns fans. I couldn't resist.)

 

The knee jerk reaction is "a disciplinarian". I think we need a guy who commands respect, but not necessarily Tom Coughlin. Jarvis put it well: "a coach who commands respect, and shows it to his players".

Also watched one of the talking head "football" shows and one of the commentators pointed out that Freddie came in soft "a player oriented coach, in so far as he was willing to give them lattitude". His point is that coaches he's respected come in with a "hard line" approach, demanding everyone be held to the same strict standanrds, and then adjust once he gets the buy in. He also recognized that all players are not equal, and that the better coaches go to those "team leaders" to get their support for the standards, with the understanding they will get the discipline too, but it's not always to punish them, but to send the message to the team, enlisting their support, so the team sees they are all in it together.

I thought those points were well taken, and allowed for a coach to be both demanding and flexible. I believe that's what is needed.

 

How attractive is the Cleveland job now? They keep burning coaches, and if I'm interviewing, I'm wondering how secure the GM is too.

Not a good situation, if I'm a highly regarded coaching prospect, who is less than desperate to get a shot.

Colin Cowhert, who I despise, claims Urban Meyer and Ron Riviera wouldn't even talk with Cleveland, and that Josh McDaniels wanted to get assurances about the structure before he'd consider the job.

He may be full of chit, but it doesn't sound outside the realm of possibility. This is the bed Dorsey has made, with his foolish choice of Freddie.

 

Actually a decent and relevant article from Pluto over at Cleveland.com

https://www.cleveland.com/browns/20...e-what-is-the-cleveland-browns-next-move.html

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio (AP) — The Cleveland Browns have asked permission to speak with New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Baltimore offensive coordinator Greg Roman about their head coaching vacancy, a person familiar with the requests told The Associated Press on Monday.

https://fox8.com/2019/12/30/report-...triots-oc-josh-mcdaniels-for-head-coach-spot/

 

Please..........not McDaniels. His time in Denver was quite the disaster. And a coach from the Belichik coaching tree has yet to do jack in the NFL (still) that and we already tried one with Crennel. Some may argue McDaniels took on too much dealing with his front office role, but I just don't want to go with a guy who hasn't shown his skills to be successful. He took an 8-8 Bronco team and went 8-8 then 3-9 and got fired. That says something to me very similar to our own Kitchens situation this year.

Roman on the other hand has developed quite the Offense for the Ravens......who most preseason prognosticators were picking to finish 3rd in the AFCN.

 

Plus taking Roman might screw up the Ravens.

 

But that might help the Steelers too. Nevermind then.......

 

Would it be a deal breaker if the new HC wanted to switch defensive schemes?

 

That;s a loaded question. With the center piece of their defense being a 4-3 DE it would be pretty stupid to change out of the 4 man front.

 

Not if he has a tool set that could potentially make him the most dominant 3-4 OLB in the league.