Cleveland Browns (2008 Season)

[LitlBuck]

That and...

I'm also weary of hiring some 'hot name' college coach, as mentioned in the previous article (Ferentz )

I did not think that the Buckeye nation was going to like that name but he was the Browns OL coach back in the 90s. However, I think with what some of the things that went on at Iowa this past season of this would be a very dangerous pick. I almost think that just because of the Browns fan base they will not go after a college HC or possibly even an coordinator from the professional ranks.

 

[jlb1705]

I think it's a fallacy to assume that hiring a top coordinator would be a bad move. If you look at the list of playoff teams and think of the top coaches in the game, you would have a list that includes coaches that were hired out of coordinator positions as well as coaches who were on their second or third try as a head coach.

The key isn't to hire out of a certain pool, the key is to properly identify the right demeanor and skills in your candidate. Just look at Mike Tomlin. He had no head coaching experience at any level and only one year of coordinator experience. He probably wouldn't have even made the list of candidates for this position, but it was a good hire and it was made because the Steelers are better at identifying talent and making decisions.

I don't care who the Browns take at this point, I just want to see some of the wisdom from the top of the organization that has been missing in selecting people like Butch Davis and Romeo Crennel - both of whom looked good on paper but did not have the right stuff to be successful in an NFL head coaching position. I am not in a position to be able to discern who that might be. Randy Lerner is though, as well as the man he eventually hires to be the GM. I hope they make a wise decision.

With that said, all other things being equal, I would like the next head coach to be able to build a NASTY defense. The last time the Browns were worth a squirt (under Belichick) they had one of the league's best defenses. I think the Browns need to be able to go toe to toe with Pittsburgh and Baltimore from a defensive standpoint in order to become successful. For that reason, I'm hoping right now Spagnuolo or Schwartz have those head coaching skills and that the Browns have the wisdom to identify them.

 

[LitlBuck]

I would not mind having the guy Schwartz. The only problem would be the wait.

Cleveland.com

Cleveland Browns will interview Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz
by Mary Kay Cabot, Plain Dealer Reporter
Wednesday December 31, 2008, 12:05 PM

The Browns have asked for and received permission to interview Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz for their head coaching vacancy, a source told the Plain Dealer today.

Schwartz, a scout for the Browns from 1993 to 1995 under Bill Belichick, is believed to be intrigued by the thought of returning to Cleveland, where he began his NFL career as an unpaid intern. The Lions have also been granted permission to interview Schwartz, 42.

Because the Titans (13-3) are on a bye before the playoffs, the Browns can interview him until the end of this week. They are also interviewing fired Jets coach Eric Mangini today and Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo on Thursday or Saturday.
Continued

 

[LitlBuck]

I think it's a fallacy to assume that hiring a top coordinator would be a bad move. If you look at the list of playoff teams and think of the top coaches in the game, you would have a list that includes coaches that were hired out of coordinator positions as well as coaches who were on their second or third try as a head coach.

The key isn't to hire out of a certain pool, the key is to properly identify the right demeanor and skills in your candidate. Just look at Mike Tomlin. He had no head coaching experience at any level and only one year of coordinator experience. He probably wouldn't have even made the list of candidates for this position, but it was a good hire and it was made because the Steelers are better at identifying talent and making decisions.

I don't care who the Browns take at this point, I just want to see some of the wisdom from the top of the organization that has been missing in selecting people like Butch Davis and Romeo Crennel - both of whom looked good on paper but did not have the right stuff to be successful in an NFL head coaching position. I am not in a position to be able to discern who that might be. Randy Lerner is though, as well as the man he eventually hires to be the GM. I hope they make a wise decision.

With that said, all other things being equal, I would like the next head coach to be able to build a NASTY defense. The last time the Browns were worth a squirt (under Belichick) they had one of the league's best defenses. I think the Browns need to be able to go toe to toe with Pittsburgh and Baltimore from a defensive standpoint in order to become successful. For that reason, I'm hoping right now Spagnuolo or Schwartz have those head coaching skills and that the Browns have the wisdom to identify them.

Well, I can see your point. Most HC's have probably been coordinators sometime during their lifetime. It just so happens that the Browns have hired a couple bad ones along with a college coach who did not know how to select players. I think you are correct about the fact that if we can get someone who can bring in some good players and knows how to coach again I would have no problem with another coordinator. However, we really need to find a GM who can select talent along with the coach.

You hit the nail on the head when you said we need someone who will be nasty!

 

[CookyPuss]

I think it's a fallacy to assume that hiring a top coordinator would be a bad move. If you look at the list of playoff teams and think of the top coaches in the game, you would have a list that includes coaches that were hired out of coordinator positions as well as coaches who were on their second or third try as a head coach.

The key isn't to hire out of a certain pool, the key is to properly identify the right demeanor and skills in your candidate. Just look at Mike Tomlin. He had no head coaching experience at any level and only one year of coordinator experience. He probably wouldn't have even made the list of candidates for this position, but it was a good hire and it was made because the Steelers are better at identifying talent and making decisions.

I don't care who the Browns take at this point, I just want to see some of the wisdom from the top of the organization that has been missing in selecting people like Butch Davis and Romeo Crennel - both of whom looked good on paper but did not have the right stuff to be successful in an NFL head coaching position. I am not in a position to be able to discern who that might be. Randy Lerner is though, as well as the man he eventually hires to be the GM. I hope they make a wise decision.

With that said, all other things being equal, I would like the next head coach to be able to build a NASTY defense. The last time the Browns were worth a squirt (under Belichick) they had one of the league's best defenses. I think the Browns need to be able to go toe to toe with Pittsburgh and Baltimore from a defensive standpoint in order to become successful. For that reason, I'm hoping right now Spagnuolo or Schwartz have those head coaching skills and that the Browns have the wisdom to identify them.

100% agreed. I was on my mobile phone earlier, so I made it a short post but that is pretty much what I meant. Don't hire a guy because a great coordinator, hire him because he has the leadership skill set to be a great HC. I'd rather have a retread who knows how to manage a team than the flavor of the month coordinator who can't manage.

 

[berryfan]

A lot of Miami Hurricane fans down here want to see the OC Chud come to Miami to help the Canes (they just fired their terrible OC Nix)...don't think that's going to happen.

 

[LitlBuck]

Cleveland.com

Cleveland Browns like Eric Mangini, Scott Pioli, too. Can they get them both?
by Mary Kay Cabot, Plain Dealer Reporter
Friday January 02, 2009, 6:11 AM
The Browns' strong interest in fired Jets coach Eric Mangini could impact their search for a front-office executive, a league source with knowledge of the situation said Thursday.

The Browns interviewed Mangini on Tuesday night and were impressed with him. They interviewed Patriots Vice President Scott Pioli on Wednesday and liked him, too.

But it's unknown if the two would be willing to work together after the Spygate scandal, so for the Browns, it might come to this: Do they hire the coach they love or the general manager they love?

If the Browns hire Mangini, knowing there is evidence that the coach is the biggest indicator of a franchise's success, he'd probably already have his own right-hand personnel man in mind. If they hire Pioli, he'd undoubtedly be given the authority to hire his own coach.

One thing is certain: The Browns want their coach and GM in complete synch this time, so they'd let each man choose his partner. Pioli and Mangini were once close, but it is unknown exactly where they stand after the yearlong controversy over the Patriots' taping of the Jets' defensive signals.

Continued

 

[LitlBuck]

PD

Scribbles in my Browns notebook
by Terry Pluto, Plain Dealer Columnist
Friday January 02, 2009, 12:15 AM
Don't be surprised if Eric Mangini becomes a major figure as the Browns look for both a coach and a general manager. The former New York Jets coach met with the Browns on Tuesday, and they came away impressed. The Browns want a different-type coach from Romeo Crennel, with more emphasis on discipline and organization, and they think Mangini could be the guy.

The Browns prefer not to hire a rookie coach. They have done a ton of research and believe a coach in Mangini's position -- having spent a few years with one team, then fired -- often is much better the second time around. Tony Dungy (fired by Tampa Bay, Super Bowl in Indianapolis) and Bill Belichick (fired by Art Modell, Super Bowls in New England) are two recent examples. Mangini spent three years as the Jets' coach: 10-6, 4-12 and 9-7. He will be 38 on Jan. 19.

Based on their research, the Browns believe a new coach's most important hires are the offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, offensive line and defensive back coaches. The research also shows rookie head coaches often swing and miss in two of those key four hires -- whereas experienced head coaches have more success building a staff that works well together.

Yes, the Browns will talk to some assistants who have not been head coaches before, but it does not seem to be the direction that they want to go now.

Looking back to 2005, Randy Lerner was a rookie owner who hired a rookie GM in Phil Savage and a rookie head coach in Crennel. The two coordinators -- Todd Grantham and Maurice Carthon -- also were rookies. The Browns don't want to get through all that again.

The Browns are not sure where they stand with New England Vice President Scott Pioli. Kansas City is also courting him and it would not be a shock if he decided to stay in New England for another season. Like Bill Cowher, he can go on the market after the 2009 season and still be a hot item. I sense the Browns would love to put together Pioli and Mangini. Supposedly, the two with Belichick roots still get along despite Mangini turning in Belichick on the Spygate charges.

continued

 

[LitlBuck]

I thought the way things were going on Sunday that the Browns would already have a GM in place. I cannot believe that they might hire a coach before hiring a GM. I mean Lerner doesn't really know that much about football so why would he hire a coach before a GM. I think it would also be more difficult to find two guys who could get along if they hired a GM before hiring a coach.

The more I think about it I would like to see a Pioli/Mangini team. I would think if Lerner would offer them enough money they could put the spygate incident behind them. All the other guys out there who have had past experience as HC's in the NFL are not very appetizing to me and I do not want to wait on some assistant coach to be done with the playoffs. In fact, I don't want the Browns to hire a coordinator.

 

[LitlBuck]

Cleveland.com

Cleveland Browns interviews continue today and tomorrow
by Tony Grossi
Friday January 02, 2009, 12:51 PM

Browns owner Randy Lerner is conducting interviews in the New York City area today with New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and two Browns hoping to be a part of the new regime -- defensive coordinator Mel Tucker and director of player personnel T.J. McCreight.

McDaniels, of Canton, would be the third person interviewed for Browns head coach. Lerner previously sat down with fired Jets coach Eric Mangini and New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.

Tucker will be the first minority candidate to get an interview, and would put the Browns in compliance with the NFL's "Rooney Rule." The Browns had laid some ground work for other interviews with minority candidates but have not yet acted on them.

McCreight is hoping to ascend to the general manager position vacated by the firing of Phil Savage. McCreight joined Savage from Baltimore in 2005 and eventually displaced Bill Rees as director of player personnel. McCreight has been in charge of the personnel department since Savage was fired last weekend.

I don't think I want anyone who was associated with Savage in Cleveland. I would like to have some fresh blood both in the front office and on the field.

 

[ysubuck]

Maybe this is a stupid question, but what does Pioli have to do with "spygate" anyway? Yes he was a part of the organization, but what control or knowledge would he have that Belichik was cheating? Is the GM that involved in the day to day game prep of a team?

If he was going to be pissed at someone wouldn't it be Belicheat for putting the organization in such a bad light in the first place?

 

[LitlBuck]

Maybe this is a stupid question, but what does Pioli have to do with "spygate" anyway? Yes he was a part of the organization, but what control or knowledge would he have that Belichik was cheating? Is the GM that involved in the day to day game prep of a team?

If he was going to be [censored]ed at someone wouldn't it be Belicheat for putting the organization in such a bad light in the first place?

I can see what you are saying but it was Mangini who told the NFL what Belichick was doing so that put the entire Patriots organization, probably including Pioli, in a bad light. He could not be that unaware of what certain things were going on. I mean the GM is the coach's boss in most organizations. Anyhow, I guess there must be some bad blood... maybe or maybe the press is making a big deal out of their relationship. Not sure.

 

[LitlBuck]

Cleveland.com

Shanahan puts off Browns for two weeks
by By Mary Kay Cabot
Saturday January 03, 2009, 1:57 PM


The Browns inquired about interviewing fired Broncos coach Mike Shanahan and were told he was going on vacation with his family for a couple of weeks and won't be available for interviews until he returns, a league source close with knowledge of the situation told the Plain Dealer Saturday. The two-week delay probably takes Shanahan out of the mix, because the Browns wanted to act quickly on their head coach.

Shanahan was not believed to be a serious contender anyway, a source said. If no decision has been made by the time he returns, there's a chance the Browns could still talk to him.
I sure hope Lerner knows what he is doing.
NFL Network's Adam Schefter also reported Friday that Shanahan will conduct no interviews, and the New York Daily News reported that Shanahan's decision removes him as a candidate for the Jets head coaching job.

Shanahan's elimination as a Jets' candidate catapults Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo to the top of their list. The Browns interviewed Spanguolo on Thursday.

In addition to Spagnuolo, the Browns have interviewed fired Jets coach Eric Mangini, Browns defensive coordinator Mel Tucker and Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. They are interviewing Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz today.

They are also awaiting the decision of Patriots Vice President Scott Pioli, who will interview with the Kansas City Chiefs as early as today. If Pioli, who interviewed with the Browns Wednesday, decides not to join the Browns, they might focus their attention on Mangini.

I have seen on ESPN bottom line that they are reporting Mangini might be the front runner for the HC position and if that becomes true the GM will be the Director of Player Personnel of the Ravens. I know nothing about this guy and can't even remember his name.

In addition, Rich McKay of the Falcons does not want to interview until after Atlanta is completely out of the playoffs.

 

[NFBuck]

I'm smelling a botch job.

 

[billmac91]

I'm smelling a botch job.

it feels like history is repeating itself....