DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Potential Head Coaching Candidates

A competitive guy will relish the challenge of doing the impossible if:

He will be allowed/able to get the players that he and his coaches feel they need, especially prioritizing certain players/positions.

He is given the time to do what he does best, and to build a program, not just win a certain number of games.

He is not meddled with by those above him. Oversight and setting the overall direction is one thing, but will the day to day, operational and strategic football decisions remain with the coach alone, or will he find himself overruled or questioned on everything he does?

Does this job offer these 3 things? I don't know. In fact, I don't think it does. That is why I don't see a top guy coming in here.

I have a question:

The Browns asked for, and received permission to interview the Pats DC, but has he agreed to interview with the Browns?

This is funny, if it works

http://youtu.be/49Ozhosn0Yk

Good question...guess I assumed that means he accepted the interview

jc ...

So basically there is no plan in place.

This is just like the last two coaching searches.

And you are going to end up hiring guys you "hope" will get along.

It probably would have been way smarter to keep one of Pettine/Farmer and letting them have input on their GM/coach.

This is just more wash, rinse, repeat.

We are going to be awesome next year!

Cleveland Browns coaching search: Why club should make a strong pitch for Bengals' OC Hue Jackson: Tom Reed

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ss...art_river_index

By Tom Reed, Cleveland.com on January 04, 2016 at 4:15 PM, updated January 04, 2016 at 4:30 PM

BEREA, Ohio – The Browns should be waving Terrible Towels this weekend. There's probably a few left over from the thousands twirling inside FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday, eh?

They should root for the Steelers to end the Bengals' season in the playoffs' opening round, invite Cincinnati offensive coordinator Hue Jackson to Berea next week and not let him out of the building until he agrees to become the next Browns' coach.

Let's see what you got, Sashi. Negotiate like a Brown. Because there's not a better candidate to lead the local football team from it's decade-long funk than the 50-year Jackson, who figures to be in high demand once the Bengals' season expires.

Talk to Doug Marrone, Adam Gase and Teryl Austin all you want, but understand no head-coaching aspirant checks more boxes than the Bengals assistant, who's milked two wins from backup A.J. McCarron heading into Saturday night's showdown at Paul Brown Stadium.

Jackson would be my first choice if I were the Browns. I would tell him the crazy structure of power owner Jimmy Haslam unfurled Sunday night -- with executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown at the top of it -- is malleable for the right man.

The Niners, Eagles, Dolphins and Giants also have openings. Most are more desirable and stable franchises, particularly the Giants with Eli Manning. None, however, offer the second-overall pick and an opportunity to mold a rookie quarterback like Jared Goff or Paxton Lynch to Jackson's liking.

The Browns need a strong personality who will command the respect of the locker room. Jackson qualifies. We're talking about an assistant who got the most out of a Bengals' receiving corps once populated with Chris Henry, T.J Houshmandzadeh and the artist formerly known as Chad Ochocinco.

Jackson boasts head-coaching experience, knows the AFC North intimately, possesses an offensive bent and has worked with highly successful and dysfunctional franchises. He's the last coach to lead the Raiders to an eight-win season after which, of course, he was fired because they're the Raiders. He also toiled under Bobby Petrino with the Falcons.

His one year (2011) in Oakland, in which owner Al Davis died midseason, prepares him for the day-to-day zaniness of Berea. If Johnny Manziel left for a weekend in Vegas on Jackson's watch, the quarterback would return to find his gear and stash of Four Loko on the sidewalk outside the facility.

He doesn't suffer fools, which is probably why he isn't Browns' material.

Jackson has coached all the skill positions at the college and pro levels and mentored a young Joe Flacco and an experienced Carson Palmer. He had Andy Dalton playing at his highest level prior to his thumb injury.

In his two seasons as Bengals' coordinator, he's run a well-balanced attack, which this season finished seventh in scoring (26.2 points) despite losing Dalton in Week 14. Jackson uses creative formations – poor Jim O'Neil hasn't recovered from the sight of three tackles split wide left on the Dalton goal-line sneak – and gets the most from his talent.

How much control Jackson would require over the roster is an intriguing question. Brown isn't a football guy and the club won't hire its general manager until after naming a coach. The death of Davis in Oakland created a power vacuum and Jackson wasn't shy about stepping into the void, which led to issues with Reggie McKenize, hired as Raiders' general manager in 2012.

Again, the Browns must be willing to exhibit some flexibility if they want to hire a quality candidate. They also should lean toward an offensive-minded coach if they plan to draft a quarterback.

Hiring Jackson not only would buoy the Browns, but weaken a chief rival, one which has throttled them by a combined 98-13 in the past three meetings.

Ultimately, Jackson might take a look at the Browns' roster, losing tradition and Haslam's track record and block all calls from the "440" area code. He could choose another vacancy or wait for Marvin Lewis to retire in the next year or two.

It's good to be Hue Jackson right now and the Browns know it. Still, they should make a strong pitch for the Bengals' offensive coordinator once their arms and egos heal from waving those Terrible Towels on Saturday night.

Matt Patricia seems like a good fit with the analytics thing.

Chip Kelly would also be a fit, but I would doubt he gets an interview due to the drama in Philly.

Jim Schwartz is an analytics guy. He might be an option.

Yes.

I forgot about Schwartz. I'll add him to the list with the other two. My order of preference right now:

1. Patricia
2. Schwartz
3. Kelly

WAAAAAAAY too early for anyone to be lobbying for any particular coach. It's a whole new process, interviews need to happen, research needs to be done.

Your thoughts on Hue, please...

Besides, it's pointless.

Whoever gets hired we'll all be sitting here scratching our heads saying, "Who, what, wtf?"

j/c....


I don't think the coach needs to be an "Analytics Guy" for this to work. He simply needs to be a good head coach and have good coordinators. They don't even have to know that analytics are involved anywhere in Berea.

The analytics guys will be doing the analytics, the football guys will be doing football stuff. I suspect that the GM & scouting staff will be the link that fits it all together..... or, perhaps the analytics is what will be the mediator between GM/Scouts & Head Coach; between coach's request and GM's solution. The validator, if you will.

I wouldn't close the book on Marrone. He used analytics in Buffalo. Since no one is interviewing Schwartz for HC, I think he makes for a better DC.

Well..........there will be quite a few posters saying, "I have a good feeling about this. We finally seem to be on the right path. It's great to have guys who know what they're doing for once."

You know........the same stuff we heard this past summer.

I cant speak speak for anyone else but this is the first time since 99 I'm behind what they are doing...I'm excited..how long that lasts is the big question for me..but I think they are getting it right for once.

I'll begin to believe it when I begin to see positive, believable results.... call it relying on my own analytics.

Yeah..........I think what they're doing is stupid. I think that you can't have that many people involved in football decisions.

I think S. Brown is a bright guy, but I would utilize him in another role. I don't like that Haslam and his Ice-Queen wife are involved in the football decisions. I don't think we will attract really good candidates here for the GM and HC positions. I think the Browns are a mess.

I will always root for them and I hope they prove me wrong, but I ain't getting my hopes up.

What makes you think the organization will attract a strong candidate in the first place? Browns are presenting themselves as cutting edge. A young group with intuitive thinking hard press making it work with current methods could very well make things right. What better place than Cleveland proving a theory?

Embrace the concept. It maybe Browns only hope breaking out of this crap. Browns were cutting edge once before why not again?

Look............I am NOT bad-mouthing all you guys who love what the Browns are doing. FBH said he loved it and I did not reply. I don't agree, but I wasn't about to bash him for his opinion.

You wanna be excited and think we are cutting edge........fine, but don't tell me I am not entitled to my opinion. We'll see who ends up here. My guess it will some guy who has never been a HC before at any level. People will get all excited and then wanna fire him in 2 years. I have seen this movie before.

I also think that we will get a GM w/an even more incomplete resume. Then again, the GM position is just barely above the "office boy."

And I disagree w/this cutting edge stuff and how we are trying something so new and innovative. If you do the research and/or even watch the video I posted earlier where Scheft said that other GMs hated dealing w/the Browns because there were too many voices involved......as in.......you think you have deal made and then the Browns come back and another guy nixes the trade, etc...............is almost exactly what we will continue to do...........Too many cooks in the kitchen destroys the meal.

I am not asking you--or anyone--to agree w/me, but that is the way I see it and you telling me I need to get on-board ain't gonna change that fact, Jack.

And it amazes me that you guys can't remember all the way back to this past summer when I was not buying into how good this team and our leaders were and you guys were telling me how clueless and negative I was because I couldn't see how good of a job the Browns were doing at building things the right way.

Look..........I think Farmer had to go. He was a moron. But, unless we made a huge splash like hiring Saban.........Pet should have been retained. Blowing things up and overhauling the roster for yet another unproven HC is stupid. It's what the Browns have always done.

That is not cutting-edge............it's cutting your wrists and bleeding to death!!!

so you rather have a HC the proven to be trash over an unproven HC?

ok.

Go smoke some more dope.

i will in a little bit, want some?

for somebody who cries about people not making football post, you sure don't practice what you preach.


anyway, so that's how you feel about the HC?

pettine was trash.

i rather have these coordinators we are looking at over pettine. pettine couldn't manage the clock, the players, especially that defense.

I actually like flip, but as far as pettine and O'neil, good riddance.

I made a football post. You responded w/your typical childish crap. You don't wanna talk football. You wanna talk nonsense.

Vers, wasn't bashing your opinion one bit. I simply think it is worth a look.

As for cutting edge, building an organization around it as a cornerstone is pushing a unproven concept.

It works in other sports never truly proven in the NFL. Patriots and Ravens believe it, but they also had football intelligence.

I'm excited seeing it built. Unsure Haslam has what it takes to see it through. Maybe this is more Haslam's thinking than normal conventional football. Put it another way, Seattle tried something a little unorthodox and it worked.

I can see Cleveland totally screwing this up. Right now they ain't attracting any real talented football people. If Haslam doesn't do something different, we see nothing better than what Haslam just tossed to the curb.

uhhh....can you point out where i didn't make a football post?

an Rapoport ‏@RapSheet 1h1 hour ago
The #Rams have put in a request to interview #Browns OC John DeFilippo, source said. His work with a variety of QBs was noted.

Again bugs............I have no problem w/you liking what we are doing. I am NOT trying to change your mind.

I do not trust Haslam.

He's lied twice in two attempts. I think he will continue to meddle and I think his wife is now also involved.

Unlike many around here.........I will admit I am wrong if that turns out to be the case. Not sure why others can't do the same?

I hear you! I won't toss a Benjamin into the pot betting in favor. I do feel there is a higher probability Haslam maybe attracts qualified personal. Until today I had no hope. You know the ol'slim and none thing! Slim got my attention!!

By the way, if they do build it, I can't wait until the first decision that makes little to no football sense is acted upon...fans will...!!!

What I like so far...

There is a plan in place. So far the hires fit that plan. The best thing about analytics is that in most cases, the graders get graded. So the coaches play calling is graded. The GM's picks are graded. The strength and conditioning coach is graded on recovery times etc...

At the end of the season, ideas are put out to improve those grades and the plan gets adjusted for the next year.

There isn't just a plan, but a system that comes with it that demands continuous improvement and accountability. This is 10 times better than anything I have seen from the Browns in a long time.

What I don't like.

This takes time.

You have to gather the stats often by scratch, figure out what they mean, come up with a plan, find the right people, train those people, judge the results and make adjustments.

If we make a GM choice or HC choice that aren't both football smart and analytic smart, they won't be able to implement it well.

Right now I am pretty excited, but everything hinges on the HC and GM choices.

I hope we do not give them permission. I would like our new coach to be able to decide which coaches he wants to keep.

I think my opinion of Hue Jackson is tainted from his time at USC. Some of the stories about him are hilarious. I believe he once had the players huddle around him and had them chant, "Hue Jack!"

I like the guy and think he is a good coach. He is definitely unorthodox. Some of the trick plays are really out there. The players seem to like him. How he would fit in with the analytics thing, I do not know.

I don't think what they are doing is stupid .... desperate maybe, not stupid. From purely a marketing and media perspective if it doesn't work they can say "hey we tried, we were just a bit ahead of our time.... just wait, 10 years from now this is how all NFL teams will operate." ....

The football part of my brain says that having 2 non football people so high up in the football side of the business is a recipe for disaster. It's Haslam thinking he's smarter than everyone else in the room.... and he is not. Not smarter and not a better people person or reader of people. . . . so this can only go one way.

The fan part of me wants to justify this and say "hey why not" - I hope that Sashi isn't really going to make the final say on the 53 man roster, but instead he will be like a mediator between HC and GM ... that the analytics can work and the Browns will be ahead of the curve. It's a copycat league, maybe everyone will copy us in a few years.

Oh please oh please oh please..... catch lightening in a bottle ...

No, that's the common sense part of your brain.

I really don't know how big the analytics thing will factor into this. Some are acting like the HC and GM will no longer watch film to evaluate talent, rather DePodesta and Brown will analytic the hell out the possible players and pass them onto the football guys to select from.

In the story I'm making up analytics is going to start slowly and build over the next couple of years as the building gets used to the thinking. If you watch the film peen posted in the DePodesta thread that's the method. Work it in slowly. There's a lot of other re-thinking to do before jumping in with both feet.

Remember where we came from. We've done nothing right for 16 years. It's going to take a minute to turn the thinking around.

I don't believe it's going to be an all or nothing dive into it.

The difference between "long A" and "short A" pronunciation is huge in this statement.

The head coach and GM have to be willing to use the tools given to them though. That means that they will have to be smart enough to understand it and flexible enough to fit it in to their own system.

If they ignore analytics they won't last long.

mgh, this isn't something new. Good teams have analytics is place. Browns hired personal to do this work a few years back.

Sashi Brown was hired by Banner. He is not new to the organization. He is not even new to the NFL. I believe he has near 10 years in the front office.

Analytics isn't changing x's and o's. Football will still be football. Baseball didn't change. Analytics is a tool helping provide outcomes based on certain situations. You are not taking football out of a football coach. You are better defining checks and balances improving efficiency.

I think of Sashi as more of a football HR guy. It is no different when HR finds and hires a maintenance man for the facilities department. Facilities still interviews the guy. HR simply tracks company wide employee count and salary expenses.

Am I confident Haslam is doing it right? Certainly not! But, I think he stands a better chance than what he has done lately. Marketing guys do better when shown the numbers!

Under conventional standards do you honestly think Haslam can hire a well qualified GM who in turn hires the right HC?

Yes. He could if he wanted. Or someone like Saban as the HC and Saban finds/endorses the HC. . . . Haslam would need to:

1. Turn keys of shiny toy over to GM / Guru / Czar.
2. Offer a boat load of cash
3. Only ever be around the team facilities / team during game days while he is watching.

Do that and he could very much have his pick IMO. Browns have to offer:
1. High draft picks, and several compensatory picks.
2. Cap space.
3. Loyal to a fault fans.
4. Such a crappy record since the return that a winning coach will be worshiped with the same adoration that Tressel was in Columbus, and now Myer... actually more so.