DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Freddie Kitchens officially hired as Browns head coach

I am so psyched by this hire!

Freddie Kitchens named Browns head coach
https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/freddie-kitchens-named-browns-head-coach

The Browns on Saturday named Freddie Kitchens, a 13-year NFL coaching veteran who helped turn around Cleveland’s 2018 season after taking over as offensive coordinator, the team’s 17th full-time head coach.

Kitchens, 44, takes over following a year in which he began as the Browns’ associate head coach/running backs coach and finished as the coordinator of one of the league’s most improved offenses over the second half of the season.

“We are thrilled to announce Freddie Kitchens as the new head coach of the Cleveland Browns,” Dee and Jimmy Haslam said. “He did an outstanding job in his role as coordinator, and we know that will continue as he steps into the role of head coach. Freddie demonstrated all of the qualities that you want in someone who is leading your organization. He has unquestioned leadership. He is a man of integrity. He fosters a collaborative environment. He gets the most out of his players and our players loved playing for him. We are happy to have him leading the Cleveland Browns going forward.”

Kitchens, who was the seventh of seven candidates to formally interview for the job, will be introduced as head coach Monday at a noon press conference inside the 7UP City Club at FirstEnergy Stadium.

“We had a deliberate and thorough process and one thing became evident -- that Freddie is the best person to lead the Cleveland Browns,” Browns General Manager John Dorsey said. “We saw firsthand what Freddie is able to do. He showed that he is consistent on a day in and day out basis and that he is a true leader. He helped unify our players in a tough time. He raised the bar for our offense last year, and I have no doubt he is going to raise the bar for our entire team.”

Kitchens took over as Cleveland’s offensive coordinator following the Week 9 dismissals of head coach Hue Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Haley.
Under Kitchens’ watch, Cleveland’s offense made a dramatic turnaround, averaging better than 395 yards per game and executing to near perfection in the red zone en route to posting a 5-3 record over the final eight games.

Cleveland surrendered just five sacks during the second half of the season -- by far the lowest of any team in the league -- compared to 33 in the first half. Rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield completed 68 percent of his passes for 2,254 yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions compared to a mark of 58/1,471/8/6 in the first half. Rookie Nick Chubb averaged 84.75 rushing yards per game and eight different receivers caught a touchdown pass.

“It’s an honor to be named the head coach of the Cleveland Browns,” Kitchens said. “As I’ve said before, I think Cleveland and I get along pretty well. My family and I have really enjoyed our time with this organization and in this community over the last year. I’m grateful for the opportunity and responsibility Dee and Jimmy Haslam have granted me. John Dorsey led a thorough search process and I was excited about having the opportunity to come in and talk about my vision for the future of this football team. There are a lot of great people in this front office that I’m excited to continue to work alongside with a singular focus on winning. I’ve been to one Super Bowl that didn’t end the way I wanted it to and that disappointing memory is what really drives me. Our goal is to work extremely hard to earn the right to raise that Lombardi Trophy for our fans and this city.”

Kitchens, a Gadsden, Alabama, native who played quarterback at the University of Alabama, broke into the NFL in 2006 as a tight ends coach with the Cowboys under Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells. He held the same position with the Cardinals from 2007-12, working under Ken Whisenhunt, before transitioning to quarterbacks coach from 2013-16 when he worked under Bruce Arians. He was running backs coach in his final year in Arizona before making the move to Cleveland.

Kitchens worked closely with Carson Palmer in Arizona during some of his most productive seasons. Palmer set the Cardinals record for passing yards (4,671), touchdown passes (35) and passer rating (104.6) during Kitchens’ stretch as quarterbacks coach from 2013-16. In 2015, the Cardinals had the top-ranked offense in the NFL for the first time in team history and set numerous single-season team records including points (489), touchdowns (59), touchdown passes (35), total net yards (6,533) and first downs (373).

Before he came to the NFL, Kitchens spent seven years coaching on the college level with stops at Mississippi State (2004-05), North Texas (2001-03), Louisiana State (2000) and Glenville State (1999).

Kitchens was a star quarterback during his high school days, winning Alabama’s “Mr. Football” award after his senior season, and went on to start for three seasons at the University of Alabama. He finished his collegiate career ranked third in school history in career attempts, fourth in career passing yards and fifth in career completions.

Kitchens and his wife, Ginger, have two daughters, Bennett and Camden.

What they're saying about Freddie Kitchens: Baker Mayfield, Dabo Swinney, Kurt Warner and more thrilled for Browns head coach
https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/wha...inney-kurt-warn

Pro Football Hall of Fame QB Kurt Warner:
(Warner was in Arizona for five years while Kitchens was on the offensive staff)
“I’m extremely excited for Freddie and this opportunity that he has been working for since I was with him in Arizona. What I appreciate so much about Freddie is that what you see is what you get - no matter the situation or circumstances you may find yourself in. You always know where you stand with him and he never allows the highs and lows of NFL to affect his approach towards the process. It was fun for me, this past season, to see the league get a glimpse of the quality of coach he is. I’m looking forward to watching his impact on Cleveland and how he takes on this new role and challenge. I believe the players are going to love playing for him and he is going to do a great job of putting a great product on the field, but more importantly helping grow young men on and off the field.”

Former NFL QB Carson Palmer:
(Kitchens was Palmer’s QB coach in Arizona for four seasons)
“I’m so happy for Freddie and excited for Browns fans. Freddie will put a very disciplined team on the field year in and year out. He will pour his heart into his team and they will play with passion and love for one another and the game. Freddie is a true gem and a brilliant hire by the Browns.”

Former Alabama Head Coach Gene Stallings:
(Kitchens played QB under Stallings)
“The thing that impressed me from Day 1 about Freddie was his toughness. A lot of people who play quarterback are not as tough as some of the other positions, but Freddie was extremely aggressive and tough. He did a good job in the pros, worked for Bill Parcells for a year and worked for Nick Saban at LSU, so he’s got a good background. I think he’ll do an excellent job for Cleveland.”

Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney:
(Swinney was on the offensive staff at Alabama when Kitchens was QB)
“I’ve known Freddie a long time. He’s tough and he’s a winner. He always has been. I thought he did a great job of taking advantage of his interim opportunity and rallying the team, which has afforded him this opportunity. I have no doubt he’ll take and run with it. I think the Browns got it right giving him the opportunity to lead them.”

Chargers Offensive Coordinator Ken Whisenhunt:
(Kitchens with the TE coach in Arizona while Whisenhunt was head coach for six seasons)
“I think he did a great job when they put him in the role as a coordinator. He's been working at it a long time. He was a good player as a quarterback at Alabama, and he was certainly good on our staff when we were in Arizona.”

Browns QB Baker Mayfield:
“It was great working with and learning from Freddie last year. He has such a creative mind. He creates mismatches and just put guys in position to take advantage of their opportunities. He puts trusts in us as players. He’s the same guy every day. I’m really excited about 2019 and the future of the Cleveland Browns.”

Browns OL Joel Bitonio:
“Freddie really did a great job of working with the offensive players the last half of the year. He put us in the best position to succeed. He connected well with us as players. He brought energy, competitiveness and leadership. I’m really looking forward to what he can do as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns.”

Browns LB Joe Schobert:
“I’m looking forward to building on the momentum we gathered in 2018 and powering through the 2019 season and beyond. Freddie is a good man and I can’t wait to see what the new Cleveland Browns have in store.”

Browns LB Christian Kirksey:
“I believe in Freddie. I think he’s the right guy to lead this team. He’s a passionate guy and he gets it. I’m excited to see how this team excels to the top.”

Browns WR Jarvis Landry:
“I’m excited about the opportunity that he has. I think this is the direction. We can build on all of things that we did well last year.”

I'm relieved its official. I didn't really think it wouldn't be finalized, but a sliver of doubt was making me a little nervous. Because, you know, Cleveland.
Good luck, Freddie!

I LOVE this guy .... i LOVE the GM ... I LOVE the direction of this team ...

Sure is nice to have COMPETANT PEOPLE running the show ....

Were FINALLY in good hands dawgs .... I am soooooo looking foreward to FA ... this has been a blast all ready .. and its ONLY GONNA GET BETTER ...

LETS GOOOOOOooooooooooooo....

Hopefully that's the last time we'll have to hear the "lets roll" tag. That just didn't work coming from Freddie.

Congrats to Freddie. We’ve got a great foundation - looking forward to seeing what happens.

Haha.


Let's roll Browns!

Looking forwarding to seeing what he can do.. I'm still cautiously optimistic....but this is the most excited I've been to get the next season going in a long time...

Browns had me a little nervous by not announcing it just as yet. Thought Browns were gonna Brown and do something stupid. lol.

Let go Kitchens! Curious to see some of this discipline talk. I don't see Freddie as being a stickler, or hard butt on his players.

FWIW, I think that was more of an Alabama reference (Roll Tide) than a Flight 93 / Todd Beamer one. Seeing as how its Cleveland, he probably should have said "Let's rock 'n roll".

From everything I heard about him, he is strict, disciplined, and demanding.

He’s the one in the infamous Hue/Haley video from Hard Knocks who started the conversation about players practicing.

::Exhaling.

Gonna be crowded on the Isle, DD! Order more margaritas! Can it be next season now, please? Sundays meant more this season.

Beat the rush. Margaritas? Not a problem.

Could someone tell me what Freddie is talking about in the first part of this video please?

He says something like 4 wide???

I just cant understand it. Was Baker really calling him a idiot?

Condescending replies will be ignored.

Thanks

Four wides = four receivers

Baker was joking

j/c

Does anyone know how Kitchens time with Arizona ended? Did his contract expire? Was he let go with the coaching change? Was Kitchens already gone from the Cards when Wilks was hired or did Wilks let him go?

He was hired by Cleveland 1/24/18, 2 days after Steve Wilks was hired as HC in Arizona. It would be ironic if Kitchens hired the HC that fired him as his DC.

I felt the same way, Right up until they let Gregg Williams go,

Now I'm like, "What are you kidding!" headbang times a million.

I feel, if they had to upset the apple cart by bringing in someone from the outside, who was proven, like Arians, or other; that would be one thing

but;

To promote the underling, (Kitchens), after you promoted the underling, (Williams), after you got rid of the guy who was waiting in the wings, (Haley), is a recipe for disaster.

I feel like 4-12, followed by 2-14, followed by new coach, is a real possibility. (The only thing giving me hope is Baker)

(But I feel strongly the 2018 success was in large part to the Defense, and what is going to remain of the defense Now?)

FTR, I did get the feeling of losing 32 straight the first day I heard Sashi, and ? introduced; and that old Gm from that year was out.

Is, was it, is it DePodesta I'm thinking of?

I've (recently) liked 2 coaches, Pettine! and Gregg Williams!

Do I think they were given enough time to prove themselves or prove to have failed? NO.

but Good luck, I sure want to see them in the Super Bowl before I die, and make the playoffs on a regular basis.

I feel cautiously optimistic about the hire. Nobody can argue the difference his presence made after the switch. My only concerns are his lack of experience in the the role of the person being in complete control, and a worry that he is too much of a buddy to a quarterback who will definitely need some reigning in at times.

I’m really looking forward to next season, Freddie was a big reason why this season became so much fun.

(But I feel strongly the 2018 success was in large part to the Defense, and what is going to remain of the defense Now?)


The defense played the same all year. The difference was the offense when the change was made. The defense was still giving up huge chunk plays, but because the offence could now score it didn't show as much in the end.


Turnovers was the only difference the D made, and the coverage was better than last year, but run stopping and bad tackling happened all year. We had to score, since everytime we got a lead, the defense gave up a long drive and a score.

Congrats and good luck. Let's hope this is the start of something good.

I love the Browns HC wears a DAWG POUND Hoodie... He gets it..He got it before..Now he has the opportunity to make the DAWG POUND BARK LOUD again and on a regular basis.. I love when the Stadium is Loud and Crazy..

There's another HC out there that wears a Hoodie...Freddie, make everyone forget him and make your Hoodie the one people FEAR !!!!

Congratulations HC Kithchens... WOOF ! WOOF !

With Freddie as HC do you think we'll see Duke start working with the WRs and the RBs in the off-season?

No. I think we’ll see basically what we saw last year.

The problem with Williams is that he was a shameless self-promoter, which was entirely too reminiscent of Hue. Angry vs. Aww Shucks, but the same underlying thing. I think Dorsey also wanted to get his own guys in, and Williams had been a Hue choice. Williams was a competent DC and maybe a better fill-in HC, but he's not what Dorsey envisions(ed) as ideal. I don't think he's irreplaceable. Also, don't think he has the makeup of a subordinate.

Funny, every presser I saw GW seemed to put the spotlight on his men. The only self promotion I recall is him calling himself a competitor.

Freddie isn't staying too far from what got us through the last half of the season.

Hey Julie.

I am not all that worried about it, even though you never know until the games begin.

Freddie has a lot of experience and has worked and played for a lot of good coaches. He also has a reputation for being very strict on his players. Not bad ass strict, but he doesn't put up with them swerving far off plan.

You can be a nice person yet not take a lot of guff. You and I are good examples of that!

The key, as is almost always the case, is his ability to communicate the plan and vision and to bring in a staff that gets the plan and gets their players to carry out the plan.

His weakness from a coaching standpoint might be special teams. As a former QB who played at a high level, Freddie understands a D and what they are trying to do, so I am not worried he is lost on that side of the ball.

I think he has some growing to do, no doubt, but I think it is going to work out well.

https://brownswire.usatoday.com/2018/10/...e-a-head-coach/


I actually kind of liked Gregg. I can just see that he's not for everyone.

Our most important player is Baker Mayfield. Freddie Kitchens has worked very well with him and has accelerated his development IMO. It just made sense to keep him here and continue that development even if it meant making him HC which I feel he is qualified for. We just need to hire someone good for the D and let him run it so FK can continue to work on the O with whomever we hire as OC and BM.