DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Your Head Coaching Top 5

Post your top 5 candidates for the Browns Coaching Job.

1. Josh McDaniels

I know many of you don't like him because of Tebow and him backing out of the Indy job ( He obviously had insider info that Luck was injured and considering retiring... hello...)

He was really high on Baker during the draft (remember those rumors that the PATS were going to trade up for Baker?). I think he would be in his corner which I think is a good thing. Baker is like a year #2 Drew Brees who needs the right coach. OBJ respects everything that the Patriots have done and I think he would work hard for McDaniels. I think McDaniels system would work well with Baker/OBJ. I also think he would be able to change the culture, instill the discipline we need in the locker room.

A little uncertain as to who would come along with McDaniels. That would be my #1 concern with his hire.

2. Robert Saleh

My dark-horse candidate and a guy that I think brings a lot of leadership qualities to the table. I love his defensive philosophy of letting his players focus on the black and white of the game and capitalize on their speed. Watching the guy go crazy on the sidelines is infectious. He also seems very articulate and could be the emotional leader that this team and this roster needs.

3. Kevin Stefanski

The analytics guy who finished #2 to Freddie last year in the coaching race. I am all for the analytics approach but sometimes it's tough to apply that approach effectively to the field.

If he can Make Kirk Cousins look as good as he did this year, then what can he do for Baker?

Is he really the one who deserves credit for Minnesota's success or is that Kubiak?

I would be OK if we went with him but would not be overly thrilled.

4. Greg Roman
The offensive mastermind of the Ravens. His schemes may not fit exactly with Baker but I'm sure he could find a way to make it work with Chubb and Hunt ( if we resign him ). I would be a little worried about the Freddie Kitchens factor here. He has never been a head coach and I am unsure of his leadership capabilities.

5.Lincoln Riley
Baker's college coach. Knows how to scheme things up to make him successful. I personally don't believe that he would be interested in an NFL job this year nor am I sold that he would be a successful NFL coach. I think it could work but for right now it would be too much of a risk.

What is your list and why are they your top 5?

Luck didn’t retire until this past off-season.

True. I am pretty sure that he was made aware of the severity of Luck's injury issues and possibly even him contemplating retirement.

Well I'll list them in order of preference from the start of the search.

1. McCarthy. Experience, success, longevity, multiple play off runs and a SB. Allegedly according to some he did all that while being a football moron! Pft.

2. Rivera. Experience and success although more limited than McCarthy.

3. Jim Harbaugh. I'm convinced he's a much better NFL coach than a college coach. He did a lot for the 49ers before he left.

4. Urban Myer. He's very talented and has a lot of HC experience just not the NFL. I think you need to have a succession plan in place from the get go if you hire him because about 3 years seems to be about what you might expect from him.

5. Matt Rhule. Another collegiate HC. He's turned around teams everywhere he has been.
https://empiresportsmedia.com/new-york-g...and-matt-rhule/

Matt Rhule has a career head coaching record of 47-42. But, to be fair, Rhule has had to coach some disaster-programs in college. He took over a weak Temple football team in 2013 and went 2-10. By 2015, Rhule had led Temple to 10 wins and did so again in 2016. Rhule’s tenure at Baylor has a similar story. Baylor went 1-11 in 2017, improved to 7-6 in 2018, then 11-3 in 2019. Rhule has proven that he can quickly turn around lousy football teams.

"Rhule does not call plays like Mike McCarthy, but he oversees the entire team’s operations. He has a knowledge of offense and defense, which gives Rhule the ability to progress talent all over the field that other coaches do not possess. Rhule is also an excellent leader that is well respected by his players and peers. With holes all over both sides of the Giants’ roster, Matt Rhule is an excellent choice as a head coach who will fix both sides of the ball."

The more I think about it the less and less I want an NFL OC or DC who has held that title for 2 or 3 years and *might* be ready to learn on the job as a HC. I want an experienced HC who can handle all facets of the job and all of the Browns big personalities.

As for McDaniels backing out of the Colts gig - it wasn't that so much as him telling the Colts who to hire throughout the coaching staff .... then waiting till all the other teams filled their vacancies and THEN telling them. No thanks. He was a disaster at Denver. Bill's coordinators have NOT gone on to much success as HC's elsewhere ... I don't see the upside.

I would have liked McCarthy and Rivera. Not so high on McCarthy as most but now both of them are off the board.

Rhule declined to interview with us, Haslam removed Myer from contention with his statement and Jim Harbaugh seems perfectly content at Michigan.

I want McDaniels. I don't know why, but I just have this feeling that he is the guy for the longterm. Not a fan of some of his past, but the fact he has an interest in Baker; who I still think is the guy with proper coaching; along with his Ohio roots just intrigue me. Gert it done.

Where did you come up with that number (3yrs)? He coached 6 yrs. at Florida and 7 at OSU. His first two gigs at BG and Utah were short because he moved up.

Of those remaining:

McDaniels
Selah
Stefanski

To me any of the other interviews just don't cut it. I'd rather see a wider net look at other OCs.

Is Butch Davis still available?

If we’re giving previous HC’s a second chance to not screw it up, why not stay with family, someone who took us to the playoff’s?

I thought it was shorter at FL. I knew it'd been a while at OSU (because I knew how many times he has beaten MI).

I know we aren't getting any of them. That was just my top 5. Basically whoever we end up getting at this point I fully expect to be gone in 2 years.

1: Urban Meyer - the guy wins wherever he goes
2: Robert Saleh
3: Greg Roman

These next guys won't get an interview, but I'd be happy with them.
4: Raheem Morris
5 (6): +60 crew: Jim Caldwell or Leslie Frazier

1a) McDaniels: Can he/would he work well w/ DePo and Wolf?

1b) Stefanski: Might be the hire where everyone is completely "aligned".

2) Saleh: I'd be curious as to what kind of staff he could put together, specifically, to develop Baker and who would be his GM? From Richard Sherman back in October - “If he ever gets a shot to interview for a head-coaching job, he’ll blow them away,” 49ers veteran cornerback Richard Sherman




3) Roman: Impressive how he completely revamped and tailored the Ravens offense to Lamar Jackson whol will win this year's NFL MVP. Demonstrates an ability to adapt to his players strengths.

4) Condoleeza Rice: Thought we were going to land her last year!


*This is based on remaining candidates.

I'd be ok with any of the 5 you said.

I'd probably put Selah at #1, and I'll add McCarthy at #6, but so much depends on meeting with them and if their overall plan matches what Depodesta/Haslam wants to do.

AND THEY MUST GIVE THEM 3 YEARS.

Not 1 year, not mid-season change, not taking the hot hand.

Pick one guy (or group of guys if they go together) with a strong plan and stick to it for 3 years.

If we don't it may kill this franchise for good

I am all in on Saleh

1. McDaniels
2. Stefanski
3. Saleh
4. Schwartz
5. Roman

1. Schwartz
2. Bieniemy
3. Stefanski
4. Saleh
5. Harbaugh

Really wanted Rivera or McCarthy, but they are gone

What makes Schwartz your number 1?

Bieniemy might be a wildcard. Doubt the experience is there but seems like a guy I'd follow.

If we're reduced to taking a flyer o someone I might choose him.

1a Roman
1b Saleh
1c Stefanski
4 Garrett
5 Anyone NOT named Josh McDaniels

I have no real preference between Roman, Saleh, and Stefanski...I just put them in alphabetical order...lol I like what each brings to the table. And all would jump at the chance to be a HC.

Rivera probably would have been my first choice. but he wasn't available long enough to put on a list...lol. McCarthy did not excite me...but I would not have been upset to hire him. Most reports are saying he would only have taken the Browns if there was nothing else left. I don't know about you...but I want someone who "wants" to be here and not someone who "has to be professional" about the situation.
So that leaves Garrett, who has some experience and some success even if he never got over the hump.

I am hearing conflicting reports about McDaniels desire to coach here. Some say he will jump at the chance. Others say that much like McCarthy, he will only take the job if there is nothing else. Even if it is the former...I don't want any part of him. With all of the success with the Patriots. No one can point to things that HE was solely responsible for. Yet there are several instances that can be attributed only to him that make us cringe.

As of now:

1. Stefanski
2. Saleh
3. Meyer
4. Roman
5. McDaniels

Other than the fact like 1.2 the teams in the teams in the playoffs still area all BB former players/coaches. . . .

Because you cant force someone to take a job.

McDaniels or Stefanski. Dark horse candidate would probably be Jim Harbaugh. Michigan might be going into the tank which makes people forget how strong and well coached Harbaugh's 49ers teams were. They wernen't the same team before him or after him (though this current 49ers team is obviously very good, but has almost entirely new players.)

I'm trying to keep it to those who are realistically available. I'm not sure if Harbaugh qualifies for that or not.

I think we're supposed to have five or something, so this:

1. McDaniels
2. Stefanski
3. Jim Harbaugh
4. Haus
5. Swish

Yeah, I'll get hired by the Browns to sink their future!!! A genius career move for EB...

Pretty obvious we don't need much help there anyway...

Swish is an underrated choice

And a locker room favorite.

Why don't more people think Daboll could do well here if given 4 years and a stable group to surround him?

Just on gut feeling, I think Daboll and Josh McDaniels are neck and neck out front.
If it's any other than those 2 or Stefanski, distant 3rd, then it'll be hard to be optimistic.

Unless it's some "Gem", not yet mentioned.

I do not know why this name is not getting a chance.....

Jim Caldwell. Has done decent at 2 previous stops. Took Detroit to the playoffs twice and was fired by the lions after posting back to back 9-7 seasons.

Maybe he is not the flashiest name, but he is a solid coach with a nice resume'.

Only McCarthy has had more success than him as a head coach.

Meyer
Meyer
Meyer
Meyer
Meyer

Dabo Sweeney
Urban Meyer
Nick Saban

1. Stefanski
2. Schwartz
3. McDaniels
4. Roman
5. Saleh

I honestly think it will be McDaniels. He moved the other interviews up ahead of ours, and I think he made CLE his last stop so he can sign the deal.

I saw on Twitter where McCarthy was convinced CLE was going to offer the job to McDaniels and that was a big factor in him taking the job at DAL.

Hoping this all does not involve a sleep over. That was weird. Spend the night at Jerry's and you cannot leave. Kind of like Michael Jackson's house.

This was McDaniels's fallback.

I don't understand the appeal of Matt Rhule. Apparently the Giants liked him though and the Panthers have signed him/are going to sign him.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/01/07/panthers-reportedly-will-hire-matt-rhule/

Redskins: Rivera
Cowboys: McCarthy
Panthers: Rhule

Down to the Giants and Browns. Don't mess this up, please.

So, we’re down to NYG and CLE

Or he moved them up ahead of ours so we are his saving grace in the event they others don't go well. . . .