DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Mel Tucker

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With RAC being pretty much, if not totally out of the offensive side of the ball

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Might be the case, but it's all guess work., We don't know that RAC stepped away from the O at all....

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And I do think some of the late season improvements were because of RAC(see, I can say something nice about the guy).....

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bout time

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but this may have been looked at as a stepping on toes by Grantham...but too bad....

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Had Grantham gotten the job done, then RAC wouldn't have to step in.. So if that's what took place, I agree with you peen...

I see this as a great move. The continuity continues, and Rac gets more involved with the defense. IMO with Tucker being green at the position, and RAC now more than willing to get involved, something I feel he didn't do with Grantham, the defense should show more of RACs fingerprints on it.

No one can say RAC is not a great defensive coach. I feel he let TG run the ship and stayed out of his way. When the heat came down on RAC before the season, IMO RAC realized he had to get more involved. When he saw the team having success, and the defense still sucking, he finally got involved, and it showed.

I think RAC will run the defense thru Tucker. It would benefit everyone involved. Tucker will be mentored by one of the best, and RACs knowhow will be present on the field. I'm fired up about the idea.

Our "improvement" on D has a lot more to do with the weather than it did with any difference in scheme. I am glad TG is gone, because I really didn't like some of the schemes he ran, and I don't want division among the ranks..............if he and the Big Dawg can't get along.....buh-bye. However, I don't think anyone would have made this D a top 15 D this year...........we have some talent, but they are GREEN.

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Molding the younger coaches around Phil and Racs ideas

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j/c We are always hearing about "The Parcells Tree", "The Belichek Tree", or "The Dungy Tree"...could this be the start of "The Crennel Tree"? JMHO Go Brownies!!!

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If the new Browns DC hire can make the defense improve half as much as the coaches last year improved their squads, we will be very happy fans

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So so true... that's why, even if I think we could have probably gotten someone with DC experience, I'm gonna stick by what RAC and Savage decided to do until it proves otherwise..

Used to be that none of us trusted the front office of the Browns.. what a nice feeling it is to say that we now do....

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All I gotta say is he BEST listen to Crennel...

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I'm thinking that's a big reason for the hire.

RAC's job got a li'l bit easier now that we've won 10 games. By that I mean the offense is solid. The attitude of the players is solid and that was a big hurdle to overcome. He doesn't have to worry bout the offense as knows that is in good hands and he doesn't have any disgruntled/bad attitude/selfish/troublesome players to deal with. We turned the corner on both of those counts.

Now RAC can concentrate a li'l bit more on defense. Perhaps even on gameday.

With Tucker having been here for three years he already knows the philosophy and mindset of the team. He won't have to spend uncountless hours reviewing film just to learn the abilities/skills of the defensive players. The players won't have to learn him either. They're already familiar with him. Especially the DB's. In a way I feel it's retaining as much continuity as possible considering the circumstances.

In a post in another thread, or maybe this one, I lost track, bigf00t brings up a very good point regarding "big name" DC's like Ryan. He said, and I agree, that those big name DC's could be hired away from us as early as even next season if a HC job is offered them. By promoting Tucker that's not likely to happen for at least two to three years.

I don't know if Tucker can do the job or not. Too many times coaches are promoted to their level of incompetency. But with RAC freed up at least a li'l bit I think his attention to the D will help Tucker a lot.

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An experienced DC, OC, or HC is just a coach who was fired for being a failed DC, OC, or HC.

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I hadn't thought of it that way,, but it's true...

Ok,, I feel better about Tucker now...

The best thing about Mel is he knows the capabilities of his players.. I think we are going to see a much higher tempo defense... Blitze, and make them amke plays.. Cut the timing from the QB, and get him moving around, equals better chance for turnovers..

I like this move..

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Convince me of this "Higher" approach...

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DnD, if what others are saying is true, that RAC kinda took over some of the defensive calls away from Granthum and that it goes back to about the same time the D started to improve, then maybe it won't be so much what Tucker will do, but that he will do what RAC wants him to do..

That being,, Attack Attack Attack!

Other than that, I have nothing that says that Tucker is gonna do anything specifically different.

Tucker has NEVER run an entire NFL Defense...PERIOD..

he did help run at least a couple successful OSU defenses. That was as much credentials that Chud had.

I really dont know what to expect from Mel. I predict that we'll see a D alot more like what Romeo wants instead of what Todd wanted and than Mel will want. We'll see Mel's style though no doubt.

But...What encourages me about Mel is that our secondary steadily improved all year. The light came on for Pool and McDonald played great. Even Leigh Bodden re-emerged at the end of the year. Eric Wright looked good and i attribute a lot of that to Mel. One of our worries was giving up the big play. After week 1, our secondary didnt give up any. That was Todd's goal, and thats what Mel's DBs did. Todd liked the soft zone and they played it and made tackles after the catches and didnt give up big plays. I'll give Mel the credit for our DBs doing what was asked of them, as lame as it was.

And our DBs looked darn good when they blitzed, so hopefully we'll see a Romeo D with a Mel Tucker/OSU stamp on it.

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Tucker has NEVER run an entire NFL Defense...PERIOD..

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Everybodys gotta start somewhere,, RAC hadn't run a D before He got the job in Cleveland in 2000. Mangini hadn't run a D until RAC got the HC job here.. Grantham hadn't run a D until he got here either..

DAMN IT...DAMN...DAMN...DAMN...

This better turn out good...An inexperienced DC...DAMN...

And it better start day one cause we know Savage will bring several KEY pieces to this defense this year...

O.K ..Martin...Lawrence ..I wanted experience too..but there a bright side to this...still checking....lol..Tucker is a up and coming DB coach who at some point is going to get looked at for another spot for another team..
Dude might blow up..
It'a chance to promote from within..and with all the backbiting coming from outsiders this might be time to look inward and grow someone..
Heck how did some of the best coordinators start from?
This may be a good way for Rac to put his print on the defense and have someone run it the way he wants to..even though there's ll be hiccups..but if they can duplicate the results the offense had..on the D side of the ball can you imagine what this team will be like?

Tucker has NEVER run an entire NFL Defense...PERIOD..
Neither did Grantham before he came here

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It'a chance to promote from within..and with all the backbiting coming from outsiders this might be time to look inward and grow someone..

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Can`t agree more...Seems like putting together a coaching staff that can bond is harder than putting together a team of 53 that can...very good point

I think that this is the case where RAC and Phil feel that Tucker is ready.

RAC had probably contemplated hiring another one of Bellyache or Tuna's boy, but Tucker has been doing it in Cleveland for the past 3 years and he must have liked what he had seen.

Coaches can evaluate coaches as well as players.

I personally would have loved to have Rex Ryan in here, but promoting from within means that the other coaches at least have confidence in him.

Hey, all we can really do right now is wait and see...

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If RAC has his hands on the D, Tucker will learn from someone that is very well respected in that area. If that's the case, I'll trust their decision as well.

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This is one thing that bothers me....With RAC being the Defensive God that he was in NE.......SHOULDN'T he already have had his hands in on the Defense here???? I could understand the shortcomings on the Offense last year with (do I really mention??) MO....RAC was a Defensive Coordinator, what would he really know about the Offense. But he should have had a handle on the D from Day 1!!! Do we really have that few playmakers on the D to finish in the middle of the pack?

New Cleveland Browns coordinator Mel Tucker must restore trust lost under Todd Grantham

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Mary Kay Cabot
Plain Dealer Reporter


The Browns hope that promoting Mel Tucker to defensive coordinator will restore some of the confidence and trust in the position that was lost under Todd Grantham, sources close to the situation said Saturday.

Grantham was fired Friday after many players and some assistant coaches went to head coach Romeo Crennel with their concerns, insiders said. Some negative things also had gotten back to Crennel from colleagues in the league and he lost trust in Grantham.

Grantham was fired after the Browns had given him a three-year extension in June through 2009.

They promoted Cleveland-native Tucker from defensive backs coach, a position he held for three seasons. Tucker also received a two-year extension through 2010.

The Browns also promoted Cory Undlin to defensive backs coach and extended his contract through 2009. Undlin was secondary and assistant special teams coach in 2007 after serving as defensive quality control coach the previous two years.

Grantham's agent, Neil Cornrich, said Friday that Grantham wasn't ready to talk about his departure.

The sources said several players went to Crennel at the end of 2006 with their concerns about Grantham, but Crennel was still in Grantham's corner. In fact, Crennel was on board with the two-year extension given to Grantham in June, despite the fact he didn't know him until he interviewed him in 2005.

But the extension is when Grantham's relationship with those in the organization began to erode, insiders said. At the time, Browns General Manager Phil Savage said, "He's a terrific coach, and I would think he's got a big upside and has the potential to be a head coach in time."

Soon thereafter, Grantham began to behave as though he was being groomed for the Browns head-coaching job in the event Crennel was fired, insiders said. "Grantham overplayed his hand and it backfired," said one source.

The players, who have a fierce loyalty to Crennel, saw through it and became suspicious of Grantham. Although they continued to play hard, some of the internal strife took its toll on the field. For most of the season, the defense was ranked 32nd in the NFL. It finished 30th, after ranking 16th in 2004 and 27th in 2006.

The unit made significant statistical improvements over the last seven or eight games of the season, but some of those could be attributed as much to opposing offenses being slowed by the weather as improved performance by defense, including the 8-0 shutout over Buffalo in whiteout conditions.

Team leaders held players-only team meetings on a weekly basis. Both veterans and young players approached Crennel about Grantham.

Defensive end Robaire Smith, who played for Grantham at Michigan State, said he's talked to Grantham since his ouster.

"He's down, but he understands the business aspect," Smith said. "He's a good coach and he's ready to move on."

Smith said Tucker was a smart choice.

"Mel was a graduate assistant when I was at Michigan State and he's come a long way," Smith said. "Everyone on the defense likes him and we know what to expect. . . . I know he's going to get us right as a defense."

Defensive lineman Shaun Smith agreed Tucker will be good.

"He's a leader and he's got a swagger about him," Shaun Smith said.

Still, Shaun Smith said: "I didn't see it coming. Maybe if we had made playoffs, TG wouldn't have gotten fired."

Crennel said in a statement: "We're excited to have Mel [Tucker] as our defensive coordinator. He has a football plan, life plan, coaches the fundamentals and relates well with the players. I believe he'll be successful in this new role."

Tucker, 36, who is on vacation, is known for getting young defensive backs such as Eric Wright, Brandon McDonald and Daven Holly ready to play.

A prep star at Cleveland Heights High, Tucker was a two-time member of the Plain Dealer's All-Scholastic team and won All-Ohio honors in football as a senior. At Wisconsin, he lettered four years as a defensive back.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

mcabot@plaind.com, 216-999-4670

Good read...Shep....

TG put on a show for the fans also...All that jumping and fiery actions he had on the field.....

Then slowly it faded away....I wondered why he was`nt being so fiery much .....What I get from this read is.....Once he got figured out...He seemed to have back stepped...

Rac...Again tried to show support for his coach.....These players on this team want continuity from the whole org it seems.....

TG was getting greedy....Wanted nothing more than to see Rac get the boot...So he could get the helm.....

Just read that article in the PD. It sounds like the players will take to Tucker's brand of leadership much more than Grantham's. And I'll never complain about bringing in personnel that know what it means to grow up Brown.

j/c

I was not a big fan of the way our DB's (especially corners) played D this year. The cushions were way too big and they gave more ground at the snap of the ball. Teams could throw underneath on us all day long. For a while there Eric Wright was our leading tackler...mostly because guys were catching balls right in front of him.

Now this, of course, could've been the scheme of the D as a whole...but it is something that was exploited by opposing O's.

I will, of course, hope for the best.

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Both our coordinators grew up as Browns fans

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We may have to start calling them the Homer Browns...

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I was not a big fan of the way our DB's (especially corners) played D this year.

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I don't know the answer, but how much of the DB's playing off was as a result of having to cover for a line that leaked running backs? Just wondering if they adjusted to protect a weakness!

Therein lies the question.
We shall see.

Grantham was fired Friday after many players and some assistant coaches went to head coach Romeo Crennel with their concerns, insiders said. Some negative things also had gotten back to Crennel from colleagues in the league and he lost trust in Grantham.

Wonder what those colleagues knew....?

But the extension is when Grantham's relationship with those in the organization began to erode, insiders said. At the time, Browns General Manager Phil Savage said, "He's a terrific coach, and I would think he's got a big upside and has the potential to be a head coach in time."

Soon thereafter, Grantham began to behave as though he was being groomed for the Browns head-coaching job in the event Crennel was fired, insiders said. "Grantham overplayed his hand and it backfired," said one source.

Dr.Fankenstein....meet your monster

The players, who have a fierce loyalty to Crennel, saw through it and became suspicious of Grantham. Although they continued to play hard, some of the internal strife took its toll on the field. For most of the season, the defense was ranked 32nd in the NFL. It finished 30th, after ranking 16th in 2004 and 27th in 2006.

Tucker has a lot to do ..hopefully his head won't grow the size of a Subway Feast sub..

Tucker settling into new role
Zac Jackson, Staff Writer
01.22.2008

MOBILE, Ala. -- Mel Tucker has already made his first on-the-fly adjustment as Browns defensive coordinator.

And he made it on himself.

It happened Monday, as Tucker settled into his seat at the South team's Senior Bowl practice and locked in on the defensive backs.

"I kind of laughed at myself," he said. "I looked around to see if anyone else caught me, then I got up and kind of casually walked over towards the defensive linemen. I have to broaden my scope a little bit."

What he's used watching is now changing, and he's now in charge of changing the Browns' defensive struggles of the past few years into areas of strength. After three years as the team's defensive backs coach, Tucker was promoted to defensive coordinator on Jan. 12.

Tucker, 38, is a Cleveland native who served as co-defensive coordinator in 2004 at Ohio State before coming to the Browns.

"This is all very exciting for me," Tucker said. "It's a great challenge, but it's one I'm prepared for."

The challenge for Tucker is to improve a Browns defense that ranked near the bottom of the NFL in total defense for most of last season. The Browns won 10 games despite surrendering 382 points and an average of 100 rushing yards per game.

They were better during the second half of the season with a mostly healthy front seven and young talent in the secondary that matured on the fly. And it's those young players -- Kamerion Wimbley, Sean Jones, D'Qwell Jackson and Brodney Pool to name a few -- who make Tucker believe the Browns can make significant improvements in 2008 and beyond.

"I have very positive feelings about the future," he said. "I think we have some really talented young players that are growing and have had some success. We'd like them to have more, but I think there are some things they can build on.

"I don't think we need (drastic changes). We have a system in place that I think is sound and solid. Obviously there are some areas of improvement, and we know what they are. We've identified them, and now it's a matter of our approach -- how we go about getting it fixed, getting guys better. With some of the guys we have in place, and obviously the draft and free agency coming up I think we'll be able to improve the defense."

The Browns have plenty of improving to do after finishing last season 27th in the NFL against the run and 24th against the pass. And while Tucker knows additional depth, an improved defensive backfield that's growing on the job and an improved pass rush would certainly help, it starts with being better against the run.

"Obviously stopping the run is one of those areas we need to improve, and that's going to be an emphasis," he said. "With any good defense it always starts there. We're going to spend quite a bit of time taking a hard look at that and some things we need to do to shore that up.

"As the young defensive backs played better last year, that solidified things for us. I think we have a good mix of young guys and veterans. Phil (Savage) has done a good job of bringing in guys and infusing some youth, and those young guys still have room to grow. I think that bodes well to have young guys that have talent and still have high ceilings."

Tucker is a lifelong Browns fan who graduated from Cleveland Heights High School. He remembers attending games at Cleveland Municipal Stadium with his father and others with his friends, riding the bus "and always staying to the end, no matter how cold it was," he said.

"It's a special town and a special organization. It all means a lot to me and the people I grew up with, my family and friends. It's more than just a job. It's a part of my life."

This week, he's getting his first glimpse at the 2008 draft pool. And though he's seen each Senior Bowl team just once so far, he does see some players who potentially could help the Browns.

"Right now, you're looking at bodies moving around," he said. "It looks like there are some nice sized guys out there, some guys that can run and have high motors and things like that.

"Its going to be interesting for me to see who really sticks out at the end and see what type of impression I have when I go back to Cleveland. But there are definitely some guys in this game that can help somebody in the NFL next season. I always enjoyed recruiting in college and it's kind of the same thing here. You see guys who are good players, you just never know who they're going to be playing for.

"Anytime you can add speed to your defense, you do it. Speed is one thing you can't coach. That's definitely something we'll look to add, and if we can we will. The faster the better." link

It happened Monday, as Tucker settled into his seat at the South team's Senior Bowl practice and locked in on the defensive backs.

"I kind of laughed at myself," he said. "I looked around to see if anyone else caught me, then I got up and kind of casually walked over towards the defensive linemen. I have to broaden my scope a little bit."


Heh...I probably woulda done the same thing..lock onto a CB..watch him closely..

Obviously stopping the run is one of those areas we need to improve, and that's going to be an emphasis," he said. "With any good defense it always starts there. We're going to spend quite a bit of time taking a hard look at that and some things we need to do to shore that up.

Heck it's been on the cutting board for 8 years now..time to fix it..

I seem to remember smaller cushions after RAC made the announcement that he'd be getting more involved in D planning.

It's possible that the big cushions were TG's baby.

It could be coincidence, but I'm starting to see a common thread through ALL the D issues...