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Browns announce coaching changes
01.05.2007
The Browns announced Friday that four assistant coaches, including receivers coach Terry Robiskie, will not be retained for the 2007 season.

Robiskie joined the club in 2001 as wide receivers coach and stayed in the role until he was elevated to offensive coordinator in '04. He finished that year as the team's interim head coach for the club's final five games after Butch Davis resigned from his post. Robiskie returned to coaching the receivers in '05 and stayed at the job in '06.

The other coaches relieved of their duties are tight ends coach Ben Coates, offensive quality control coach Carl Crennel II, and strength and conditioning coach John Lott.

All three coaches joined the Browns' staff in 2005 when Romeo Crennel became the club's head coach.

The job with the Browns was the first major coaching role for Coates, who coached in NFL Europe and took part in a minority coaching internship with the Cowboys before coming to Cleveland. Coates was a five-time Pro Bowl tight end for the Patriots.

Carl Crennel, the nephew of the Browns' head coach, was the director of football operations and assistant head coach at West Virginia Tech University before coming to Cleveland.

The bulk of Lott's experience came at the University of Houston from 1991-96 and with the New York Jets from 1997-04.

"I would like to thank these four coaches for their service to the Browns since my arrival here two years ago, especially Terry Robiskie, who served as wide receivers coach, offensive coordinator and interim head coach during his six years with the Browns," Romeo Crennel said. "These decisions were made with the best interest of the franchise in mind."

http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/article.php?id=6384

Ben Coates?

Geez.. I thought he did a decent job. The only thing I can think of is he's catching blame for KW's mouthing off..

I figured Lott was a goner and Carl doesn't matter.

Yea i figured if one coach stayed it'd be our tight ends coach.....

yeah, Saint, I can't understand why they fired Coates either??? Crennell II is a non-factor, as you said, and Lott must be catching hell for all of the injury problems. Coates had all of the TE's playeing well. So I'm baffled at his firing??? Besides JJ, KW, Heiden, and Dinkens were the most consistant WR's on the team. I'm really surprised and feel bad for Ben Coates.

Probably more of a general house cleaning on the offensive staff than a reflection of Ben's performance.

Well , Cal, I would think and hope that performance would win out over anything else, he's probably the most solid assistant on the staff, besides the Spec. Teams coach and Grantham. I would bet that Coates lands a job somewhere, rather quickly. I'm sure Lott will too.

Lott was the most respected guy in the league last year, supposedly...that's making a change to make a change, if you ask me...

Really kind of a surprise that Coates and Lott are both gone. It's not like it was Lott's fault that Bentley went down. IMO. <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Prior to Lott, Buddy Morris was well thought of as a S & C Coach. He was with the Browns 02 - 05.

If you Google the guy and check out his background.. the guy's resume is simply amazing.

Like you say, this smacks of making a change to make a change.

i recall that as well, SAINT...Court doomed Morris, now Bentley and Baxter have put Lott out of a job...

man, our S&C coach has gotta be watching the injury report closer than the fans! it's funny, but sad...

Wow, I was also suprised at Coates being let go. I thought the TE's were one strength of the team. Maybe Lott was getting the blame for all the injuries, which is pretty lame.

I like many of you think it makes no sense of Ben Coates being let go. I would have thought the Running back coach would have been let go before the 1 postion we had a solid contribution from not only the starter but Hieden.

I don't know much about the current RB coach but we looked and preformed horrible running the ball.

And not sure if it was just me or just fate but seems like most the injuries
were Knee injuries.

[img][image]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y105/thepitdog/topdawg.jpg[/img][/image]

The Browns were 4-12 last season. What about that record indicates that anyone on the staff stood out as untouchable? We have no idea what went on behind the scenes. Perhaps Lott and/or Coates were hard to get along with. Perhaps they clashed with other coaches or made unreasonable demands of the FO. We'll never know.

But if these moves...and any others to follow...help us win games in 2007, I'm all for them. Best of luck to these guys.

Where did you hear he was the most respected guy in the league?

Heck...I bet Bill Billick garners more league wide respect than some goofball strength coach.

If that is really the case, what does that say about Romeo?

Either he is the guy who wanted it or a guy who meekly sat by and allowed it to happen.

my opinion on all of this, as if anybody GAS.

five HC's have been released/retired as of right now. that's five teams that will be firing and almost entirely rebuilding their whole coaching staff. somewhere on those five teams, somebody will be better than ben friggin coates or terry friggin robiskie. little rac don't matter. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
i think the FO is seeing and zeroing in on someone on those teams to fill the major vacancies.
our WR production hasn't changed one bit since butch arrived. frankly i think our passing game was better off when we only had couch and KJ. :shocked so why all of the loyalty all of a sudden for robisky. continuity? <img src="/images/graemlins/rolleyes1.gif" alt="" />
what has coates done that has been so amazing? heiden hasn't changed one bit. we just throw him more balls now. winslow will catch balls if rac's nephew coaches him. so why are we gonna miss coates? he sure hasn't helped winslow's blocking has he?
john lott i don't understand. the rash of injuries? maybe ....the staph? noway ......are our guys gasping for wind in the 4th? if so that would be a lott problem.
we're cleaning house and i really don't see a name on the list that's gonna set us back yet.

I don't give a damn about the guys fired. I am sure replacing them won't be very hard.

My only beef is Romeo. He seems to be rubber stamping these moves, and dream job or not, he is pretty meek in his attitude towards this, or he is the guy cutting wood on his team.....mostly because of his failings.

Sorry...there comes a time to man up....especially if you are the guy who is going to be preaching "team".

I know some may want to disagree, but deep down they can't....because I am 100% correct.

This is like when Wanstatt(sp) or Gailey stared firing all of their people....how long did those guys last after that?

Not to change the topic , Can someone explain how getting new coaches here 4 me.

If a other teams say QB coach is still under contract can we interview him for Offensive cordinator job?
Does it have to be a promotion ?
And do we have to get the teams permission from that team to interview a (qb, rb,wr ) if we are interviewing him for a OC job?

And with all these different titles they have now like assistent Offensive line coach , can we interview him for Offensive line coach here?

[img][image]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y105/thepitdog/topdawg.jpg[/img][/image]

Asst coaches....as in position coaches work on 1 year contracts. After the season, they can talk to who they want.

Guys like coordinator may have longer deals and have to receive promotions if their contracts aren't up.

Peen, I agree with you, RAC has to step to the plate and take some of the blame and quite honestly so does Savage. I see no reason to have fired Ben Coates, really not much reason to fire Lott. The others I could care less about. I'm sure none will be hard to replace, as you said, but I don't think they were doing that bad of a job to warrant being fired. jmo.

Also I'm not sure how much longer RAC is going to be our HC anyways. I'm all for Cowher in 2008. If he will keep the 3-4 intact as the D scheme. Plus he should keep Grantham.

I'm not even that high on any of the QB's we have, including Frye. I'm pimping JaMarcus Russell. I know we need OL and DL but this kid looks like the real deal, DC said he reminds him of Big Ben??? He reminds me of Palmer.

[color:"white"] My only beef is Romeo. He seems to be rubber stamping these moves, [/color]

how so? what have you seen or read to come to that?

[color:"white"] he is pretty meek in his attitude towards this [/color]

i hope so. i hope he's not showing any emotion at all. this is a business and should be treated as such. i can't recall any head coach or GM in tears when announcing a dismissal from a team ever.

[color:"white"] or he is the guy cutting wood on his team.....mostly because of his failings.
[/color]

he may be the one cutting the wood, and his "failings" just may be hiring/retaining these guys in the 1st place.

[color:"white"] Sorry...there comes a time to man up....especially if you are the guy who is going to be preaching "team".
[/color]

why does he have to man up to us? he don't owe us a thing. if he mans up at all, it should and prolly will be to savage and lerner. he don't have to man up squat to us.

[color:"white"] This is like when Wanstatt(sp) or Gailey stared firing all of their people....how long did those guys last after that? [/color]

we don't know how rac will compare to those guys yet. i think we have seen coaches make changes though that has helped their teams. let's see.......... cowher comes to mind.

hetwo that may be getting the axe.........

STEELERS

WR coach?..

Bruce Arians enters his third season as the Steelers wide receivers coach.
Arians, named to the Steelers' coaching staff on Jan. 24, 2004, has over 30 years of coaching experience, including 13 years in the NFL. Arians and Head Coach Bill Cowher have worked together previously on the same staff for the Kansas City Chiefs when Cowher was the defensive coordinator and Arians coached the running backs.
Arians, 53, helped All-Pro wide receiver Hines Ward become one of the best wideouts in the NFL over the past three seasons. During Arians' three seasons with Pittsburgh, Ward has been to the Pro Bowl twice and was named Super Bowl XL MVP after finishing with 123 receiving yards and one touchdown. Ward also became the Steelers' all-time receptions leader, surpassing Hall-of-Famer John Stallworth.
Prior to the Steelers, Arians spent three seasons (2001-2003) as the offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns. In 2002 under Arians' guidance, the Browns scored their most points since the 1987 season and also improved in virtually every major offensive category from the three years prior to his arrival.
Arians was instrumental in the development of Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, while serving as the Colts' quarterback coach for three years (1998-2000). Under Arians' tutelage, Manning totaled 4,413 yards and 33 touchdowns in 2000 to break his own club season record. His 33 touchdown passes in 2000 established a Colts' franchise record previously held by John Unitas.
He began his coaching career in 1975 as a graduate assistant at Virginia Tech. A 1974 Hokie graduate, Arians played quarterback and was voted the team's most valuable player as a senior.
Arians then held an assistant coaching position at Mississippi State (running backs and wide receivers) from 1978-80 before heading to Alabama to coach the running backs from 1981-82 under the legendary Paul "Bear" Bryant.
He was also the head coach at Temple University from 1983-88. Arians also held positions with the Kansas City Chiefs (running backs, 1989-92), Mississippi State (offensive coordinator, 1993-95), New Orleans Saints (tight ends, 1996) and Alabama (offensive coordinator, 1997).
Arians was born Oct. 3, 1952, in Paterson, N.J. He and his wife Christine have a son, Jake (27), and daughter, Kristi Anne (25).


TE coach?..

James Daniel was one of six new coaches to join the Steelers prior to the 2004 season.

Named the Steelers tight ends coach Jan. 24, 2004, Daniel spent the previous seven seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, mostly as the Falcons? tight ends coach except for one year when he coached the offensive line.

He began his NFL coaching career as the tight ends coach of the New York Giants from 1993-96.

During his tenure at Atlanta, Daniel was instrumental in the development of Pro Bowl tight end Alge Crumpler, who set a team receptions mark for tight ends in 2002 and 2003 with 44 and 36, respectively.

Daniel, 52, began his coaching career in the college ranks as the offensive line coach at Auburn for Head Coach Pat Dye. During Daniel?s 12 years at Auburn, the Tigers appeared in nine postseason bowl games, four of his linemen earned All-America honors and several were selected All-Sout East Conference.

Daniel?s first experience at the pro level occurred through the NFL?s Fellowship Program in 1988 with the Saints and in 1992 with the Broncos and Head Coach Dan Reeves. He eventually served under Reeves for his first 11 years in the NFL.

Prior to Auburn, Daniel coached for 11 years at Enterprise (Ala.) High School from 1974-80, during which time 11 of his offensive linemen earned college scholarships.

As a collegian, Daniel was a three-year starter and four-year letterwinner at Alabama State from 1970-73.

Daniel, born Jan. 17, 1953, is married (Myrtis).

Romeo's words as far as I know.


Sorry man....I guess I am of the opinion when things go bad, the guy at the top is a reason why. These asst. coaches were doing what Romeo wanted. If not, the guy is inept and doesn't deserve to be the coach of my football team.

But...that is just my opinion.


I believe in team, and if the people you hired are doing what you feel is the the proper job, and someone else tells you to can them....sorry, I tell them to pound bricks and if they need to start firing people, start with me.

I know you don't really know me that well, and might think I am just saying that here on the board, but Honest to God, that is the way I am. I am not going to fire someone because someone else wants me to do so.

Now....if these guys really did deserve it.....well...that doesn't reflect well on Romeo does it??

Shoot....the D wasn't that much better than the O...when are we going to start firing those guys??

[color:"orange"]I sort of understand the 3 offensive assts. Since it appears we will hire an OC might as well let him have a say in his assts.

Why Lott? Injuries...heck we've had injuries - tops in the NFL since 99. Maybe something is wrong but how is it Lott??? Practice field...our field? But how Lott.

I can't see him shirking his duties.
He was with Jets and I think 3 coaches??? and in that time the Jets went from the most injured prior to him getting there to the least and that became year after year coach after coach.

He got here and changed our entire workout area...making room to include lots of Dumb-bell stations, Medicine balls and flexibility workout stations. I liked him and think he was simply a sacrificial lamb for the injuries. Unless I'm wrong and he wasn't doing his job - but as said he didn't seem the type not to be dedicated.

Was hoping we would be above - sacrificial cuts. <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

sorry probably not the biggest deal - I just liked the guy and thought he was good for the Browns!!
Well - I hope we put that guy who was in charge of BE's Rehab in the vacant spot. He seemed to know his stuff getting BE back ahead of time and working with KW2 too.
JMHO

<img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

You know my feeling on those guys....my opinion is a team should never have a coach who doesn't have a neck.

ARIZONA

TE coach?.

Carl Hargrave, tight ends; born November 8, 1954, Frankfurt, Germany. Defensive back Upper Iowa 1972-75. No pro playing experience. College coach: Upper Iowa 1977-1980, Northwestern 1981-85, Pittsburgh 1986, Houston 1987-1991, Iowa 1992-93, Lindenwood 2002-03. Pro coach: Minnesota Vikings 1994-2001, joined Cardinals in 2004.

WR coach?.

Mike Wilson, wide receivers; born December 19, 1958, Los Angeles, Calif. Wide receiver Washington State 1978-1980. Pro wide receiver San Francisco 49ers 1981-1990. College coach: Stanford 1992-94, Southern California 1997-2000. Pro coach: Oakland Raiders 1995-96, joined Cardinals in 2004.

I wonder how deep it has to go from here on in. Is there a HUGE strength and conditioning coach available. JMO but it seems we got outmuscled and outhustled. Whether it was a physical matter or technique, probably a combo, then we are highly suspect. Have we led the league in repeat injuries and especially season ending ones? don't know if that is reported, but it certainly has to be tracked. And as far as offensive line quality control, well, we got upside I suspect as I watch other franchises' levels of play.
Da Browns! Be a fan of the future! Hang tough today! <img src="/images/graemlins/azzangel.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/saywhat.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/rolleyes1.gif" alt="" />

[color:"white"] These asst. coaches were doing what Romeo wanted. If not, the guy is inept and doesn't deserve to be the coach of my football team.
[/color]

this is no different than any other business. you hire guys to do a job, and when they can't do it you replace them with someone who can. i don't call this being inept on racs part.

[color:"white"] Now....if these guys really did deserve it.....well...that doesn't reflect well on Romeo does it??
[/color]

come on........ no matter what anybody says on this issue, you've got your mind made up. a mind is a terrible thing to waste. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Seems like Te's had it together. Heiden played over his head. If his rep and career aren't acceptable, what do you replace him with? Oz? winslow's pappy? too much offensive committee werk, I suspect. Anyhow, think we lost a keeper there. I watched him play.
Da Browns! Be a fan of the future! Hang tough today! <img src="/images/graemlins/azzangel.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/saywhat.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/rolleyes1.gif" alt="" />

I agree, it's made up. If it is wasted is up to debate. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

[color:"red"] [/color] I am confused at the fact as how people can continuously back someone that has shown us no improvement since he was hired. RAC is the man in charge of the football team, not the assistant coaches. What Romeo wants done he relays to the assistants and they do it. There is no one else to blame but RAC or Savage. Either were getting the wrong players in here because of Savage or the coaching is just not up to snuff.....I believe it is the latter......If the assistant coaches are just teaching and doing whatever they want w/o any regard to Romeo's ideals then it is still Romeo's fault because it means he has no control over his coaching staff. In the end Romeo Crennel is going to run this football team how he wants it run, no matter who the assistant coaches are. Yes, i do believe changes need to made but do I think us going 10-22 over the Romeo regim is the fault of the assistant coaches....no.....at some point or another the blame has to go to the head coach.....As a frustrated Browns fan I can only hope its sooner than later

Hmm not really sure why you think Lott is some huge no neck..he looked like a normal, fit guy to me.

Thank god robo is gone.....

While I don't really care either way about the other moves, many of these guys would have been gone anyway when we hired a new offensive coordinator. The new OC would surely bring in all of his own "guys" to fill their coaching positions. Atleast this gives them an opportunity to land another job. JMHO.

my biggest surprise is in Coates... and also if you look at Arians and what they say about him when he was here... doesn't it make you feel stupid when we fired him?

MIAMI

WR coach?.

Charlie Baggett, asst. head coach/wide receivers; born January 21, 1953, Fayetteville, N.C. Quarterback Michigan State 1972-75. No pro playing experience. College coach: Bowling Green 1977-1980, Minnesota 1981-82, Michigan State 1983-1992, 1995-98. Pro coach: Houston Oilers 1993-94, Green Bay Packers 1999, Minnesota Vikings 2000-04, joined Dolphins in 2005.

TE coach?.

Derek Dooley, tight ends; born June 10, 1968, Athens, Ga. Wide receiver Virginia 1987-1990. No pro playing experience. College coach: Georgia 1996, Southern Methodist 1997-99, Louisiana State 2000-04. Pro coach: Joined Dolphins in 2005.

wow I wonder how much harassment charlie got in school... all you have to do is change that B to and F... wow I would have changed my last name by now

ATLANTA

TE coach?.

Clancy Barone, tight ends; born July 26, 1963, San Andreas, Calif. Offensive lineman Cal State-Sacramento 1981-82, Nevada 1985-86. No pro playing experience. College coach: American River (Calif.) J.C. 1987-1989, Cal State-Sacramento 1990-92, Texas A&M 1993, Eastern Illinois 1994-96, Wyoming 1997-1999, Houston 2000-02, Texas State 2003. Pro coach: Joined Falcons in 2004.

WR coach?..

George Stewart, wide receivers; born December 29, 1958, Little Rock, Ark. Guard Arkansas 1977-1980. No pro playing experience. College coach: Minnesota 1984-85, Notre Dame 1986-88. Pro coach: Pittsburgh Steelers 1989-1991, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1992-95, San Francisco 49ers 1996-2002, joined Falcons in 2003.




Just wanted to throw this in also <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Alex Gibbs, consultant/offensive line; born February 22, 1941 Morganton, N.C. Running back/defensive back Davidson College 1959-1963. No pro playing experience. College coach: Duke 1969-1970, Kentucky 1971-72, West Virginia 1973-74, Ohio State 1975-78, Auburn 1979-1981, Georgia 1982-83. Pro coach: Denver Broncos 1984-87, Oakland Raiders 1988-89, San Diego Chargers 1990-91, Indianapolis Colts 1992, Kansas City Chiefs 1993-94, Denver Broncos 1995-2003, joined Falcons in 2004.

ROFL

all you have to do is change your D and O to an F and A and you would have to change your........... never mind. <img src="/images/graemlins/rofl.gif" alt="" />

We haven't had an offense since Arians.