DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Browns hire Pat Shurmur

Probably worth it's own thread:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6018483

CLEVELAND -- St. Louis offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur is Cleveland's new coach.

The Browns hired Shurmur on Thursday, ending a search that began when Eric Mangini was fired on Jan. 3. Shurmur was the first candidate interviewed by Browns president Mike Holmgren. Shurmur is the Browns' fifth coach since their expansion return in 1999.

Chris Palmer, Butch Davis, Romeo Crennel and Mangini each failed in trying to build a consistent winner in Cleveland. Now, it's Shurmur's turn. The 45-year-old, who has no head coaching experience, will take over a team that has made just one playoff appearance in 13 years.

Mangini was fired after his second 5-11 season.

Although he lacks head coaching experience, Shurmur's background running a West Coast offense and working with young quarterbacks is appealing to Holmgren, who set out on his search determined to "find exactly the right person for the job who can eventually someday lead us to the championship. That is my only goal."

Under Shurmur's guidance this season, Rams rookie quarterback Sam Bradford passed for 18 touchdowns and 3,512 yards -- second-most by a rookie behind Peyton Manning's 3,739 in 1998. Before joining St. Louis' staff, Shurmur coached Philadelphia's quarterbacks and developed Donovan McNabb into one of the game's top players at the position.

So much for a slow due diligence. I think i want to puke.

I think I like it, as I said in the other thread, I have been fooled before though.

Welcome to Cleveland. Let's get to work.

Take a look at our team, which he should have already done, and see where we need help.

Don't know much about the guy, and that's why he is going to be on a short leash with the fans, but IMO it's really going to be about the coordinators.

Keep RYAN, SEELY, and bring in an experienced O-coordinator to help the young coach.

Congrats to Pat.

Pat, Mike and Tom, you're on the clock starting now.

A lot of people have been iffy about this pick.

All I can say is that I'm going with what I felt last year. I trust Mike Holmgren, I trust Tom Heckert. Both of those guys certainly made up the decision process (Holmgren obviously being the one who made the decision, just getting imput from Heckert)

We brought in Mike Holmgren for a reason, it was close to unanimously praised by everyone on the board. Now he has been questioned on his decision by a significant number of members.

I'm not going to do that, I'm sticking with "The Big Show" and trusting his judgement. Our team should be better next year, I'm very happy with the drafting of Heckert (Haden is a great player, Ward will be a good one too I think).

So yeah, I'm 100% behind Shurmur, and I'm 100% behind our organization. I was happy Holmgren was brought in, and so whatever decision he makes sounds good to me.

So Pat Shurmur, Welcome to the Cleveland Browns. I hope that this is a long, good tenure, and I hope you lead the Browns to many successful, exciting seasons, many wins over the Steelers and Ravens; and may be you can even get us a super bowl victory

I know it's not a flashy pick, and he's got some question marks, but most coaching hires do, otherwise they'd already be head coaches somewhere.

I'm choosing to stay positive with regard to the fact that football people have hired the coach for the first time and we know everyone will be on the same page.

From the Home Page:

Browns name Shurmur head coach

The Browns named Pat Shurmur the 13th full-time head coach in franchise history, the team announced Thursday afternoon.

The Cleveland Browns today named Pat Shurmur as the 13th full-time head coach in franchise history.

Shurmur’s résumé includes 23 years of coaching experience, including 12 in the NFL. In those 12 seasons, he has been a part of teams that have qualified for the playoffs seven times, won five division crowns and posted one Super Bowl appearance.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to join an organization with such a rich history and tradition as the Cleveland Browns,” Shurmur said. “I have the utmost respect for Coach Holmgren and Tom Heckert, and I am impressed with the direction in which they have this franchise going. I have known Tom for most of my pro coaching career, and while we were in Philadelphia, he and I developed an outstanding relationship. I want to thank Mike and Tom, as well as Randy Lerner, for this tremendous opportunity. I also want to thank the St. Louis Rams and Steve Spagnuolo for two terrific seasons and for giving me a chance to be a coordinator at this level. I am looking forward to this challenge and can’t wait to get started in helping to build the Browns back to one of the elite teams in the NFL.”

“I am extremely excited about having Pat Shurmur as the next head coach of the Cleveland Browns,” said Browns President Mike Holmgren. “Pat is a bright, young man who grew up in football and around the coaching profession. I came away from our interview very impressed with him as a person, his extensive knowledge of the game and his track record of success as an assistant coach in this league. Most importantly, I feel as though he possesses the necessary qualities which make him the right man to lead our football team.”

Shurmur spent the past two seasons (2009-10) as the offensive coordinator with the St. Louis Rams. He helped the Rams improve to a 7-9 record following a 1-15 season in 2009, the second-biggest turnaround in the league this past season. In 2010, he guided St. Louis’ offense to improvements in nearly every category including total yards, time of possession and third-down percentage, while they also scored 114 more points than the previous year. In addition, the Rams committed just 21 turnovers in 2010, tied for the ninth-lowest total in the NFL.

He helped shape quarterback Sam Bradford, the top pick in the 2010 draft, as Bradford set NFL rookie records for completions (354) and attempts (590), while his 3,512 passing yards were the second-most by a rookie in league history, trailing only Peyton Manning's 3,739 in 1998. Bradford's 18 touchdown passes tied for fifth-most among rookies in NFL history. During a midseason stretch, he set an NFL rookie record with 174 consecutive attempts without an interception.

Along with starting a rookie quarterback, the team’s second-round pick, Rodger Saffold, was the only NFL rookie to start all 16 games at left tackle in 2010. The Rams allowed just 34 sacks despite attempting the fifth-most passing plays in the NFL this past season, which placed the team 12th in the league in sacks per pass play.

Also under Shurmur, Rams running back Steven Jackson was selected to the NFC Pro Bowl squad both years. Jackson claimed the NFC rushing title in 2009 with 1,416 yards. Jackson’s rushing totals each of the past two seasons (1,241 in 2010) represent two of the three highest rushing figures of his seven-year NFL career.

Prior to joining the Rams, Shurmur spent 10 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles (1999-2008). He served as the team’s quarterbacks coach from 2002-08 and helped Donovan McNabb to three Pro Bowl selections during his tenure. In 2008, McNabb set Eagles single-season records with 345 completions and 3,916 passing yards.

In 2004, Shurmur guided McNabb to the most productive season of his career, as he set franchise records in passer rating (104.7) and completion percentage (64.0). McNabb also became the first quarterback in NFL history with 30-plus touchdown passes (31) and fewer than 10 interceptions (8) in a single season.

During his first season as quarterbacks coach, Shurmur turned to third-string quarterback A.J. Feeley after injuries to McNabb and Koy Detmer. Despite not having started a game in three years, since his junior season at Oregon, Feeley helped the Eagles post a 4-1 record, as they won the NFC East and advanced to the NFC title game. Shurmur faced another quarterback injury in 2006 and turned to backup Jeff Garcia, who helped the club to a 5-1 record and led Philadelphia into the Divisional round of the playoffs.

Shurmur’s first three seasons in Philadelphia (1999-2001) were spent as tight ends coach, where he developed three-time Pro Bowler Chad Lewis. From 2000-01, Lewis combined for 110 receptions, 1,157 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. His reception total ranked fourth among all NFL tight ends during that two-year span, while he was tied for fourth in touchdowns and fifth in receiving yards.

Before joining the Eagles, Shurmur spent the 1998 season at Stanford University as offensive line coach. That year, the Cardinal offensive line allowed the fewest sacks per pass attempt in the Pac-10 and helped first-year quarterback Todd Husak become only the third quarterback in school history to throw for more 3,000 yards.

Prior to Stanford, Shurmur instructed the tight ends, special teams and offensive line at Michigan State University from 1990-97. The Spartans sent three tight ends (Ty Hallock, Duane Young and Mitch Lyons) to the NFL under Shurmur’s guidance, and kick returner Derrick Mason set a school career record with 2,575 return yards.

A four-year letterman at Michigan State, Shurmur earned All-Big Ten conference honors and All-America honorable mention accolades in 1987. He played guard and linebacker as a freshman and started at center the next three seasons. He served as co-captain as a senior when the Spartans defeated USC in the Rose Bowl. He earned a master’s degree in financial administration and was the first graduate student football player at the University.

A native of Dearborn, Mich., who attended Divine Child High School, Shurmur comes from a football background. His uncle, the late Fritz Shurmur, coached in the NFL for 24 years and served as the Green Bay Packers’ defensive coordinator from 1994-98 and helped that club win two NFC Championships and Super Bowl XXXI.

Born April 14, 1965, Pat and his wife, Jennifer, have four children, daughters Allyson, Erica and Claire, and a son, Kyle.

Pat Shurmur Coaching Background:

1988-89 Michigan State University, graduate assistant coach

1990-97 Michigan State University, tight ends/special teams/offensive line coach

1998 Stanford University, offensive line coach

1999-2001 Philadelphia Eagles, tight ends/offensive line coach

2002-08 Philadelphia Eagles, quarterbacks coach

2009-10 St. Louis Rams, offensive coordinator

2011 Cleveland Browns, head coach


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Don't know much about the guy, and that's why he is going to be on a short leash with the fans, but IMO it's really going to be about the coordinators.

Keep RYAN, SEELY, and bring in an experienced O-coordinator to help the young coach.

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I imagine in the interview process, Shurmur has already told Holmgren whom would be his potential candidates for the coordinator positions

i am excited for this guy!

maybe django can put me in his sig or wait, i think it will be caldawg this time who will run the coach outta town

The key to these next few months is to shutoff any sort of emotion that relates coaches, players, owners, GMs, or even the schedule.

With that said, I'd like to know the significance of LaMonte and if he's just another Worldwide Wes or Maverick Carter. The fact that our top 3 (excluding randy) figureheads are represented by LaMonte is slightly disturbing.


I'm going to care a little at draft time but count me in the "I really don't care" crowd until the regular season starts.

Meh....the head coach is overrated anyway.

I want to hear about the Offensive and Defensive coordinators. That's where the games are won and lost.

If my memory serves me correct, we finally got ourselves an offensive-minded HC---just the type of HC you need to win in the AFC North. Looking at this divisions winners over the past decade---I am pretty sure majority of the winning organizations were headed by an offensive guru.

Go Holmgren---this guy gets it!!!!

Who?

I dont remember the Rams offense being all that great.

Very disappointed!!!

Well, finally the confirmation we have expected since yesterday.

Now we can move on to filling out our staff.....


Welcome to the Coaching Gauntlet Coach Shurmur.

I wish you to have better luck then those who have preceded you.

1 1/2 and I dont remember anything that made me think we need to get this offensive coordinator.

should we cry or wind our watch?

All I want to know is who is going to lead the charge on this board to get this guy fired.

I'm pretty sure Django will pass the torch.

You were able to decide that after 1 1/2 games? That's impressive.

I'm happy with this hire. With a team that has struggled to score, and has the making of a QB in Colt McCoy, this needs someone who is offensive-minded and has experience with a rookie QB.

If people are to complain, the only reason with merit, is that they had their eye on someone else.

But to question Holmgren's decision though, is absolutely asinine.

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i think it will be caldawg this time who will run the coach outta town

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Yes, because we all know how much power I wield. Okay... better get to work on that.

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Keep RYAN, SEELY, and bring in an experienced O-coordinator to help the young coach.

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Looks like Ryan is on his way out/already out.

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The source is Tony Grossi though.

I like Ryan, but I sure won't be heartbroken if he leaves, just like I won't be mad at all if he stays.

He didn't do anything these past 2 years that made me say "we gotta keep this guy!" He'd do great things, and he'd do questionable things.

JMHO

With no franchise QB I'll be setting the bar rather low.
I'll keep my fingers crossed he doesn't snub Shaun Rogers at a party. I certainly don't want to relive that hand wringing nightmare again.

Here a bit of advise Pat. Get at least a 3 year contract. Your predecessors agree an all expenses paid vacation courtesy of Randy Lerner does wonders for the soul.

Seriously, good luck Pat. I'll be rooting for ya. I just know you won't / can't be worse than Romeo.

Shurmur had been considered the favorite for the job all along. He's essentially an extension of team president Mike Holmgren, who worked with Shurmur's uncle Fritz in Green Bay. Shurmur runs the West Coast offense that Holmgren will more fully implement in 2011, and he's presided over quarterbacks Sam Bradford, Donovan McNabb and Kevin Kolb in his time in St. Louis and in Philadelphia, where he was the quarterbacks coach for 10 years. The 45-year-old Shurmur has never been a head coach at any level.


...Kolb wants out, Heckert drafted him...McNabb will be cut...I think 1 of them will be a Brown next season....if it's Kolb, then they aren't very high on McCoy...if it's McNabb, maybe as insurance? Would McNabb settle for a well paid backup job behind a youngster?

McNabb could easily go to SF or Arizona and start, doubt he wants to come here. And Phillys ganna want the moon for Kolb, who to me, isnt any more proven than McCoy.

hmmmm...

I was hoping for a widely cast net. I'm glad that we cast it widely over 3 guys and only one seemed like a serious chance at it. One who has serious ties with Holmgren. ugh.




THAT being said. I feel like pairing him with an experienced DC like a Rob Ryan or a Wade Phillips/Romeo Crennel/Mike Nolan type guy...someone who has experience running a successful defense but cant hack it as an HC. and we could be VERY successful.

I just hope Shurmur is a leader.

If we run the same O that the rams ran this year, we already have the perfect QB for it. Nothing beyond 15 yards. Hell we may have hired a HC to fit our qb lol

Really think Ryan would stay after not even getting an interview for the HC gig? Wouldn't be surprised if Cleveland isn't already in his rear view mirror.

Now maybe we will have all three guys on the same page rather Holmgren and Heckert with Mangini saying/doing whatever to hold his job.

Get the man some talent and lets play ball!!!