DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Potential Head Coaches II

We have interviewed Whisenhunt, Horton, Marrone, and O'Brien. O'Brien caused the entire state of Pennsylvania to freak out so he stayed (and got a raise).

We interview Kelly today.

Perhaps irrational, non-fact based, hunchy prediction... we don't come away with a college coach. I think the whole "pick the coach first" philosophy was 100% with Kelly in mind. Once he doesn't choose us (face it, he's interviewing us) because our roster is isn't the best suited to his style of the 3 suitors and because our whole front office is a giant ??? and everything is a hall of mirrors with regard to the browns, and well, because who picks the Browns over the Eagles... we'll change course and pick up Scott Pioli and go after a coordinator or other plan B, C, D.

I'm still hoping that we wind up with Bruce Arians.

I won't be completely upset if we get Kelly ...... because he does sound like the kind of coach who can succeed in the NFL ...... but he just has no experience, and that still worries me.

Can't Lie... Bruce Arians would flat bum me out to no end. He sucked so bad when he was here and got fired a few times. Has one good stretch and he's on the list. C'est la vie

To be honest, there's really very few candidates that excite me in the least. I think we're building a dysfunctional structure with a powerful-ish coach, an all powerful CEO and a toothless GM. What coach worth his salt wants to cede ultimate roster control to a non-football businessman with a nasty rep for bottom-lining. And he's going to have this sorta kinda player scout/GM in his hair in an undefined role.... yeah, well. Maybe I'm wrong. Hope I am. But "innovative" business structures are usually called that to accommodate or compensate.

There was some radio chatter that Steve Spurrier was being interviewed about his and Nick Sabans relationship. He said they got along ok. Then, unsolicited said I dont know if he'll take the Browns job.

So, whatever you wish to make of it, there it is.

I believe Saban is still the #1 target and I'm sure the power aspect intrigues him.

One thing is for sure, all the other SEC coaches will rejoice if Saban leaves.

Man I love Steve Spurrier... always keeps things interesting.

Yeah, I thought so too.

Odd Spurrier said that out of nowhere. And where did he gain that knowledge?
He made it sound that Saban actually an offer on the board.

I'd like Saba ONLY if he's in it 110% this time!

Now there's a Cowher to Carolina rumor out there.

Its based on a 'hunch' per PFT. Silly silly season...

Quote:

---

Say what you will, but Kelly's total experience as a HC is four years. He's never been a coach in any capacity in the NFL. Until 2007 he never even coached at a major university in any capacity.

---

I guess Jim Harbaugh's 1 year as QB coach for the Raiders must be why he's so successful then because other than that, he has 7 years at Western Kentucky as an assistant and 5 or 6 as a HC in college and only 3 of those at Stanford, the rest are at the University of San Diego...

Pit, I get that you want certain characteristics in your coach but the simple fact is that there is no guaranteed formula or teams like the Chiefs and Browns and Lions and the like wouldn't be looking for new coaches every 2.3 years... and there are a bunch of successful coaches out there and they all have different backgrounds.. some played at a high level, some didn't.. some were HCs in college and some weren't... some have long resumes of position coaching in the NFL and some don't.. simple fact is that there is no formula... that's why some of the hot coordinators fail and other guys succeed...

I still like my team of

Whisenhunt-HC
Mornhinweg-OC
Jauron-DC

Make it happen Jimmy Haslam!

Surely you jest?

Harbaugh actually played QB in the NFL for 15 years learning NFL O's and playing in them first hand.

We was also a HC in the NCAA for 7 years, not 4.

While I will openly admit I may have somewhat questioned that move, the difference is night and day. I really don't consider this comparison close at all.

I really think trying to sell the idea of a guy who has only been an NCAA HC for 4 years with no NFL experience combined is little more than a spin cycle.

I'm not sure if you are spinning it to yourself or to others. But this very innexperienced guy as a HC isn't close to Harbaugh or anyone else I can think of that's had NFL success.

It's a decision of massive proportion!

You just never know.

Think of how many guys get shots and will NEVER be good HC's.
How many are potential stars waiting for their chance and how many
might be HOF coaches who may NEVER get their shot!

I'm a believer that there are many (Romeo?) who are fantastic at a given spot but havent the potential to go higher. And vice versa I suppose.

I freely admit that I keep going back and forth and back and forth on this whole coaching situation.

My preferred candidate is still Arians. I won't be completely upset if we go with Kelly ..... but I do have some concerns. I'm allowed to have concerns about a candidate. Hell, I have concerns about most of the candidates.

Do you have commitment issues?



Okay let me re-phrase........

Out of all of the potential coaching candidates out there, where would you rank Kelly on that list?

ie...... How many better qualified coaching candidates do you feel are available?

I'm actually just trying to get a guage on where evryone actually would stand with this slection and many seem eerily non-commital in their opinion......

Things that make you go hmmmmmm......

I see Kelly as a huge boom or bust. I wouldn't want to take the risk if I was in charge of the decision.

That said if he were hired it could turn out to be great. I would just rather someone else take the risk.

I have major commitment issues ...... just ask any woman I've dated.

As far as coaches, my preferences would be:

Arians
Kelly
Shanahan
Wisenhunt
McCoy
Saban

The only reason I an wary of a guy like Saban is because it would completely blow up the defense ..... and the DL is one of the strongest and deepest units this team has. We would need at least 2 most LB to play the 3-4, with at least one being a great pass rusher. Lots of changes would have to be made there.

I just hate to retool an offense to run even a quasi form of his system and have it fail. We'd be set back 3- 5 years...again.

I'm not saying he is sure to fail just that failure would kill us.

To me, he falls after

Whisenhunt
McCoy
Smith
Saban
either Gruden
Zimmer

Okay. I never actually expected you to have him listed second on your list, but thanks for the honest and straight forward reply.

I do have thew concern on D that you do with Saban, but if everything else is going to be blown up, I guess I'm not as worried about a single component.

My list is similar to your with only a few adjustments but Kelly ranks about the same on my list as he does yours.

Jon Gruden
Kyle Shanahan
Whisenhunt
Jay Gruden
Saban
Smith
Zimmer

I didnt list shanahan as I thought he removed himself.

I also could jog that list a bit too. Just rattled off names not necessarily in my preference, just above kelly.

I'm warming up to Whisenhunt,provided he brings Russ Grim with him.
Jauron did a decent enough job the past two years to warrant an invitation to stay.
Mourningwig is a flat out no way.I've seen enough of this WCO crap to last me a lifetime.
We agree on two out three.
I gotta stop drinking,I'm getting too nice and it's ruining my reputation.

I think that Kelly is smart enough to know that he can't run his exact offense in the NFL without getting his QB killed, and without running his defense ragged. He doesn't have 100 players to work with .... he's limited to 45 on gameday. You can't run everyone ragged, and you can't carry 3 or 4 QBs in case you break a few.

O'Brien and the guy from Syracuse have dropped out of the running. I like what Shanahan and McCoy have done as coordinators, but I don't know what kind of leaders they would be. That affects their placement on my list. I am wary of a guy like Wisenhunt coming right out of a job into another. We went through that with Mangini. Ditto for Lovie Smith. (who I was never a huge fan of to start with) I would love to see us grab an offensive minded head coach, then go get Marinelli from Chicago to take over the defense. he is a genius on defense, and would be a huge upgrade over Jauron.

I don't want you to get the wrong idea,but I don't see anyone,maybe Marezic,that would only excel in the WCO.
Come to think of it,the two guys advertized as fits for the WCO,Marezic and Cameron,have been failures in it.
Hell,ship them to KC.

Actually, maybe we can trade McCoy to KC.

And draft our punter!

Mularkey is set to be released as Jags OC.
Somebody mentioned him a while back I think.

http://www.nfl.com/news/around-the-league?id=0ap1000000121939

Browns poised to interview Oregon’s Chip Kelly, hot name hopes to have process over “quickly”

AP
CLEVELAND — The courtship of Chip Kelly is under way.

The Browns and at least two other NFL teams are expected to interview Oregon’s offensive-minded coach, who said following Thursday night’s Fiesta Bowl win over Kansas State that he hopes to have the process “wrapped up quickly.”

Loading...
Comments

Weigh InCorrections?Recommend
Tweet
Personal Post .Along with the Browns, the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles are reportedly in Arizona and have scheduled meetings over the next two days with Kelly.

The 49-year-old said he’s entering the interview open-minded. He turned down an offer from Tampa Bay last year to return for his fourth season at Oregon, where he is 46-7. He has boosted the school’s national profile with a high-powered offense capable of turning any game into a track meet.

“It’s more a fact-finding mission, finding out if it fits or doesn’t fit,” Kelly said after the Ducks beat No. 7 Kansas State 35-17. “I’ve been in one interview in my life for the National Football League, and that was a year ago. I don’t really have any preconceived notions about it. I think that’s what this deal is all about for me. It’s not going to affect us in terms of we’re not on the road (recruiting). I’ll get an opportunity if people do call, see where they are.

“I want to get it wrapped up quickly and figure out where I’m going to be.”

Kelly is at or near the top of the Browns’ list of candidates to replace Pat Shurmur, who was fired earlier this week after going 9-23 in two seasons. Cleveland owner Jimmy Haslam and CEO Joe Banner have been conducting interviews in Arizona all week, searching for the team’s sixth coach since 1999.

The Browns have declined comment on any interviews.

Cardinals defensive coordinator Ray Horton confirmed he interviewed with Cleveland earlier this week. The Browns have reportedly met with former Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt, Syracuse coach Doug Marrone and Penn State’s Bill O’Brien, who removed himself from any consideration on Thursday night and intends to stay at the school.

Kelly doesn’t have any NFL coaching experience, but aspects of his up-tempo offense are already being used by some teams.

Kelly wouldn’t say if he was leaning one way or another following the Ducks’ bowl win.

“I said I’ll always listen, and that’s what I’ll do,” he said. “I know that people want to talk to me because of our players. The success of our football program has always been about our guys. It’s an honor for someone to say they’d want to talk to me about maybe moving on to go coach in the National Football League. But it’s because of what those guys do. I’ll listen, and we’ll see.”

Oregon could be facing possible NCAA sanctions for the school’s use of recruiting services, but Kelly indicated he isn’t running from anything.

“We’ve cooperated fully with them,” he said. “If they want to talk to us again, we’ll continue to cooperate fully. I feel confident in the situation.”

Oregon’s players gave Kelly a Gatorade bath as the final seconds ticked off the clock in Thursday night’s game, and afterward a few of the Ducks seemed resigned to their coach moving on.

“We’ll have to see,” quarterback Marcus Mariota said. “Whatever he decides to do, we’re all behind him. He’s an unbelievable coach. He’s not only a football coach, but he’s someone that you can look to and learn a lot of life lessons from. Whatever happens, happens. But we’re all behind him.

“We’ll see where it takes us.”

Link

This is the part about him that tells me he will know if we are right for him.

“It’s more a fact-finding mission, finding out if it fits or doesn’t fit,” Kelly said after the Ducks beat No. 7 Kansas State 35-17. “I’ve been in one interview in my life for the National Football League, and that was a year ago. I don’t really have any preconceived notions about it."

The man knows what he wants and what path to take to get there. This should tell us alot about Haslam and Banner and how they envision the Browns being run.
At least we can all be confident that if Kelly doesnt feel its right he wont just take the job because of money or ego.

I don't really see a total tear down. I don't think if he comes here we will see the same offense that he runs with the ducks. I would think more along what NE runs.


Over time we may see more of what they do but right away I think we have a lot of players he can work with.

I still think he's a huge risk that I hope another team takes.

Has anyone forgot we still have Brad Childress as our OFFENSIVE Coordinator? We also have Dick Jauron as our Defensive Coordinator and Ray Rhodes as our defensive assistant. What we need is an OFFENSIVE minded coach. Our defense has been solid and stellar the last 2 years. 8 Games over the course of 2 years (4 last,4 this year) we ha the lead deep into the 4th quarter some within 2 minutes. This year was Philly,Indy, Dallas,Balt(game 2), We need someone with an offensive imagination. I would LOVE to see Kelly.

We dont know their status though. All were given permission to look elsewhere but not outright terminated.

Yep. Hell, Childress could join Reid in KC. Who knows?

I want a strong offensive minded head coach, and then go get Rod Marinelli from Chicago. I love the way Chicago creates turnovers by the dozens ...... and score on defense to boot. They get pressure and wreak havoc on opposing offenses. I would love to see our defensive guys with a coach like that.

Jauron is OK ..... but Marinelli would be like the da Vinci of defense.

Quote:

---

“It’s more a fact-finding mission, finding out if it fits or doesn’t fit,”

---

This is my problem.

Kelly is the one being interviewed. Right?

All anyone is talking about is what team fits HIM best. Not the other way around.

Jimmy as Joe better go into the interview with the attitude that they will be the bosses, not that they are giving the keys to Kelly.

On the flip side. Kelly is in a win win here. He can come to the NFL and win. But if he doesn't. He'll have offers out the door to come back to College.