|
|
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 42,413
Legend
|
OP
Legend
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 42,413 |
Source tells @NFLonFOX that Kevin O'Connell is @Browns new QBs coach; Kurt Roper hired as senior offensive assistant Perhaps the Browns thought if anyone could help quarterback Johnny Manziel recover from a disastrous rookie season, it would be someone who has tutored him in the past like Kevin O’Connell.
The Browns are in the process of hiring O’Connell as their new quarterbacks coach and Kurt Roper as a senior offensive assistant, a person familiar with the situation confirmed Saturday for the Beacon Journal. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the Browns have yet to make the moves official.
Fox Sports first reported the news.
O’Connell worked extensively with Manziel last year in preparation for the NFL Draft. He's one of the quarterback whisperers who collaborated with Massillon native George Whitfield Jr., another private coach of Manziel, at Whitfield Athletix in San Diego.
Last June, O'Connell revealed what he told NFL teams about Manziel leading up to the draft during an interview with CBS Sports columnist Bruce Feldman on "The Audible" podcast.
"What I did say was 'Johnny Manziel is able to do things on a football field that very few people can do, whether they're mentally ahead of other players at the position or not,'" O'Connell said. ... "If he can find a way to match that with his football knowledge and growing as a veteran in the NFL -- and it's going to take him some time -- but if he can find a way to do it, the sky is the limit."
The connections between O’Connell and the Browns, though, don't end with Manziel, the 22nd overall pick in last year's draft who has produced just three points in six quarters as a starter.
A former NFL journeyman, O'Connell spent time with the New York Jets as a backup quarterback from 2009-11. New Browns offensive coordinator John DeFilippo and was an assistant quarterbacks coach for the Jets in 2009. And Browns coach Mike Pettine was the Jets’ defensive coordinator from 2009-12.
In 2009, O’Connell, 29, lost a competition against Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer, who's scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on March 10, to serve as Tom Brady’s backup with the New England Patriots. In 2008, the Patriots drafted O’Connell in the third round out of San Diego State.
After the 2011 season, O'Connell was out of the league and privately coaching quarterbacks. He also has served as a college football analyst for ESPN and CBS.
O'Connell will replace Dowell Loggains, whom the Browns fired three weeks ago. Loggains recently became the new quarterbacks coach of the Chicago Bears.
Roper, 42, spent last season serving as the University of Florida's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He sought a new job because Florida fired coach Will Muschamp.
Roper was Duke’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2008-13. He has coached for three other schools but has never worked in the NFL.
O'Connell and Roper should complete the Browns' coaching staff in the aftermath of offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan resigning Jan. 8. In addition to hiring DeFilippo as Shanahan's replacement, the Browns also secured Joker Phillips as the successor to former wide receivers coach Mike McDaniel, who recently parted ways with the organization.
Last edited by cfrs15; 01/31/15 04:31 PM. Reason: Edited to add more information
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 42,413
Legend
|
|
OP
Legend
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 42,413 |
First question in the interview, "Will you talk about draft day stories on the radio?"
Answer: "No."
"You're hired."
O'Connell has ties to both Hoyer and Manziel (Hoyer beat him out for the Patriots backup job, Manziel worked with him during draft prep last off-season).
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 13,358
Legend
|
|
Legend
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 13,358 |
Anyone have any observations on Roper?
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 42,413
Legend
|
|
OP
Legend
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 42,413 |
Anyone have any observations on Roper? He was David Cutcliffe's QB coach and offensive coordinator from 2008 to 2013 at Duke. I don't see how Cutcliffe would ever hire anyone who doesn't know what they are doing with QBs. He was the QB coach at Kentucky when our new wide receiver coach (Joker Phillips) was the offensive coordinator at the school. Roper was Eli Manning's QB coach and offensive coordinator at Ole Miss. He got Driskel'ed (or Muschamp'ed, whichever you prefer) at Florida in 2014. He has never coached in the NFL at any point in his career. It seems like we went outside the box on all of our position coach hires.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 2,186
Dawg Talker
|
|
Dawg Talker
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 2,186 |
Anyone have any observations on Roper? I believe he is a big run offense scheme which is why he wasn't liked at U of F. People thought the team was to conservative.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 42,413
Legend
|
|
OP
Legend
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 42,413 |
Anyone have any observations on Roper? I believe he is a big run offense scheme which is why he wasn't liked at U of F. People thought the team was to conservative. But when he was at Duke they passed like there was no tomorrow. Thad Lewis and Sean Renfree were great under him and Cutcliffe according to things I am reading.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 42,413
Legend
|
|
OP
Legend
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 42,413 |
I'm told O'Connell's pre-draft work w/ Manziel wasn't a huge selling point in hiring process. #Browns thought he was best option regardless[.]
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 7,059
Hall of Famer
|
|
Hall of Famer
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 7,059 |
Wow! The hiring process has really gained momentum...bring on the FA and draft.
When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the losers...Socrates
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 8,556
Hall of Famer
|
|
Hall of Famer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 8,556 |
One thing I want to say on this and we go back to preseason last year. I really had a lot of reservations about the work done with Manziel. He was very accurate in college and then his predraft he was lights out but in preseason his mechanics looked stiff. I know these guys like to tinker but if O'Connel is the one that had him looking the way he did on his proday then hats off to Pettine for bringing him in here.
I am not big on slamming coaches till i see a finished product but Johnny did not improve under the last QB coach. We also saw Hoyer regress. I hope this move works out for the Browns. I really dont know anything much of anything about the guy, but will hope for the best.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 16,270
Legend
|
|
Legend
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 16,270 |
Well all of the angst is now removed.
Oh Johnny Dolittle please be our quarterback. Please work out over the off season. Please come to camp on time.
Please study the playbook. Please be serious about your job.
If you do all that gee the starting job is yours.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,212
Dawg Talker
|
|
Dawg Talker
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,212 |
that is my take as well- it is set up for Johnny to take this QB job. All he needs to do is pull his head out from his tuckus and mature a bit. Apply himself like this is a job, and let his athleticism take over.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,363
Dawg Talker
|
|
Dawg Talker
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,363 |
Well all of the angst is now removed.
Oh Johnny Dolittle please be our quarterback. Please work out over the off season. Please come to camp on time.
Please study the playbook. Please be serious about your job.
If you do all that gee the starting job is yours.
Stranger things have happened
#gmstrong
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 313
2nd String
|
|
2nd String
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 313 |
I saw this in PD, I can't confirm it, but.
" O'Connor is Hoyer's daughter's godfather"
Last edited by OrangeHelmet; 01/31/15 06:16 PM.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 7,059
Hall of Famer
|
|
Hall of Famer
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 7,059 |
I saw this in PD, I can't confirm it, but.
" O'Connor is Hoyer's daughter's godfather" It's a small world, isn't it...
When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the losers...Socrates
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,212
Dawg Talker
|
|
Dawg Talker
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,212 |
well, if that's the case, scratch my previous post. This favors both QB's ..... and maybe a reason for Hoyer to sign here in freeagency.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,711
Hall of Famer
|
|
Hall of Famer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,711 |
O'Connell is from the next town over. He has done well as a QB coach, and is well regarded. He was occasionally on NFL radio and was articulate.
I think it was a good hire.
Welcome back, Joe, we missed you!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,127
Legend
|
|
Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,127 |
I am amazed at how green and tightly knit these people are. I am willing to give it a chance (yes, again). Looks like we are trying to find somebody to shape JM up; good luck with that. More confidence in the hires than the salvage job at hand. But I hope it works. I really do.
"Every responsibility implies opportunity, and every opportunity implies responsibility." Otis Allen Glazebrook, 1880
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 55,499
Legend
|
|
Legend
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 55,499 |
Great, great hire. Another guy w/out NFL experience for what he is hired to do.
Wow, we have really upgraded the offensive coaching staff.
Top 5 offense next year. These guys are so, so much better than the guys we either let walk or fired.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,449
Dawg Talker
|
|
Dawg Talker
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,449 |
Hmmm...
O'Connell worked with Brice Petty...
Roper worked with Eli Manning...
I think things might get interesting in Berea this March!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 2,186
Dawg Talker
|
|
Dawg Talker
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 2,186 |
Anyone have any observations on Roper? I believe he is a big run offense scheme which is why he wasn't liked at U of F. People thought the team was to conservative. But when he was at Duke they passed like there was no tomorrow. Thad Lewis and Sean Renfree were great under him and Cutcliffe according to things I am reading. Good catch!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 12,635
Legend
|
|
Legend
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 12,635 |
well, if that's the case, scratch my previous post. This favors both QB's ..... and maybe a reason for Hoyer to sign here in freeagency. This is one thing I like about the hire. He's worked with one QB and another potentially if Hoyer resigns. He obviously knew what he was getting into and he was open to accepting all the challenges that fall under the Johnny Football "project". Good luck, and welcome to Cleveland Kevin!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 5,401
Hall of Famer
|
|
Hall of Famer
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 5,401 |
All I'll say is welcome to Cleveland Kevin. I wish you all the best and hope you do a great job.!!!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 16,270
Legend
|
|
Legend
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 16,270 |
Read this today and thought this was very accurate:
"Greg Cosell, NFL analyst and senior producer for NFL Films who breaks down hours of tape, has serious doubts about Manziel and doesn't put him in the class of a Wilson.
"He's not Russell Wilson because first of all he's not as gifted as Russell Wilson,'' said Cosell. "And the only reason people say Russell Wilson is because of the size, but he does not have the same physical tools or the natural savvy and awareness that Russell has.
"Wilson has a way better arm, way better mechanics, a more refined and advanced sense of spacial relations. Russell Wilson is a structure improviser and by that I mean he moves with a defined purpose. Johnny Manziel is a random improviser. He moves and then tries to figure it out and there's a major difference between the two.''
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 43,111
Legend
|
Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 43,111 |
I don't know if this is a good hire or not, but unlike some, I'm not going to pick on it because he doesn't have the exact experience as an NFL coach.
Everyone that is a coach in the NFL has, at one time, not had any NFL experience. Always a first time. Not a reason to pick on the guy.
I keep thinking of coaches we've had here that had prior experience in the NFL. It's not now nor has it ever been a guarantee of success.
What he has done seems like good work so far. So let's see what the kid has.
#GMSTRONG
“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.”
Daniel Patrick Moynahan
"Alternative facts hurt us all. Think before you blindly believe."
Damanshot
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 13,205
Legend
|
|
Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 13,205 |
He certainly did a bang up job getting Johnny ready for the NFL. Sorry, that may have been a cheap shot. You're right, we should give him a chance. I just hope this hire isn't our team telling us that Manziel is Plan A for 2015.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,950
Dawg Talker
|
|
Dawg Talker
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,950 |
as usual the Browns never get the man in demand.They always settle for coordinators from the Goodwill stuffed animal bin.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 17,475
Legend
|
|
Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 17,475 |
Wonder if he was looking at Russel Wilsons college tape vs MANZIELS. Or was he looking at this seasons tape vs. Manziel's 2014 games.
Cosell was he a coach? Player? What is his background?
Love this hire. He has a connection with both JM and Hoyer possibly being the straw to have Hoyer sign here if we wish to have him.
He's been a private TEACHER of the QB position. NFL experience...I guess one has to count the fact he was a 3rd round pick QB by the PATS...learning as an understudy of Brady. Learning several more years with the Jets.
More NFL experience actually than most of our past QB coaches. Actually playing in the NFL as a QB regardless of the fact he never made it but learned so that he taught it.
He is not an OC, he is a QB coach...probably better qualified than more than half of the QB coaches out there. Including the one we just fired.
jmho
Defense wins championships. Watson play your butt off!
Go Browns!
CHRIST HAS RISEN!
GM Strong! & Stay safe everyone!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 16,270
Legend
|
|
Legend
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 16,270 |
""Greg Cosell, NFL analyst and senior producer for NFL Films who breaks down hours of tape""
====================================================
Really it is irrelevant what he is. I don't care if he is just like you and me; a fan.
http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2015/01/russell_wilsons_qb_coach_sees.html
I think he is spot on in explaining the difference between Wilson and Manziel.
It seems like a lot of people believe that Manziel can be just Wilson "if" he applies himself.
Cosell makes a good point on the difference between them.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 12,635
Legend
|
|
Legend
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 12,635 |
From what we've seen of JF, I wish they'd stop comparing to anyone, especially someone of the stature of Wilson. JF has demonstrated nothing and until he actually does something, I wish they'd just stop with those type of articles. There is just nothing to compare to them in terms of their careers in the NFL. And from that article: Greg Cosell, NFL analyst and senior producer for NFL Films who breaks down hours of tape, has serious doubts about Manziel and doesn't put him in the class of a Wilson.
"He's not Russell Wilson because first of all he's not as gifted as Russell Wilson,'' said Cosell. "And the only reason people say Russell Wilson is because of the size, but he does not have the same physical tools or the natural savvy and awareness that Russell has.
"Wilson has a way better arm, way better mechanics, a more refined and advanced sense of spacial relations. Russell Wilson is a structure improviser and by that I mean he moves with a defined purpose. Johnny Manziel is a random improviser. He moves and then tries to figure it out and there's a major difference between the two.''
Johnny Football aspires to be like DangeRuss Wilson, but most experts agree he's got a long way to go, both on and off the field.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,425
Hall of Famer
|
|
Hall of Famer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,425 |
Read this today and thought this was very accurate:
"Greg Cosell, NFL analyst and senior producer for NFL Films who breaks down hours of tape, has serious doubts about Manziel and doesn't put him in the class of a Wilson.
''
i pretended to `scout` manzel and watched a few games on internet...he looked exactly the same...raw and threw balls up for grab. bad mechanics of throwing off back foot. His highlight reals incude a bunch of hailmarys mostly. And the rest are him running. No way does that make it in nfl....he`ll have to change alot. To go from a make your own play to read the defence is like 2nd grade to college...
I`m good with Baker... Playoffs is good enough for me.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,425
Hall of Famer
|
|
Hall of Famer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,425 |
he even had a hard time of trying to use playaction, fumbling balls....looked to familiar
I`m good with Baker... Playoffs is good enough for me.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 12,635
Legend
|
|
Legend
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 12,635 |
To go from a make your own play to read the defence is like 2nd grade to college... But Manziel is still in first grade and hasn't showed signs of even advancing to second grade lol... JF will need to make a very radical and extreme change to be "the guy" IMO.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 2,657
Dawg Talker
|
|
Dawg Talker
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 2,657 |
He is not an OC, he is a QB coach...probably better qualified than more than half of the QB coaches out there. Including the one we just fired.
jmho
Just our of curiosity, does a QB coach work with all of the QB's and does he just focus on mechanics? Or does he help with playing the entire position, reading defenses, implementing the playbook? Also, if you have 3 roster QB's, do they work as a group of would he just be a JM teacher mostly?
"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness." [Mark Twain]
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 582
All Pro
|
|
All Pro
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 582 |
Read this today and thought this was very accurate:
..Johnny Manziel is a random improviser. He moves and then tries to figure it out and there's a major difference ...
Yes, this is what i saw about him in his college career, and i was unable to put it into words like this. Good catch and post, bonefish (no pun)! It was-and is- the main reason i didn't want the Browns to take him. He's essentially Fran Tarkenton. I loved Fran in a different era, but those days are gone in the NFL.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,127
Legend
|
|
Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,127 |
Ditto. Roger that. Welcome to Cleveland. Get to work.
"Every responsibility implies opportunity, and every opportunity implies responsibility." Otis Allen Glazebrook, 1880
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,469
Dawg Talker
|
|
Dawg Talker
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,469 |
When I watched tape of Manziel in college.. I felt that Mike Evans should have won the Heisman. In other words, Mike Evans made Johnny Manziel. Evans made up for all of the bad footwork, the throwing off the back foot, the Helter-Skelter approach to the game, because Evans was the most talented football player on the field. Anything thrown near Evans was caught, and the guy could block too. Unfortunately, the Browns did not get Evans. They only got Manziel.
Since there are no QBs in this years draft who can be reasonably be drafted by the Browns, that appear to be a good upgrade over Manziel. Are there any receivers in the draft that are comparable to Evans? To me, that is now the question.
I am not high on Manziel, but if we have to go with him, I feel that the Browns should correct, if that is possible, what can be correctable with Manziel and find him a new Mike Evans. A receiver talented enough to make up for Manziel's gaffs.
The Cleveland Browns - WE KNOW QUARTERBACKS ( Look at how many we've had ... )
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 8,556
Hall of Famer
|
|
Hall of Famer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 8,556 |
I would have to say Parker from Louisville is this years Mike Evans. He isnt as physically as strong but he may be faster and he has the hands and leaping ability. I think its a tossup between Parker and Cooper as to who is the best player in this draft.
As for Manziel, I have not lost faith in Manziel. He needs reps. He needs playing time. he needs to get his ass in gear but the kid can be our franchise.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 43,111
Legend
|
|
Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 43,111 |
He certainly did a bang up job getting Johnny ready for the NFL. Sorry, that may have been a cheap shot. You're right, we should give him a chance. I just hope this hire isn't our team telling us that Manziel is Plan A for 2015. Honestly, I think the problem is more between Johnnys ears. We'll see if the constant buzzing in his ear from O'Connell will have a positive effect. Either way, the biggest obstacle for Manziel is Manziel.
#GMSTRONG
“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.”
Daniel Patrick Moynahan
"Alternative facts hurt us all. Think before you blindly believe."
Damanshot
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 13,205
Legend
|
|
Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 13,205 |
Either way, the biggest obstacle for Manziel is Manziel. I don't really agree with this. All the desire and dedication in the world isn't going to turn Johnny Manziel into Russell Wilson. Manziel's biggest obstacles are the size, power, speed and complexity of the NFL's defenses, IMO.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,066
Hall of Famer
|
|
Hall of Famer
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,066 |
Either way, the biggest obstacle for Manziel is Manziel. I don't really agree with this. All the desire and dedication in the world isn't going to turn Johnny Manziel into Russell Wilson. Manziel's biggest obstacles are the size, power, speed and complexity of the NFL's defenses, IMO. And an atrocious hand off! I swear every hand off he was running in to the RB.
"Hey, I'm a reasonable guy. But I've just experienced some very unreasonable things."
-Jack Burton
-It looks like the Harvard Boys know what they are doing after all.
|
|
|
DawgTalkers.net
Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Browns hire Kevin O'Connell as QB
coach
|
|
![[Linked Image from dcptest.com]](http://www.dcptest.com/kelly64.jpg)