If you had align or alignment in the Jimmy Haslam news conference drinking game, are you alright? Do you need to take a nap and sleep it off?Today’s key word was alignment. If you weren’t able to listen, here’s some news that came out of today’s meeting with the Cleveland media. First, the Browns next coach will have NFL experience. So no college coaches. Sorry Lincoln Riley or Urban Myers, which is fine with me. Second the head coach will be hired first and the GM second with the input of the new head coach. Someone outside of the current front office, so no Eliot Wolf as GM. Wolf will stay with the Browns as assistant GM. Personally I like that idea, Wolf is a very talented personnel guy. The new GM and head coach will coexist and both will report to the owners. The two will be “aligned” with the analytics department (Paul Depodesta). Speaking of Depodesta, he will remain as chief strategy officer. and will not run the Browns. Third, the new GM will pick the 53 players on the roster and the coach will pick the 46 who play on Sunday. And lastly, the search committee will consist of Jimmy and Dee Haslam, J W Johnson ( Haslams son-in-law), Chris Cooper (Browns cap guy and the guy who stopped the A J McCarron trade) and Depodesta.
My takes from what Jimmy didn’t say. Former GM John Dorsey had more power than we thought. It sounds like he picked the players who played on Sunday, as well as the players on the roster. Also he had no use for the analytic department. In the current NFL, analytics is a valuable resource to help the GM and the scouting department decide on players. It is not how players are chosen, but a valuable tool in the decision process. Remember two years ago, Depodesta based on analytics, wanted to hire Josh McDaniels or current Bills head coach Sean McDermott. The Browns ended up keeping Hugh Jackson, so I’m all for analytics. Also, it sounds like the owners were not to sure about the Freddie Kitchens hire, but followed Dorsey’s recommendation. After all, he was a football guy. Hiring a head coach first, then the GM doesn’t bother me as long as they are both on the same page. Both the Seahawks and the 49ers did the same thing. In Buffalo, McDermott and the Bills first GM he worked for didn’t work well together. So Buffalo fired him and hired someone McDermott had worked with before and the Bills seem to be doing well. Like I’ve told a lot of fellow Browns fans here in Nashville, Jimmy only has to get this right once.
As for coaching interviews, Mike McCarthy was interviewed today and Greg Roman will be in Berea tonight for his interview. Sunday the Browns will be in San Francisco to interview Roger Saleh and Josh McDaniels has told teams he will be available January 10th for his interviews. I have not heard about when Kevin Stefanski or Brian Daboll will be interviewed. Stefanski did interview last year (another Depodesta recommendation). It’s been reported that the current structure being set up would scare Josh McDaniels off, but I think if he can help pick the GM he works with, that’s a plus. This sounds like the Haslams are finally about to get this right, but we’ll see. The next head coach and GM already have their QB and a very talented roster. Maybe this time the stars will “align” and the dysfunction train will finally be derailed. Or the light at the end of the tunnel could be another oncoming dysfunctional train. Cross your fingers Browns fans (and your toes). Go Browns.