It’s officially the off season and the Browns are in the market for a new head coach and possibly another front office restructure. You have to give Jimmy Haslam credit for one thing, like the true hillbilly he is, he likes to blow things up. The Browns aren’t wasting any time on this search, so far they have asked permission to talk to New England OC Josh McDaniels, Ravens OC Greg Roman, Vikings OC Kevin Stefanski and 49ers DC Robert Saleh. Also they’re going to interview former Packers coach Mike McCarthy. Now that things have settled down today, lets look at each candidate.
Josh McDaniels. Current OC for Bill Belichick. Has head coaching experience with Denver and turned down the Colts head coaching job after he said he would take it. Okay, he was a failure in Denver, but I think he was too young and thought he could be the next Belichick. Sorry there will never be another “Mumbles”. As for the Colts job, there were authority issues between McDaniels and the front office. The Haslams really like McDaniels and so does Paul Depodesta. McDaniels wanted the job two years ago and now feels he’s ready to be a head coach again. The next concern with McDaniels is he’s from the Belichick coaching tree and Bill runs everything. McDaniels has free range to call plays for the Patriots and his offense over the years has fit the players on the roster, what a concept. His hiring may cause a front office shake up. Rumors are if hired he wants his own GM from the Patriots front office. I’ve heard two names, Nick Caserio and Dave Ziegler. So hiring McDaniels might mean bye bye John Dorsey. More on this later.
Greg Roman. It never hurts to talk to your divisional rivals coaching staff when hiring a new coach. Best known for creating offenses for running style quarterbacks with OC stops in San Francisco, Buffalo and now Baltimore. He is very creative, but does the Browns current roster fit his scheme? Never been a head coach, and I really don’t want to go down that road again.
Kevin Stefanski. Another favorite of Paul Depodesta and interviewed last year with the Browns. Has done an incredible job as the Vikings OC with QB Kirk Cousins and RB Dalvin Cook. He runs a wide zone offense and I drool a little thinking about that offense with Mayfield, Chubb, Hunt, Landry and Beckham. His scheme definitely fits the talent on the roster. Would need to hire experienced coordinators, because he’s never been a head coach. one positive, he might keep special teams coach Mike Priefer.
Robert Saleh. A great defensive mind, but with the 49ers defense anyone can have a great defensive mind. Saleh is your Rooney Rule candidate, sorry Eric Bieniemy. Again no head coaching experience.
Mike McCarthy. He would definitely bring leadership and discipline to the Browns. As mentioned in an earlier blog, his offense isn’t geared for the modern NFL. McCarthy would probably keep offensive line coach James Campen and knows front office personnel Eliot Wolf and Alonzo Highsmith. I just worry we might get into another Butch Davis, Eric Mangini situation, a coach with too much power.
Of these candidates I’m most intrigued by McDaniels and Stefanski. I think McDaniels gets the job if he wants it, the Haslams want him so that tells you everything. Can Dorsey and McDaniels work together? It’s possible. The restructure I could see is Depodesta as team president, Dorsey as head of football operations and Caserio or Ziegler as GM. Unfortunately the Browns could lose Eliot Wolf, a very good talent elevator. I’ve heard that Alonzo Highsmith might be headed back to the University of Miami to head up their football program. As for the rest of the Browns coaching staff, they have not been fired, but have been told if offered another job, feel free to take it.
As for Dorsey. Yes, I know he pushed for the Kitchens hire and wasted draft picks on Austin Corbett and Antonio Callaway. Also he ignored the tackle position on the offensive line. But he did inherit a 0-16 team, traded for Jarvis Landry, drafted Denzel Ward, Nick Chubb, Baker Mayfield and signed Sheldon Richardson. I still think the Beckham trade was a good trade and will become a better trade in the years to come. I don’t want to see Dorsey go, he’s brought more talent to this team than any other GM in the expansion era, but football is a business.
The Browns have already set up times to interview McDaniels and Saleh. Ron Rivera is close to a deal in Washington. And Matt Rhule is the favorite for the Giants job. Last week the Browns sent out feelers to see if Rhule would be interested and he said no. As for Urban Myers, it’s the Cowboys or nothing. The Cowboys are interested in Rhule as well. John Dorsey has scheduled a news conference for tomorrow. I’ll be interested in what he says and how he answers questions from the Cleveland media. Enjoy this week Browns fans, it’s going to be one hell of a ride. Go Browns.
A late name to add to the list, Bills OC Brian Daboll. The Browns have requested and were granted an interview with Daboll. Just remember, current coordinators whose teams are still in the playoffs, can be interviewed but not hired until their teams lose. So I’m rooting for the Titans this week over the Patriots.