Excuse me while a rant a little. I know the expectations for the 2019 Cleveland Browns were sky high and a ton of fans, including myself, got caught up in the hype. Franchise quarterback, stud running back, two star receivers and a defense that looked dominating in the preseason. Then the wheels of the bus flew off, AGAIN. So as Browns fans, here we sit with another redo. Having seen this bus wreck too many times, my natural born Cleveland cynicism has grown through the years, however this has a different feel to it. Because of my age, I’m lucky to have seen Jim Brown play, completely enjoyed the Kardiac Kids and went on the wild ride that was the Bernie Kosar years. So I know what good Cleveland Browns football looks like. I guess I’m more patient than most people, but watching Browns twitter since the season ended has been frustrating. Look, I understand the younger Browns fans have not enjoyed the fruits of their affection. This “win now” expectation will always bite you in the ass, so stop it. By the way, this isn’t a “get off of my lawn” rant. I’m going to try and dazzle you with logic, real logic, not Browns fan logic.
First Jimmy Haslam did the right thing by firing both Freddie Kitchens and John Dorsey. Freddie couldn’t coach his way out of an open paper bag and Dorsey was starting to gain too much control. Besides, he wanted to bring back Kitchens for another year. I thought both would do well in the beginning, Freddie’s lack of coaching ability and organizational skills sent him packing and some of Dorsey’s personnel decisions and the ignoring of the offensive line still makes me shake my head. Enter a slow, well thought out, coaching search. Wait, Jimmy isn’t listening to some homeless guy or other NFL owners or old washed up football guys? Nope, he’s finally going to listen to Paul Depodesta. Hold on a minute, a baseball computer nerd is going to run the once proud Cleveland Browns? No, he’s going to try and provide the necessary information to help find the perfect match for the Browns. I have no idea why the word “analytics” drives fear into Browns fans hearts. It’s also called RESEARCH. Paul Brown had an assistant coach who did nothing but research on opponents. It ain’t a new thing people. The simplest way to explain analytics is for you to look at your cell phone. That’s analytics. All of us use analytics everyday, whether it’s setting up our play list, searching for a restaurant, watching a video, listening to a pod cast or god help us all, going on twitter.
I love how this off season is going so far. Kevin Stefanski seems like a no nonsense type of coach who will bring an offense that plays to the strengths of the players on the roster. New GM Andrew Berry worked his way up the ladder as a scout and then into the front office. No, he’s not responsible for the Browns 1-31 seasons. That’s like saying I’m responsible for Block Buster Video stores closing, because my wife and I stopped renting videos. Sashi Brown and Hugh Jackson bear that responsibility ( not Block Buster, the 1-31 seasons). The next meltdown that came was caused by both Alonzo Highsmith and Eliot Wolf leaving. Highsmith was going to leave anyway and the Browns tried to keep Wolf, but he decided to go elsewhere. That’s life in the NFL, new GM, new people, it happens all the time. I’m glad Berry did it fast, before the NFL Combine, now he’ll have the people he can trust to evaluate talent. But wait, Wolf and Highsmith were at the Senior Bowl, now the Browns have no one in the front office who was at the Senior Bowl. Just a reminder, the Browns new OC, Alex Van Pelt was on the coaching staff for the South team at the Senior Bowl. He got more access to players than the scouts. By the way, the Browns still have a franchise QB, a stud running back and two star wide receivers.
Speaking of the Browns new OC. I like the hire. He was Aaron Rogers QB coach at Green Bay and Rogers was pissed when Packer coach Mike McCarthy didn’t retain him. But wait, Browns twitter says he sucks because he was with the Bengals last year and they went 4-12. See the above reference about Block Buster. So far I’m really liking how this coaching staff is coming together. Stefanski retained both ST coach Mike Priefer and RB coach Stump Mitchell (best beard in the NFL), then hired a top five offensive line coach in Bill Callahan. You have to have at least one former head coach on the staff of a first time head coach. New wide receivers coach Chad O’Shea is a former OC and QB coach and TE coach Drew Petzing was the WR coach with the Vikings last year and has worked with Stefanski. On defense the only official hire has been DB coach Jeff Howard, again formally with the Vikings. The expectation is 49ers DB coach Joe Woods will be the new Browns DC and he already has two assistants lined up. I’m curious to see who the DL and LB coaches will be. Woods was recommended by Wade Phillips which fine by me.
The only question remaining is who will be the QB coach? But wait, Browns twitter says there won’t be a QB coach and Stefanski, a first time head coach will call his own plays. Everyone panic, it’s Freddie all over again. Nope, the Browns will hire a QB coach and Van Pelt will likely call plays. An under the radar hire was Callie Brownson as Kevin Stefanski’s Chief of Staff. She was an intern last year with the Bills and is basically the head coach’s personal assistant. She makes sure the football part of the operation runs smoothly, so the head coach doesn’t have to worry about that. It’s a first for a woman in the NFL, excellent hire Browns.
To all those Browns twitter warriors who are jumping off the Browns band wagon, have a nice trip, don’t let the door hit you where the good lord split you. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not drinking the Browns kool-aid just yet, I’m still in a wait and see mode. 1-19-1 in season openers still looms large for me. But it looks like everyone in the organization is pulling in the same direction for once in the Haslam era. Hopefully they are all pulling in the winning direction. Remember there’s a thin line between hope and insanity. I’m leaning towards hope right now, hope that the Browns don’t drive me crazy for another year. Everyone enjoy the Super Bowl and Go Browns.