Hue Jackson and the Head Coach Tournament

Hue Jackson and Matt Patricia are now tied in my head coach desirability book.

The 49ers and Browns look like they're the main competitors for these two.

The Niners don't have a big advantage over the Browns other than weather.  Indeed, San Fransisco is in the People's Republic of California, so if Patricia or Jackson want to keep more of their own money, Cleveland is better.

The Giants may pursue Jackson as well, and that's not good.  The Giants have their franchise quarterback, plus some other big stars.  That franchise quarterback is the biggest selling point for any aspiring head coach.

That's so Browns: The Browns might well have had one in Manziel, but the idiot couldn't wait one more freaking day to go to Las Vegas, proving even to me that he does have serious problems.  (Those who say he failed to distinguish himself on the field have serious problems themselves.)

Terrelle Pryor was pretty informative about Hue Jackson.  He has a good resume, including Head Coaching experience.  I found listed among his "mistakes" trading for Carson Palmer.  

What happened in Cincinnati was partly Andy Dalton's own predictable evolution, but then when Dalton got hurt, his offense kept rolling with rookie A J McCarron.

He was handed all the other tools, with great talent at every other position on offense.  It's still impressive what he did with it.

Dalton has limitations, and McCarron was a rookie.

The synopsis of what Pryor said is that Jackson was a pleasure to be around (the anti-thesis of Doug Marrone) and is creative.  Pryor also said if you don't believe him, ask his good friend Carson Palmer.

Jackson took Pryor with him to Cincinnatti, but Pryor was released in training camp.  It says something about Pryor's maturity, objectivity, and intelligence that he can be pals with the guy who took his job with the Raiders and the guy who demoted him.

The Browns do have things going for them in the Jackson Derby.  Jackson knows the AFC North, and the Browns extant defensive personnel.  He's the Bengals brain who has been dissecting it, and sometimes getting beaten by it.

He knows what is here on defense.  He knows there is more talent on that side of the ball than the Giants of Niners have.  He won't listen to Jimmy Johnson or Chief Black Cloud.

The second overall draft pick isn't a bird in the hand, but Hue (or Matt) know that (hand-wringing by pundits aside) they will have the chance to pick a brand new franchise quarterback. The notion that a cap guy would override him is laughable, whatever nominal authority he has, and if he wants to make sure, he can stipulate that in his contract.

There are exciting tools here for Jackson.  In Cincinnatti he used a backfield committee that compares well to Duke and Crowell.  He had AJ Green and Marvin Jones.  He knows Pryor, has the ability to project his future at wide receiver, and is uncomfortably familiar with Josh Gordon.

With Josh McCown under contract for another season, he needn't necessarily throw his new quarterback in the fire prematurely.

The overall talent on this Browns team doesn't measure up to that of the Bengals, nor offensively to the Steelers, but is superior to the Ravens.  His first season might be a write-off as his new systems are learned on the job, but he could imagine a bright future.

Hue Jackson coached Joe Flacco as a rookie, made Pryor look good (for awhile), made Dalton an elite quarterback, then a rookie look really good, so I doubt that he's afraid he can't make Goff Into a winner.

Oh...Hue Jackson uses a lot of West Coast principles, and Goff is best suited to that with his decision-making, anticipation, accuracy, and quick release.

For that matter, big receivers fit well too, since they can make contested catches, and are dangerous after the catch.  Jackson will see Pryor, Gordon, Hartline, and Barnidge.  A lot to work with.

Hue Jackson was a scrambling quarterback in college, and cut his NFL teeth coaching running backs.  Before that, he coached wide receivers in college, and was the offensive coordinator at USC.

So Jimmy, you have my seal of approval on Hue Jackson.  Sorry it took so long to make up my mind, but you can make your offer now.

I need to mention this here:  There is a lack of interest in the Browns GM job, but as Tony Grossi pointed out, the position is much more likely to be a scouting position.

Sashi Brown will handle the negotiations and contracts, and most of the business side, so the talent guy will mainly just be in charge of (working with DePodesta) evaluating talent.

And the new head coach will most likely be the one who brings him in.

In short:  Big deal.  And while I'm at it, why do I have to see 11 articles about Johnny Manziel being cited for expired plates (or whatever).  How silly can you get?  C'mon, man!