Good news! The Vikings beat the Saints in New Orleans (unmistakably on Rodney Cousinsfield's arm in overtime).
This win increases the chances that Zimmer will indeed be retained as Head Coach.
As Dan Justik pointed out last week, Stefanski was Zimmer's likliest replacement, should the latter get the axe.
I feel Stefanski may be higher on the Browns' (or at least DePodesta's) list than the great Josh McDaniels--and so might KC OC Bieniemy.
Both these guys adapt their schemes to their quarterbacks and personnel. Bieniemy had the support and tutelage of Andy Reid, while Stefanski did most of what he did on his own...
McDaniels had Tom Brady all along so...ps and McCarthy had Favre, then Rodgers.....
...
Anyway Bieniemy definitely had something to do with Pat Mahomes's instant and sustained awesomeness, despite the periodic absence of Tyreek Hill and the loss of Kareem Hunt.
His offense just kept keepin on keepin on; always in the top 4.
Stefanski does have a good QB in Cousins, but Kirk's not like Mahomes. Cousins was so-so in 2018 prior to Stefanski's promotion to OC.
With the return of Dalvin Cook in 2019, Stefanski set up a run-oriented play-action offense that made Kirk Cousins one of the best Quarterbacks in the NFL in every statistical category.
He could obviously do exactly that here, for Baker Mayfield.
Greg Roman is another guy in my top 3 candidates (yeah 3: McDaniels is 4th).
He's a ton more experienced than Stefanski and Bieiniemy, and has coordinated under both Harbaugh brothers.
As we've seen, he did an amazing job of making Colon Kaperdick look a lot better than he actually was in Frisco (*it wasn't his politics that caused his demise, ok? Hell, CHIP KELLY couldn't do anything with him before the assclown started his bullcrap*)
Of course, Lamar Jackson is a different story. In year 2, he is way more decisive and accurate, with better touch than Kaperdick (obviously way smarter too). He's a real quarterback, and Greg Roman must have helped him develop into one.
Roman doesn't care about guidelines or rules. He found himself with 3 terrific tight ends and found a way to get them on the field (this helped Jackson a lot by the way, as he's neck-deep in extra pass-protectors, run-blockers, and security blankets---all of which overmatch the linebackers and safeties...well I just love Greg Roman!)
All 3 of these guys adapt. Mike McCarthy has an amazing w/l record, but he seems like Mywayorthehighway Haley to me; doing it "by the book" regardless of the unique traits of his quarterback, or the unconventional makeup of his skill-players.
McCarthy in Baltimore? In KC? In Minnesota?
...I suspect that he'd be fine in KC with Mahomes, but bet he would manage to inhibit Lamar Jackson and Kirk Cousins.
Wet Blanket Dan points out that Paul DePodesta's contract with the Browns expires shortly, and does a great job of extrapolationalizing:
Paul could hit the dusty trail if the new Head Coach/GM combo don't want him around.
As I've told you, DePodesta is in demand as a lecturer and consultant throughout the business community and acedemia, and this Browns' stuff is kind of a "hobby" for him.
Dan is correct, except Jimmy Haslam (the "meddler") wants to keep this genius around, and has structured the latest business model to accommodate that without messing up the "football" people.
Like many other otherwise smart people, Dan doesn't quite "get" DePodesta's role here. Indeed, Dan mentions that DePodesta doesn't live near Cleveland.
That's because (technicalities aside) DePodesta is a business consultant. He doesn't want to (and isn't paid to) manage daily operations or micromanage personnel decisions.
He is here to say "waitaminnit!"
-These 2 guys have been benched due to injury through half their careers, and this trade will increase the salary cap by 6.5% AND cost us our 17th overall draft pick and an elite SS in year 2 of his 5-year rookie contract.
-this linebacker has superstar potential and is on the second year of his rookie deal why the hell are you trading him for nothing?
-why are you paying this mediocre Right Tackle like he's in the top ten?
-why did you dump these 2 Defensive Ends who are starting for other teams now, aside from the fact that you weren't the guy who drafted them?
-What was wrong with Fells? Peppers? Nassib? Ogbah? Orchard?
-Do you see that these moves will force us to let some of our best players go in the near future, and that you are spending and pissing away what I gave you like a drunken sailor?
There is no rational reason why any Coach or his GM should have a problem with this business consultant. (Look up "rational").
...really, I can't fathom why nobody else seems to get this! Even Dan Justik cites the fact that DePodesta won't gain more "power" as a reason why he might leave!
-sigh- maybe football fans are just wired to think like pack animals or something, or the unreality show culture has brainwashed you into thinking life is more dramatic than it is, but really:
Paul DePodesta is rich and likes to keep busy and is having fun trying to turn the Browns into a dynasty, like he has fun salvaging failing businesses or turbocharging mediocre ones.
HE is rational, and doesn't care about status or power, and (like me) regards all that bullcrap about like you guys regard watching monkeys in the zoo.
To Paul DePodesta, John Dorsey was a super-smart alpha-male monkey. Paul had no interest in challenging him (on that level).
Most likely (check back a couple posts) DePodesta opposed several Dorsey decisions, but didn't feel intimidated or diminished when he "lost", you see?
He watched Dorsey thump his chest and urinate on trees, and waited for the results (and reality) to sink in. He knew that Jimmy Haslam would remember what he said.
Is any of this sinking in yet?
And I submit to you that if Dorsey had lost his arguments with DePodesta (unthinkable, of course, no matter what), the Browns would have made the playoffs in 2019...WITH Freddie Kitchens!
No OBJ or Vernon, but with Peppers and Zeitler AND a high first round draft pick! WITH Genard Avery and Nassib and/or Ogbah DO YOU UNDERSTAND!?!
...who might that first round pick have been? It was 17th overall. That player would cost a LOT less than Vernon or Beckham, and be under contract for five years IS ANY OF THIS SINKING IN YET?
DO YOU UNDERSTAND what if Ogbah or Nassib or Avery had been here when Garrett got suspended? What difference might a 17th overall pick make? Would Mayfield and the Browns have been better off without OBJ? Would Zeitler have come in handy?
Upon further review, John Dorsey did more harm than good, and Paul DePodesta (and Berry) did more good than harm.
Dorsey is really smart, but he's still preoccupied with being the top dog first and foremost.
He screwed up repeatedly by dumping a bunch of players he inherited (simply because they weren't his "not real football players?"), and then with his compulsion to make a big splash and go for all the marbles asap.
It's brains vs emotions. Why don't any of you comprehend this?
DePodesta simply wants the best results he can get. Dorsey wants to be a bigshot.
I give up.
Anyway good for Dorsey: The Browns can trade OBJ for some great stuff, and afford to retain Kareem Hunt and/or Schobert and Damarius Randall...
PS Randall's issues in 2019 diminished his leverage and cost. Why are people assuming this guy is a gmf?
Again, I give up. You people suck at math and are impervious to common sense.
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