Former Head Coach Rahim Morris is probably the hottest candidate to be the Browns next Defensive Coordinator.
I truly wish that Chud would reconsider dumping Dick Jauron, but he seems bound and determined to install some sort of hybrid defense. I don't think Jauron is flexible enough for him.
John Pagano probably stays in San Diego, promoting Morris to the short list.
Rahim Morris is similar, and not at all shy about telling you: He adapts his defense to his talent. He'll run whatever front makes the most of it, and he prides himself on thinking outside the box.
The Browns do have most of the people to run a 4-3, mainly lacking a passrushing DE to place opposite Sheard. In an article I couldn't make myself read, it was suggested that the Browns need help at linebacker in this scheme, so I guess everybody on IR died, and the THREE young guys were mirages.
No, here on Earth, the front seven just needs a passrushing DE.
But as I said in a previous post, the Browns are also closer to a 3-4 than most people ASSUME.
The beauty of the hybrid notion is that the passrushing DE in question could also be a 3-4 outside linebacker!
Austin English and Gocong will come off IR next season and hopefully be in good shape. Gocong, a converted passrushing DE himself, is a given OLB candidate, and English has the tools--although I doubt that you'd want his hand on the ground.
While my theories about Taylor and Wynn at 3-4 DE are outside the sheep-pen and have yet to be proven, if I'm right, this defense is ONE PLAYER away from a soup-to-nuts hybrid defense.
If not Jauron, let it be Morris.
Friday, January 18, 2013
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Logo
The Browns are the only team without a logo.
That's unique.
Why do you want to be like everybody else? Are you a sheep? Baaa! Baaa!
Skip the damn logo.
That's unique.
Why do you want to be like everybody else? Are you a sheep? Baaa! Baaa!
Skip the damn logo.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Probably No Pagano
John Pagano will be retained by the Chargers. I don't know about his contract terms, but he's probably locked in even if he wants to leave.
Where this leaves the Browns in the defensive coordinator dept., I don't know. I do know that Dick Jauron is, at the moment, still under contract. As before, I believe he should stay.
But it seems that Chud has been influenced by Pagano, and by his first head coach, Bill Belichick. I believe he wants a hybrid defense like theirs, which leaves Dick out.
And after further research, I now understand that this is what they really mean. Not a 4-3, but not neccessarily a 3-4 either. The Ravens and the Patriots run hybrids. The Steelers run a 3-4. They're different.
Chud is talking about a defense which, put simply, is flexible and adaptable. Call it the UFO defense, or the whatever works defense. This is what Pagano does.
In the first place, a base defense means much less today than it did a decade ago, because sub-packages are on the field over 60% of the time.
Pagano, like Belichick, likes multiple fronts. Sometimes there are two down linemen, sometimes five...occasionally only one.
Two DE/LB hybrids and one real nose tackle are needed for the whole to work like it should. Any good true middle or inside linebackers fill multiple roles, but take up the inside of the 3-4. Then you need two DT/DE hybrids for DE's in the 3-4.
But the system STARTS OUT flexible, so that if some of the 3-4 parts are missing, you simply figure out how best to get your best five to seven players on the field as much as you can.
It is indeed pretty sophisticated, but the underlying principle is this:
Priority 1: Get your best players on the field.
Priority 2: Put them in positions to let them do what they do best (and exploit matchups).
As I've mentioned before, the current Browns roster may already have most of the pieces to run a 3-4, but Pagano, or anybody like him, wouldn't do what I suggested (before I did my homework).
I come back to Bill Belichick. He came here and determined that MDP was not suitable to play nose tackle, so he changed his system to let him attack and penetrate.
Note: Yes MDP did complain and ask to be traded later, but this was because of the system. He was targeted for double-teams and had no one to take a blocker off him. Bill simply felt it would be stupid to run a 4-3 with the other guys he had, and doesn't like selfish players.
Anyway, he saw Clay Matthews and made the most of him as well. At first, he was a de-facto lineman because he stood at the line of scrimmage in the tight end's face. This was technicly a 4-3.
If someone LIKE Pagano comes here, they'll see 75% of a 4-3 defensive line, because Frostee Rucker is more a 3-4 than a 4-3 DE. He might, in fact, see more of a 3-4 defensive line in which he could leave Rucker where he is, Rubin, Hughes, or Taylor where they are, and try Taylor and Winn at strong side defensive end.
Stifle the kneejerk reactions to that last part. 3-4 defensive ends don't have the same containment responsibilities as the 4-3 type, and are by definition inside rushers who line up inside the tackles. They need good range and the ability to shed blocks, which both these guys have.
Now, he might look at Sheard and see...well...
Pundits are talking about how he couldn't fit, but scouts at the combine were testing him at OLB. Sheard may or may not be able to play that position, but a Coach like one of these guys would try to find a place for him anyway, and might well modify the scheme to make it happen.
He'd see Jackson and the rookie with three names as his inside linebackers, Gocong as an outside and situational inside guy (Gocong was a sackmaster defensive END in college, ya know), and take a hard look at Auston English, who has the size and passrushing ablilty to play outside in this scheme.
Beyond those two, this roster is short on potential 3-4 OLB's and DE's, but neck deep in nose tackles and inside linebackers.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. Maybe they keep Jauron I hope.
Where this leaves the Browns in the defensive coordinator dept., I don't know. I do know that Dick Jauron is, at the moment, still under contract. As before, I believe he should stay.
But it seems that Chud has been influenced by Pagano, and by his first head coach, Bill Belichick. I believe he wants a hybrid defense like theirs, which leaves Dick out.
And after further research, I now understand that this is what they really mean. Not a 4-3, but not neccessarily a 3-4 either. The Ravens and the Patriots run hybrids. The Steelers run a 3-4. They're different.
Chud is talking about a defense which, put simply, is flexible and adaptable. Call it the UFO defense, or the whatever works defense. This is what Pagano does.
In the first place, a base defense means much less today than it did a decade ago, because sub-packages are on the field over 60% of the time.
Pagano, like Belichick, likes multiple fronts. Sometimes there are two down linemen, sometimes five...occasionally only one.
Two DE/LB hybrids and one real nose tackle are needed for the whole to work like it should. Any good true middle or inside linebackers fill multiple roles, but take up the inside of the 3-4. Then you need two DT/DE hybrids for DE's in the 3-4.
But the system STARTS OUT flexible, so that if some of the 3-4 parts are missing, you simply figure out how best to get your best five to seven players on the field as much as you can.
It is indeed pretty sophisticated, but the underlying principle is this:
Priority 1: Get your best players on the field.
Priority 2: Put them in positions to let them do what they do best (and exploit matchups).
As I've mentioned before, the current Browns roster may already have most of the pieces to run a 3-4, but Pagano, or anybody like him, wouldn't do what I suggested (before I did my homework).
I come back to Bill Belichick. He came here and determined that MDP was not suitable to play nose tackle, so he changed his system to let him attack and penetrate.
Note: Yes MDP did complain and ask to be traded later, but this was because of the system. He was targeted for double-teams and had no one to take a blocker off him. Bill simply felt it would be stupid to run a 4-3 with the other guys he had, and doesn't like selfish players.
Anyway, he saw Clay Matthews and made the most of him as well. At first, he was a de-facto lineman because he stood at the line of scrimmage in the tight end's face. This was technicly a 4-3.
If someone LIKE Pagano comes here, they'll see 75% of a 4-3 defensive line, because Frostee Rucker is more a 3-4 than a 4-3 DE. He might, in fact, see more of a 3-4 defensive line in which he could leave Rucker where he is, Rubin, Hughes, or Taylor where they are, and try Taylor and Winn at strong side defensive end.
Stifle the kneejerk reactions to that last part. 3-4 defensive ends don't have the same containment responsibilities as the 4-3 type, and are by definition inside rushers who line up inside the tackles. They need good range and the ability to shed blocks, which both these guys have.
Now, he might look at Sheard and see...well...
Pundits are talking about how he couldn't fit, but scouts at the combine were testing him at OLB. Sheard may or may not be able to play that position, but a Coach like one of these guys would try to find a place for him anyway, and might well modify the scheme to make it happen.
He'd see Jackson and the rookie with three names as his inside linebackers, Gocong as an outside and situational inside guy (Gocong was a sackmaster defensive END in college, ya know), and take a hard look at Auston English, who has the size and passrushing ablilty to play outside in this scheme.
Beyond those two, this roster is short on potential 3-4 OLB's and DE's, but neck deep in nose tackles and inside linebackers.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. Maybe they keep Jauron I hope.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Here We Go Again
Sigh. I suppose I can appreciate Chud wanting people he's familiar with. I know that John Pagano (brother of the Colts' Head Coach) is known to be a really good defensive coordinator.
But Dick Jauron was doing a great job, and most of the personnel for a 4-3 just got here...
And here we go again.
Well, wait a minute. Pagano has been an assistant on 4-3 teams, does understand the 4-3, and if he was mentally impaired, somebody on NFL Radio would have mentioned it by now.
Bill Belichick was a "3-4 guy", but in his first season as a Browns' Head Coach, he ran the 4-3 he'd inherited. For a 3-4 coach, the 4-3 is pretty simple.
A note here: Chud talked about an "attacking" defense.
Well, there are different types of 3-4. The basic type has the three defensive linemen playing two-gap, trying to monopolize the five offensive linemen and force the tight end to chip. Another type sends one of more linemen into gaps, going for penetration.
I think that's the type we're talking about here. It's high risk, high reward because the uneven penetration opens gaps for cutbacks, and can allow mobile quarterbacks to scramble for gains and buy time.
But the penetrators still often require double-team blocking. A guard or center often will bypass the lineman to target a linebacker, but this is only because the defensive linemen has deliberately lined up where he can't get at him without running right through the pocket.
This type of 3-4 surrenders some big plays, but also blows a lot of stuff up in the backfield. And it's coordinated to minimize the damage, as on every down at least one linebacker is also coming, and both are assigned to containment.
This much I like, and it's why I like the 3-4 better (although I for sure would have kept Jauron here--but this is reality so let's make the most of it).
A few of the pieces are here: Frostee Rucker can play 3-4 DE, Rubin and Taylor nose tackle...Taylor at DE? I don't know. Sheard can play outside linebacker, but I just don't know how well. At that position, he'd be somewhat on the slow side, and I cringe when I think about him trying to stay with a tight end.
There are no shortage of inside linebackers on this roster. In fact, along with nose tackle, that's a huge bright spot. Along with Jackson, the Browns have three rookies who should be a little bigger and stronger next season, and who are very good pure linebackers.
Austin English might come back from his injury, and he'll have a shot both outside and inside. He's highly underrated. He came out of college at 6'3", 252 but could well be closer to 260 when he returns, so he'll be tried outside first.
If Chris Gocong can return from injury, now there's a 3-4 outside linebacker! Or inside, for that matter!
James Micheal Johnson might be the favorite to go with Jackson inside, because he has more bulk than the other guys rookies, and isn't as good a prospect outside.
...Yes Taylor could be tried at left defensive end, because he matches up well with most right tackles, and does have unusual quickness and range for his size. This is possible because in a 3-4 linebackers often have containment responsibilities.
Billy Winn might actually be a pretty GOOD 3-4 defensive end! Wow, I'm starting to get excited here! Winn can really run!
And Kitchen might be a good nose tackle!
There. I've talked myself into thinking that they're a couple free agents or draft picks away from a 3-4. I feel better now don't say anything bye.
But Dick Jauron was doing a great job, and most of the personnel for a 4-3 just got here...
And here we go again.
Well, wait a minute. Pagano has been an assistant on 4-3 teams, does understand the 4-3, and if he was mentally impaired, somebody on NFL Radio would have mentioned it by now.
Bill Belichick was a "3-4 guy", but in his first season as a Browns' Head Coach, he ran the 4-3 he'd inherited. For a 3-4 coach, the 4-3 is pretty simple.
A note here: Chud talked about an "attacking" defense.
Well, there are different types of 3-4. The basic type has the three defensive linemen playing two-gap, trying to monopolize the five offensive linemen and force the tight end to chip. Another type sends one of more linemen into gaps, going for penetration.
I think that's the type we're talking about here. It's high risk, high reward because the uneven penetration opens gaps for cutbacks, and can allow mobile quarterbacks to scramble for gains and buy time.
But the penetrators still often require double-team blocking. A guard or center often will bypass the lineman to target a linebacker, but this is only because the defensive linemen has deliberately lined up where he can't get at him without running right through the pocket.
This type of 3-4 surrenders some big plays, but also blows a lot of stuff up in the backfield. And it's coordinated to minimize the damage, as on every down at least one linebacker is also coming, and both are assigned to containment.
This much I like, and it's why I like the 3-4 better (although I for sure would have kept Jauron here--but this is reality so let's make the most of it).
A few of the pieces are here: Frostee Rucker can play 3-4 DE, Rubin and Taylor nose tackle...Taylor at DE? I don't know. Sheard can play outside linebacker, but I just don't know how well. At that position, he'd be somewhat on the slow side, and I cringe when I think about him trying to stay with a tight end.
There are no shortage of inside linebackers on this roster. In fact, along with nose tackle, that's a huge bright spot. Along with Jackson, the Browns have three rookies who should be a little bigger and stronger next season, and who are very good pure linebackers.
Austin English might come back from his injury, and he'll have a shot both outside and inside. He's highly underrated. He came out of college at 6'3", 252 but could well be closer to 260 when he returns, so he'll be tried outside first.
If Chris Gocong can return from injury, now there's a 3-4 outside linebacker! Or inside, for that matter!
James Micheal Johnson might be the favorite to go with Jackson inside, because he has more bulk than the other guys rookies, and isn't as good a prospect outside.
...Yes Taylor could be tried at left defensive end, because he matches up well with most right tackles, and does have unusual quickness and range for his size. This is possible because in a 3-4 linebackers often have containment responsibilities.
Billy Winn might actually be a pretty GOOD 3-4 defensive end! Wow, I'm starting to get excited here! Winn can really run!
And Kitchen might be a good nose tackle!
There. I've talked myself into thinking that they're a couple free agents or draft picks away from a 3-4. I feel better now don't say anything bye.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Chud and Norv
First of all, Chud is better-known than Mike Tomlin was, and I shouldn't (but DO) need to remind a lot of people that every great head coach was a coordinator first (with few exceptions: college coaches.)
If you want a "proven" retread, all of those people talk about except Cowher crapped out and were fired for suckdom.
Listening to NFL Radio, a fan from Cleveland called in with this about Chud: "...in that game, Derrick Anderson threw four interceptions. Chudzinski was the coordinator."
Well! I guess that's it! I mean a guy who orders his quarterback to throw interceptions is obviously incompetant! This guy should be in Congress!
I need to remind everybody of this, too: Chud (or Turner) never dropped a pass, fumbled, blew a route, or threw an interception.
There's no reason why Chud can't be a good or great head coach. He has a solid history as a position coach and coordinator, especially for those who comprehend that he doesn't blow routes/drop/fumble/throw interceptions.
Somehow, some people in Cleveland blame this guy for DA's inexplicable regression, Braylon Edwards dropping every fifth pass (much higher percentage in red zone), K2 getting injured, holes in his offensive line, weak recievers, and weak running backs, but I assure you he didn't do all that stuff.
That's why he was immediately re-hired by another team as a coordinator-where he tweaked and diddled his offense for the rookie Cam Newton. EVERYBODY said that Newton wasn't polished enough and would need a year to develop as a pro, but Chud got results immediately, and is widely admired for it.
I also insinctively like Chud because he grew up here and is one of us.
Here is a copy/paste of the entire email I got from my old pal Judge Mental:
Oh no another no name head coach! He wants norv turner (who has failed everywhere he has been). I know you will still be a Schill but oh well. You owe me .600 big ones that has to be thousands by now.
Norv Turner has been a below-average head coach but is universally respected as an EXCELLENT offensive coordinator whose offenses are always near the top in most categories.
He's further regarded as very good with quarterbacks. He's given maybe too much credit for developing Troy Aikman, but he certainly had a lot to do with it, as with his arrival Aikman in his second season was possibly the best quarterback in the NFL.
...and the Cowboys went from the basement to two Superbowl wins upon his arrival.
Turner's offense is an offshoot of Don "Air" Coryell's. It is a timing offense like the West Coast, but uses more deep routes.
Naturally Turner's version is unique to himself, and to date was most likely altered to fit the players he had to work with.
His offenses have been called "predictable", and maybe they are, because for each game he scripts thirteen or so first down plays. On fridays and in pre-game warmups, those are the only plays the offense practices.
Norv's priority is execution, so he doesn't have a 400-page playbook. He has a number of basic plays, but the same plays can be run from different formations in order to isolate a defender and confuse the defense. This is Peyton Manning's favorite offense.
Each reciever has two or three route options based on his reads. The recievers need to be smart, because the quarterback will throw to a spot before he makes his move.
Coryell wanted two deep recievers, but Turner has been sending one guy deep and sending others underneath. With the arrival of Chuck Muncie, Coryell also sort of pioneered the one-back spread offense, too--but I digress.
Norv loves the 2-back, and his base formation is a 21 (two backs, on tight end, two wide recievers).
Unlike Pat Shurmer, Norv likes to use a blocking fullback. I say unlike Pat Shurmer because Shurmer doesn't use a blocking back, so that's why Vickers was let go so shut up.
Ahead of the draft and free agency, and just talking about the roster he will inherit as of now, and based on tweaks he might make based on this, I will now speculate on what he might turn the Browns offense into:
Alex Smith last season worked as a fullback and H-Back in Shurmer's offensive system. Brad Smelley was a seventh-round rookie tight end who projected to a similar role. Owen Marecic was a true fullback thought to be a good blocker, but it's looking kinda grim for him, even with the system change.
Now, I simply don't buy that Turner wants a roster space taken up by a back who blocks but can't run or catch. Here I may be projecting my own biases, so there's your disclaimer.
Given Smelley and Smith, I believe he'll tweak the "fullback" into more of an H-Back who will line up at different spots and go in motion sometimes, and who will be an outlet reciever when not protecting or lead-blocking.
Smelley is a shorter, smaller guy who didn't do a lot of lead-blocking in college, but there's no reason he can't be good at it in his second season, and he can certainly line up anywhere. In fact, his shorter stature helps him change directions quicker and gives him more leverage.
Smith was a highly-touted tight end prospect with speed to go with blocking, but underachieved early-on, and was injured.
Heckert grabbed him cheap, and since he has been on this team he's done a great job. Shurmer actually tweaked his offense to get him on the field more, as he had to give Cameron some reps and to favor Ben Watson as a true tight end.
I do believe that what Turner will run here will technicly be a two-back, but with an expanded role for the fullback.
Coryell and all his followers wanted a strong-armed quarterback who could threaten every part of the field. This is Weeden and not the other guys. His arrival means that unless McCoy is much stronger this season, barring a free agent the Browns will sink or swim with Weeden.
Aside from the absence of a pure goon fullback, every other part of this offense is exactly tailor-made for Norv Turner to use. He's got the burners in Josh Gordon and Benjamin (and in reality Little can go deep), the running backS, the tight ends...
Speaking of which, all these guys can be wing and move tight ends. They can line up in the slot or wide, and they can run wide reciever routes. Coryell exploited this, and you can expect Turner to do it too.
The presence of a lead-blocker reduces the need for a Fanika-type pulling guard, and a smashmouth bulldozer line is perfectly okay. Joe Gibbs was also a Coryellian, and rode the Hogs to the Superbowl.
We can only hope: The Cowboys were 1-15 or something one year with the rookie Aikman, then they hired Norv and won a Superbowl. We can only hope that he can do the same for Weeden.
Norv's offense is deliberately simpler than Shurmer's West Coast, and there are a lot of similar concepts so that the transition won't be as tough as it could have been. This offense might even feel "easy" for Weeds.
The first read is always deep, and the progression comes down from there. This will make it easier for Weeden to progress through them, and make him happy because he's a mad bomber at heart.
The second back makes it harder for a defense to send extra people after him, and (if I'm right about how he'll adapt to the people he's got) there will be no shortage of bail-out catch-and-runners...
If Brandon Weeden trusts his reads and GETS RID OF THE DAMN BALL. Remember when he banged his head on Thomas's leg and was concussed? Did you see Joe's non-reaction? They won't say it, but trust me, the offensive linemen are sick of protecting him for eight or nine seconds and still giving up a sack.
I've had Gene Hickerson in my taxi cab. He hated Bernie Kosar! Later in his carreer, Saint Bernard took a whole bunch of 9-10-second sacks. I suggested he was trying to get Belichick fired. Gene wouldn't comment on that.
Another thing about Turner the OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR is that he's a great playcaller.
Here's the best Article written by Norv Turner on his offensive philosophy. I've found
If you want a "proven" retread, all of those people talk about except Cowher crapped out and were fired for suckdom.
Listening to NFL Radio, a fan from Cleveland called in with this about Chud: "...in that game, Derrick Anderson threw four interceptions. Chudzinski was the coordinator."
Well! I guess that's it! I mean a guy who orders his quarterback to throw interceptions is obviously incompetant! This guy should be in Congress!
I need to remind everybody of this, too: Chud (or Turner) never dropped a pass, fumbled, blew a route, or threw an interception.
There's no reason why Chud can't be a good or great head coach. He has a solid history as a position coach and coordinator, especially for those who comprehend that he doesn't blow routes/drop/fumble/throw interceptions.
Somehow, some people in Cleveland blame this guy for DA's inexplicable regression, Braylon Edwards dropping every fifth pass (much higher percentage in red zone), K2 getting injured, holes in his offensive line, weak recievers, and weak running backs, but I assure you he didn't do all that stuff.
That's why he was immediately re-hired by another team as a coordinator-where he tweaked and diddled his offense for the rookie Cam Newton. EVERYBODY said that Newton wasn't polished enough and would need a year to develop as a pro, but Chud got results immediately, and is widely admired for it.
I also insinctively like Chud because he grew up here and is one of us.
Here is a copy/paste of the entire email I got from my old pal Judge Mental:
Oh no another no name head coach! He wants norv turner (who has failed everywhere he has been). I know you will still be a Schill but oh well. You owe me .600 big ones that has to be thousands by now.
Norv Turner has been a below-average head coach but is universally respected as an EXCELLENT offensive coordinator whose offenses are always near the top in most categories.
He's further regarded as very good with quarterbacks. He's given maybe too much credit for developing Troy Aikman, but he certainly had a lot to do with it, as with his arrival Aikman in his second season was possibly the best quarterback in the NFL.
...and the Cowboys went from the basement to two Superbowl wins upon his arrival.
Turner's offense is an offshoot of Don "Air" Coryell's. It is a timing offense like the West Coast, but uses more deep routes.
Naturally Turner's version is unique to himself, and to date was most likely altered to fit the players he had to work with.
His offenses have been called "predictable", and maybe they are, because for each game he scripts thirteen or so first down plays. On fridays and in pre-game warmups, those are the only plays the offense practices.
Norv's priority is execution, so he doesn't have a 400-page playbook. He has a number of basic plays, but the same plays can be run from different formations in order to isolate a defender and confuse the defense. This is Peyton Manning's favorite offense.
Each reciever has two or three route options based on his reads. The recievers need to be smart, because the quarterback will throw to a spot before he makes his move.
Coryell wanted two deep recievers, but Turner has been sending one guy deep and sending others underneath. With the arrival of Chuck Muncie, Coryell also sort of pioneered the one-back spread offense, too--but I digress.
Norv loves the 2-back, and his base formation is a 21 (two backs, on tight end, two wide recievers).
Unlike Pat Shurmer, Norv likes to use a blocking fullback. I say unlike Pat Shurmer because Shurmer doesn't use a blocking back, so that's why Vickers was let go so shut up.
Ahead of the draft and free agency, and just talking about the roster he will inherit as of now, and based on tweaks he might make based on this, I will now speculate on what he might turn the Browns offense into:
Alex Smith last season worked as a fullback and H-Back in Shurmer's offensive system. Brad Smelley was a seventh-round rookie tight end who projected to a similar role. Owen Marecic was a true fullback thought to be a good blocker, but it's looking kinda grim for him, even with the system change.
Now, I simply don't buy that Turner wants a roster space taken up by a back who blocks but can't run or catch. Here I may be projecting my own biases, so there's your disclaimer.
Given Smelley and Smith, I believe he'll tweak the "fullback" into more of an H-Back who will line up at different spots and go in motion sometimes, and who will be an outlet reciever when not protecting or lead-blocking.
Smelley is a shorter, smaller guy who didn't do a lot of lead-blocking in college, but there's no reason he can't be good at it in his second season, and he can certainly line up anywhere. In fact, his shorter stature helps him change directions quicker and gives him more leverage.
Smith was a highly-touted tight end prospect with speed to go with blocking, but underachieved early-on, and was injured.
Heckert grabbed him cheap, and since he has been on this team he's done a great job. Shurmer actually tweaked his offense to get him on the field more, as he had to give Cameron some reps and to favor Ben Watson as a true tight end.
I do believe that what Turner will run here will technicly be a two-back, but with an expanded role for the fullback.
Coryell and all his followers wanted a strong-armed quarterback who could threaten every part of the field. This is Weeden and not the other guys. His arrival means that unless McCoy is much stronger this season, barring a free agent the Browns will sink or swim with Weeden.
Aside from the absence of a pure goon fullback, every other part of this offense is exactly tailor-made for Norv Turner to use. He's got the burners in Josh Gordon and Benjamin (and in reality Little can go deep), the running backS, the tight ends...
Speaking of which, all these guys can be wing and move tight ends. They can line up in the slot or wide, and they can run wide reciever routes. Coryell exploited this, and you can expect Turner to do it too.
The presence of a lead-blocker reduces the need for a Fanika-type pulling guard, and a smashmouth bulldozer line is perfectly okay. Joe Gibbs was also a Coryellian, and rode the Hogs to the Superbowl.
We can only hope: The Cowboys were 1-15 or something one year with the rookie Aikman, then they hired Norv and won a Superbowl. We can only hope that he can do the same for Weeden.
Norv's offense is deliberately simpler than Shurmer's West Coast, and there are a lot of similar concepts so that the transition won't be as tough as it could have been. This offense might even feel "easy" for Weeds.
The first read is always deep, and the progression comes down from there. This will make it easier for Weeden to progress through them, and make him happy because he's a mad bomber at heart.
The second back makes it harder for a defense to send extra people after him, and (if I'm right about how he'll adapt to the people he's got) there will be no shortage of bail-out catch-and-runners...
If Brandon Weeden trusts his reads and GETS RID OF THE DAMN BALL. Remember when he banged his head on Thomas's leg and was concussed? Did you see Joe's non-reaction? They won't say it, but trust me, the offensive linemen are sick of protecting him for eight or nine seconds and still giving up a sack.
I've had Gene Hickerson in my taxi cab. He hated Bernie Kosar! Later in his carreer, Saint Bernard took a whole bunch of 9-10-second sacks. I suggested he was trying to get Belichick fired. Gene wouldn't comment on that.
Another thing about Turner the OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR is that he's a great playcaller.
Here's the best Article written by Norv Turner on his offensive philosophy. I've found
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Comments On Comments
1: Chudzinski was probably in on the decision to go with Derrick Anderson after his 10-6 season. DA appeared to have turned a corner and turned into a good quarterback during his first season as a starter.
EVERYBODY thought so, probably including the clown who said that this opinion should disqualify him as a potential head coach.
2: I heard screaming, and I tracked down the noise to the Bleacher Report. As I had suspected, somebody else had logic chained up in their basement and was torturing it.
This person was advocating the hiring of a 3-4 defensive coordinator as the next head coach.
Before my eyes started bleeding, either Taylor or Rubin was implicitly a defensive end, Sheard was a linebacker, and Dick Jauron was presumably kicked to the curb.
I won't bother to take that apart, but this raises the issue of Jauron and his defense. The guys on NFL Radio seem to think that dick will be moving on, but I have yet to hear why.
The only things I can think of are Banner being a butthead or Jauron accepting a better offer and being released from his contract by a butthead.
What Jauron (and Heckert) did with the 3-4 Mangini defense they inheritted was almost a miracle. They had a nose tackle with no real defensive ends or depth behind him. Gocong and (especially) Jackson fit the new scheme, but they were otherwise 4-3 linebacker-starved.
But somehow Jauron immediately fielded a respectable defense.
I personally like the 3-4 a lot better, but Dick's results sort of converted me. His defense is not complex, so that new players learn it quickly. By design, the pass rush is built into the front four so that blitzes can be sent from any angle and at any time, and the linebackers can be quicker and more athletic (ie real linebackers).
These players can play on instinct and not think so much, and personnel guys can focus more on pure athletic talent.
The rebuilding of this defense isn't complete yet. A better passrushing weakside DE would make a huge difference, and a "special" kind of outside linebacker would help a lot...
Although Cocong was really tearing it up when he got injured, and there are three other pretty good players (note: two undrafted free agents the guy Banner fired dug up). One more really good corner, too. Basicly two or three players would make this an elite defense.
...and now you want to turn it into a 3-4? For that matter, why on earth would you want to get rid of Jauron, or even think that the next head coach would want to? I mean, they want a SMART head coach, don't they?
One of the interview questions should be "Would you want to replace Dick Jauron?" If the guys says "yes", they should say "Don't call us, we'll call you."
3: The Browns played very well for most of the season. The problem was at the most important position on the team: Quarterback. This is the single biggest reason why Marc Trestman is the best Head Coach candidate.
He's now a West Coast guy, and a similar system is in place. But unlike Shurmer, Trestman has run different systems as a coordinator, and as Rich Gannon will tell you, will tailor his offense to suit a particular player.
Tony Grossi's source is right about the guards. They're all bulldozers who can also pass protect ok, but they can't pull or zone-block well. A left guard with some wheels would make a big difference, but other than the quarterback and guards there's nothing at all wrong with this offense.
IF one of the quarterbacks on this roster can (or is allowed to) be consistant and even just a little above average, the Browns can win a lot more games.
The Browns are NOT five or six players away. They're ONE player away, and other upgrades just move postions from solid to good, or from good to real good.
They DON'T need a wide reciever, tight end, or running back, and even a more athletic guard is not manditory.
Between the draft and free agency, they could land a very good cornerback, pulling guard, passrushing weakside defensive end, and the rest is sort of gravy.
Hire Marc Trestman. With a decent quarterback, the sky is the limit in 2013.
EVERYBODY thought so, probably including the clown who said that this opinion should disqualify him as a potential head coach.
2: I heard screaming, and I tracked down the noise to the Bleacher Report. As I had suspected, somebody else had logic chained up in their basement and was torturing it.
This person was advocating the hiring of a 3-4 defensive coordinator as the next head coach.
Before my eyes started bleeding, either Taylor or Rubin was implicitly a defensive end, Sheard was a linebacker, and Dick Jauron was presumably kicked to the curb.
I won't bother to take that apart, but this raises the issue of Jauron and his defense. The guys on NFL Radio seem to think that dick will be moving on, but I have yet to hear why.
The only things I can think of are Banner being a butthead or Jauron accepting a better offer and being released from his contract by a butthead.
What Jauron (and Heckert) did with the 3-4 Mangini defense they inheritted was almost a miracle. They had a nose tackle with no real defensive ends or depth behind him. Gocong and (especially) Jackson fit the new scheme, but they were otherwise 4-3 linebacker-starved.
But somehow Jauron immediately fielded a respectable defense.
I personally like the 3-4 a lot better, but Dick's results sort of converted me. His defense is not complex, so that new players learn it quickly. By design, the pass rush is built into the front four so that blitzes can be sent from any angle and at any time, and the linebackers can be quicker and more athletic (ie real linebackers).
These players can play on instinct and not think so much, and personnel guys can focus more on pure athletic talent.
The rebuilding of this defense isn't complete yet. A better passrushing weakside DE would make a huge difference, and a "special" kind of outside linebacker would help a lot...
Although Cocong was really tearing it up when he got injured, and there are three other pretty good players (note: two undrafted free agents the guy Banner fired dug up). One more really good corner, too. Basicly two or three players would make this an elite defense.
...and now you want to turn it into a 3-4? For that matter, why on earth would you want to get rid of Jauron, or even think that the next head coach would want to? I mean, they want a SMART head coach, don't they?
One of the interview questions should be "Would you want to replace Dick Jauron?" If the guys says "yes", they should say "Don't call us, we'll call you."
3: The Browns played very well for most of the season. The problem was at the most important position on the team: Quarterback. This is the single biggest reason why Marc Trestman is the best Head Coach candidate.
He's now a West Coast guy, and a similar system is in place. But unlike Shurmer, Trestman has run different systems as a coordinator, and as Rich Gannon will tell you, will tailor his offense to suit a particular player.
Tony Grossi's source is right about the guards. They're all bulldozers who can also pass protect ok, but they can't pull or zone-block well. A left guard with some wheels would make a big difference, but other than the quarterback and guards there's nothing at all wrong with this offense.
IF one of the quarterbacks on this roster can (or is allowed to) be consistant and even just a little above average, the Browns can win a lot more games.
The Browns are NOT five or six players away. They're ONE player away, and other upgrades just move postions from solid to good, or from good to real good.
They DON'T need a wide reciever, tight end, or running back, and even a more athletic guard is not manditory.
Between the draft and free agency, they could land a very good cornerback, pulling guard, passrushing weakside defensive end, and the rest is sort of gravy.
Hire Marc Trestman. With a decent quarterback, the sky is the limit in 2013.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Marc Trestman: WAY Overdue
1: Continuity: For two seasons, the Browns have been running a West Coast offensive system. Brandon Weeden stumbled and bumbled his way through his rookie season partly because he couldn't master this complex system quickly or trust his own reads.
Thad Lewis performed much better because he'd practiced the same system with the same coach for three years.
While Trestman's first gig as offensive coordinator was with the Browns (10-6/playoffs) in a conventional system, he later learned the West Coast system, and has used it since. He is qualified to come in here and build on the foundation that's already in place.
If Weeden is the quarterback, he doesn't have to do a strict West Coast; remember that he has coordinated different systems.
2: The Browns have an issue at quarterback. The upcoming crop of college guys aint all that. It would be hard to pry Alex Smith loose. Matt Ryan costs too much and could be released, but that's another bidding war and no sure thing. (As in, Ryan himself isn't proven, and four or five other teams would be trying to sign him.)
The Browns have three quarterbacks, and Trestman is probably THE quarterback guru (note: the college guys he coached, he was preparing for the COMBINE, so shut up with that lame stuff. Quit overreaching for excuses after you make up your mind not to like a guy).
He started with Bernie Kosar. Then Scott Mitchell in Detroit, who that one year passed for the second most yardage in Detroit history. Then it was Jake Plummer, who had that one good year and took Arizona to the playoffs. Then it was Rich Gannon, who until that time had bounced around the NFL as a sometime starter, sometime backup journeyman. Boom!-Superbowl MVP! (Trestman was the offensive coordinator).
He wouldn't come in here with his mind made up about any of the three quarterbacks. He can fix them.
3: While he has some time at running backs coach, many years as a quarterbacks coach, he also has five years as an offensive coordinator, and every one of his offenses ranked near the top. He adapted to his players.
4: He is an ex-player, sort of. He was at two training camps trying to make it as a defensive back.
5: He's a CFL coach of the Year (runner-up another year), won two Grey Cups and narrowly lost his first one in his first season as head Coach. His quarterback (Tony Calvillo) won back-to-back MVP awards. Marc did all this in five years.
Why isn't he an NFL Head Coach already?
One reason is that he took three years off to get his law degree.
Another reason (an idiotic one) is that he isn't emotional. He doesn't holler or hop up and down enough, like the great coaches do. You know, like Paul Brown, Don Shula, Tom Landry, Chuck Knoll, Tom Flores? For that matter, like Dick Jauron?
His GM with the Alouettes wants people to know this about Trestman the Head Coach: He's a great communicator, and you don't want to mess with him. He won't holler at you. He'll do something else.
Marc Trestman has a very strong resume, a record of success everywhere he's been, and is the ideal guy to come right in and somehow make sure the Browns have a good, consistant quarterback to go with the strong and talented team that's already here.
Sure, the CFL isn't like the NFL, but isn't this history as good as or better than all of those College Coaches'? Doesn't he have more NFL experience than all of them? More successful at a higher level, too.
All this guy does is kick ass. I WANT MARC TRESTMAN AS MY NEXT HEAD COACH.
Thad Lewis performed much better because he'd practiced the same system with the same coach for three years.
While Trestman's first gig as offensive coordinator was with the Browns (10-6/playoffs) in a conventional system, he later learned the West Coast system, and has used it since. He is qualified to come in here and build on the foundation that's already in place.
If Weeden is the quarterback, he doesn't have to do a strict West Coast; remember that he has coordinated different systems.
2: The Browns have an issue at quarterback. The upcoming crop of college guys aint all that. It would be hard to pry Alex Smith loose. Matt Ryan costs too much and could be released, but that's another bidding war and no sure thing. (As in, Ryan himself isn't proven, and four or five other teams would be trying to sign him.)
The Browns have three quarterbacks, and Trestman is probably THE quarterback guru (note: the college guys he coached, he was preparing for the COMBINE, so shut up with that lame stuff. Quit overreaching for excuses after you make up your mind not to like a guy).
He started with Bernie Kosar. Then Scott Mitchell in Detroit, who that one year passed for the second most yardage in Detroit history. Then it was Jake Plummer, who had that one good year and took Arizona to the playoffs. Then it was Rich Gannon, who until that time had bounced around the NFL as a sometime starter, sometime backup journeyman. Boom!-Superbowl MVP! (Trestman was the offensive coordinator).
He wouldn't come in here with his mind made up about any of the three quarterbacks. He can fix them.
3: While he has some time at running backs coach, many years as a quarterbacks coach, he also has five years as an offensive coordinator, and every one of his offenses ranked near the top. He adapted to his players.
4: He is an ex-player, sort of. He was at two training camps trying to make it as a defensive back.
5: He's a CFL coach of the Year (runner-up another year), won two Grey Cups and narrowly lost his first one in his first season as head Coach. His quarterback (Tony Calvillo) won back-to-back MVP awards. Marc did all this in five years.
Why isn't he an NFL Head Coach already?
One reason is that he took three years off to get his law degree.
Another reason (an idiotic one) is that he isn't emotional. He doesn't holler or hop up and down enough, like the great coaches do. You know, like Paul Brown, Don Shula, Tom Landry, Chuck Knoll, Tom Flores? For that matter, like Dick Jauron?
His GM with the Alouettes wants people to know this about Trestman the Head Coach: He's a great communicator, and you don't want to mess with him. He won't holler at you. He'll do something else.
Marc Trestman has a very strong resume, a record of success everywhere he's been, and is the ideal guy to come right in and somehow make sure the Browns have a good, consistant quarterback to go with the strong and talented team that's already here.
Sure, the CFL isn't like the NFL, but isn't this history as good as or better than all of those College Coaches'? Doesn't he have more NFL experience than all of them? More successful at a higher level, too.
All this guy does is kick ass. I WANT MARC TRESTMAN AS MY NEXT HEAD COACH.
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