Browns "reboot" coaching search

[billmac91]

Exactly. People can bitch about the talent all they want, but we have a hell of a lot more to work with compared to what he had in Arizona. Whisehunt has been given nothing since Warner retired. Even with Warner they were never the most talented team.

Their offensive line is the worst in football. No offensive line, no one is going to score the ball. No coach can cure that problem.

And San Fran, Seattle, and St. Louis were the worst divisional opponents in the NFL, and Whisenhunt still struggled to go .500. You can't knock the talent he had without recognizing just how bad the division he was in actually was. I mean, we're talking about some brutal Seahawks and 49'er teams.

 

[Amherstcavsfan]

He became a head-coach and became extremely pass-happy. This is a guy with a 21 point lead in the mid-third quarter who twice in a row went 3 and out on 6 consecutive throws. Not only was he pass-happy, but his game management was brutal. Once Warner left, and he made a push for Kevin Kolb (who isn't good - bad scouting) he still put up the football way more than he ran. His QB's this year were arguably worse than their RB's, and he still threw way more than he ran.....

Let's not forget he was the coach of Arizona during some of the franchise worst seasons of San Francisco and Seattle.

His best season was 9-7.

Oh, and the Steelers let Whisenhunt go when Cowher retired and chose to hire an unknown Mike Tomlin. Apparently the Steelers weren't that convinced either.

This will end terribly. Horrible choice.

His best season was 10-6.

I don't care what the Steelers do.

The rest is your opinion.

 

[MDLT]

Whisenhunt did a pretty good job in AZ, and getting to a Super Bowl (and almost winning it) is a big feat anyway you look at it. He'd instantly be the Browns' best coach since the return, and they could do a lot worse

 

[Smooth]

What it says to me that the Browns brought Whisenhunt back for a 2nd interview, is that they are very high on him being the next head coach...

If you look at how this process has played out so far, the two other guys who were supposed to get 2nd interviews, would have been offered the job if they had gotten a chance... Chip Kelly would have been the coach, had he wanted to make the jump and take that 2nd interview with the Browns... Doug Marrone, who was scheduled to get a 2nd interview with the Browns, would have been offered the job had he not spurned the Browns for the Bills... So the fact the Browns brought Whisenhunt back for a 2nd interview tells me that they really like him and see him as a frontrunner...

When looking at what the Browns have established as sort of the guidelines for their search, Whisenhunt seems to be the guy who fits what the would prefer...

The initial reports from the Browns coaching search said the Browns wanted an offensive minded guy, which Whisenhunt is...

They have wanted a strong presence at the front of helm and a good leader, Whisenhunt seems to bring that...

They have wanted some head coaching experience, at some level, which Whisenhunt had in Arizona...

Whisenhunt has been successful at other stops, aside from last few years in Arizona, and is at an age where he is able to grow with the team..

Haslam probably has some familiarity with Whisenhunt too while in Pittsburgh..

So from looking at it, it looks like Whisenhunt is a guy who has the criteria they are looking for and is likely a guy who they like a lot..

Now I don't think anything is imminent but I will say, I think they're getting closer and are waiting to see how this round of playoff games play out before they go forward with their guy... They have Arians set up next week and I think are waiting in case a team or two drops out of the playoffs with the assistant they would like to interview... Otherwise, I would expect this to get wrapped up around mid-late next week..

I will also say Whisenhunt could potentially bring a strong coaching staff with him... I would really like if Ray Horton would follow him here, despite it being a 34 defense, that would be a really good choice as DC... Russ Grimm would likely follow him here... Mike Mularkey spent some years with Whiz in Pittsburgh and could be the OC here... Darren Perry, Keith Butler, Deshea Townsend, Curtis Modkins and Tony Sparano all have links to Whisenhunt.. Bill Davis and Mark Whipple also do, and could stay here in an Whisenhunt hire...

I think overall Whisenhunt would be a solid hire, not spectacular but not craptastic either...

I'm just interested to see if another 2nd interview with another candidate takes place...

 

[RealKingofCleve]

The Arizona Seattle beatdown was one of the most disgusting team displays I've ever seen. No way do I want that guy as the Browns head coach. How does someone who lost 12 straight games deserve to be a head coach again right away? He should have to prove himself as a coordinator again. This is a typical Browns move.

 

[AZ_]

The Arizona Seattle beatdown was one of the most disgusting team displays I've ever seen. No way do I want that guy as the Browns head coach. How does someone who lost 12 straight games deserve to be a head coach again right away? He should have to prove himself as a coordinator again. This is a typical Browns move.

And basing everything on one game or season could probably be classified as the typical Browns fan move.

Odds are stronger that if he fails, it will have nothing to do with last season or his Super Bowl runner-up season...

 

[440]

I didn't see this posted but CB Ralph Brown was on Bull and Fox earlier and basically said Whisenhunt was too nice and players didn't really respect him.

 

[MalTalm]

A Whisenhunt hire would still leave me very skeptical of this regime. I'm not convinced there's a ton of upside there.

I liked the sound of Zimmer, and Trestaman would be a total wild card...

There's just not many guys being brought up that scream innovative to me. We need a HC who can accelerate Weeden's development while running an offense which takes advantage of Richardson's strengths. I saw the appeal for Kelly and Saban, but Whisenhunt would appear to be a step away from that direction.

Much like Shurmur, he finds himself out-coached in a fair share of games and is slow to adjust.

Seems like a weak coaching crop this year. Both the Bears and Eagles, two organizations who presumably have some appeal, are struggling to fill their vacancies. Not sure if there's a home run guy out there, but Whisenhunt strikes me as a bloop single.

 

[Amherstcavsfan]

I didn't see this posted but CB Ralph Brown was on Bull and Fox earlier and basically said Whisenhunt was too nice and players didn't really respect him.

Ralph Brown is garbage, I don't care what he thinks.

 

[440]

Ralph Brown is garbage, I don't care what he thinks.

He is garbage, but he also played for the Cardinals and knew the pulse of the team. I've seen enough "nice" in Shurmur. Not ready for more of it.

 

[I-77 NORTH]

Literally got rid of Shurmur and Heckert to replace them with people who got fired for being incompetent.

What a fool Haslam is. What a fucking fool.

 

[Pyro]

Yes, because both vacancies have been filled.

 

[kriegs]

Damn joe lull has been smashing wisenhunt all day on twitter. Cant lie I have the same worries that he has. I like zimmer and trestman more. The main advantages to the wiz is playoff head coaching experience and the ability to attract a solid staff....however his reviews from former players arnt good. I would try to get behind him but I hope he isn't our final choice...

 

[Smooth]

What we hear about Zimmer; search to end Sunday
By Steve Doerschuk

This is what we here from a source we trust:
Mike Zimmer’s agent was told the Browns want to talk to the 56-year-old Bengals defensive coordinator again tomorrow.
Zimmer has been told the coaching search will be wrapped up by Sunday night.
This didn’t come from our source, but it is our belief that it is coming down to Zimmer and Arizona head coach Ken Whisenhunt, with Bruce Arians still in the picture in a whirlwind drive toward a decision.
Also, via our source: Ray Farmer, who was in the front office with Scott Pioli’s Chiefs, will be interviewed for general manager type slot tomorrow.
We reported recently that Michael Lombardi is in the Browns’ fold, with only his title to be determined. We can imagine something that would be functionally along the lines of special adviser to Joe Banner.
Lombardi and Farmer have known each other since they both worked for the Eagles in the late 1990s.

Our source gave us Zimmer's name immediately after Pat Shurmur was released, saying Zimmer would be interviewed. You may recall the post.

 

[440]

What we hear about Zimmer; search to end Sunday
By Steve Doerschuk

This is what we here from a source we trust:
Mike Zimmer’s agent was told the Browns want to talk to the 56-year-old Bengals defensive coordinator again tomorrow.
Zimmer has been told the coaching search will be wrapped up by Sunday night.
This didn’t come from our source, but it is our belief that it is coming down to Zimmer and Arizona head coach Ken Whisenhunt, with Bruce Arians still in the picture in a whirlwind drive toward a decision.
Also, via our source: Ray Farmer, who was in the front office with Scott Pioli’s Chiefs, will be interviewed for general manager type slot tomorrow.
We reported recently that Michael Lombardi is in the Browns’ fold, with only his title to be determined. We can imagine something that would be functionally along the lines of special adviser to Joe Banner.
Lombardi and Farmer have known each other since they both worked for the Eagles in the late 1990s.

Our source gave us Zimmer's name immediately after Pat Shurmur was released, saying Zimmer would be interviewed. You may recall the post.

Zimmer/Jackson combo would be ideal.