Lost in the drama of Johnny Football, it has been reported that the Browns were close to announcing Dowell Loggains replacement as well as the Senior Offensive Advisor we have discussed:
http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/...ch-helped-manziel-get-ready-last-years-draft/
One of Johnny Manziel’s mentors and biggest advocates from a year ago will be his position coach next season — assuming Manziel’s still with the Browns.
The Browns intend to hire Kevin O’Connell as quarterbacks coach, a league source confirmed Saturday to The Chronicle-Telegram. Fox Sports was first to report the news.
The Browns also plan to hire former Florida offensive coordinator Kurt Roper as senior offensive assistant.
O’Connell, 29, helped tutor Manziel before the draft last year. One of the projects was breaking down game film with Manziel during his time working with quarterback guru George Whitfield Jr.
O’Connell also has connections with coach Mike Pettine, new offensive coordinator John DeFilippo and quarterback Brian Hoyer, who’s scheduled to become a free agent in March.
O’Connell was a third-round pick of the Patriots in 2008 out of San Diego State. He played in two games as a rookie, throwing six passes, then was beat out for the backup job the next season by Hoyer, an undrafted rookie.
O’Connell wound up with the Jets, where Pettine was defensive coordinator and DeFilippo coached the quarterbacks. He didn’t see any action in two seasons with New York.
O’Connell raved about Manziel before the Browns took him with the No. 22 pick in May.
“All the things that make (Tom) Brady and (Peyton) Manning special, Johnny Manziel is capable of doing those things,” O’Connell told CBS Houston radio in an interview last year.
“Now it is on him to continue to learn it and apply it to his game. Wherever Johnny goes I think he will be a great pro and I think he is going to work extremely hard to become the best possible player that he can be. I think the sky is the limit. The NFL has a funny way of allowing the cream to rise to the top no matter where you are picked.”
Manziel’s rookie season fell well short of O’Connell’s expectations. He didn’t beat out incumbent Hoyer in training camp, didn’t start until Week 15, then was a disaster.
He led one field-goal drive and threw two interceptions in six quarters as starter before injuring his hamstring. Manziel was 18-for-35 for 175 yards, two interceptions and a 42.0 rating. He rushed nine times for 29 yards. The Browns (7-9) lost both his starts.
His dedication to his profession was questioned repeatedly, capped by missing treatment for the hamstring the day before the season finale. He was partying the night before and didn’t wake up in time.
Pettine and owner Jimmy Haslam have labeled the quarterback situation “muddy” and have left all options open for improving it. But general manager Ray Farmer sounded inclined to give Manziel another shot when he talked after the season.
“I do think he can develop into a solid starter in this league,” Farmer said. “I think the sample size that’s available is small, and to that end we all have to be patient. I think there is an opportunity for the guy, it’s up to him to make those changes, but I think the talent is in his body to accomplish that.”
O’Connell hasn’t coached in the NFL but has worked as a private quarterback coach.
ESPN.com reported O’Connell’s work with Manziel didn’t hurt his candidacy, but the Browns didn’t consider it “a huge selling point.”
Roper spent one season with the Gators after six years at Duke. He hasn’t coached in the NFL.
Pettine has likely completed his staff following the addition of receivers coach Joker Phillips earlier in the week.
Pettine wanted to quickly fill the voids left after the departures of offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, receivers coach Mike McDaniel and quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains.
