Thursday, January 3, 2013

Browns head coach?

The Cleveland Browns needed a change.
Despite some improvement in talent,Pat Shurmur was overmatched in the role and likely should not have been hired to begin with as without the connection of his uncle to Mike Holmgren,he would not have been.

The Browns apparently are looking very hard at three college head coaches at their splashy hire.
I have issues with all three and for three very different reasons,but as I told my friend and reader Hank earlier about this topic,I really do not have a strong opinion on who TO hire...

Oregon's Chip Kelly has the highest upside,but his read-option offense seems awfully gimmicky for the NFL and something makes me think that Kelly is just as likely to be the next version of Bobby Petrino than he is anything else.
Penn State's Bill O'Brien did very well there in his first year,but the first year was always going to be the best there with their sanctions and he might be looking to leap while the going is good.
O'Brien also comes with the Belichick stain of none of the Billy B. gang ever succeeding as a head man in the league.
Syracuse's Doug Marrone has league experience with New Orleans as their offensive coordinator with Drew Brees and the Super Bowl winning Saints,but he has been just .500 with Syracuse,although the program does seem to be for the better since his arrival.

The NFL candidates are uninspiring as well.
Andy Reid is out because of his issues with Joe Banner,not that I would want him anyway.
Lovie Smith is dull,although there would be worse choices.
Bruce Arians would not be a candidate,but his work in Indianapolis as an interim has put him in a mix for some teams.
An assistant that I do like is Greg Roman at San Francisco,Roman is committed to the running game and is from the Cleveland area,so the job might appeal to him.

The big names are interesting to a degree.
Jon Gruden is intense and young enough to make a run,but Gruden might stay with the status quo with the offense and that has been disappointing.
Bill Cowher is way overrated and does not seem to have the fire anymore anyway.
After suffering through the Mike Holmgren show up and cash a check era,I am not in favor of another less than inspired big name.
Nick Saban has the Belichick stain and a less than strong Miami tenure,but I think he would work hard in what might be his last chance in the NFL.

If I had to choose,I think I'd go Saban,Gruden,Roman in that order.

Back tomorrow.....

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