Reflecting Back on Head Coaches...

[Flugel]

I think the Head Coach I was most excited about us hiring in my lifetime was Bill Belichick. Not only did his Defense smother Elway into a much better memory than "The Drive" but it also stopped Jim Kelly's high powered offense in the next Superbowl he would be the game winning DC. He stymied 2 HOF QBs in Superbowls.

 

When he showed up to Cleveland, he inherited a 3-13 team in disarray - money managed up top by Art Modell. That said, here's what he did in 5 years:

1991 6-10

1992 7-9

1993 7-9

1994 11-5

1995 5-11

 

Keep in mind, he did some of this with the Vinny Testaverde that was unable to be the solution to the ongoing dumpster fire in Tampa. 1994 was the last time this franchise won a playoff game over Bill Belichick's previous boss Bill Parcells and the NE Patriots. Eric Turner completely shutout Drew Bledsoe's go to guy TE Ben Coates. The RB that would become Bill's only Pro Bowl RB here was Leroy Hoard during that 1994 season, not to be confused with Eric Metcalf up the middle or Touchdown-free Tommy Vardell. Interestingly enough, Hoard actually made the Pro Bowl at a position he never played - Fullback. He was just a very physical RB that pounded the rock while our oline caved in impressive playoff fronts like Philly and Dallas that year. That also allowed our defense to rest via ball control.

 

The next Head Coach I'm going to bring up is very polarizing - Marty Schottenheimer. He took over a 5-11 team Rutigliano left him with. As beloved as Sam was with our first version of Kardiac Kids - he never won a single playoff game before those hating Marty come piping in. I loved me some Sam for bringing me my first golden years as a fan via tapping the very best of the only MVP QB I've seen here - Brian Sipe. But as I mentioned, the 5-11 record slammed Sam's window shut in 84. Marty improved this team to 8-8 in 85 which was good enough for 1st place and an exciting playoff game vrs Miami. The backfield tandem of Mack & Byner was fun to watch during Bernie Kosar's rookie year. The next year was 1986 and Marty hired my all time favorite Offensive Coordinator Lindy Infante who stretched the field horizontally so former Bama WR (turned TE) Ozzie Newsome could exploit the seams or command Safety attention. Meanwhile RBs would catch about 123 or 128 passes to bury the blitz with. Meanwhile, our defense would rank #1 against the run in the AFC in route to a 12-4 season (best I've seen). My 2nd golden era as a fan was underway with my other QB fave (Kosar) and it was fun from September to January Achey-Breaky. In 1987 we went 10-5.In 1988, we went 10-6. We made playoffs every one of those years and we even won some playoff games. In 89, Bud Carson took over and we only won 9 games but the ability to be competitive with Denver in the AFC Championship game vanished. Again Marty's records here were: 8-8, 12-4, 10-5, 10-6. If you think that's horrible - compare what we've done since...

 

Love Marty or hate him, we never had more playoff appearances or won more post season games with any other coach during any tenures after 1970. This includes Bill Belichick. He basically took a backup LB/ST player (Bill Cowher); and developed him into an ideal ST Coordinator prior to promoting him to a DC in KC. All the while, he instilled the philosophy of the era - run the ball down thy esophagus and stop the run. Since Elway would be the QB in the division KC played in - there would be elite pass rushers like Derrick Thomas and Neil Smith to sack him more than any other defense. This would instill even more defensive ideas for a future HC gig in Pitt for Cowher. I think Marty was a much better HC than his critics ever gave him credit for. All that said, I wished he didn't ass pucker so many playoff games away from the meat and potatoes that got him there. Also, while I liked his idea to keep Lindy Infante's offense after Lindy got a HC job - the person he selected didn't understand the offense or it's dynamics enough. This was reflected when our time management was in disarray. We let a half expire vrs Houston with the ball at their 19 with a time out remaining our OC never called. I think we lost that game by 3 points or less. Modell's request for Marty to select a new OC was reasonable while Marty's old school stubborn would lead to new beginnings for all. Jim Harbaugh thought so much of Infante's offense easing his job at QB - he adopted most of his offense/teachings when he became a HC in an interview I read in ESPN Magazine.

 

I still don't understand the level of hatred some of our fans have for Marty. How much better have we ever been leading up to him or after he left? Who did better? People often credit Tom Brady for a lot of BB's success and rightfully so. Then again, doesn't it help considerably to work for a better owner/business man than Art Modell? Their cap is always healthy in NE and I don't see any 35 year old Raymond Clayborn's coming in with better contracts than the reliable veterans already in-house.

[nickers]

I think the Head Coach I was most excited about us hiring in my lifetime was Bill Belichick. Not only did his Defense smother Elway into a much better memory than "The Drive" but it also stopped Jim Kelly's high powered offense in the next Superbowl he would be the game winning DC. He stymied 2 HOF QBs in Superbowls.

 

When he showed up to Cleveland, he inherited a 3-13 team in disarray - money managed up top by Art Modell. That said, here's what he did in 5 years:

1991 6-10

1992 7-9

1993 7-9

1994 11-5

1995 5-11

 

Keep in mind, he did some of this with the Vinny Testaverde that was unable to be the solution to the ongoing dumpster fire in Tampa. 1994 was the last time this franchise won a playoff game over Bill Belichick's previous boss Bill Parcells and the NE Patriots. Eric Turner completely shutout Drew Bledsoe's go to guy TE Ben Coates. The RB that would become Bill's only Pro Bowl RB here was Leroy Hoard during that 1994 season, not to be confused with Eric Metcalf up the middle or Touchdown-free Tommy Vardell. Interestingly enough, Hoard actually made the Pro Bowl at a position he never played - Fullback. He was just a very physical RB that pounded the rock while our oline caved in impressive playoff fronts like Philly and Dallas that year. That also allowed our defense to rest via ball control.

 

The next Head Coach I'm going to bring up is very polarizing - Marty Schottenheimer. He took over a 5-11 team Rutigliano left him with. As beloved as Sam was with our first version of Kardiac Kids - he never won a single playoff game before those hating Marty come piping in. I loved me some Sam for bringing me my first golden years as a fan via tapping the very best of the only MVP QB I've seen here - Brian Sipe. But as I mentioned, the 5-11 record slammed Sam's window shut in 84. Marty improved this team to 8-8 in 85 which was good enough for 1st place and an exciting playoff game vrs Miami. The backfield tandem of Mack & Byner was fun to watch during Bernie Kosar's rookie year. The next year was 1986 and Marty hired my all time favorite Offensive Coordinator Lindy Infante who stretched the field horizontally so former Bama WR (turned TE) Ozzie Newsome could exploit the seams or command Safety attention. Meanwhile RBs would catch about 123 or 128 passes to bury the blitz with. Meanwhile, our defense would rank #1 against the run in the AFC in route to a 12-4 season (best I've seen). My 2nd golden era as a fan was underway with my other QB fave (Kosar) and it was fun from September to January Achey-Breaky. In 1987 we went 10-5.In 1988, we went 10-6. We made playoffs every one of those years and we even won some playoff games. In 89, Bud Carson took over and we only won 9 games but the ability to be competitive with Denver in the AFC Championship game vanished. Again Marty's records here were: 8-8, 12-4, 10-5, 10-6. If you think that's horrible - compare what we've done since...

 

Love Marty or hate him, we never had more playoff appearances or won more post season games with any other coach during any tenures after 1970. This includes Bill Belichick. He basically took a backup LB/ST player (Bill Cowher); and developed him into an ideal ST Coordinator prior to promoting him to a DC in KC. All the while, he instilled the philosophy of the era - run the ball down thy esophagus and stop the run. Since Elway would be the QB in the division KC played in - there would be elite pass rushers like Derrick Thomas and Neil Smith to sack him more than any other defense. This would instill even more defensive ideas for a future HC gig in Pitt for Cowher. I think Marty was a much better HC than his critics ever gave him credit for. All that said, I wished he didn't ass pucker so many playoff games away from the meat and potatoes that got him there. Also, while I liked his idea to keep Lindy Infante's offense after Lindy got a HC job - the person he selected didn't understand the offense or it's dynamics enough. This was reflected when our time management was in disarray. We let a half expire vrs Houston with the ball at their 19 with a time out remaining our OC never called. I think we lost that game by 3 points or less. Modell's request for Marty to select a new OC was reasonable while Marty's old school stubborn would lead to new beginnings for all. Jim Harbaugh thought so much of Infante's offense easing his job at QB - he adopted most of his offense/teachings when he became a HC in an interview I read in ESPN Magazine.

 

I still don't understand the level of hatred some of our fans have for Marty. How much better have we ever been leading up to him or after he left? Who did better? People often credit Tom Brady for a lot of BB's success and rightfully so. Then again, doesn't it help considerably to work for a better owner/business man than Art Modell? Their cap is always healthy in NE and I don't see any 35 year old Raymond Clayborn's coming in with better contracts than the reliable veterans already in-house.

Because Marty was a dumb fuck asshole who always incorrectly used the prevent defense.. He made the samew mistake every fucking time.. I hated him and Mangina the Most.. Bud Carson was too drunk to lead a football team.. He came to berea smashed out of his mind everyday Hell I remember bud carson was smashed at his own press conference when he was hired lol.. His wife had to answer questions for him...

[calfoxwc]

I admired Marty, the only thing was his prevent defense syndrome in playoffs, but I still admired him.

He was high on football smarts, energy, principle and though some players would chuckle at his

"it's the gleam" stuff... they knew his energy.

 

Buttichek was a waste of time. He alienated the media, his own players, was a fool and dumped Kosar because

they changed his arrogant highness's play and scored a TD. He alienated fans... he had to get out, but went

to a great situation, and learned from his stupidass mistakes.

 

and Sam - inspired his team that didn't have star power, to go for the stars. Firing him was stupid, but hey, the owner

was arrogant, stupid, corrupt, terrible mean wicked bad and nasty, and a loser, so, Sam was better off.

 

Great coaches go where there is enough talent to succeed. Bad coaches go where there isn't. Funny how that works.

The coach that can come in and take bad talent level, and turn it around in a few years..... is rare. That takes special

people and talent eval skils, and a lot of common sense and drive.

 

That is who Hue is. One of the rare ones.

[Mudfly]

Nice write up Fluges......We have some similar ideas, as I liked Marty and Billy too....But....

 

...gotta say, my all time favorite coach was Sam Rutigliano.....dont know if he was the best X-O type of guy, but I liked him none the less. In a way, I see him as similar to the guy we have now. Same attributes. Not a genius or a strong game coach, but one with the type of personality to nurture young players and get them properly motivated. Sam was the guy who coached up Brain Sipe and took him from 11th round bench warmer to league MVP. And he was behind the Kardiac Kids....easily the most exciting season Ive ever experienced. Those guys played above and beyond....and dug deep, almost every game, to come out on top. Of course, in the end, that "game coach" thing got him, when he passed instead of taking the easy 3. Which is my concern with Hue....that he's the guy to get us through these tough times, but not the guy to seal the deal......but, both Hue and Sam were some very likable coaches....

 

Bill was also a coach I loved.....and most of the things I liked about him, were the same things others hated. I especially liked how he was a dick at pressy time.....his aloof attitude and mumbled answers. Still love that shit, actually. I remember me and my best Browns buddy virtually coming to fists over him.....Pete(my bud) absolutely HATED him and I defended him. We went round and round and round about it. Then, when Bill cut Bernie loose, Pete lost his freaking mind, whilst I laughed and laughed. Dont misunderstand, I loved Bernie when he could play, but understood it was time to move on. Then, when half the world freaked out, I became resolute and stood my ground(kinda like I have to do here sometimes). In the end, Bill make a lot of rookie mistakes and took his "learning" elsewhere, only to become one of the greatest(if not THE greatest) in recent history. Though, not sure that would have happened here, as I think his firing and subsequent moves added to the learning process and made him better....

 

Marty was alright and is #3 on my list....but only because we won with him. My issues with him are that he was a dork and couldnt win the big one, even though he had the team to do it. I honestly believe a better coach would have won a couple Super Bowls with that team. But he was organized, hired good coaches and made good personnel decisions. Just couldnt get over that hump.

 

Now.....The ones I hated?......Butch Davis and Pat Shurmur....polar opposites. Davis was an arrogant prick, who thought he knew everything and Shurmur was a limp wrist pussy who was too weak to coach Pop Warner.....neither one should have been given the keys to our team.

[The Gipper]

If not for Tom Brady...BB would have had teams with the Pats similar to what he had with the Browns in his last year or so: good defenses, strong playoff contenders, but not champions. Brady makes that team a Champion.

In the beginning, BB knew defense....but didn't know shit about offense. BK really DID know more about offense than BB. BB got smart when he realised after that that he had no real aptitude for running an offense. So, later, he has had an series of pretty good OCs, Bill O'Brien/Josh McDaniel etc.

And he...and they had Tom Brady. Did I say that the key to their success is that the Pats had Tom Brady? If not, let me repeat: the key to the Pats success is that they have Tom Brady. Perhaps the GOAT.

 

As for prevent defenses.....YES, they have bitten the Browns in the ass several time. Yes..on The Drive. And on the 2002 playoff game vs. the Steelers. Butch demanded the Browns go into the prevent in the middle of the 3rd QTR. with a 17 point lead, over the objections of his DC...Foge Fazio.

 

As for Good/Bad Browns coaches....its a fact that it CANNOT be said that any of them have been worth a shit much since Marty. To me, to be a good HC, your teams have to consistently win....and NONE of the Browns HCs have done that.

Of course, some blame for that can be laid at the hands of the Browns Front Offices. And I don't think we have had any of those worth a damn since Ernie Accorsi really. Hopefully this new group will now prove to have the right stuff.

[gumby73]

The next year was 1986 and Marty hired my all time favorite Offensive Coordinator Lindy Infante who stretched the field horizontally so former Bama WR (turned TE) Ozzie Newsome could exploit the seams or command Safety attention. Meanwhile RBs would catch about 123 or 128 passes to bury the blitz with. Meanwhile, our defense would rank #1 against the run in the AFC in route to a 12-4 season (best I've seen).

Thanks Flug..Lindy Infante was my fathers favorite also. So underrated by many. So unappreciated by most in the media. As Dad would say "if Lindy did not have his QB prepared with 3 plays at the sight of the d-line, that gain would have never happened". Lindy's offense,taught many of us old-timers about how well prepared you must be to play QB at this level..great post

[Flugel]

Thanks for the feedback folks!

 

I think the most likable coach/personality was Sam Rutigliano.

 

But my 2 faves in terms of success were Marty Schottenheimer and Bill Belichick. Haters are gonna hate but if you look at everything here - 2 first time Head Coaches restored us to competitive football worth watching enough to make following this team fun from September to January.

 

Again, Bill Belichick was the Head Coach hire I was most excited about in my lifetime as a fan. However, Marty beat Pittsburgh at least once a year, finished first or made the playoffs all 4 years, had the best winning percentage, and won playoff games.

 

Bill Belichick took over a bigger dumpster fire than Marty did and improved us up to a playoff caliber team. That said, he only made the playoffs once in 5 years with an owner like Art, not to be confused with Robert Craft. The 1 time he did make the playoffs, Pittsburgh swept us in the regular season and beat us by about 20 points in the post season (making BB 0-3 vrs Pitt on his best team). His records weren't as good as Marty's while none of his OC's compared to Lindy Infante. Gotta be honest, Marty accomplished more here for the same exact owner.

[calfoxwc]

bill butticheat was an arrogant punk as a head coach his first time around. He flubbed and flopped with the Browns,

then had to grow up into more of a human being, at least a bit, and got a hold of a team that was accruing talent

before he got there and got lucky with his qb. Enough already with butticheat. He sucked while he was the "coach" of

the Browns.

[calfoxwc]

note: this is asswipe buttichek AFTER he flubbed with the Browns

 

https://youtu.be/d5oTVUxvHzc

[calfoxwc]

Buttchek can't figure out how to hold a mic.

 

https://youtu.be/HWz46ZQhQSY

[calfoxwc]

Buttichek's team couldn't muster one point vs the Bills...

 

ohhh, pouty loser

 

https://youtu.be/aYe7vfebG0w

[Orion]

BB wasn't allowed to be offensive coordinator in New England.

 

Kraft knew what he wanted his HC to do and Bill had to do it......or he coulda' gone to the Jets if he'd like.

 

Kraft set Bill up to be successful. While the top of OUR pyramid is a marketing manager.

[BrownsfaninPa]

Those were the good ol days when the BROWNS were a dominating force to deal with. Sam's years with the Kardiac Kids era with Brian Sipe , Greg and Mike Pruitt, Ozzie, and on defense we had Clay Matthews, Lyle Alzado, Etc.

Marty's era was even better, rookie Bernie Kosar , Kevin Mack, Ernest Byner, and veteran ozzie, and on defense we had mean and nasty Eddie Johnson, Bob Golic, Mike Johnson, Clay Matthews, Hanford Dixon, and Frank Minnifield who created our now infamous end zone fan club, The DAWG POUND.

I wished the Browns would have stayed in Cleveland, there was no telling how many Super Bowls this franchise could have gone to if it was given a chance.

[Bob806]

Marty definitely outsmarted himself in the playoffs, but he did bring a plan and a winning culture.

 

"The Drive" game, Marty made 3 huge coaching errors: 1) taking Dave Puzzoli off the field after he sacked Elway 2) the prevent on 3rd & 19 3) handing to Fontenot on 3rd & 2 in OT.

 

In Marty's defense, we never really had a great pass rush to go along with a fantastic secondary.

 

Belichick,he definitely learned from his mistakes here. Too bad Art did what he did, because BB seemed to have it going in the right direction in 1994.

[Tour2ma]

Sam was our Bum Phillips... the HC who could inspire average players to produce at levels far exceeding their ability. Both were HCs that players loved and for whom they played like they would rather die than than disappoint. Pretty rare breed... I can only think of a couple others including George Allen and Marv Levy... and maybe Blanton Collier. Collier wasn't "visible" enough to know for sure, but "players' coach" was how he was billed when he replaced Paul Brown.

 

Why Marty would go into a shell in big games with a lead will always be a mystery. That said, I wonder how many times he did so and ended up with a win that there were that went unnoticed since "we won". I do know that in one game when he did not have that option we came within a fumble of one of the great comebacks in playoff history.

 

And then there's Bill... the GOAT that has set himself atop the HC field in my book... and many others... and he got his start with us. Yup... among other moves I cursed the labeling of our beloved QB as having "diminished talents" at the time, but one of us proved to be right and it was not me.

[The Gipper]

Sam was our Bum Phillips... the HC who could inspire average players to produce at levels far exceeding their ability. Both were HCs that players loved and for whom they played like they would rather die than than disappoint. Pretty rare breed... I can only think of a couple others including George Allen and Marv Levy... and maybe Blanton Collier. Collier wasn't "visible" enough to know for sure, but "players' coach" was how he was billed when he replaced Paul Brown.

 

Why Marty would go into a shell in big games with a lead will always be a mystery. That said, I wonder how many times he did so and ended up with a win that there were that went unnoticed since "we won". I do know that in one game when he did not have that option we came within a fumble of one of the great comebacks in playoff history.

 

And then there's Bill... the GOAT that has set himself atop the HC field in my book... and many others... and he got his start with us. Yup... among other moves I cursed the labeling of our beloved QB as having "diminished talents" at the time, but one of us proved to be right and it was not me.

Bill? The GOAT of Browns HCs? What kind of a statement is that? Ever hear of a guy named Paul Brown?

[domcucch1994]

Should have kept Bellicheck losers!
Also shouldn't have moved to shitville Baltimore..

 

But it's all water near a bridge am I right?

[nickers]

Bill Belichick is still the same dumb mother fucker he was when he was here..,. Having Tom Brady covers for a lot of mistakes...