Mark O Posted January 15, 2014 Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 Patience Is a Virtue in the Head Coach Hunt ----By Don Banks, SI It's rare that the Browns get credit for taking the smart approach, but they're doing it right when it comes to finding Rob Chudzinski's replacement. The NFL's coaching carousel spins fast. Too fast. And now it's time for the league to make changes to help the hiring teams that can't help themselves I dont even care if its an intentional display of patience on their part, or in reality a byproduct of not being able to give the job away, Im still convinced the sometimes clueless Cleveland Browns are taking the right approach when it comes to conducting their latest head coaching search. By taking their time. Yep, I just typed the words right approach and Browns coaching search in the same sentence. It stunned me, too. As quaint as it might sound in the instant-gratification world in which we live, the Browns deserve kudos for actually showing some restraint in the pursuit of their next coach. Because the speed dating that passes for the NFL head coaching interview and hiring process these days is growing more frenzied all the time. It has been only 17 days since Cleveland surprisingly lowered the boom on first-year head coach Rob Chudzinkski, but that clearly is an eternity in todays NFL. For a team that couldnt even wait until the leagues so-called Black Monday to make the moveannouncing Chudzinskis firing just hours after its regular-season finale on Dec. 29 after the news started leaking outthe Browns are proceeding considerably more deliberately in the hiring phase of the proceedings. Browns owner Jimmy Haslam on Wednesday even felt compelled to issue a letter to his teams panicked fans, offering an explanation for the perceived hold-up in the search, which has included a few candidates removing their name from consideration. After all, six of the NFLs seven head-coaching openings have already been filled, with only the Browns still interviewing candidates. You snooze, you lose, right? The Browns, Haslam wrote, intend to stay disciplined to this process and to interview all of the candidates on our list. They are being very methodical in their approach, and are prepared to wait as long as necessary because this is a very important decision. Well, roger that. Maybe if the Browns had taken a little bit more time to make their coaching decision last year, they wouldnt have felt it necessary to can Chudzinski one year into a four-year contract. Live and learn, I guess. As novel an idea as it passes for, Cleveland wants to interview all of the candidates on its list, and that means quite possibly waiting until after the Super Bowl to do so, when a bevy of assistant coaches from Denver, Seattle, San Francisco and New England (pretty, please Josh McDaniels?) will become available. Quite the concept. But why isnt it more common? Why is it in the NFL that most teams will spends months preparing for the draft, and weeks and weeks diving into free agency research and preparation, but then feel the need to invest only a handful of days into a critically important head coaching search? Isnt picking your next coach at least as important as picking your next crop of players? But thats the current system the patient Browns are bucking to a certain degree, with the NFLs rules on the interview windows for head coaching candidates during the postseason making a sprint out of some teams searches. Hiring a head coach has become a furious game of musical chairs, and teams desperately dont want to get caught without one of the most sought-after chairs once the last notes are played. Houston got the game going this year, firing Gary Kubiak with three weeks to go in the season, and getting the desired head start on the rest of the field with the hiring of Penn State coach Bill OBrien by Jan. 2. Thats the way the hiring-season game is played now, but that cant possibly be the best solution. While there will no doubt be issues to overcome no matter when the interview window falls, the most equitable thing to do is to make teams wait until after the Super Bowl is played to interview and hire a new head coach. Revolutionary, I know, but it would remove some of the biggest problems that exist in the current NFL system, even if it didnt serve to dramatically slow the pace of the hirings once the window opens. For one, assistants coaches on teams that make deep playoff runs or go to the Super Bowl wont be disadvantaged any more. Those are usually some of the most attractive candidates on the market, as they are again this year with Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase, Seattle defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, and 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman. Yet many times those still-in-season candidates never get the chance to land a job because teams are too anxious to find their new coach and fill out a new coaching staff, and are thus unwilling to wait for the completion of the five-week postseason. Last year at this time, San Franciscos Roman was considered a strong candidate for the opening in Jacksonville, where new Jaguars general manager David Caldwell was shopping for a coach. But when Seattle lost in the divisional round, and coveted Seahawks defensive coordinator Gus Bradley came free, he wound up getting the Jaguars before Roman even had the opportunity to interview. Why? Because the 49ers were Super Bowl-bound. And the same scenario has probably played out this year, with Washington (Jay Gruden), Tennessee (Ken Whisenhunt), Detroit (Jim Caldwell) and Minnesota (Mike Zimmer) all making their coaching hires in the past six days. Three of those four coaches were on teams that just finished playoff runs in the past two weekends. Taking more time to sort through the interview and hiring process would perhaps help teams avoid the pitfalls the Browns think they encountered last year, when their pursuit of Chip Kelly failed, and they responded by quickly landing Chudzinski. The urgency to hire someone, and not be seen as having been spurned by your top candidates, is a real and powerful motivator that can prompt clubs to short-change the decision-making process and all of its long-term ramifications. Gone too would be the onerous practice of making head-coaching candidates on playoff teams schedule interviews in clumps, just a day or two before they work the most important game of their clubs season. The divided attention span issue is a thorny one for playoff teams to contend with, but needlessly so, since it could be eliminated. No more need for an offensive coordinator like Whisenhunt to interview with three teams and prepare a game plan for San Diegos divisional-round playoff game at Denver, all within the span of a few days. And no more team officials like Vikings general manager Rick Spielman flying to Charlotte last weekend to interview the 49ers Roman and his fellow San Francisco assistant, defensive line coach Jim Tomsula, at a hotel less than 24 hours before the 49ers road playoff game at Carolina. Is anyone capable of doing their best possible work under those circumstances? Its not ideal for the coaching candidates, the teams they currently work for, or for team officials who are forced to jet around the country and jam some pretty crucial job interviews into tiny windows of time. And if every team searching for a head coach has the potential of the same hiring season start date, then everyone has the same pool to build an assistant coaching staff from, and doesnt have to make premature or hasty decisions based purely on pressure to compete for the best assistants. There would still be mad competition on that front, but there would at least be a leveling of that particular playing field. A post-Super Bowl start to head coach hiring season would get push-back from those who think itd be the end of the world to not have a fully operational coaching staff in place and scouting at next weeks Senior Bowl workouts in Alabama. But a teams personnel and scouting staff doesnt get completely wiped out in a coaching change and that assignment could be handled. With the lighter offseason programs in todays NFL, you dont desperately need a head coach in early to mid-January any way, and youd still have months to make up for any draft prep that might be missed by conducting a February coaching search. After all, the draft this year has been moved to the second weekend of May, so theres still all the time in the world for a new coaching staff to set its board. Ive never thought of them this way before, but the Browns might be the smart ones here. Theyre taking their time to find a head coach. At least this time. Theyre determined to find the right guy. Even if hes not available right now. http://mmqb.si.com/2014/01/15/browns-head-coaching-search/?eref=sihp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Gipper Posted January 15, 2014 Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 I basically agree with this guy. The way the system is now requires team to hurry hurry scurry scurry for a new HC. If the NFL put a moratorium on hiring HCs until after the Super Bowl, good. As noted, compare this to the draft situation: The NFL apparently requires underclassmen to declare for the draft by January 15th......yet the draft isn't until May now. Why the hurry up and wait? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark O Posted January 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 As noted, compare this to the draft situation: The NFL apparently requires underclassmen to declare for the draft by January 15th......yet the draft isn't until May now. Why the hurry up and wait? I'm sure part of that is for the combine since that comes up just a week or two after the super bowl even though the draft isn't till early May. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tour2ma Posted January 15, 2014 Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 .. or some teams know what they want and when they see it, they stop looking and sign it so that their guy can begin assembling a staff... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cuwoohio Posted January 15, 2014 Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 "Ive never thought of them this way before, but the Browns might be the smart ones here. Theyre taking their time to find a head coach. At least this time. Theyre determined to find the right guy. Even if hes not available right now." Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!and this came afetr the deep freeze Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canton Mike Posted January 15, 2014 Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 Now that I've had time to cool off & think more rationally, I tend to agree with the lead post on this thread. I still think some things were not handled well, & I'm still suspicious (especially of Lombardi), but I'll remain open to what takes place & we'll just see how it goes. I DO however, expect that their fast reaction will result in equally fast positive results. This whole thing is sure keeping our interest, isn't it? I definitely agree with putting a moratorium on coaching hires until after the Super Bowl, but the Browns may be a HUGE beneficiary of the current system this year. Let's HOPE! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miktoxic Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 i call bullshit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClevelandFanForLife Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 I feel the same way. I'm fine with them waiting. What does it matter if we were the first ones to hire a guy? If they get who they want, then no one will care. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark O Posted January 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 i call bullshit. Which part? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roach Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 I'm one that wasn't happy about Chud being fired. But that's done. Now, I'm glad that we are the last team standing without a HC. From a candidate standpoint, we've gone from the least favorable team to the most favorable team. All those candidates, and only one slot open......... The Browns get the pick of the remaining litter. A nice position to be in for guys that aspire to be a HC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark O Posted January 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 I'm one that wasn't happy about Chud being fired. But that's done. Now, I'm glad that we are the last team standing without a HC. From a candidate standpoint, we've gone from the least favorable team to the most favorable team. All those candidates, and only one slot open......... The Browns get the pick of the remaining litter. A nice position to be in for guys that aspire to be a HC. When is your interview? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LBC mike Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 So lets say that Gase doesn't take the job or the DC from seattle, what happens then? We hire a special teams coach from a lower division college? This is what worries me. I have not faith in Lombardi or Banner. Hate Lombardi. Is Hate a strong word? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sienn13 Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 Thanks Mark O, great post. Wasn't too happy with the Chud firing but its time to move on. Im happy there taking there time and not rushing to get the flavor of the week! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clevfan4life Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 not that I think that taking your time is the wrong approach, cause it isn't....but I think had the first couple guys they talked to said yes we'd have a new coach right now blowing sunshine up our collective asses about how next year won't be that big of a rebuild..pinky swear. I just don't give the FO that much credit anymore. THey're taking their time cause nobody has said definitively he wants the job. But ole Jimmeh is good and damn right that this decision is an important one. I would dare say this decision may be the most important one since they came back in 99. If they fuck this decision up and come to the conclusion in a year or two that yet again "this wasn't the guy".....they could shitcan this franchise for a decade real talk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D Bone Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 Now, I'm glad that we are the last team standing without a HC. From a candidate standpoint, we've gone from the least favorable team to the most favorable team. All those candidates, and only one slot open......... The Browns get the pick of the remaining litter. A nice position to be in for guys that aspire to be a HC. That does makes sense......... So lets say that Gase doesn't take the job or the DC from seattle, what happens then? We hire a special teams coach from a lower division college? This is what worries me. I have not faith in Lombardi or Banner. Hate Lombardi. Is Hate a strong word? ...........but unfortunately so does that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miktoxic Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 taking their time and being keen on who they hire is one thing. having great candidates turn down the job is another. who's to say that half these guys weren't offered the job in cleveland but decided to turn t down because of the history of this FO so far. the more i think about it, the more i think haslam is doing a jerry jones and a holmgren who wants 'their' guys in there so they can sit by the fireplace and talk about players they wished they had drafted and spitting tobacco 'chew' 15 feet away into the spitoons in his living room. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tour2ma Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 I'm one that wasn't happy about Chud being fired. But that's done. Now, I'm glad that we are the last team standing without a HC. From a candidate standpoint, we've gone from the least favorable team to the most favorable team. All those candidates, and only one slot open......... The Browns get the pick of the remaining litter. A nice position to be in for guys that aspire to be a HC. 1. We're now the only team, so we are both the least and most "favorable team". 2. You do know how litter picking works right? Look... I agree on Chud and I'm moving on as well. While I'm not shedding tears over missing out on some of the retreads that have landed jobs (McDaniels, Caldwell), others (Smith) were proven winners that would have brought their experience to bear. Same is true for the former assistant coaches who have signed on for their first, NFL, HC gig. It's not so much that there are no good HC candidates left.... I'm sure there are. It's that the league-wide process of assembling new staffs is underway and any team, i.e., us, without a HC has to tread water until their new leader is on-board. I definitely agree with putting a moratorium on coaching hires until after the Super Bowl, but the Browns may be a HUGE beneficiary of the current system this year. Let's HOPE! How so, Mike? the more i think about it, the more i think haslam is doing a jerry jones... My greatest fear in a nutshell... Two years of ownership... two HCs... (sarcasm alert) obviously Jimmy has brought the Pittsburgh model to Cleveland... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonBrown Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 Wheter this is true or not remains to be seen but it does make me feel better about the whole situation, so there's that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gftChris Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 Saying we're the most desirable job in the NFL right now is true, I guess, but that doesn't count for the fact that 5 other teams have had their pick before us. Like in the draft - we might get who we actually want at #4, but to be sure of getting your guy you have to go up to number 1. Not feeling a lot better about the search after reading that, although I agree on an embargo until after the SB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tml1138 Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 Gase was the Browns very first choice to interview. Seems quite convenient that he was the only one to turn down all interviews until after the Broncos season was over. Ideal scapegoat to employ while they are searching in a frenzy for a new coach and get turned down left and right. Maybe just a conspiracy theory...but makes you wonder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cdl15 Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 absolutely this is just a testament on how the Browns are doing it right and how all other 31 teams don't know what they're doing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zombo Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 We are assuming they are waiting for Glase (or some still think McDaniels) or even Quinn because those are the names that the media has bandied about. But maybe they are waiting to interview: 49ers OC Greg Roman: John Carroll Grad has has guided SF's offense to three straight NFC Championships with two different QBs with completely different styles. 49ers DC Vic Fangio Niners suddenly became a defensive force when he entered the scene, has worked for both Harbaughs. Harbaughs win. Seahawks OC Darrell Bevell: At 44, he has already been an OC in the league since 2006 and worked with successful offenses in GB, Min and Sea I think all three of these guys are at least interview-worthy. Zombo --Or maybe Jimmy likes the cut of the cut of the jib of Broncos DC Jack Del Rio and thinks he deserves a second chance? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tour2ma Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 Good stuff, Z and a handful of better prospects than Gase... Del Rio's "jib" made me imagine Haslam's want ad: Wanted: Hard nosed, NFL Coach for opportunity of a lifetime. Must be a tough as nails, no nonsense, results oriented S.O.B. who knows how to do as he's told and not ask questions. Experience is a plus unless it isn't (please come back, Josh) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gftChris Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 I'm not convinced that the 49ers OC is someone worth going after - they've hardly been a juggernaut this year, just relying on D and a run game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Gipper Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 We are assuming they are waiting for Glase (or some still think McDaniels) or even Quinn because those are the names that the media has bandied about. But maybe they are waiting to interview: 49ers OC Greg Roman: John Carroll Grad has has guided SF's offense to three straight NFC Championships with two different QBs with completely different styles. 49ers DC Vic Fangio Niners suddenly became a defensive force when he entered the scene, has worked for both Harbaughs. Harbaughs win. Seahawks OC Darrell Bevell: At 44, he has already been an OC in the league since 2006 and worked with successful offenses in GB, Min and Sea I think all three of these guys are at least interview-worthy. Zombo --Or maybe Jimmy likes the cut of the cut of the jib of Broncos DC Jack Del Rio and thinks he deserves a second chance? All interesting. I do think Del Rio would be a good coach. He led the Jags fairly deep into the playoffs one year. I remember his team kicking the hell out of the Steelers in a playoff game. So, to me, sure, he would be a viable candidate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbaddawgjr Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 How about bringing back some history. Bring back Marty ball. Marty was a good coach just could not get us pass the playoffs, but I would love to be in the playoffs again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark O Posted January 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 The only guy who has been hired that I am disappointed we didn't even consider is Lovie Smith. I think he got a raw deal in Chicago and will do well in Tampa with that team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D Bone Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 The only guy who has been hired that I am disappointed we didn't even consider is Lovie Smith. I think he got a raw deal in Chicago and will do well in Tampa with that team. I couldn't agree more Mark. I'm betting that from this season on, Tampa will be a tough, well disciplined team that will compete for its division, year in and year out..........Naaaaa, we didn't need to talk to him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark O Posted January 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 I couldn't agree more Mark. I'm betting that from this season on, Tampa will be a tough, well disciplined team that will compete for its division, year in and year out..........Naaaaa, we didn't need to talk to him. I agree but I was also making the point that just because we haven't hired anyone yet doesn't mean we've really missed out on anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickers Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 How about bringing back some history. Bring back Marty ball. Marty was a good coach just could not get us pass the playoffs, but I would love to be in the playoffs again. Marty is a loser who never learns from his cardninal mistake of playing Prevent defense,ensuring his demise in the post season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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