My favorite team in all of sports, the Cleveland Browns, finished 7-8-1 on the season when just a season ago we went 0-16. In this years draft, we drafted our quarterback, Baker Mayfield (who rightfully should be rookie of the year), with the No. 1 overall pick. Many scrutinized this pick, but Baker proved them ALL wrong. The Browns as a team proved EVERYONE WRONG. The 2018 Browns after Hue Jackson was fired (and even some during) showed everyone the bright future this once very dismal franchise has. When Jackson was fired, Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams was promoted to head coach. At the same time, Todd Haley was fired and Freddie Kitchens was promoted to OC. Together, Williams and Kitchens went 5-3 to finish the season, and the Browns showed a side of them that hasn't been seen in a while: CONFIDENCE.
The Browns under Gregg Williams showed a tough grit that had been seen by the defense but it lacked on the offense. The offense in the early season wasn't living up to the hype thanks to Hue Jackson. Under Gregg Williams, the Browns offense and Baker Mayfield were UNPLUGGED. The offense was where it should have been all season, the defense didn't break and the Browns went 5-3. I'm almost positive that the Browns would have won their weeks 1,2 & 4 games under Gregg Williams and with Baker Mayfield under center for weeks 1 & 2.
The Browns are in a precious position, a position they haven't been in since 2014 when they went 7-9. Of course, this season won't be like the 2014 season; there is a lot more talent on this team that will be staying than in 2014. The big, burning question, though, is who will lead the bright-futured Browns in 2019? I think it should be Gregg Williams.
Now, you can throw names like Mike McCarthy at me, but why would the Browns want the Packers leftovers? Yes, Mike McCarthy is a great coach, but the Browns need to move forward, not take another team's leftovers. You can throw names like Josh McDaniels at me (and yes, that is a very enticing offer as he is a product of Bill Belichick), but one thing the Browns have taught me in the past is that hiring other team's OCs and DCs in not the right move for Cleveland. It just has not worked out.
You can throw very good college names at me, too, like Matt Campbell and Lincoln Riley. They do sound good, but Matt Campbell can't even win the Big 12 ... YET ... so I don't know if he is AFC North ready. Lincoln Riley is exciting, as he did coach Baker Mayfield in college, but his defensive mind worries me, especially in the NFL where defense is everything. The college to NFL jump is huge and few can do it. I mean, the most successful college coach, Nick Saban, couldn't even pan out in the NFL, so who knows. Anything can happen. I mean Bruce Arians (I like him a lot) did say the only head coaching job he would be interested in would be the Cleveland Browns job, so that is also a very interesting direction the Browns could go.
I think, for this season going forward, the Browns should stick with Gregg Williams, a guy who has great chemistry with the team. This chemistry can be seen when watching Cleveland Browns games. The offense is where it should be (I do think we need a little more wide receiver depth, but that is for another blog). The defense is just NASTY AND I LOVE IT. Gregg Williams gets what he wants out of the players and that is production, so I personally think the Browns should stick with Gregg Williams because it is working. This is a Browns team that just looks and feels different, and it all started with the coaching change to Gregg Williams.
Now, as much as I am promoting Gregg Williams, I will say this: no matter who Jimmy and Dee Haslam hire to be the next head coach of my favorite team, that coach will have my 101% support. I have supported every coach they've hired to this point, so why stop now?
P.S.
HERE WE GO BROWNIES! HERE WE GO! WOOF! WOOF!
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