Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Gregg Williams Should be the Next Coach of the Cleveland Browns

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   I don't think the Browns can go 2-30, establishing all sorts of negative NFL records, and keep the Head Coach.  On the other hand everyone recognizes the lack of continuity in management has been a major problem.  The obvious solution is to appoint Gregg Williams to Head Coach, and hire a new Offensive Coordinator. 
   Hue Jackson has done a great job keeping the team together and playing hard every week. But as Offensive Coordinator, he has been a disaster. He has managed to ruin the careers of three quarterbacks this year. He promoted DeShone Kizer way to soon to be the starter, and meanwhile sophomores Cody Kessler and Kevin Hogan never got the chance to show whether they can play or not.  
     With an atrocious passing offense, Hue was not able to create a run-first offensive game plan for whatever reason.  All year long they have tried to throw the ball all over the ballyard 40 times or more per game, and with a rookie quarterback, it just didn't work. Help is needed from a true Offensive Coordinator.  
      But on the other side of the ball, Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams has gotten results, turning around the worst  defense in the NFL.  Yes he had some help from young star Myles Garrett, but even without him the Browns were much improved, especially in rushing defense.  Coach Williams switched the team over from the 3-4 defense to the 4-3, and made a huge improvement.
     Gregg has been to the Super Bowl and won, as Defensive Coordinator for the Saints.  Yes, he was too aggressive by allowing the players to establish bounties on knocking out the other teams' stars ("bountygate"), which earned him a fine and a year-long suspension.  But truthfully, I can understand that mentality for a tough nasty defense.  If it can be controlled, the Browns could use some of that aggressiveness.    Gregg has Head Coaching experience Buffalo Bills teams.  Frankly it did not go particularly well, with his best record being 8-8 in 2002.  But after a Super Bowl win and solid performances with the Rams and Browns, he's earned another shot.   
    He has some of the swag from Buddy Ryan, his former mentor.  But he is not a Ryan clone from the blitz-every-down school.  Gregg has proven himself to be very versatile in designing defenses based on the personnel that he has available.  He seems just as comfortable with extra blitzers or extra defensive backs, depending on the personnel and the situation.  

Gregg Williams has gotten results. Promote the guys who have had success.  

    So if the team values continuity, it would be bad to throw away the current defense, especially since the offense is in chaos.  If Coach Jackson has to go, and I suspect with 1-29 he's probably earned that fate, Gregg Williams is the obvious candidate to succeed him.  Get him a good offensive coordinator, and back them with solid personnel evaluators, and we might go somewhere.  

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