STATE OF THE BROWNS

Do the Cleveland Browns really need twenty, count' em, twenty assistant coaches ?

In this modern day and age, everyone wants assistants to the assistants, including a quality control coach on both sides of the ball.

All having all these assistant coaches around really means is Browns owner Jimmy Haslam is willing to dole out a lot of extra cash to get this sinking ship of a franchise finally and mercifully turned around. You can't call the man cheap that's for sure.

Yes, I know quality control coaches have been around for awhile now. But not assistants to the assistants at every position ! Thirty years ago the average NFL staff would typically employ approximately nine assistant coaches. Times have certainly changed, huh. If the Browns start winning I won't be complaining.

So, anyway....what really concerns me the most is new head coach Hue Jackson electing to do his own play-calling on offense. The good news is he has hired several highly experienced NFL offensive coaches to assist him. However, the more coaches, the more potential for conflict pertaining to strategy and so forth.

It's a huge plus that Jackson had a year of head coaching experience with the Raiders several years ago. And, thank god he brought back an experienced defensive coordinator like Ray Horton.

Pettine's hiring of Jim O'Neil as DC was just plain dumb.  He was inexperienced and it showed in how the Browns performed defensively. Then there was the offensive line coach he hired with an ongoing history of alcohol problems whom they had to release shortly after last season began. Was it a coincidence the Browns' OL performed horribly for three quarters of the season particularly run blocking ? Probably not.

The previous regime is history after the usual two years of ineptness both on and off the field. The drafting has been an absolute disgrace, so many first round drat picks squandered every single year. Who has been scouting for this team ? I don't know their names, but whomever they are they ought to go flip burgers at McDonalds.

The team now has three Harvard grads newly hired to run the ship. Haslam's really going for brains bigtime this time.

As for Haslam himself, several more of his top employees at Pilot Flying J have been indicted, his long time trucking business, so the huge cloud over the Browns owner remains. Not exactly what this franchise needs. Any further comment about this situation will be saved for another time other than you can be sure the NFL is quietly but closely monitoring the situation.

Back to the new trio of Harvard boys entrusted with running the team. Sashi Brown is at the helm with former MLB analytics guru, Paul DePodesta of "Moneyball" fame brought in to apply his expertise to an entirely different sport. Andrew Berry was lured away from the Colts with an upgrade of acquiring talent, both college and pro.

DePodesta and Berry both played football at Harvard which is surely a big plus.

I recently discovered in the late great Paul Brown's book that Branch Rickey, considered by many to be one of , if not thee all-time greatest baseball executive, was simultaneously working as a professional football executive. So, what DePodesta is attempting to do can be done with hard work, intelligence and , I would guess, a method for applying analytics to just about anything. Let's just hope it equates to a successful winning NFL team.

But, to me, the biggest question mark would have to be Sashi Brown transitioning to being in charge of all football operations, basically. He's been with the club for a few years now and Haslam should know him well, but to give him final say over the 53 man roster among other things is a gamble it seems to me.

Let's pray Hue Jackson and all those assistants working harmoniously are the ones determining who the best football players are, not to mention, Berry the newly hired personnel man. I can see Brown interceding to make a decision or two when contract and salary cap considerations are involved.

Otherwise, let's let the coaches coach and evaluate the players for the most part. The specific titles Haslam gave to these guys is irrelevant to their actual roles with this team. Fancy titles are given for various reasons.

The key word Haslam kept emphasizing at the press conference shortly after firing Pettine and Farmer was, "collaboration."  Meaning assembling a group willing to work together for the good of the team and, of  course for the goal of fielding once again, a proud winning football team for the city and loyal  fans of the Browns.

The sad saga of both Johnny Manziel and Josh Gordon will be addressed by myself  at another time.

Go Browns !

DAVE  BURKEY
daveywriter@yahoo.com 

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