Yesterday during Mangini’s press conference where he failed to mention George Kokinis getting fired, Mangini backed offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. At the same time, he also proclaimed that quarterbacks coach Carl Smith could possibly help out the first-time coordinator due to his vast amount of experience. Mangini had this to say when asked if he had any thoughts on replacing Daboll during the bye week.
“No. I think that there have been things that we can improve offensively. Carl Smith is a guy that has a lot of experience. One of the reasons I wanted Carl to be a part of this staff, I think it was 11 years at New Orleans as the offensive coordinator, is to have a guy who’s called a lot of plays in the NFL to be able to provide insight into game planning, into play calling. Obviously there are things from a play calling perspective, from a scheme perspective, from a coaching perspective that we can improve, but that goes hand-in-hand with execution and individual performances as well.”
Carl Smith is the Browns’ quarterbacks coach, and I never really had occasion to do any research on him until now. Carl Smith is in his 60′s. He had his first NFL job in 1986 with the Saints. He served as QB coach and offensive coordinator at different times with New Orleans from 1986 to 1996. He worked in New England under Pete Carroll as QB coach and tight ends coach from 1997-1999. Pete Carroll was viewed as a bust and a failure in the NFL during that time. Carl Smith then took a couple years off before becoming QB coach here in Cleveland from 2001-2003, then back to Pete Carroll’s staff at USC. That’s when the interesting part of Carl Smith’s career occurs for us Browns fans.
From 2005 to 2007 Carl Smith was the offensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars. In 2005, Smith helped guide the Jaguars to a 12-4 finish with his offense, ranked 12th in the NFL overall. Of course that offense also featured Byron Leftwich, David Garrard, Fred Taylor, and Jimmy Smith. In 2006 the Jags took a step back going 8-8, but Smith’s offense was ranked 9th in the NFL. That year, the Jags were embroiled in their QB controversy with Garrard and Leftwich. It was also the emergence of Maurice Jones-Drew who ran for 941 yards and 13 touchdowns, while also receiving 436 yards and 2 additional touchdowns. We know that the Browns don’t have any dynamic talents on their roster including Mo Jo Drew.
But, if the Browns don’t do anything with Brian Daboll over the next couple weeks, Carl Smith is the guy that you have to hope can help get this offense to look a little serviceable for the rest of the season.
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