Counting on Matt
September 16, 2010Browns, Buckeyes Ticket News
September 16, 2010Every NFL season the perception is that a certain number of coaches are on thinner ice than the rest. It seems that Eric Mangini a season ago, without a boss, was able to find himself on the hot seat just based on the media. Pat McManamon told the Browns to “admit their mistake” and fire the coach after seven games, I believe. Matt Taibbi, who is best known for writing about the 2004 presidential election, took to Rolling Stone magazine to compare Mangini to Augustus Gloop from Roald Dahl’s iconic book about a chocolate factory. That was even before he had finished his first season as coach.
It was a confusing time for anyone and everyone who wanted to be a critic of the Browns. There is little doubt now, in hindsight, that Eric Mangini needed to concentrate on doing one thing. I was in favor of most of the moves made as personnel man. Trading Kellen Winslow and Braylon Edwards were the proper moves for this team. It was a bit tough to swallow because those players had God-given abilities, but in my heart I knew they weren’t good alpha dogs for this team. I also think trading down out of Mark Sanchez and into Alex Mack was brilliant. I don’t care that Ratliff and Veikune are gone. I don’t care that some people have valid concerns about the abilities of Abram Elam. That trade always works for me because of the money and because Alex Mack projects to be here for the next decade with luck and health.
That aside, the fact that Mangini made trades with the Jets multiple times in his first year opened him up to swaths of criticism. He also ended up blowing the team up almost completely, which scared the daylights out of fans and critics in the media. Add in that two second rounders (Veikune and Robiskie) couldn’t find the active roster on Sundays and it makes sense that there were some alarms sounding. I can almost hardly blame the whistle blowers with the botched front office situation with George Kokinis and the constant losing on the field. Almost.
Mangini’s “blow it up” strategy would eventually be dignified in the eyes of these same reporters and critics when the follow-up moves were executed by Mike Holmgren and Tom Heckert in trading away Brady Quinn and cutting Derek Anderson prior to his roster bonus payment due date.
The problem wasn’t that Eric Mangini was necessarily wrong. The problem was that Eric Mangini lacked the political capital to gain the trust of pretty much everyone who doesn’t write for Cleveland Frowns. On top of lacking the political capital, he also lacked the communication skills and desire to even attempt to bring people on board for the plan.
Back to the question at hand. Does Eric Mangini truly find himself on the “hot seat” this season? Some guys have attempted to say that there is a magic number of wins that Mangini has to achieve in order to keep his job. As far as I can tell, these numbers are based in conjecture more than anything else. It usually is based upon improving upon the win/loss record of a season ago. The thinking is that Eric Mangini must improve because either Mike Holmgren wants to coach again, or he wants to bring in his own guy. Then there is the hybrid that predicts Mangini could be fired, Holmgren would coach on an interim basis and then at the end of the season, Holmgren would hire Jon Gruden or some other former disciple from his tree rather than the Parcells/Belichick one that produced Eric Mangini.
Here’s what I think about that. First of all, I don’t believe that there is a win total “hurdle” that Eric Mangini must jump over. For all the unfairness of the Augustus Gloop article, I will admit that the mental image of Mangini jumping a hurdle of any kind makes me chuckle. Still, I think that line of thinking is garbage. Mike Holmgren will have expectations for the Browns to play as an improved team this season. After hearing Tom Heckert on ESPN Cleveland WKNR yesterday with Roda and Reghi, I am convinced that while H-Squared don’t think the roster is “finished” they do feel they have done a good job improving it year over year. As a result, they will expect marked improvement from the team as a whole.
To say that we can summarize the definition of “marked improvement” to wins is a reach. The Browns don’t play the same schedule every year. The rosters of other teams change just as dramatically year-in and year-out as they do here in Cleveland. The team could conceivably play better and end up with a worse win total from a year ago. So for my money, that line of thinking is too overly simplistic.
I also have a tough time finding a scenario in my head where it makes sense for Mangini to get fired mid-season. Mike Holmgren might still think about coaching, but I can’t figure out how it would be good for him to jump in the coach’s seat in the middle of the season. Seems like all risk with little to no potential reward. Similarly, if he has desired coaching candidates outside of Eric Mangini, they won’t be in any rush to come in and finish out the season that Eric Mangini started.
To answer the question that I raised in this post, no, Eric Mangini is not on “the hot seat.” His seat is warmer than Bill Belichick’s perhaps, but I don’t believe there is a specific measurable statistic out there that determines Mangini’s fate. I think that Holmgren will expect to see improvement in the team’s play this season. He will expect to see improvement in the coaching staff and how they manage the team on a week to week basis. My guess is that Mangini’s job is secure for the season with the pretty good assumption that Mangini doesn’t self-destruct into a franchise-damaging anti-social maniac. At the end of the year if Holmgren deems the team’s progress to be satisfactory and decides that there isn’t a better future for the team with some other available coach, then Mangini will stay. If he has doubts about Mangini’s abilities at that time and Jon Gruden is available, then maybe Mangini gets fired.
Still, if that is the definition of being on the “hot seat” then pretty much every person in every coaching position in the NFL is on the “hot seat,” right?
26 Comments
Agree that taking Mack was a good choice. Having a dependable C for the next decade is better to me than taking a risk on a “franchise” QB. There are lots of chances at getting one (we can try again next year w/ Locker & Mallet).
Mangini won’t go anywhere until the season is over, if at all. Unless we regress or Gruden says he wants to come back, he’ll stick around I think.
Let’s just hope this all becomes a moot point by the Browns actually winning games.
Good post.
And it’s sadly true that I was the only one in town with any voice who expressed that Mangini’s “political capital” with Cleveland’s knee-jerk press and public in the first year of a massive rebuilding project was essentially meaningless if the people upstairs were acting even half-way reasonably. Thanks for the nod.
“The problem wasn’t that Eric Mangini was necessarily wrong. The problem was that Eric Mangini lacked the political capital to gain the trust of pretty much everyone who doesn’t write for Cleveland Frowns.”
Craig, I just don’t agree with that. Mangini was wrong in his choice of GM, and bad in his draft evaluations if he made those calls. As “just a coach” he handled many things poorly, and his weird waffling with the QBs would have made any QB worse, not just mediocre ones. Media trust had nothing to do with problems last year. He hasn’t shown us yet that he is an adequate x and o coach or game day coach when that’s all he’s limited to that. So he’s correctly trying to instill discipline, which makes him the anti-Romeo, but that’s all we know.
There has been stuff written here that overzealous Browns fans affect rational decision making by the team. That’s just not true. The only fan outcry that affected anything was Phil Savage saving his job while John Collins got the boot. We had nothing to do with any of the myriad bonehead decisions, not hiring Dwight Clark, Davis, Romeo, not trading up to draft bad players or passing up good ones.
And by “any voice” I mean “even as much as just a decently-trafficked blog.” With the exception of 2009 Cleveland Frowns Person of the Year Je’Rod Cherry, of course. Thx.
it’s amazing to me how little credit mangini gets for 2 winning seasons for the Jets. as if they did it in spite of him.
then again, that might just be the NY media. after his first season, he was mangenius for going 10-6. then, Penny got hurt and they tumbled. Favre helped get them back to 9-7 but a late season swoon and they just missed the playoffs.
now, we are seeing the same thing with Rex Ryan. everything is ice cream and puppy dogs because he got the Jets the same 9-7 record, but the Jets snuck into the playoffs and then won 2 games. after just 1 sloppy game, momentum is building ready to crush him should the Jets falter (or even get the same 9-7 record, but be on the outside of the playoffs again)
mgbode: That’s the worst thing about last year’s Mangini witch-hunt to me, the way Cleveland let it follow him here from New York. His knee-jerk firing in New York represents the worst of what can happen in New York (short-term catering to the massive mob), and that the sort of thing doesn’t tend to happen here (or at least used to not) represents some of what’s the best about Cleveland (at the very least because the short-term benefits aren’t as great because the mob isn’t).
I agree except I wouldn’t call it ‘last year’s witch hunt’ because I’m still seeing it this year except now it is “obvious” Holmgren is just buying himself some time to get one of “his guys” at HC and rebuild from scratch, etc.
oh, and we would be remiss to not mention Joe Posnaski’s (spelling) article on CNNSI last year claiming that Mangini was the single worst HC hire in the history of the NFL (midseason of course). Just 2 years removed from the Cam Cameron hiring in Miami mind you (Dolphins finished 1-15 in his only season).
Jim Zorn anyone?
Agree with basically all the commenters above re: Mangini.
With the Browns’ schedule, they could conceivably go 3-13 despite marked improvement – improved yards per play/game, improved defense, better 3rd down conversion rate (which is a less meaningful stat than people make it out to be, but can be a reasonable sign of good situational play-calling).
The biggest difference in this team from 2008 to 2010 is the coaching, not the talent – there are less overall playmakers now, though perhaps more depth overall – but there are few pointed coaching mistakes if any that are identifiable.
Look at the Browns who finished last year and even this past week: Yards per play is way up. The defense is generally in the right place. This past Sunday, the big problem plays are easy to identify: Two INTs, one in particular horrible execution. Two TDs allowed, one on a lucky tip on great coverage, the other on reasonable coverage against a great throw by a rookie CB stuck in single coverage when he shouldn’t have been. (He was not beat by a lot; pass INTs come from people just beat trying to make it up, whereas guys who are really beat are a few steps behind.)
Yes, people want to see them run the ball more, but they also may want to be teaching the team as a whole how to work in all aspects of the offense, including with a passing game, even if to win this particular ballgame that is less effective. (Granted this is complete conjecture.) They want to build the team in a way that it is multi- rather than single-dimensional, even if that single dimension is substantially better at the moment.
On top of that, there is much better clock management; not that beating Romeo Crennel takes much, but they have in both the preseason and this week managed the clock rather well, even if it didn’t necessarily pay off for them.
Perhaps the best way to look at this year is one extended preseason against first-team offenses and defenses in preparation for next year.
change the name ‘David Veikune’ to ‘Sean Smith’, and Eric Mangini is a good drafter.
I’d love to be calling Sean Smith’s name acros from Wrighteous. And Cleveland could have used #7 on another skill position then, or Joe Haden would be fine too.
either way, if we improve and Mangini is removed because of some tree that drops ripe fat men with clipboards, I’ll be extremely disappointed.
The OC is mincemeat in my book, though.
oh, one more thing I forgot to add.
Parcells vs. Walsh (really Paul Brown) trees
In the 80’s when their Giants v. 49ers rivalry was at it’s peak, the main components of this rivalry was the Giants 3-4 defense vs. the 49ers WCO.
Yes, the Giants had a good offense with ground control and clock management and the Lott led 49ers D was no slouch, however the focal point of the rivalry was not on either of these.
So, why is it such a bad thing to combine the Parcells D with the Walsh O and see what happens? Add to it that Holmgren is an offensive guy while Mangini is a defensive guy and you can see where they can help each other build the team.
I never understood how Mangini was on the hot seat last season. It was his first year here. I know there was the off the field issues that made what was left of my hair fall out but, you have to give the guy 3 years at the least to see what he can do.
I liken those off the field issues from the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary ‘Reggie Miller v. The New York Knicks’. When Reggie was discussing Larry Brown he said two things that stood out to me that can be related to Mangini (to an extent). ‘Larry Brown is a perfectionist… in an imperfect game’ and something along the lines of, we hated Larry so much that it made us pull together and play as a unit, in spite of him.
Mangini needs to stick around next year, the 3rd year is always the measuring stick for how a coach / regime works out. I don’t understand how the media in general is out for Manigni’s head and thinks he is clueless. He only turned around the woeful Jets in 1 season. His worst season at the helm was when a QB was forced on him, who clearly makes bad decisions.
Ok… kind of similar. But, I want to see him turn it around. I’m pulling for ya big guy ! (Who is remarkably skinnier. Mangini and Daboll need to write a weight loss book).
“… the 3rd year is always the measuring stick for how a coach / regime works out.”
Sincerely,
Romeo Crennel’s 10-6 2007 Season
And he got a contract extension…. would Mangini not ? Probably not, this town would call for his head anyways.
@Harv21 – really well said
I am dangerously close to being ok w/ the Browns suffering another crash and burn season if it means ditching Mangini. At very best, he is an average coach, and doesn’t have the type of qualities (fierce intelligence, charisma, likability, connection w/ fan base, etc) to endear himself to fans or media alike or to exonerate him for the litany of bad decisions he has made or been involved in.
Go Browns, but either start winning or lose gloriously so Mangini gets the Holmgren boot
i would have been ok with canning mangini early/mid last season. but i was impressed by the win streak. so i’m inclined to give him some rope, he earned it end of last year. i’m all over the map. pretty fan-like. what can i say?
that said.. last week bothered me. he was dealt two bad breaks — delhomme HT pick and hillis’ point-negating fumble. from that point on he ran away from what was working because he was afraid to make a mistake. it was like watching brady quinn coach.
may be nothing, but it looked like lack of confidence in his team. and as jerry maguire said, ‘that is NOT what inspires people.’
On Mangini’s “charisma” or lack thereof: I wasn’t alive to see Paul Brown’s interviews, but I’ve heard he was kind of a curmudgeon. Any indicator on his success? Belichik? Mike Tomlin? I just don’t get how a coaches “charisma” has anything to do wiht his ability, except for whiny press vermin crying “He won’t tell us the game plan!!! Wa-a-a-h, wahahah!!”
The simple fact is, some people aren’t a good interview/press conference. THAT”S NOT THEIR JOB.
How would we have looked if our stinking press vermin hadn’t driven The Hoody out, cause he was “unapporachable”?
Lord, we are our own worst enemies.
Improving without winning more games is ok if you were 7-9 or 8-8 the year before. The BROWNS ONLY WON 5 GAMES.. When you play this bad you have to improve your win total. Sorry I know some will point to the schedule this year but they need to get to six wins.
Hmmm, pretty epic rant there.
Completely agree, Craig. Great stuff!
Seat is hot. Seat should be hot. But I agree, there is no “magic number.” It’s going to be an eyeball test of sorts. Do things look like they’re headed in the right direction? If so, then Mangini’s safe.
If things look like they’re not going anywhere positive, Mangini is gone, and at if that is the case, justifiably so.
@hamfist – note that charisma was only one variable in a larger cluster of traits that I identified as making a good coach. Belichek has the same utter lack of media savvy as Mangini, but he has an unparalleled mind for the game that renders that aspect of his personality almost meaningless. In my opinion (and I would say I have the weight of last season as pretty strong evidence), Mangini is not a master tactician (or “Mangenius” as it were), and therefore his inability to communicate or connect w/ the fan base is much more difficult to tolerate than Belichek.
I can tell you mangini is indeed in the hotseat but the record wont be the indicator overall that holmgren looks at, holmgren being a coach for 17 years is going to be looking at and taking notes on mangini from a tactical standpoint…
Is mangini doing everything possible to put the team in a winning position?
Is mangini making the right in game decisions that will help the team to win?
Is mangini doing a good job of managing the clock?
Is mangini doing anything to get the fans back into the game?
Is mangini putting amd or keeping the right personnel on the field etc, etc..
I think when lerner hired mangini we needed discipline and mangini delivered that but now we need a coach not a grudeful trainer to add consistency to the mix..
Mangini is not a good coach in many aspects and i think in the end holmgren gives him a fair chance this year but makes the call for a new coach at the end of the season…
Daboll should have never been allowed to stay on to begin with but mangini voouched for him and daboll will be soon be gone with mangini following him out the door…
Honestly i have had all of mangini i can take hopefully others will see him for what he is as the season slowly and painfull continues on…
I have said on here before I dislike Mangini, not because of his record but because of the way that he seemingly handles business. I didn’t like the games he played with Quinn and Anderson last year, from refusing to name a starter to refusing to stick with a starter. There were various other evil shenanigans with which we are familiar, including the endless support of our offensive offensive coordinator.
Regarding his job status, I think Mangini should be evaluated on his ability to fulfill his promises and his goals. We should obviously be more competitive in each game, but we should also be improving in the areas on which Mangini claims to focus. If he preaches smart football with minimal penalties and turnovers, then we should be improving in those areas. I know that he cannot personally stop players from turning over the ball, but if that is his focus than the team should be improving in that area.
I think coaching is far more important than most fans realize. The Dolphins went from bottom-feeder to playoff contender in one year. The Chefs just beat the Super Bowl contending Chargers, and I can’t imagine that the Chefs got that much better in the offseason than we did. It is all about coaching.
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