May 24, 2013

Report: Browns Will Hire Dick Jauron as New Defensive Coordinator

January 21, 2011 by 38 Comments

With the vacancy in Philadelphia (where Dick Jauron currently works) and the news this morning that Dave Wannstedt is heading for Buffalo, it was beginning to look as though the Browns’ chances of hiring one of the “super experienced” Defensive Coordinator candidates were growing slimmer and slimmer.

But, Mary Kay Cabot is reporting that the Browns will be hiring Jauron as their new defensive coordinator:

The Browns are expected to hire former Philadelphia Eagles secondary coach Dick Jauron, 60, as their defensive coordinator soon, a league source told The Plain Dealer. … A source close to Jauron said he “seriously doubts” a deal will get done today, but they are close enough to perhaps agree to “a general principle.”

Jauron has received multiple inquiries, including from the Philadelphia Eagles. But the source said Jauron’s familiarity with Browns President Mike Holmgren and GM Tom Heckert has him leaning toward the Browns.

Jauron has a lengthy coaching resume coming with him. He has twice been a head coach in the NFL in Buffalo and Chicago, and also briefly filled in as Detroit’s interim coach after Steve Mariucci was fired mid-season in 2005. Jauron got his start in the NFL as a defensive backs coach in Buffalo in 1985. He then served in the same capacity in Green Bay from 1986 through 1994, during which time he worked briefly under Mike Holmgren. Jauron moved on to Jacksonville in 1995 and took over as Defensive Coordinator for the expansion Jaguars, building their defense as they quickly became contenders. He was in Jacksonville through 1998. He took the Bears’ head job in 1999–ironically enough replacing Dave Wannstedt–and was in Chicago through 2003.  He then was the defensive coordinator in Detroit for 2004 and 2005, and filled in as interim head coach in 2005 when the team fired Mariucci in late November. He was then named the head man in Buffalo from 2006 through most of the 2009 season, though he was fired in November of that year. He spent last season as the defensive backs coach for the Eagles.

Per Cabot, this does not mean the club won’t continue to pursue former Arizona Cardinals DC Billy Davis; they just may look to hire him in some other capacity on their defensive staff.

Again, nothing is definite, but it certainly looks like Jauron will be coming to Cleveland at some point very soon. We will keep you updated as things develop.

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  • C-Bus Kevin

    Why can’t it be next NFL season already? With every other team in the tank, this looks to be the longest offseason ever…and that’s if the NFL has a season next year.

  • 6thCity

    This certainly seemed like the best outcome considering losing the prospect of Wannstedt (although, interestingly, the Bears once fired Wannstedt and hired Juaron.) It seems like a coordinator with HC experience may benefit Shurmur. Here’s hoping that the OC hire resolves itself soon so, at the very least, we can stop learning all about random candidates only to never hear their names again.

    One point of discussion that will remiain beyond the hiring, however, will regard the 3-4 or 4-3. I seem to remember Jauron was in the 3-4 camp.

  • mike

    I think Jauron ran a 4-3 in Chicago, and much rather see it here in Cleveland (Hate the 3-4). Oh and for people who want to point out the likes of the 3-4, Philly, Chicago, Arizona, Carolina, St. Louis, NY Giants and probably some others ran the 4-3, made it to the Super Bowl, and some won. Like Jauron more than Wannastache too. I think hes a good fit. Had some success as a HC in Chicago, and runs pretty good D.

  • Anthony

    We are going to need to draft some D linemen to run the 4-3 next year. I don’t think we have the guys for it right now.

  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com DP

    @Anthony – whichever defensive scheme the Browns run, they need to draft, trade for, or sign some pass rushers. Whether they’re DEs or OLBs, we need guys that can pressure the QB without us having to blitz like crazy and leave our secondary on an island.

  • mike

    @ anthony, too: The 3-4 we were running doesn’t have the players either. I like Roth, Rogers, Rubin on the line (need another D-End, Marcus Bernard on passing downs for sure), Fujita and a healthy D Jackson would be a decent start to the LB’S, but we still need another. I think Rubin and Rogers on the interior might be one of the best in the league (4-3 wise of course).

  • 6thCity

    I don’t want my naivete to be mistaken for sarcasm- but I seem to hear a lot about the possible success of Rubin and Rogers anchoring the line in a 4-3… i’ve always been under the impression that Rogers is either old, hurt, lazy, unmotivated, picky about who he plays for and in what defense, or all of the above… He did seem to miss most practices each week. Are we sure we’re set for DTs?

  • ben

    Seriously, why to the Browns want to become the Bills-lite? Trying to be the Patriots-lite didn’t work out, and they were a good franchise.

    For what it’s worth, Jauron is 4-3 guy (if you can consider what they played in Buffalo “defense”).

  • Harv 21

    Hope they take their sweet time hiring the non-play calling OC.

    Otherwise, in this dark part of the sports year in this dark Cleveland sports era, we have absolutely nothing interesting to discuss for the next few months except draft, draft, draft.

    2007 seems like it was in the 1980s.

  • Reggie Ruckus

    I like this hire. Jauron has not only held the DC job before he’s also been a head coach twice. If memory serves, Jauron is the first former head coach to be a Browns assistant since Ray Perkins was here with Chris Palmer.Seems like most of the time the Browns coaching staff is going thru on the job training.

  • Jason

    @ Harv 21

    2007 does seem like forever ago. I think that year is as good as it will ever get around here, and we didn’t even win anything.

  • NJ

    @9 – Three weeks until pitchers and catchers report!

    @7 – Even in his prime, Rogers would get knocked by sports writers for disappearing in games. Personally, I’d like to think it’s more a matter of wearing out/staying healthy than desire. He’s most effective when he can rotate with other DL and stay fresh.

  • Garry Owen

    Thanks to the Colts, 2007 was just another disappointing year in a decade of disaster. I. Will. Never. Forget.

  • Believelander

    @6, the Patriots, Jets, Ravens, Stealers, Cowboys, all run a 3-4. Rubin/Rogers probably still not as good as Williams/Williams. Marcus Benard and Matt Roth played linebacker their whole careers. You are essentially talking about using a 2-5-4 personnel group to play the 4-3, and while Matt Roth could do it, not so sure about Benard. 2 inches and 25 pounds makes a big difference when you’re plowing into the league’s best tackles down in, down out.

    Sadly, while the 4-3 and linebackers playing d-line rules in Madden, in the real world it doesn’t just work like that, and honestly, the most elite defensive teams, year in, year out, are 3-4 nowadays.

  • pepe

    We maybe have 3 or 4 players right now to run a 4-3 front 7. And you know Holmgren is going to draft offense in the first round. I hope we can stop a nosebleed next year.

  • B-bo

    Garry, don’t forget the refs in the game against Arizona while you’re passing out blame for 2007. They completely ignored the (then) rule that a receiver who is forced out in the air when they would have come down in bounds (which Winslow would have)is credited with a catch. How that TD was ruled to be otherwise baffles me to this day.

  • pepe

    Maybe we can play Peyton Hillis at SLB because you know he’s not playing HB anymore in the WCO.

  • NJ

    Here’s a good description of Rogers by SI’s Dr.Z from back in 2006. I think it still applies today.

    LIONS: Most overrated, overhyped player in the league might be DT Shaun Rogers. A great roaring 350-pound locomotive when at the top of his game, but a locomotive on a one-way track. I wouldn’t like his chances against a matador with a cape. Also he plays dumb and doesn’t seem to learn. And turns it off and on. And … oh hell, that’s enough. I’ll leave the poor guy alone.

  • Garry Owen

    B-bo: Good point, but we don’t have to look at those refs every year doing the same aggravating thing over and over again (or at least we really have no idea which ones are screwing up again) like we have to watch the Colt’s annual drama about “sitting their starters” and then “losing a playoff game” because they have “no heart.” (Please imagine angry finger quotes, ala Chris Farley.) I only have so much hate to give. I need to focus it. I have drawn my line in the sand and have, however irrationally, selected the Colts. That horseshoe looks like devil horns to me.

    (In all seriousness, I guess I’m actually glad we didn’t make the playoffs that year. We’d (1) still be starting DA, while (2)still trying to figure out why we can’t win. I’m accustomed to the latter and glad the former is no longer a problem.)

  • mike

    @14. Talk to the Bears Defense. Im pretty sure their 4 man pass rush works pretty well. 2 NFC Title games in 5 years isn’t bad. Oh and for size of D ends, I said Bernard as a 3rd down pass rusher, not an every down DE (oh, and talk to Dwight Freeney about size, I think hed have something to say about that). I think the 3-4 Defense is a bit over-rated. The Packers, Pats, Steelers, and Ravens have elie 3-4′s because of their Defensive Coordinators scheme. In addition, most of the teams you list are good because they have elite QB’s. I feel the defensive people we have now fit better in a 4-3. Thats all. The 3-4 will slowly be offensively schemed better and people will switch back to a 4-3. Its the nature of the NFL. The Tampa 2 was all the rage when the Bucs were good, and the Bears are really the only team left playing a hybrid of it.

  • http://www.clevelandfrowns.com Cleveland Frowns

    Jauron seems like a fine DC to me, and I doubt there’s a definitive resolution to the 3-4 v. 4-3 debate, but I thought this was a funny thing for Cabot to report, from her anonymous source:

    “Jauron’s familiarity with Browns President Mike Holmgren and GM Tom Heckert has him leaning toward the Browns.”

    Isn’t Jauron familiar with Andy Reid and everyone else in Philly, too, since he worked there last season? Is it really his familiarity with Holmgren and Heckert that has Jauron leaning Browns? Or is it an extra truckload of money? Wouldn’t it be interesting to know? And to know how these things might change as candidates continue to dry up? The safest assumption about Cabot’s anonymous source, that it’s someone inside the Browns organization, also, interesting.

  • Shamrock

    Slow and steady Holmgren is bringing in talent both on and off the field. I like this signing. The 4-3 is the way to go. Youll have Rubin n’ Rogers up the middle now find that true pass rushing DE and you might actually see that statistic called a sack. Linebackers can blitz or fall off doing what they are designed to do.

  • Harv 21

    @ NJ: ” Three weeks until pitchers and catchers report!” Like I said …

    @ b-bo: really? a ref’s call in Arizona doomed the ’07 team? How ’bout DA’s consistent color blindness and panicky brain lock in the red zone in any important game.

  • bobby

    Believelander- Check your facts. Roth was a DE getting drafted out of Iowa (granted, started at MLB then moved there). Marcus Bernard was a DE throughout college and TE in highschool. Never played LB until he got to cleveland. But hey, lets just spew nonsense because you hate the browns fired mangini and they were such a great organization last year!

    As for me, I personally like a 34 defense but I have serious doubts in the personnel the browns he to operate it. I look at teams successful in the 34 D and they seem to have bulldozers in the front 3 and quick powerful LBs. I dont think the browns have those. I think Roth, Rogers, Rubin and Coleman would make a decent DL. At the very least they wouldnt get pushed back 3 yards every rush. For LBs, I would keep Fujita, Gocong, Bowens, and Trusnik. Hopefully OLB is in our draft plans no matter if we switch or not. In case anyone is wondering, Jauron has run a 43 D, but recently said he’s not just a 43 guy and if the personnel fits he’d run a 34.

    Lastly, DQ Jackson I think is done as a Brown unless he plays for near the league min. I just dont see the FO trusting him after hes been hurt for the majority of the last 2 seasons.

  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com DP

    Gentlemen, there’s plenty of 2007 blame to go around. For me, it was the tandem of DA’s INTs vs. Cincy in week 16 coupled with Chud’s stubborn determination to keep throwing in spite of those INTs and the elements. And the Browns STILL almost won that game. UGH.

  • OmegaKing

    Don’t a lot of teams switch between 3-4 and 4-3 as the game situations dictate? There’s no way of knowing what he’ll do, and which will be better, so why speculate? What we know: They need more of a pass rush. How do they get it? I don’t care – as long as they do.

  • Garry Owen

    Nope. It was the Colts, and their wee beedy eyes.

  • Chi-ohioan

    I’m here in Chicago listening to people laugh at our jauron hiring since he was run out of town here for presiding over a defenseless Bears team and I can’t really argue. Someone remind me what he’s done to warrant job after job in this league. I’m giving Holmgren his due on draft day but this nepotism (sp.?) is starting to really concern me. I’m not sure what kind of OC would really want this job since he would have absolutely no authority whatsoever. Oh well…round and round we go….

  • NJ

    I pulled these rankings from pro-football-reference.

    Team defensive rankings under Jauron (as coach or d-coordinator) starting in ’95 with Jacksonville (DC) going through Chicago (HC), Detroit (DC/interim HC), Buffalo (HC), and Philly (DC.

    By points – 27, 19, 15, 17, 20, 20, 1, 25, 22, 18, 21, 18, 31, 14, 19

    By yards – 28, 15, 23, 25, 29, 16, 15, 25, 14, 20, 18, 31, 14, 19, 12

  • NJ

    There may be a minor mistake or two there (last 19 should be a 21). But you get the idea.

  • mike

    do i really believe that people in chicago give a rat’s a$$ about the browns’ DC hire? especially with the bears playing GB this weekend? nope!

  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com DP

    Also, please stop with the “nepotism!” meme. None of these people are related to Holmgren. If you’re going to cry CONSPIRACY!! at least use a term like favoritism or cronyism. Either way, I don’t care much for the complaining about it, as it doesn’t do much to really bring debate to the situation or merits of the candidates.

  • bobby

    There are plenty of HCs who failed at that but were successful as DC. Romeo is a good DC, but not so great at HC. So I would look more towards his coordinator stats if anything.

  • http://twitter.com/Bbo13 B-bo

    Thanks, Harv–I had forgotten to type the part about how the refs I mentioned were the SOLE REASON for the Browns missing the playoffs that year. In my defense, the only reason I didn’t type that was because I don’t think that and wasn’t saying that. Good looking out, though.

    The Jauron hiring has made me feel a bit better about this whole situation, though I still don’t like the idea of Shurmur calling the plays himself.

  • Shamrock

    I don’t think you can assess coaches like players based on previous employments. Keep in mind Shurmur has never been a head coach. As far as Jauron goes he might just be best at being a coordinator and not a head coach. Let him work on one aspect of the team as opposed to the entire thing. Eric Mangini fits the same model for me.

    Anyways let’s see the team play some games as a team before the predicting occurs. Not only that but the addition of some more talented players won’t hurt.

  • Chi-ohioan

    @32 I used nepotism since we all refer to holmgrens “family tree”
    @31 I didn’t say they care, I said they’re laughing at the hire, and with good reason

  • Pat18970

    @29 NJ, I don’t know if those numbers are a fair way to judge Jauron or not.

    But 27, 19, 15, 17, 20, 20, 1, 25, 22, 18, 21, 18, 31, 14, and 19 were the winning numbers tonight in the California lottery!

    You got any more of those?

  • Harv 21

    B-bo: you’re right, you didn’t say “sole.” Was moving too quick and combined 2 comments in my mind. Apologies.