Cleveland Cavaliers Set to Square Off with the Charlotte Bobcats
January 3, 2012While We’re Waiting… Braxton Needs a Mentor, Kyrie Earning Praise and Hall of Fame Ballots
January 4, 2012It may have been largely rooted in the starting quarterback debate, but Browns head coach Pat Shurmur listed only two men – left tackle Joe Thomas and cornerback Joe Haden – as having guaranteed starting spots come 2012 training camp. A bit tongue-in-cheek, but easily setting the tone for what’s to come between now and the kick-off to the 2012 NFL season.
Shurmur, obviously of the knowledge that there cannot be a complete turnover and several players have recently signed contract extensions, said that he expects a lot more competition for starting positions in what will be, what he considers, his first preseason entering a regular season. Following Sunday’s Week 17 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Shurmur mentioned that he is a very methodical guy who has a day-by-day idea of what this upcoming offseason will entail. Many fans expect the quarterback position to be addressed, but the Browns head coach is very understanding of the holes which permeate the Cleveland roster.
Shurmur would not be detailed about who, if anyone, the team will bring in and would not address the future of running back Peyton Hillis though he would say that the two men had a “very good conversation.” The topic of draft picks was approached but the team’s first-year head coach would not address these matters.
For those concerned over who will be responsible for players on the offensive side of the ball, Shurmur reiterated that the team will in fact hire an offensive coordinator. When asked about play-calling, he said that he “wants to win,” even if it means relinquishing such duties – and experience in the West Coast offense could give said individual a “leg up” on his compeition. Former Minnesota Vikings head coach Brad Childress (who Shurmur says he “knows very well”) and former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike Sherman continue to be the top two names floating about the entirely-to-early rumor mill.
“I want to get the best guy I can, and if he’s outstanding at calling plays, hey…I want to win games,” said Shurmur.
“One thing I’ve learned [this year] is that you have to think on your feet. You can have a set of principles you believe in, but things can change.”
—
(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
32 Comments
“Shurmur reiterated that the team will in fact hire a head coach.”
I really hope these were his exact words!!!
“For those concerned over who will be responsible for players on the offensive side of the ball, Shurmur reiterated that the team will in fact hire a head coach.”
I’m guessing that’s not what was intended, but it made me laugh
I have been incredibly frustrated with Shurmur this year for the lack of production on offense and in particular his ineffective playcalling.
The more I think about it, however, I am willing to concede that he was hurt big time by the lockout. He only had training camp to install a new offensive system and work with so many young players.
With a full offseason to work with the team and with the help of a fulltime OC (I still can’t believe Holmgren didn’t make him hire one this year), I think the offense can improve for next year. If Jauron’s defense plays like they did this year, this could be a much improved team.
Ha. Fixed.
What exactly are they looking for in a running back that they don’t have in Hillis? He was among the best running backs in the league before they decided that he wasn’t going to be offered an extension.
FREUD!!
ok, so who are the best WCO OC’s around that can call their own plays?
Tom Clements – he is my first pick. He was able to mold Rodgers (given credit for changing his release and tutoring him in the WCO) along with also nurturing Matt Flynn. Also, hiring Clements could put us in the front for Flynn when he hits the FA market. Win/win.
Childress – he was a bust as a HC, but could be a co-ordinator only guy. Would need to look in his history to see if it was him or Reid calling the plays.
Bill Callahan – another former HC who struggled, but was the OC for Gruden on the Raiders before he left for TB and he has been a very good OL coach for the Jets. If the Jets keep Schott, then Callahan may listen to a promotion here.
Those are my guys, who else is out there?
I wonder why some people in the media persist in asking Shurmur about roster changes and draft choices. He doesn’t make those decisions. Don’t these people know this?
I think Holmgren and Heckert are holding their own press conference tomorrow. That’s the time to ask about that stuff.
oh, there’s Mike Sherman, who I like as an OC, but I think he’ll find a soft landing spot as a HC in college somewhere.
@5 – health?
This was the most bland and uninformative presser this year. Matter of fact, one of the worst in years. I look more forward to Thursdays with Heckertt and Holmgren, because let’s face it, these are the guys in charge of bringing the team what it needs. Sadly, Shurmer is the guy who has to get the best out of whatever product they build…… and I just don’t see it.
I like that he opened the door for the potential of someone else actually calling the plays. It makes me feel more comfortable going forward with this.
What did we learn from this?
We need to acquire more players named “Joe.”
See, even in your sub-conscious you realize that Shurmur is not the right guy for the job.
It also works in a wonderfully ironic way with Harv 21’s avatar. Oh, it’s too much irony for me.
His press conferences should include some kind of smelling salts because yeesh, that man is boring. I’m sure he really inspires his players!
@13:
“So, Mr. Griffin, would you mind changing your first name to ‘Joe’ if you were to be drafted by the Cleveland Browns?”
@ oribiasi: “works in a wonderfully ironic way with Harv 21′s avatar. Oh, it’s too much irony for me.”
strange how you keep dropping my name in threads in which I don’t participate and attribute positions to me that I have never taken. I’ve never written Shurmur’s the right guy for the job. Have written that he will probably improve some in his second year, that he will definitely be given another year by the FO, and that some of what has happened this year is beyond his control. My actual opinion right now is that he’s probably not the right guy, much as I wish another coaching change was not on the horizon. People have opinions more nuanced than “I’ve known from the start he was a failure/I’m smart and you’re all morons” v. “Shurmur will be great, just give him a fair chance.” Actually, not sure I ever read the latter coment on this site, but you lash out as if this is the ongoing discussion. If beating that drum is just what you do, all day every day, leave my name out of it, ok?
“One thing I’ve learned this season is how to place the blame on other people after every loss. Hiring an offensive coordinator just makes sense in that regard.”
let’s think about who we might hire. start with what teams run the WCO and look to see what guys have spent the majority of their career in WCO systems but are not incredibly old (I put my cutoff at early 50s).
Packers – Tom Clements (QB)
Saints – Pete Carmichael (OC – no playcalling though), Aaron Kromer (OL), Joe Lombardi (QB)
Eagles – David Culley (WR), Tom Melvin (TE), Ted Williams (RB)
Vikings – George Stewart (WR)
Bengals – James Urban (WR)
Buccaneers (just fired their staff) – Greg Olson (OC – no thanks)
other WCO-variants:
Falcons – no obvious candidates.
Jets: Callahan (OL)
Redskins (Shanny non-standard-WCO): no obvious candidates.
Texans (Shanny’s system): John Benton (OL), Chick Harris (RB), Greg Knapp (QB)
From this list, I would order my favorites as below:
1. Clements
2. Carmichael – doubt we could pry him though
3. Callahan
4. George Stewart
5. Kromer – OH guy to boot.
6. Benton
7. David Culley
8. Knapp
I’ve never heard of Sherman, but it seems that if SHURmur and HolmGREN had to choose a guy, he would be the logical mix.
so assuming we can even resign Phil Dawson/ D’Qwell Jackson they have to compete for there spots?
I’m sure he didn’t mean Dawson and D’ Qwell.
*Remembers Evan Moore’s playing time*
Hopefully.
This whole organization is in shambles from the top down. Its a shame that a bunch of strangers infiltrated this town and have a firm grip on the control of our team. I have zero confidence that this brain trust can improve the pitiful product they put on the field.
@ crowsfoot: Careful what you say around here, especially when referring to his highness Holmgren. You’ll be called a conspiracy theorist in no time!
@ Harv 21: Now this is interesting…I must have hit you pretty close to the mark to get you to come down from the silent treatment land and make a comment.
Praise the fates that you are now seeing the light and realizing that he is not right for a head coaching job at anything more than a CYO team. MY POINT was that some of us saw this much earlier than others. Nevermind anyone’s feelings on the subject of coaching changes; no one likes it, me included. But he is a failure this year and has done nothing to warrant another year except being personally close to Holmgren. The word nepotism comes to mind. So does the word crap.
What makes you think he will improve? What have you seen that shows improvement…anywhere? I’m dying to know.
As much as I like some of the candidates mentioned above, does anyone really think Shurmur is going to hire someone who could potentially replace him as head coach. Grossi mentioned that Browns QB coach Mark Whipple is a candidate. I predict that after “a long and exhaustive search”, the Browns will “promote” Whipple. And nothing will change. Meanwhile, Holmgren sits on his throne and continues to cash Randy Lerner’s checks.
Oh good Orbiasi is insulting others’ avatars.
This from the guy whose avatar is Uday Hussein or “Chemical” Ali Hassan al-Majid or some other baathist butcher.
Harv… I expect better from you. You must know that there are at the very least two trolls on this site that, under any circumstances, you cannot respond to; Shamrock and Orbiasi.
C’mon man.
IT WILL BE FUN TO HIRE A OC THAT AS MORE CAPACITIES THAN SHURMUR. LIKE THE IDEA OF BRINGING MORE COMPETITION FOR SPOTS IN THE TEAM, BUT I JUST HOPE WE DONT SPEND THE DRAFT PICKS ON A QB, GET ONE ON THE FREE AGENCY, THE RISK IN INFERIOR. WE NEED TO ADRESS OTHER AREAS OF THE TEAM. AND WHAT ABOUT DQELL JACKSON AND HILLIS ARE THHEY GOING TO COME BACK, NEXT YEAR? FOR THOSE WHO SAY TO PICK RG3, IT WOULD BE FUN TO SEE HIM GET SMASHED EVERY DOWN, WITH NO OL AND NO RUNNING GAME. FOR ME THE DRAFT SHOULD BE:
1 – RT
2 – WR – I SAY THIS BECAUSE I THINK THIS YEAR CLASS OF OL IS BETTER THAN THE WR CLASS.
3 – THE BEST PLAYER AVAILABLE WHETHER ITS A DE, A LB, RB OR CB
4 – GET STEVE SPAGNUOLO FOR THE DEFENSE, AND A OC WITH EXPERIENCE AT HEAD COACH, (JUST IN CASE SHURMUR IS FIRED).
5 – AND WHAT ABOUT SPECIAL TEAMS (IT WAS THE WORST YEAR FOR THE BROWNS), HIRE SOMEONE THAT CAN INOVATE (MAN REMENBER THE GAME IN NEW ORLEANS).
PAULO
@ Subadai: Hmm…who’s trolling? Someone who has a consistent message and provides evidence to support it or someone who (1) incorrectly states I insulted anyone’s avatar (if you could read properly you would see that I wrote it was ironic that he used Freud’s picture, given the slip in the original article) and (2) misnames the individual in my own avatar, in an insulting way, I might add, when his real name is Muhammad Saeed al-Sahhaf. Who, while a crony and part of a very evil organization by all accounts, was their propaganda minister. Not a chemical warfare specialist.
Apparently another someone’s sarcasm machine is broken.
What about Cribbs!????
@Subadai: I know, I usually ignore but this was a weird thing I irrationally hoped to nip in the bud. Stopped responding to him after he misquoted me, I showed him that I never said it and he then demanded I defend what I never said. Fine, post whatever you want ad nauseum. But when he keeps bringing my name up in other discussions, desperately trying to get attention by any means, it’s creepy, like pasting-your-enlarged-photo-on-my-basement-wall-hit-refresh-every-30 seconds kind of creepy.
But you’r right. Best to totally ignore and I will.
@ Harv 21: Thank you for your permission to post whatever I want! You are a benevolent person.
No go back up to the tower and shut all the doors behind you, please. Take Shurmur with you, as well. It’d do us all a service.
@25, 27 – I prefer to call him Baghdad Bob. You may also use “Berea Bob,” if it suits your needs.
@ Josh Stein: Well said, sir! “No one saw the hit!” “It’s not business as usual!” will be his next quotes, soon.
Any other ideas for new ones?