Who is Carl Smith?
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.
November 3rd, 2009 at 1:14 pm
Shouldn’t the QB coach already be contributing to the offensive game plan?
November 3rd, 2009 at 1:18 pm
@ Boomhauer – please refrain from using logical arguments when talking about the Browns… thank you
November 3rd, 2009 at 1:18 pm
The dysfuntion of this organization continues… Mangina throws his Offensive Coordinator under the bus by undermining his role (by bring up Carl Smith). I think Mangina has lost the grasp of the organizational structure of an NFL team. First he “hires” Kokinis, now he is confused which coach has authority…
Daboll must be wondering whether he will have a job in a couple of weeks or not.
This whole story is sooooo Stepian-like it’s not even funny.
Neal in KC.
November 3rd, 2009 at 1:21 pm
OBSERVE, I’m going to say something stupid about this post like I’ve KNOWN who this guy is for the past 6 years because I’m SMARTER than everyone. OBSERVE
/isis’d
Gotta say tho, QB coach isn’t exactly the guy I’ve got the most faith in right now, since he’s coashing a dude with a 35 qb rating
November 3rd, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Tron – Daboll was the QB coach in NE and had Brady. Not exactly indicative of play-calling ability.
November 3rd, 2009 at 1:35 pm
No Tron-just smarter than you, based upon your previous observations. Tally mine and you’ll see just how smart I am-Book it.
Who is George McDonald?
November 3rd, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Someone was asking for this earlier.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2522/4071855823_01c259fa4b_m.jpg
November 3rd, 2009 at 1:37 pm
Who cares (other than Tron) what Mangini has to say, he’s a walking dead man. His only goal is to protect as much of his annual $3.9M/year versus the Browns trying to force him out and/or negotiate such. Book it.
November 3rd, 2009 at 1:37 pm
Good point, I guess as long as he doesn’t call qb sneaks on 2nd and 1 it will be an improvement, right?
November 3rd, 2009 at 1:40 pm
I, for one, welcome what our Mangenius overlord has to say.
November 3rd, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Isis, talley my previous observations? How about the second I heard that the Browns were talking to Mangini I was on board the hate trian, I never wanted the guy in the first place so NO, I don’t care what Mangini has to say. Or yesterday morning, when I said that I was wondering if Lerner was going to bring in someone as a new boss for Mangini to try and force him out, and now the GM (who’s the boss of the coach) is fired and looking to be replaced, and everyone’s thinking a new GM will be brought in presumably to be the one to fire Mangini. so BOOK THAT you d-bag, but I appreciate you trying to tell me what I’ve been saying all this time, like you have any clue.
November 3rd, 2009 at 1:49 pm
Carl Smith, O Great Developer of QBs, finally geting ready to call the plays. Goody.
Mangini is just saying stuff to say stuff and avoid saying anything to dig himself deeper. He’s got to be in full panic mode, trying to figure out who’s in the building and meeting with others, who’s talking to whom, whom to trust, what the hell the organizational chart looks like today when everything looked so clear 5 weeks ago. Praying every jarring ring of his office phone does not announce the arrival of The Grim Reaper:”Coach Mangini, Lew Merlotti is on his way to your office for a word.” Sucks to be him right now. But it sucks worse to be a Browns fan in this ten year Groundhog Day of incompetence.
November 3rd, 2009 at 1:57 pm
Obivoulsy the guy with coordinator experience is better suited coaching the QB
November 3rd, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Book it?
Is that like a Champ Kind WHAMMY!
November 3rd, 2009 at 2:13 pm
@7
Nice! In Browns colors too! You are the awesome.
November 3rd, 2009 at 2:25 pm
#5, Smith was in NE (and left) before Tom Brady.
November 3rd, 2009 at 2:26 pm
Aaaaaaandd…. WHAMMY!
Isis has a point at # 8 – it’s completely natural for a man to try and keep his job, which pays him 3.5 million US Dollaz annually. I’m pretty sure I’d fight everyone in the room to keep that job.
November 3rd, 2009 at 2:39 pm
#16, what is your point? He was talking about Daboll, not Smith.
Does anyone know why this got is not still coordinating Jacksonville’s offense? Seems like they wouldn’t want to fire a guy who had a top 10 offense… was that part of the whole Jack Del Rio shakeup?
November 3rd, 2009 at 2:40 pm
I just saw on the PD site that Barton is out for the season. Now we should definitely see more of Veikune out on the field. (I know this article is about the browns O, but since they basically dont have an offense, I feel like this fits).
November 3rd, 2009 at 3:01 pm
Book this and observe… unless one of you (Isis or Tron) works for the Browns and/or Randy Lerner or have a REAL source inside the organization, I doubt any of you have ANY idea what’s actually going on with the team. I’d really prefer to spend my time on this blog reading funny comments / theories on why the Browns stink…cause the reality of the situation is simply too depressing.
in other words, I DON’T CARE what you predicted and when you did it. If any of you were really smart and knew how professional sports works, you’d be working in the front office and not posting on an entertainment-focused blog. In the meantime, stop trying to look like a genius by predicting the downfall of a team that’s clearly struggling. You sound Lions’ fans
aaaaaaannnnddd… BOOM! goes the dynamite!
November 3rd, 2009 at 3:07 pm
I’m sort of sad that Isis is back on the “book it” train. I was so enjoying the “observe” condescension.
By the way, Isis, is “observe” your version of “Witness?” So, you’re the WFNY.com version of LeBron James, then? You must have “observe” tattooed across your shoulders.
November 3rd, 2009 at 3:21 pm
#18. My apology, speed redaing while working! Less work more reading.
November 3rd, 2009 at 3:26 pm
@22, no worries… I just happen to have a job with way too much downtime (or maybe I should say, a job where I create way too much downtime)
November 3rd, 2009 at 3:26 pm
If Isis is the WFNY version of LBJ, then who is his Wild Thing?
November 3rd, 2009 at 3:37 pm
#24 – I’d prefer not to think about Isis’ Wild Thing, thank you very much!
November 3rd, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Judging by the picture at the top, I vote we make this Carl Smith (I had to look at the title bar on my browser just now to remember) the face of the franchise. Who needs Brady Quinn when you have a mug like that?
November 3rd, 2009 at 5:28 pm
Am I the only one who thinks of Red Dragon when someone says Observe? Do you see? Observe….
The first coach who should be fired is the WRs coach…period.
November 3rd, 2009 at 6:54 pm
OBXERVE!
Browns QB’s are terrible –> Carl Smith coaches Browns QB’s –> Carl Smith is terrible.
KOOL-AID!!!!!!