May 21, 2013

Brian Hoyer, Brandon Weeden and what it all could mean

May 17, 2013 by 16 Comments

Hoyer PatsA fictional conversation that could have taken place in Berea over the last couple of days…

Michael Lombardi: “Hey. Have you heard of Brian Hoyer?”

Ray Farmer: “You mean the journeyman Michigan State guy who went undrafted in 2009, with one career NFL start who was cut flat by the team, the Arizona Cardinals, with some of the worst quarterback play since Kurt Warner retired as an arthritic old man?”

Michael Lombardi: “Yep! He’s available! Go get him!”

And scene…

Look, the jokes that were going around yesterday had more to do with the fact that almost everything that’s ever been rumored about Michael Lombardi has come true. The only thing that hasn’t happened (yet) is the Browns trading for Patriots backup Ryan Mallett. With that lens, of course it’s somewhat comical that Brian Hoyer finally became available and signed with the Browns. That’s really where the comedy ends. In all, the Brian Hoyer signing is a good one for depth for a team that has question marks at the quarterback spot. [Read more...]

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Jason Campbell to Cleveland makes some sense

March 27, 2013 by 17 Comments

Jason Campbell Football CardThe Browns signed Jason Campbell to a two-year deal yesterday to “add to the pile” 1 at the quarterback position. Is this more like Jake Delhomme or Seneca Wallace? That’s what we Browns followers like to do, you see. We try to put everything in the context of other stuff we’ve seen before. Remember when we were talking about hiring coaches and were forced to endure “logic” about how Chip Kelly was like Butch Davis and Nick Saban because they both were former college coaches? 2 Maybe Jason Campbell is like Jeff Garcia or Trent Dilfer. Or maybe he’s just Jason Campbell and unlike any of those other guys.

Campbell is a guy with starting experience. He’s not at an advanced age with declining skills like Jake Delhomme was when he arrived in Cleveland. He also probably hasn’t had the same level of success at the top end that Delhomme had at points with the Panthers. Campbell has had some pretty excellent statistical seasons.

Campbell also arrives as a more qualified starter than Seneca Wallace was when he was brought in by Mike Holmgren. Still, in terms of accomplishing the goals of bringing in a “system” guy, there are similarities between Jason Campbell’s experience with Norv Turner-style offense and Wallace’s prior Seattle experience with Holmgren.  [Read more...]

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  1. At this point I can’t remember if this was a Holmgren-ism or someone else talked about “adding to the pile” at positions. [back]
  2. Fake rules! [back]

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NFL Rumor: Miami QB Matt Moore to test free agent market; Norv Turner a fan

February 18, 2013 by 16 Comments

Buried at the bottom of this Miami Herald piece is a tidbit that Browns fans may find interesting. Barry Jackson writes-

“Several Dolphins people, including Ryan Tannehill, have reached out to Matt Moore, hoping he will re-sign. Keep in mind that Cleveland offensive coordinator Norv Turner is a big fan of Moore, who will test free agency to see if there’s a starting job available in a situation that’s appealing to him. But he hasn’t ruled out coming back to Miami. Kyle Orton earns – on average – $3.5 million per year to back up Tony Romo in Dallas, so quality backup quarterbacks like Moore aren’t cheap.”

Reportedly, Norv Turner wanted the Chargers to sign Moore in San Diego as a back-up to Philip Rivers, but Moore opted to re-sign with Miami in order to compete for the starting spot.

Moore has appeared in 45 games over the course of his five year career. He is 13-12 in his 25 starts with 33 touchdowns and 26 interceptions. At 28 years old, he is younger than Brandon Weeden.

[Related: NFL Rumor: Weeden could be traded]

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Ray Horton: Norv Turner was coming with me to Arizona

January 24, 2013 by 14 Comments

New Browns defensive coordinator Ray Horton sounds like an upfront and honest guy. You want the truth, he will give it to you.

On an interview with Burns and Gambo on 620 KTAR Phoenix, Horton said that he had a plan in place had he gotten the head coaching job in Arizona. When asked if Norv Turner would have come to the Cardinals with him as his offensive coordinator, Horton said “unequivically.” Horton went on to say Norv’s wife wanted to go to Arizona as well, to be closer to their daughter in San Diego.

Horton also said he was surprised but not shocked that his “good friend” Bruce Arians didn’t keep him on as the DC in Arizona when he was hired, but he wishes them well and he is not the least bit bitter. Horton said “Bruce and I are friends and will remains friends.”

Lastly, Horton said he is “not shocked, but disappointed” that he is still not a head coach in the NFL.

[Related: Projecting to 2023 – Can sports remain relevant forever?]

 

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What do the Browns know about Brandon Weeden?

January 24, 2013 by 71 Comments

Weeden ScreamThe Cleveland Browns have been committal about being non-committal about their quarterback situation. From Rob Chudzinski to Michael Lombardi and yesterday Norv Turner the Browns have been steadfast in putting barely a single word on the record that leads anyone to believe that Weeden is first on the depth chart right this very second. Even if you’ve somehow found a way to infer that, it is only by default because that’s the way the season ended and there hasn’t been a roster move that easily leads everyone to speculation otherwise. The Browns claim to need to see more tape study, but it seems to me that a need for more tape study is all the sign of a lack of confidence that I need to see.

I am not saying anything about Brandon Weeden, personally. I think he had a pretty typical rookie year, statistically speaking. He definitely trailed many of his rookie brethren in terms of rookie performance too. I’m just characterizing the vibes I’m reading from the public comments thus far. And maybe it’s true that they need to see more tape. Maybe they will unleash those hours of footage of Shurmur-led practices and decide that Weeden is a guy they can mold and that under their new tutelage he’ll become a front line NFL starter. It just seems to me that the guy who plays the most important position on the team who also put 15 games of real NFL video into the universe this season is likely to have made enough of an impression on the team that they might be willing to say something that tips their hand that they like him. Of course that’s only true if they were given a positive impression.

To be fair, Norv Turner was somewhat complimentary of Weeden because he helped the Browns beat Turner’s Chargers this season. Then again, Weeden had a QB rating of 55.9 against the Chargers completing 11 of 27 passes for 129 yards in a 7-6 win. [Read more...]

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Norv Turner will call the plays for the Cleveland Browns

January 23, 2013 by 33 Comments

According to new Cleveland Browns head coach Rob Chudzinski, Norv Turner will be calling the plays as offensive coordinator for the team.

Chudzinski said, “Norv’s been one of the best playcallers in the league for a long time,” when asked about the decision. Chud went on to say that he needs to recognize the abilities of the coaches around him and he feels confident that Turner will do a great job.

That’s good news for Browns fans who were wary of Pat Shurmur over the last few years going without a coordinator completely in year one and preferring to continue to hide behind his laminated play sheet again in season two. It will still be up to the newly named Chud to manage the game effectively, but if he falters in that realm, at least it won’t be the easiest and most obvious criticism to lob first about him trying to do too much.

Stay tuned to WFNY for all the updates from the Norv Turner press availability today.

[Related: NFL News: Browns add three more to coaching staff]

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Chud, Norv, Horton, and Lombardi: The Future’s In Their Hands

January 19, 2013 by 26 Comments

chudzinskiThe speculation is over. With the exception of a few positional assistants, the Browns have their personnel and are sculpting out their direction for the next few years as we speak. Some of the hires made by owner Jimmy Haslam and CEO Joe Banner have been overwhelmingly popular while others are decidedly not. With a shift in offensive and defensive philosophies and the corresponding personnel changes required to fit them, there’s no shortage of topics surrounding our Browns right now. Here’s my point of view on just a few of them. [Read more...]

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TD’s Ten For Thursday

January 17, 2013 by 34 Comments

Norv TurnerIts Thursday….Im bored….We need some topics for discussion….So lets do this….10 for Thursday

1. The Browns have officially named Norv Turner as their new offensive coordinator. While people will probably gloss right over this, I happen to think bringing Turner to Cleveland is a coup. The Browns have put it out there that one of the reasons new head coach Rob Chudzinski got the job is because of his ability to put together a strong staff. In other words, bringing old friend Norv with him was a major feather in Chud’s cap.

Nobody questions Turner’s OC credentials. He was the man behind two of the Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl offenses in the 1990′s, and in between head coaching stints in Washington, Oakland (I seriously have zero recollection of this, but it happened), and San Diego led offenses in Miami and San Francisco. Chud worked with him in San Diego and they share the same love of the vertical passing game. Their scheme is perfect for Brandon Weeden’s strengths. If Weeden can’t succeed under Chud and Norv, then the Browns will be looking for another QB….again. [Read more...]

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NFL News: Browns officially name Norv Turner new Offensive Coordinator

January 17, 2013 by 50 Comments

The Browns today released a statement that Norv Turner has been hired (officially) as the new Offensive Coordinator.

“The Cleveland Browns today named Norv Turner as Offensive Coordinator. Turner was one of six additions to the coaching staff, which also includes Brad Roll (Strength & Conditioning), Mike Sullivan (Offensive Line) and Scott Turner (Wide Receivers). In addition, Chris Tabor (Special Teams Coordinator) and George Warhop (Offensive Line) will be retained from last year’s staff.”

“I am very excited about the coaches we have been able to add to our staff thus far,” said Browns Head Coach Rob Chudzinski. “I have worked with Norv, Mike, Scott and Brad previously and know the quality of coaches and teachers that they are, and how much our players will benefit from their presence.”

“Norv has been one of the most respected offensive coaches in the NFL over the last 25-30 years, and he has had a tremendous amount of success at each one of his stops – as a position coach, coordinator and head coach. I was able to learn a great deal in the time that I worked for him in San Diego, and I expect that having him as our offensive coordinator will make a big impact on that side of the ball.”

Here is Turner’s coaching resume-

1975 University of Oregon, graduate assistant coach

1976-79 University of Southern California, wide receivers coach

1980 University of Southern California, defensive backs coach

1981-83 University of Southern California, quarterbacks coach

1984 University of Southern California, offensive coordinator

1985-86 Los Angeles Rams, wide receivers coach

1987-90 Los Angeles Rams, wide receivers and tight ends coach

1991-93 Dallas Cowboys, offensive coordinator

1994-2000 Washington Redskins, head coach

2001 San Diego Chargers, offensive coordinator

2002-03 Miami Dolphins, offensive coordinator

2004-05 Oakland Raiders, head coach

2006 San Francisco 49ers, offensive coordinator

2007-12 San Diego Chargers, head coach

2013- Cleveland Browns, offensive coordinator

[Related: Morris to interview for Defensive Coordinator]

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NFL News: Browns retain Warhop as OL coach

January 13, 2013 by 5 Comments

And we have more news related to the formation of the assistants around Rob Chudzinski in Cleveland. Chris Mortensen at ESPN was the first to report this news:

George Warhop, 51, will remain as the Browns OL coach in 2013. He was one of four assistant coaches who was previously retained after the Eric Mangini regime came to an end after 2010. So this coming season will be his fifth in Cleveland.

Previously, Warhop was the OL coach for the 49ers from ’05-’08, for Dallas from ’03-04 and for Arizona from ’98-’02. Notably, Norv Turner was his offensive coordinator in San Francisco in 2006 and Turner has long been rumored to be the leading candidate to be named the Browns’ offensive coordinator soon.

[Related: On Optics and Perception]

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Report: Norv Turner To Be Named Browns’ Offensive Coordinator

January 12, 2013 by 20 Comments

Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer is reporting that head coach Rob Chudzinski will name Norv Turner his offensive coordinator. The delay in announcement of the hiring is that Turner is currently out of town.

Turner, 60, was head coach of the San Diego Chargers for the past six seasons, and Chudzinski spent two of those seasons as his tight ends coach and assistant head coach in 2009-2010. He has a record of 118-126-1 in stints with Oakland, Washington, and San Diego. He also has experience as offensive coordinator in Dallas, San Diego, Miami, and San Francisco for a combined seven seasons.

Chudzinski said Friday morning that he would be open to relinquishing play calling responsibilities if he had the right coordinator.

Cabot also reports that the search for GM/personnel director includes names Ray Farmer (Chiefs), Tom Gamble (49ers), George Paton (Vikings), John Idzik (Seahawks), and Michael Lombardi (NFL Network analyst).

Related: Chudzinski’s Press Conference Ushers In Another “Process”

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WFNY Roundtable: The Rob Chudzinski era begins

January 11, 2013 by 34 Comments

WFNY_roundtable

It’s going to be one of those moments you’ll remember for a while and we certainly hope it’s thought of with joy in the end: Where were you when you heard the Browns hired Rob Chudzinski to be their new head coach? For me, I was on Skype with my girlfriend, slyly checking my email and Twitter when the news rolled in. Not the most momentous of occasions, I suppose, but she got to hear me hoot, holler and scream about a guy with a fun last name. So I certainly hope that was at least moderately enjoyable for her. Now on to our staff’s takes on a series of questions I came up with for the big news.

1) What were your initial reactions when you heard the official news last night?

Scott: The initial reaction was a mesh between shock (I was not expecting it, especially given Whisenhunt’s second interview) and anxiety as I knew that there would only be a small sliver of fans and media alike who supported the move. Had Chud left after 2007, I think fans would have been a lot more receptive — unfortunately, we have the 2008 collapse that’s a little more recent. [Read more...]

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NFL Report: Norv Turner possibly in as Browns OC; Jauron likely out as DC

January 10, 2013 by 26 Comments

According to Keith Britton of 92.3 The Fan, new Browns head coach Rob Chudzinski is likely to bring Norv Turner on board as the new offensive coordinator, and current defensive coordinator Dick Jauron will likely move on.

Britton tweet

Britton was the first with the Chudzinski as favorite rumor, which was confirmed by several reporters including Chris Mortensen.

Update: Per FOX Sports’ Pete Schrager, Scott Turner, Norv’s son, could also be en route:

[Related: NFL Report: Chudzinski to be new Browns head coach]

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Sports TV for an hour and no Browns highlights

October 29, 2012 by 23 Comments

Your lone necessary highlight from yesterday

We all know yesterday’s game was kind of boring as far as NFL football games go. Maybe it was the weather, but regardless, there was basically a lone highlight in the game as the Browns punted nine straight times during the 7-6 victory over the Chargers. Even still, I was riding my exercise bike this morning on a pretty nasty, wet day outside, and flipping around between ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN News, and NFL Network, I didn’t see Trent Richardson’s 26-yard scamper even once. Maybe they showed it somewhere and I just missed it in my flipping, but I was also looking at those ubiquitous scrolling timelines that tell you what highlights are on the way, and I never saw it there either.

This isn’t a complaint about ESPN or NFL Network, specifically. I could lobby a lot of complaints about them in general, 1 but I am not critical of them here. The Browns game was decidedly boring yesterday even if I’m elated that the team came out with the victory. I expect Browns fans and media to talk about how much tougher the Browns were mentally than the Norv Turner / Phillip Rivers-led team from San Diego. While Brandon Weeden was content to throw the ball away and just not turn the ball over, Rivers was screeching like a banshee and tossing could-be arm punts into the air. 2 I don’t expect the national coverage to care much about it. Those are “deep cuts” in the wider NFL world. That doesn’t mean there isn’t demand for it in Cleveland. [Read more...]

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  1. I might start by saying that the NFL Network needs to start over completely with NFL AM, their morning show. It is abysmal. [back]
  2. Whoever came up with the term “arm punts” deserves many many awards. [back]

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Another Potential Reason Mangini Was Retained

February 10, 2010 by 28 Comments

Eric Mangini is back for next year at least, and now there is a new reason to consider.  Yes the team didn’t quit on Mangini and they played solidly and maybe even over their heads down the stretch under his tutelage.  But let’s think about it a different way.  Let’s look at two other coaches around the league in Dallas’ Wade Phillips and San Diego’s Norv Turner.  Wade Phillip was on the proverbial hot seat in Dallas all year long and not only did he get his option for 2010 picked up, he was given an extension by Jerry Jones.  Similarly, in San Diego I think fans were relatively shocked to wake up one morning to find out that San Diego’s coach Norv Turner was given an extension after losing to the Jets 17-14 in the playoffs.  So, what gives?  Three coaches who were on the hot seats for various reasons, and all are coming back in 2010 and possibly beyond.

Well, I was listening to Opie and Anthony last week and they had Chris “Maddog” Russo on the show from Miami where he was covering the Superbowl.  During that segment of the show Russo mentioned something interesting.  He claimed that he had heard insider rumblings that the recent coaching extensions and moves were being affected by some of the more macro type situations around the NFL. [Read more...]

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