Cleveland Browns Head Coach Eric Mangini: Should He Stay or Should He Go?

[tennreb]

Your Thoughts?

Head coaches, or any coach for that matter, are usually judged by their record, how many wins they have achieved. A coaches level of performance is gauged by a winning record, which does not always reflect the impact or lack of, that the coach has had on his team. Fans, owners, and the media are so engulfed in winning percentages that they often overlook the improvements a team has made, although their record may not show it. This is the case of Eric Mangini, head coach of the Cleveland Browns.

Eric Mangini came to the Cleveland Browns in 2009, replacing head coach Romeo Crennel. Coach Mangini inherited a team that achieved 4 wins and 12 losses in 2008 under the supervision, or lack of supervision of Coach Crennel.

Mangini, trying to build on the talent the Cleveland Browns had at their disposal, and building his program, went a dismal 5 wins and 11 losses in 2009. The 2009 Browns ranked 29th in offense, being led by Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson, who at times, played like the Browns had no quarterback at all. The single highlight of the season was winning the final four games of the season, possibly meaning that Coach Mangini was finally getting control of his team.

2010 brought many changes to the Cleveland Browns, changes that would prove beneficial to Mangini. Rookies Colt McCoy, T.J. Ward, and Joe Haden are having an impact, and contributing to the teams performance.Team President Mike Holmgren, and General Manager Tom Heckert are constantly involved in acquiring players that may improve the Browns chances of winning.

The Cleveland Browns, at the time this article was written, have a record of 4 wins and 7 losses, which is not impressive, however it is an improvement over the 1 win 10 losses at this time last year. What does impress me is that this team seems to be playing as just that, a team. Looking at the seven losses, you will find that four of those losses were decided by four points or less, meaning the Browns were competitive till the end. It is simple to see that this team has made improvements over last year. A great deal of this improvement comes from drafting and acquiring players who can have an impact on the game.

Coach Mangini, along with his coaching staff are attempting to build a winning program. President Mike Holmgren, and General Manager Tom Heckert are aiding this coaching staff by constantly trying to improve the roster, giving Mangini the players needed to have a successful program.

Eric Mangini is in his second year as head coach of the Cleveland Browns. While the Browns record is by no means impressive, the play on the field has improved greatly over last year. Eric Mangini is finally gaining control of this team, and the players are responding. The addition of key players, along with input from the front office gives Mangini necessary tools to implement a competitive program. This years Browns have become fun to watch and proven that they can compete with anyone, that cannot be said about last years Browns.

Should Mangini be fired at the end of the season? I think not, the Browns are improving, let's not throw a wrench in the building process.
Bleacher Report

[Enigmatic Evil]

It's too early to write off the season. I've been paying very close attention to the team this year (compared to last...) and I'm ready to write my comprehensive analysis on the season but we've still got 5 games to play. Depending on how the team does in those 5 games could save Mangini's job but if we have more games like the Carolina game, I bet you it could end up costing him his job as well. I stand by that Daboll will be the season scapegoat if anyone gets fired, not Mangini.

[TheBestPlayersPlay]

I think he should go. He's not winning now so get his ass outta here and let's replace him with Marty Mornhinweg so we can win now.

He's got a talented roster filled with pro-bowl caliber skill position players, and he doesn't have us in the playoffs? What a joke.

Win now or get your ass out of Cleveland.

[King of Kings]

He's gotta go. We don't really need a HC, let's just get a podium down on the sidelines with a laptop and have Holmgren relay the plays to be ran via AIM.

[golfer704u]

Originally Posted by King of Kings

He's gotta go. We don't really need a HC, let's just get a podium down on the sidelines with a laptop and have Holmgren relay the plays to be ran via AIM.

ROTFL DUDE AIM is so yesterday, he can just text em from his ipad.

[jason j]

The most difficult thing to accomplish in coaching is change of culture. The team that Eric Mangini inherited was as good at losing football games as nearly any in history. The only thing I'd ask in making a decision on Mangini's future is this:

"Do you expect to win the game on Sunday?"

Ask the players, the coaches, the guys running the chains, the radio announcer, the guy selling peanuts... ask them all.

If the answer is "yes"... Mangini's job should be safe. He's managed to shape an appalling heap of mismatched NFL (and some sub-NFL) talent into a nasty, physical, and frankly dangerous team. It may come as no consolation to anyone in Northeast Ohio, but no one wants the Browns on their schedule right now. Cleveland used to be a "get healthy" game. Now it's a "hope we stay healthy" game. They've got a defense that provides utter chaos (for about 55 minutes per game unfortunately), and a running game that keeps racking up bodies from opposing secondaries. That offensive line is exhausting to play against. That defense can be excruciating to game plan.

Think back to how it felt after the Broncos opener last season. And try to remember how you felt about the next game?

I can't imagine that the stars are aligning against Mangini... but I've been wrong before.

-jj

[King of Kings]

Originally Posted by golfer704u

ROTFL DUDE AIM is so yesterday, he can just text em from his ipad.

Yeah that's true I guess.

[golfer704u]

Originally Posted by jason j

The most difficult thing to accomplish in coaching is change of culture. The team that Eric Mangini inherited was as good at losing football games as nearly any in history. The only thing I'd ask in making a decision on Mangini's future is this:

"Do you expect to win the game on Sunday?"

Ask the players, the coaches, the guys running the chains, the radio announcer, the guy selling peanuts... ask them all.

If the answer is "yes"... Mangini's job should be safe. He's managed to shape an appalling heap of mismatched NFL (and some sub-NFL) talent into a nasty, physical, and frankly dangerous team. It may come as no consolation to anyone in Northeast Ohio, but no one wants the Browns on their schedule right now. Cleveland used to be a "get healthy" game. Now it's a "hope we stay healthy" game. They've got a defense that provides utter chaos (for about 55 minutes per game unfortunately), and a running game that keeps racking up bodies from opposing secondaries. That offensive line is exhausting to play against. That defense can be excruciating to game plan.

Think back to how it felt after the Broncos opener last season. And try to remember how you felt about the next game?

I can't imagine that the stars are aligning against Mangini... but I've been wrong before.

-jj

Leave it to Jason to say in one post what I have been trying to say for months. Thanks Jason!

[TheBestPlayersPlay]

Originally Posted by jason j

He's managed to shape an appalling heap of mismatched NFL (and some sub-NFL) talent into a nasty, physical, and frankly dangerous team.

Agreed. Thanks Jason. I'm sure you know my post was sarcasm. Good stuff.

[Inspecta]

Mangini isn't perfect, and he's made mistakes, and he'll still make mistakes. Every coach in the NFL continues to make mistakes (Belichick going for it on 4th down against the Colts last year), however what Mangini has done with this team is nothing short of brilliant. And I'm speaking more to how he's transformed that locker room.

Pairing Mangini's freaky organizational skills, with Holmgren's and Heckert's knack for acquiring talent, this team will be downright scary and nearly unbeatable. We need to see this through till the end.

The only way Mangini should be fired is if Paul Brown is resurrected and comes back to coach

[Masters]

Originally Posted by Inspecta

The only way Mangini should be fired is if Paul Brown is resurrected and comes back to coach

Would you still be saying that 5 weeks from now if the Browns go 1-4 or 0-5 down to close the season, and the team doesn't have any significant loses of players to injury?

The key to me, and Jason put it so well, is the following:

"The only thing I'd ask in making a decision on Mangini's future is this:
"Do you expect to win the game on Sunday?"
Ask the players, the coaches, the guys running the chains, the radio announcer, the guy selling peanuts... ask them all. If the answer is "yes"... Mangini's job should be safe."

But the answer to that question has to remain yes for all of the next 5 games, as well as when you look to next season. Right now if I was asked, my answer still wouldn't be yes for "expect" to win. To me the team is at "could win" and "should win". I still "expect" to see them let teams off the hook, as they have done 4 times and almost 5.

[golfer704u]

Originally Posted by Masters

Would you still be saying that 5 weeks from now if the Browns go 1-4 or 0-5 down to close the season, and the team doesn't have any significant loses of players to injury?

The key to me and Jason put so well is the following:

"The only thing I'd ask in making a decision on Mangini's future is this:
"Do you expect to win the game on Sunday?"
Ask the players, the coaches, the guys running the chains, the radio announcer, the guy selling peanuts... ask them all. If the answer is "yes"... Mangini's job should be safe."

But the answer to that question has to remain yes for all of the next 5 games, as well as when you look to next season. Right now if I was asked, my answer still wouldn't be yes for "expect" to win. To me the team is at "could win" and "should win". I still "expect" to see them let teams off the hook, as they have done 4 times and almost 5.

I think Jason's first point is the most important. That Mangini took this team from the RAC days where almost no one would have answered that question yes.

On that fact alone I believe he deserves at least one more year to see if he can now get the players to make that next step from expecting to win, and actually winning.