No OC...

[grumpy_dinosaur]

Originally Posted by Sez.EJ

I remember Board our new DL coach as a player with the 49ers.. I like guys who have RINGS coaching players.. He has a few since he was there from 79-88. He's a guy who really knows the 4-3..

I am really please with the coaches we kept.. Really pleased.. I am glad we brought in a new WR coach.. I don't know much about this LB coach though. other than he seems highly qualified since he was a DC at his last job.. I think with who we kept on offense..then bringing in Whipple... the offense appears to be in good hands..

Interesting there ARE other teams that don't have any OC.. so it has been done, and been done well. ... I like the new hires and I like who we kept..

Who will be the new DB coach? seems like that's the only spot left if we don't bring in an OC.

They retained Henderson as the DB coach as well, so a little more continuity there too.

I also like seeing guys with rings and who actually played being brought in as coaches, they know what it takes to get it done.

[Greythan]

No OC for a rookie headcoach is a major red flag.

Anyone arguing to the contrary is delusional.

If they end up hiring an OC then we're back to an even level of optimism for me. If they don't hire an OC then I'm more on Golfer's side of the equation: supportive but skeptical.

[OzDawg]

If me as a fan is shootin craps, I'm more or less glad that Holmgren is "the house". They win more than not...and whatever we wished for is just that.. hi risk stakes.

I hope to gawd he watched Casino!

[Enigmatic Evil]

I like the overall moves and I agree that the lack of an offensive coordinator, even in name, is a major red flag. Holmgren better know what his plan is, and I anticipate that he does. This isn't a 'blind faith in the powers that be' approach so much as I respect Holmgren and trust he at least FEELS that he knows what he's doing.

I think there is going to be a bumpy transition. I'm not expecting this to be a smooth coast over, I think next season could be ugly. That's what I'm bracing myself for. If that's lowering expectations than so be it, but there's been so much transition it's hard not to. I have been quoted as expecting 8-8... I can stick to that but I don't know... We will see.

[Sez.EJ]

EE ..after 2 years ago with DA... I'm not sure ANYTHING can look ugly again..hahaha. But I hearya..

I'm expecting some bumps in the road too..that's ok. Life is not easy.. certainly being a Browns fan is not easy.. . so long as the road leads somewhere good.. that works for me. Not having an OC.. It does not really bother me that much with the people that we do have. Seems to me we have a lot of coaching talent on offense. I'll wait to see what the production looks like before I pass judgment.

[Brown Warrior]

If we fix the WR position, I'm really optimistic as hell. McCoy was born for the WCO and we have PLENTY of offensive minds in the building in Holmgren, Haskell, Shurmur, and Whipple. Might still bring in another.

Say we get A.J. Green... we'll have more serious talent on offense than we've fielded in forever and we'll run a grownup system, too.

I'm taking a lot of Ecstacy and Percocet lately, but I feel really good. About everything. And I love you all so, so much.

[Sez.EJ]

Shep: I think we are on the same page this year and that WR is by far and away the most critical need on the roster... We may disagree on how to fill that spot..but that's ok so long as it's a playmaker. If we cannot fill those spots..it's another grim year on offense..I am confident that the powers that be certainly see what we do.. how they address it.. remains to be seen.. I really really hope there is free agency.. Not just for the WR spots but we have 6-8 spots to fill... it's not going to happen via the draft only.. even with free agency we cannot fill all the spots..but we have to get younger and faster on in our front 7. and add those weapons on offense.

[Brown Warrior]

Some cheery news this morning: McCoy is good friends with Bradford now, and said Bradford "loved" Shurmur and was extremely upset to lose him. McCoy is learning the offense over the phone from Shurmur and the coach is relaying that "you and me against the world" mentality that you want between your head coach and starting QB. They're in it together.

Secondly, Whipple is REALLY well regarded as a QB tutor from his work with Big Ben. He's also been an OC and a head coach, and he's extremely respected around the league. He was unemployed for one day when Tomlin failed to retain any of the Chin's staff before Andy Reid scooped him up.

Keep in mind that Haskell was Holmgren's OC for eight years in Seattle... and he was more like a coach than an administrator, as Grossi just wrote. He'll "assist" Shurmur and Whipple and the three will formulate gameplans together. I'm sure Holmgren will drop into those meetings as well.

It's a pretty damn good WCO think tank.

[Sez.EJ]

Just because there is no OC... "named".. it appears the same structure is essentially in place with Haskell seemingly filling that role. So we have THREE guys who have experience as an OC: Shurmur, Whipple and Haskell.. You can actually make it four with OC experience if you include Holmgren, who may have some limited involvment formulating this offense. Not many teams can boast 3-4 OC's.. Shurmur will have final say..but it's a pretty smart bunch of guys. Those who are freaking out due to no OC "named"... just are not seeing it. The Defense has two guys now who have been DC's.

[hiwaygal]

Originally Posted by Sez.EJ

Just because there is no OC... "named".. it appears the same structure is essentially in place with Haskell seemingly filling that role. So we have THREE guys who have experience as an OC: Shurmur, Whipple and Haskell.. You can actually make it four with OC experience if you include Holmgren, who may have some limited involvment formulating this offense. Not many teams can boast 3-4 OC's.. Shurmur will have final say..but it's a pretty smart bunch of guys. Those who are freaking out due to no OC "named"... just are not seeing it. The Defense has two guys now who have been DC's.

So....essentially we have a bunch of coordinators but no real coach?

That's how it feels no matter how much we try to sugar coat it.

Unless we want to pin the COACH tag on Holmgren, who has said repeatedly that he is not going to coach.

Color me confused

[Brown Warrior]

Hiway, Shurmur is the head guy for the offense, much like Mike McCarthy in today's Super Bowl. He's the playcaller, the architect, of that amazing offense.

Shurmur will have some great minds to access in Holmgren and Haskell, WCO Godfathers. He'll have a highly regarded QB tutor in Whipple.

I see no need for sugarcoating. It's tough to beat as far as the WCO goes.