My ESPN Scorecenter App just reported that the Cleveland Browns have hired Panthers offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski as their next head coach. According to this writeup from yesterday, Chudzinski visted the team's facility in Berea on Wednesday. He had two previous stints as an assistant with Cleveland, serving as tight ends coach in 2004 (he was fired along with the rest of Butch Davis' staff) and working the 2007 season as the offensive coordinator for Romeo Crennel.
Last year, Chudzinski interviewed for head-coaching jobs with St. Louis, Jacksonville and Tampa Bay.
Chudzinski's connections with the Browns run deep.
He grew up in Toledo, Ohio, pulling for the Browns, and he was thrilled to be part of Davis' staff. After he left Cleveland the first time, he spent two seasons as San Diego's tight ends coach, working with perennial Pro Bowl standout Antonio Gates, before he was hired by Crennel in 2007.
That year, the Browns won 10 games -- their most wins since 1999 -- and had four players make the Pro Bowl. However, 2008 didn't go nearly as well, as injuries and a six-game losing streak to close the season resulted in a 4-12 record and the firing of Crennel.
ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports that the team will formally introduce Chudzinski at a news conference on Friday, ending an up-and-down two-week coaching search after the Browns fired Pat Shurmur after going 5-11 this season.
You can read more about "Chud" via this brief from the Plain Dealer.
Seriously? :/
"YOLO" = I'm about to do something extremely ignorant/stupid & I need an excuse to do it.
I'm in the wait and see mode as of now, but the rumor is that chud will want the browns to move back to a 3-4 which is discouraging. The browns finally have the dline for the 4-3 and now they might blow it up....mother god don't let this happen.
This is a horrible hire, horrible.
Apparently Norv Turner is being mentioned as a possible OC :/
"Attack the Strong, Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead!"
-Former OSU S&C Coach Lichter
I wouldn't mind Norv Turner as an OC, but early reports are saying that they won't keep Dick Jauron as DC, which would be a mistake in my mind.
I think Jauron has done a respectable job as DC. Give him some linebackers worth a darn (beside Jackson) and that defense could be very good.
"Attack the Strong, Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead!"
-Former OSU S&C Coach Lichter
One of the all time great examples of excellent coordinator\piss poor head coach. Dick Jauron was always ok in my book, Cleveland should look long and hard at keeping him around.
4-6 seconds from point A to point B and when you get to point B, be pissed off
Norv Turner, too. A lot of these guys are great lieutenants, but not great generals.
Lovie Smith is sitting out there, and this is the hire they make?
"YOLO" = I'm about to do something extremely ignorant/stupid & I need an excuse to do it.
This is like the Alex Smith situation in SF. You know Smith's ceiling, and it's...decent. In this case, we've seen Lovie's ceiling. I'm not impressed. You have to roll the dice to some degree.
That being said, I have no idea if this guy will work out or not. He was a good OC in '07 when we went 10-6.
His ceiling was getting to two NFC championships, and a SB. What Browns fan wouldn't be impressed with that?
"YOLO" = I'm about to do something extremely ignorant/stupid & I need an excuse to do it.
I'd be interested in hearing the opposition. What is so bad about this hire?
4-6 seconds from point A to point B and when you get to point B, be pissed off
What is good about it?
"YOLO" = I'm about to do something extremely ignorant/stupid & I need an excuse to do it.
Taking a guy with no experience as a head coach is one problem I have. Another is that even in the Browns best year with him as OC, 2007, the Browns still had a mediocre at best offense, and the 2008 offense was a disaster. His Carolina offense this year was 12th in the league total offense, and something like 19th in points scored, not great. The thing I dislike the most is there were several better hires available than him, including Marc Trestman, Bruce Arians (small amount of HC experience himself), Ken Whisenhunt, and Lovie Smith. Bad, bad hire.
Mike McCarthy ran the worst offense in football before Green Bay hired him. Head coaching experience isn't always a plus. Innovation is the big thing a lot of people are looking at. Plus, no offense, but the Browns aren't exactly a huge name given that the Eagles and Bears are both hiring. Just because a guy has average\below average success as an OC doesn't mean he can't be an intelligent, innovative mind. I would hope that's whay the powers that be in Cleveland are looking for.
Buckeyesvstheworld-I'm not a Browns fan. I'm a Bears fan. I'm not defending the hire, just wondering why its so detested. Again, I'd like to point to Mike McCarthy. Packers fans took to the streets when he was hired, and now he's going to have a street in Green Bay named after him-something Lombardi and Holmgren can claim. Someone has to be someone else's first job, the Steelers, Packers, Saints, and Ravens can all be something you can turn to and see hope.
4-6 seconds from point A to point B and when you get to point B, be pissed off
I agree with that, and I certainly don't believe the Browns are a destination job at this point. However, there were several better options, including more proven coaches.
I guess I'd just advise waiting before trading in your brown and orange. Chicago saw the same thing when Lovie was hired-of course that had more to do with the closet racist Bears fans being upset they hired a black coach, but it turned out ok.
4-6 seconds from point A to point B and when you get to point B, be pissed off
Oh haha I don't plan on no longer supporting the team. As a fan of Cleveland sports I've been chosen by some greater deity to suffer when it comes to the performance of the teams I root for. I'm hopeful that Chudzinski will have success, but I'm extremely underwhelmed by this hire, and I was optimistic about the Shurmur hire, which goes to show how little I think of this hire.
Interesting to see what route Cleveland goes come April. This hire may ultimatley dictate it. Browns should be picking what 6th? A lot of new coaches want a new QB but there is nothing coming out that would be an upgrade over Weeden (I've come around a bit). Wideout?
4-6 seconds from point A to point B and when you get to point B, be pissed off
I don't think a wideout is worth the #6 pick this year..WR's seem to e a dime a dozen in later rounds now and days. I'd say Jarvis Jones if he's there.
Run_Fido's favorite word is strawman.
HA! Just about to edit. Good spot on the weak class. I was thinking someone in the Jones\Mingo\Werner mold. One of those three could (should) be there.
4-6 seconds from point A to point B and when you get to point B, be pissed off
The Browns should either pursue a DE like Moore or Woerner, or pick up an OLB like Jones in the 1st round. Or they could choose to trade down in the 1st to pick up a 2nd rounder, which they used on Josh Gordon (WR) in the Supplemental. I'd be more in favor of the Browns going after a Free Agent WR like Welker, Jennings or Cruz, considering that they have $48.9 million in cap space, 2nd most in the league to the Bengals' $55.1 million.
^ I agree
Run_Fido's favorite word is strawman.
Mike Wallace might hit the open market too.
4-6 seconds from point A to point B and when you get to point B, be pissed off
Mike Wallace is a big play guy who cannot thrive if he's the team's go to. Without Ward, Roethelishberger had to lean on him constantly, whereas Ward and Miller were constantly the two "possession" guys on offense. As a Bengals fan, I can speak to the value of landing an AJ Green-type guy who can catch anything; the only question is if that kind of guy's available in this draft.
Bears appear to be heading up north to hire Marc Trestman and the rumor mill is churning out some interesting stuff, mainly about Wallace to Chicago....Brandon Marshall's uncoverable skill set and Wallace's ability to take the top off of a defense? Yes please.
4-6 seconds from point A to point B and when you get to point B, be pissed off
Many have Keenan Allen of Cal as the top WR in this draft. I like him along with Robert Woods, but this WR class is not very deep at all.
Dustin Fox was our leading tackler as a corner.... because his guy always caught the ball.
I'm not a Browns fan either. I just see it as another meh hiring. At some point you can't keep telling Brown's fans to be patient.
I just don't see how they don't jump after Lovie Smith.
"YOLO" = I'm about to do something extremely ignorant/stupid & I need an excuse to do it.
How is this any different than hiring some guy named Pat Schurmur a couple years ago? You know what they say about the definition of insnaity....
wut
"You're pissed because we went after a committed guy? Guess what, we got 9 guys who better go do it again," said Meyer. "Do it a little harder next time."
Reported that the Browns will be moving back to a 3-4 as well, which is moronic considering the personal we have on defense. We have 1 good linebacker in D'Qwell Jackson, and that's it.
I heard that too. Damn, man... we change every 2 years it seems like.
Is Rob Ryan still available... I know its been over 5 minutes.
Dustin Fox was our leading tackler as a corner.... because his guy always caught the ball.
I see what you did there.
Run_Fido's favorite word is strawman.
We have depth on the line for once. And they are talking 3-4? What, they expect jackson to play both mlb spots or something? What about the outside. They have drafted space eating, run stuffing tackles. And 4-3, pass rushing ends. Why not right? And who the hell is this clown? This is the bes you could do haslam? Seriously. You had wisenhunt back today, and you hire this pud? He did great with cam newton in carolina. Awesome. Last I checked, our qb was brandon weeden. Idiots.
I just can't fathom why they are hiring someone just because they were "wowed" in the interview process.
There are two coaches out there (Lovie/Whisenhunt) that have both been to superbowls, they have and know how to get the job done. I don't care how great a talker Chudzinski is the fact is he hasn't won nor proven he can win and we hired him based on an interview.
The Browns once again have it all backwards, I wish Urban would have stopped by the Browns facility and talked some sense into Banner/Haslam. Hire the proven coach then give up the money to bring in the best coordinators you can possibly get. Again this is why the Buckeyes only re-load and don't rebuild and the Browns seem to constantly be in a rebuilding phase.
With all that said I hope this guy turns out to be the real deal and turns the Browns around because it will just be demoralizing to go through another rebuild with this team.
Keep Urban away from NFL owners ----please.
I like this hire as this is a young innovative guy and he will be bringing a great offensive mind in Norv Turner with him. This Browns team is so similar to the 07 team that had a bunch of success with chud handling the offense. I think he will look at what he has and build a scheme that uses the talents of the players there. Look for a run oriented offense that will utilize play action and will stretch the field with Gordon and Benjamin. The offense has talent, they just need a coach who isn't a slapdick who can put them in a position to be successful and I tink chud does that.......for defense, bring in Mel tucker please
As a Bengals fan this hire makes me happy lol
"Because I couldn't go for 3"
Im kind of ambivelent about this hire...I never have been one for hiring an unproven coach, but I've seen it work before with both Belicheck and Andy Reid and theres nothing to indicate that Whisenhunt or Smith put us over the hump either...Time will tell the tale
Battles are sometimes won by generals; wars are nearly always won by sergeants and privates. Football is no different, the guys down in the trenches win the games, not the coach.
Belicheat was not a success in Cleveland, and was fired while a Baltimoron. This is a guy who replaced Bernie (admittedly near the end) with Todd Philcox, alienated both the fans and the media, and drafted Craig Powell in the first round as a project (an even bigger reach I cannot recall, even though he was a Buckeye)
I could name a half-dozen worse picks by the Browns alone, but yeah, that was a bad one.
LB Mike Junkin ...... where ever he is, raises his hand.
so many picks, so little time. I had forgotten Junkin - thankfully, What about Clifford Charlton out of Florida (or maybe FSU)
Mike Junkin- The Mad Dog in a meat market!!! LOL
damn you joe banner!!!! Turd hire
O'Deez330
stark county football
If he keeps Jauron has DC or at least the 4-3 Def. i have no problem with it.
I've rarely been more underwhelmed. Not saying he won't do alright, I'm just getting used to decisions made by Browns brass that makes me numb.
"Because the rules won't let you go for three." - Woody Hayes
THE Ohio State University
does this mean Derek Anderson will be making a come-back?
To anyone who says he doesn't have head coach experience, did anyone start their life as nothing but a head coach. Cleveland fans are delusional they want a winning Super Bowl proven coach ( sorry there aren't any). And the favored choices for most fans are Gruden and Cowher who haven't coached in years. Plus I grew up in Cleveland I'm not a squealers or beagles fan so I'm not bashing the browns
Wherever you are, there you be!
Moved from Cleveland to Raleigh when I was 10 so every Sunday on FOX is the Panthers game. I really like this hire. People will always point to the negative; no experience, ONLY 12th in th NFL in offense....blah blah blah. I thought the Panthers would fire Rivera and promote Chud honestly. He put up some really nice offensive numbers with no run game, an average line, rookie/sophomore QB (Scam Newton), and the same ONE WR they have had for 10 years: Steve Smith. The guy will be fine. What is more concerning is the lack of talent in the draft, no 2nd Rnd pick, switching to a 3-4 with one good LB, and possibly letting go of Jauron. Cleveland HAS to upgrade some through Free Agency this year.
NC Buckeye.
Meh I think Cleveland would have been better off if they had kept Shurmur
They better pray they get some awesome coordinators.Can't believe they made this hire.Well.yeah I can,their the Browns!! Another 5 years of set-backs here we come.Was hoping we'd actually make it out of picking in the top ten of the draft,not anytime soon!!
SCOTTC.
1. It is impossible to downgrade from Pat Shurmur.
2. The only time the Browns offense (since '99) has been better than 23rd, Chud was the OC.
3. The Panthers were 4th in the NFL in touchdown percentage, scoring TD's on 25% of their possessions.
4. He is about a vertical passing game, which suits our QB and large wide receivers well.
5. How, how, HOW can you KNOW if a coach hiring is a good hire until he actually coaches????? It's crazy to me that people think they know whether or not a hire is a good one based on name recognition or how much ESPN talks about it.
Well said! Drives me nuts that people are already looking for this guys replacement.
Let me preface this by saying this is my first comment ever, just created my account.
As far as the coaching hire goes I'm not a Browns fan but gotta think Whisehunt or Lovie would have made a better choice. Personally I think Whisenhunt's system would have worked with Weeden.
12-OH
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Okay maybe this was mentioned above and maybe I'm wrong, but wasn't the offense "okay" by Cleveland standards the years he was OC? I'm a HUGE Browns fan, but......I still don't like this hire. I would have been more on board bringing a Whisenhut (sp?) or someone else who had no connection to the Browns. Just believe to change a culture you need to bring in fresh ideas and someone with NO connection to the current "losing" culture of the Browns.
One very good year when Derek Andersen caught lightning in a bottle with Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow having big years. Then Braylon started dropping balls, K2 couldn't stay healthy, and the offense dropped to 31st in the league.
well, seems we should consider a 6-10 or 7-9 season, an improvement. Hear's to drafting in the top 10 of the 2014 NFL draft.
I'm from NC and have plenty of friends that are Panthers fans. The consensus is that Chudzkinski really isn't that great of a coach, and that Newton really made that offense successful.
So you've talked to just about all their fans then. That is like saying Carolina Hurricanes fans dont like the new Maple Leafs GM hire. Love the state, but more passion for college sports than pro sports.
Considering that most of my friends are poor college students, and that Charlotte is just a shit sports city in general, I wouldn't base the Panthers attendance as a measure of a fan-base. If that team were in Raleigh, I'm sure their attendance would be much higher. I do agree that there is more passion for college sports in NC, and I can't blame them with UNC, Duke and NC State all being highly successful. However I'd also argue there's more passion for college sports in Ohio too.
This hire isn't going to make a bit of difference...they'll still be the Clowns. Which equals 6-10 or worse...
Edit* He's also hiring Norv Turner as his OC....more bad news. Good Luck Browns fans...
"There's nothing that cleanses your soul like getting the hell kicked out of you."
"I love football. I think it is most wonderful game in world and I despise to lose."
Woody Hayes 1913 - 1987
That's actually a pretty good hire as an OC.....
Turner is a good choice - hope they keep Jauron
I've heard Mel Tucker's name floated as a DC possibility.
As a Browns fan I'm underwhelmed by the hire of Chudzinski. There were several other guys I would've taken ahead of him as HC (Whisenhunt, Smith, Zimmer, Trestman, and so on). But just like every time they bring in a new guy, I guess I'll give him a chance, and hope this I'm not disappointed...
And I'm wondering, the Browns have been mediocre at best for so long, with only one playoff appearance (one single wild-card game, that is) since returning in 99, what exactly would make this hire a success? As a fan, I've been drenched in liquid poo on so many Sunday afternoons* watching the Browns that I'm not even sure what I would consider good anymore. Do they have to make the playoffs (which seems unlikely, especially given their division)? Do they just need to improve their record, and does that mean 6 wins, 7 wins, going 8-8?
*FYI -the liquid poo drenching is from watching them, I don't drench myself in liquid poo to watch the game.
Hey man, whatever floats your boat. No judgement here.
4-6 seconds from point A to point B and when you get to point B, be pissed off
Apparently, everyone is an expert on hiring head coaches.
Help is on the way.
If Norv Turner is named OC, Trent Richardson will be a great RB for fantasy purposes next year. Norv always has a productive running games, unless his RB is made out of glass like Ryan Mathews.
He was the OC for the Brownies in '07? That was a pretty good offense - definitely the best one the Browns have had since they've been back. 10 wins too. I suppose the Browns could've done better but they could've done worse, too.
Class of 2010.
C.H.U.D. is an acronym for "Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dweller". The Browns have been underground dwellers, in the NFL. Maybe it's time to embrace this iconography and dominate the league:
Someone with photoshop skills needs to make the city in that picture Brown, and C.H.U.D. in Orange. I'd buy that poster.
Dustin Fox was our leading tackler as a corner.... because his guy always caught the ball.