Cleveland Browns: Coaching change rumors starting to swirl
By Dan Justik
The Cleveland Browns have been much improved this season, but head coach Hue Jackson remains on the hot seat with a possible replacement already on the organization’s mind.
The Cleveland Browns have started the 2018 season at 1-2-1, which has been a massive improvement over the last two seasons.
However, the record does not tell the entire story of how the Browns’ season has unfolded. Mistakes have mounted at the end of games, causing the Browns to lose winnable games.
With a record of 2-33-1 in his three seasons as Cleveland’s head coach, Jackson does not have much room for error. If the Browns have a chance to win games, Jackson does not have the job security to be able to lose those games.
More from Dawg Pound Daily
- How the Browns could maximize Nick Chubb in 2023
- Can Deshaun Watson get to Patrick Mahomes level for Cleveland Browns?
- 3 Cleveland Browns who should see an expanded role in 2023 and 1 who should not
- Is Marcus Davenport on the Browns radar in 2023?
- 5 Free agents from Super Bowl LVII Cleveland Browns should target
If the Browns would have been able to capitalize late in the three games that they have not won, there is a good possibility that they would have started the season 4-0. But the team has made critical errors, including many that point back to the head coach.Many of Jackson’s decision are being highly criticized.
The Browns have graded as having the worst special teams in football this season. Jackson decided to hire Amos Jones as the special teams coordinator, despite Jones not having the strongest track record.
With the promising, but disappointing start to the Browns season, the rumors of Jackson losing have started. On Wednesday, the MMQB’s Albert Breer joined the Bull and Fox Show on 92.3 The Fan, mentioning one coach the Browns would call if they move on from Jackson.
.@AlbertBreer tells @BullandFox there is so much left to figure out with Hue Jackson's future as #Browns head coach. How it looks (direction + record etc) at end of year will play major factor..."if they were going to make a move, I think they'd make a call to Lincoln Riley."
— Keith Britton (@KeithBritton86) October 3, 2018
.@AlbertBreer on @BullandFox re: whether #Oklahoma HC Lincoln Riley will be NFL coach next yr: "I think he's going to get offers. I think he knows he's got a great job at Oklahoma, better than a lot of NFL jobs. I think his phone, his agent's phone, the phone's gonna be ringing."
— Keith Britton (@KeithBritton86) October 3, 2018
Breer would say that he has not heard anything one way or another about Jackson’s future. But it seems that if the Browns were to move on from Jackson, Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley would be the first call.
Riley has quickly climbed the coaching ladder over the past few seasons. He worked as an assistant coach at East Carolina University for five seasons. He would then move to Oklahoma in 2015 and became the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Before the 2017 season started, Riley took over as the University of Oklahoma’s head coach after Bob Stoops suddenly stepped down. Since that time, Riley has led an explosive offense that has made Oklahoma perennial College Football Playoff contenders.
There is also the obvious connection between Riley and Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield. Mayfield commanded Riley’s offense for three seasons. Mayfield fit Riley’s offense so well that in 2017, he won the Heisman Trophy after a historic senior season.
Since Mayfield played so well under Riley, it would make sense for the Browns to try and reunite the two in Cleveland if there is a head coach opening.
It remains to be seen if Riley would want to leave his Oklahoma job, as he has a lot of control in Norman. But the chance to lead a young team with his former quarterback at the helm could be a big opportunity for Riley.
Next. Grading the first quarter of the Browns' 2018 season. dark
There are still 12 games left in the season for Cleveland, so there is still time for Jackson to build up some job security. But if Jackson wants to earn the trust of general manager John Dorsey, he’s going to need to finish winnable games this season, something he has been unsuccessful of so far.