Cleveland Browns: Utah’s Jim Harding interviews for O-line coach
By Randy Gurzi
The Cleveland Browns had a big turnaround in the second half of the season in terms of their offensive line. Could they continue that with Jim Harding?
If you were to look at the Cleveland Browns offense from Week 1 through Week 8 and then compare them to what we saw from Week 9 to Week 17, you could be convinced it was an entirely different team. That turnaround fueled their 5-3 run down the stretch and also helped Freddie Kitchens go from interim offensive coordinator to the next head coach.
One of the biggest changes for Cleveland in that second half was the play of the offensive line. Kitchens switched their blocking scheme to dish protection, which allowed them to play better to their own strengths.
The result was the worst pass blocking team in the NFL went from giving yo 33 sacks in the first eight games to just five in the remaining eight. Now, Kitchens is building his new staff and hopes to land someone who can continue the good work that was started in 2018.
And in that search, the Browns have interviewed Jim Harding, and according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, he’s one of the best in the collegiate game.
As Freddie Kitchens keeps putting together his staff, the #Browns interviewed Utah OL coach Jim Harding, source said. Considered one of the best at the college level.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 13, 2019
Harding has been credited with helping develop Garrett Bolles, who ended up being a first-round pick of the Denver Broncos in 2017. He also worked with Jeremiah Poutasi who was taken in the third round in 2016 by the Tennessee Titans.
Next. The Browns coaching search was a no-brainier. dark
There has been no official announcement for the position and the Browns are also still looking for an offensive coordinator as well.