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Cleveland Browns in need of an ‘Urban Meyer’ renewal

By Frank Teriaca

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer calls for a play during the first half in the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2019 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer calls for a play during the first half in the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2019 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) /
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As the Cleveland Browns close out their season today in Cincinnati, a need for change is unfortunately needed.

Tired of changing coaches, front offices and players alike, this is no fun to write. But a change at the top is needed for this franchise. The Cleveland Browns have gone through regime after regime and can not quite seem to get it right.

John Dorsey is by far the Browns best General Manger since the team has come back in 1999. Drafting and acquiring talented players has been his strong suit. But this team did not mesh at all this season thus proving, once again, that there are no quick-fixes in the NFL. It must be done right and on time.

Freddie Kitchens is also to blame as well. He just could not keep the momentum from last season rolling and his play calling and game management skills have been mind-boggling.

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But most importantly, like every other coach since 1999, he just could not shake this culture of perpetual losing. And therein lays the problem. Culture.

The Cleveland Browns need a complete culture shock to rid themselves of the stink of the past, and to provide the foundation of what is to come. Enter Urban Meyer. Meyer, the Ashtabula native, is the right man who can build the correct culture for this program heading forward.

Urban does come with some obvious health-related concerns, but there is just something in Urban Meyer that screams he wants to be the next Paul Brown. He totally is aware that if he could win a National Championship at Ohio State and turn the Cleveland Browns into a year after year contending franchise, that he would go down in history right next to the legendary coach himself.

At every stop he has been, Meyer has shaken the culture and made it his own. Turning Bowling Green from losers to tops in the MAC in two short seasons. Doing the same at Utah as the Utes program has been strong ever since he left in 2005. Two national titles in five seasons at Florida. Finally seven extremely successful seasons at Ohio State with a Natty and 7-0 record vs Michigan.

This man is a program builder who will come in from day one and demand respect immediately. He will weed out those who don’t buy in as he did in 2012 at Ohio State. He will intentionally and with purpose, impose his will on this team to demand their best.

Worried about players not listening to a man who makes less money than them? No way, Urban has made more than enough money during his career to have to worry about that. Also with his former Buckeye players littered throughout the NFL and all his collegiate success, he is sure to get the respect of players right off the bat.

Coach Meyer is not a stupid man. He will hire the right coaches around him to help acclimate himself into the NFL. Much like he did with hiring Ryan Day at Ohio State, he will adapt his offense to the strengths of the team and will modernize his football philosophy. Meyer hired the right man to lead the Buckeye offense from an RPO base offense to one with a mesh of that and a pro-style passing game.

Change is needed. Even offensive lineman Joel Bitonio came out this week and said:

"“We never quite showed up to those (late season games) and it’s one of those things where is it two or three plays in a game or is it the game plan or is it something else?” he said. “It’s something we need to look at as an organization, like what’s the root cause of these issues? It’s getting that time where it’s like we really need to take a big step after this year,” he said. “It’s like put up or shut up. We’ve had the chance now to get used to each other.”"

It’s safe to assume that Meyer wouldn’t be the long-term answer. But If he could provide the Browns with three or four seasons while grooming his successor underneath him, as he installs and breeds a culture of success, then sign us up. He could then move up to an executive-type role with the club.

Next. Report says Kitchens to be fired, won't be alone. dark

Nobody has been able to get rid of the stink that consumes the walls of Berea. Let’s give Urban Meyer a shot to see if he can break the mold.

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