Get to know the Browns defensive coordinator candidates
By Joel W. Cade
The Cleveland Browns recently fired their defensive coordinator. The list to replace him is a diverse group of different styles of defense and levels of experience. Let’s figure out who is who.
The Cleveland Browns will have no shortage of candidates willing to take on the defensive coordinator job. This defense was fourth in the league in completion percentage. But the rushing defense was the real problem this season. The defense underperformed to its talent level leading to former defensive coordinator Joe Woods’ ouster.
The Browns have wasted no time getting permission to interview several candidates. The current list as of this writing includes Brian Flores, Jim Schwartz, Jerod Mayo, and Sean Desai. Although Benjamin Albright Broncos Insider for KOA Colorado thinks former Brown and University of Wisconsin interim coach Jim Leonhard should be a candidate as well.
Browns fans may remember Leonhard from the Mike Pettine days. Pettine grew so frustrated with the inability of punt returners to catch the ball that he sent Leonhard out as the “designated punt catcher” whose sole job was to call a fair catch and catch the punt. Truly a highlight of Cleveland football history. Sadly, because he has not been officially named a candidate, the analysis of his work will have to wait.
Brian Flores – the “IT” candidate
If there’s a sexy candidate in this bunch, it is Brian Flores. By sexy, I mean this candidate is the big-name hire that wins you a press conference.
But can he win games? Yes, yes he can.
Flores is the former Miami Dolphins head coach who claimed he was offered incentives to purposely lose games so the Dolphins could obtain the first overall draft choice. An NFL investigator found his allegations to be true, but Flores felt like the impact of the offers to tank was minimized.
Nevertheless, credibility and an unquestioned desire to win are in Flores’ corner. He also has a track record with the Dolphins of taking a team created to underperform and almost took them to the playoffs.
Flores’ ability to lead is what makes him a viable candidate for the position. That skill will be necessary to deal with a group of players who have underperformed and have been accused of being “me” players who put their own stats ahead of the team.
The difficulty for Flores would be his scheme. Flores employs a 3-4 multiple front defense which uses defensive tackles as space eaters to free up linebackers to run free. The problem is that the Browns are not built to run a 3-4 scheme.
Thus, hiring Flores would require the Browns to dismantle the defense and start over. This would not be such a bad thing except they’re in position to win now. Starting over on defense is not advantageous.
Next, let’s explore the one candidate that would intrigue this front office with his multiple-look scheme.