Cleveland Browns: Talking to myself about John Dorsey, coaches and messages -- Terry Pluto

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Talking to myself during the Browns bye week:

QUESTION: So what did we learn during John Dorsey’s press conference about his plans for a new coach?

ANSWER: Nothing.

Q: Nothing?

A: He plans to interview interim coach Gregg Williams. No surprise there. He owes it to Williams, who is helping the Browns and Dorsey out of the Hue Jackson/Todd Haley mess.

Q: Do you think Williams can get the job?

A: I doubt it. If the Browns finish extremely strong...something like 4-2 in the final six games...then he has a shot. Otherwise, I believe Dorsey will shop around. At least three times, he called the chance to coach the Browns “extremely attractive.” As I wrote earlier in the week, it appears to be a good job.

Q: Dorsey didn’t say anything about the search?

A: He’s not using a search firm. He wants a “man of character...a man who can lead young men...a man who has a high football acumen.”

Q: Sounds good, but isn’t that obvious?

A: Yes. There’s not a lot to dwell on based on Dorsey’s comments. He mentioned how he kept his choice for the No. 1 pick a secret for so long – he’ll do the same when it comes to interviewing and picking a coach. Dorsey kept the media and the NFL guessing for a long time before word leaked about a day before the draft that Baker Mayfield was headed to Cleveland.

Q: What was Dorsey saying?

A: He’s not interested in losing games simply to gain a higher draft position. In fact, he has been concerned all year that too many losses could have a negative impact on Mayfield and the other young players. As Dorsey said, “It’s about winning, you guys.”

Q: Isn’t that obvious?

A: The team was 1-31 the previous two seasons...4-44 over three years. That can destroy players emotionally. While owner Jimmy Haslam talked about “internal discord” when firing head coach Hue Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Haley, losing also was a factor.

Q: Isn’t that also obvious?

A: It’s a little deeper. The Browns were 1-3-1 in games decided by three or fewer points this season. Under Jackson, the record was 2-10-1 in games decided by three or fewer points. Some of that was a failure in coaching, and Dorsey knows it – although he never said it.

Q: Why do you think that?

A: At the press conference, I asked Dorsey if the “internal discord” issues have improved. Dorsey said: “Gregg has done a nice job in terms of having the team focused on the task at hand...winning. He has put some discipline in there. He has reduced the number of penalties.”

Q: Meaning what?

A: Without saying a word about Jackson’s regime, Dorsey stressed the “discipline” brought in by Williams. He made a reference to that a few other times in interviews. He also said new offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens “put together a game plan and then on game day, they actually executed it.”

Q: The team is 3-6-1. What’s the difference between them being something like 4-11-1 and 6-9-1 at the end of the year? No playoffs, right?

A: I also asked him about expectations for the rest of the season, and he said, “Emphasize the winning...have players begin to develop and end the season strong...let’s be competitive in each and every game.”

Q: Doesn’t every general manager of a losing team say that during the bye week?

A: Of course, but I believe Dorsey really means it. I sense he is extremely disappointed by the team’s record at this point, thinking they should be at least 5-5. He had four big winning seasons in Kansas City. His teams have been to the playoffs 19 times in 26 years in the NFL as a scout/front office person. He hates all this losing.

Q: So the record led to Jackson’s departure?

A: Dorsey didn’t like how the team looked on the field in terms of preparation. He was very effusive in his praise of Kitchens and the new game plans for Mayfield and the offense: “Freddie has done a heckuva job." I believe Dorsey was sick of losing close games.

Q: What else did Dorsey talk about?

A: He mentioned, “Let’s see if we can put together some back-to-back wins.” The team hasn’t won two in a row since 2014! That was four years ago! The Browns have lost 20 consecutive road games. He wants streaks like that to end – and for young players such as Myles Garrett, Denzel Ward, Nick Chubb and Mayfield not to have to carry the burden of a losing history around.

Q: But what about a coach?

A: I keep hearing names such as Iowa State’s Matt Campbell and Oklahoma’s Lincoln Riley. This is pure guesswork on my part – but I doubt he’d turn the team over to a young college coach with no NFL experience. The three main coaches Dorsey has worked with are Mike Holmgren, Mike Sherman and Mike McCarty in Green Bay and Andy Reid in Kansas City.

Q: Meaning what?

A: I see him looking in the NFL ranks. Maybe John Harbaugh, assuming he is fired by Baltimore at the end of the season. Kansas City special teams coach Dave Toub is intriguing. I’m sure there are others. But I think NFL experience when I think of Dorsey and the coaching search.

Q: What about Mayfield?

A: It’s clear Dorsey nailed the right quarterback in the draft. But he said something every interesting: “The offensive coordinator put the quarterback in position to do the things he does best in terms of getting the ball out quickly, taking the stress off the offensive linemen and getting into a rhythm passing.”

Q: So he likes Kitchens, will he keep him in 2019?

A: That’s clear. But Dorsey’s main point is to begin to have Mayfield and the team find a system that works and a way to win games. That’s how things can change for the Browns. He’ll worry about what coaches remain with the team in 2019 once he picks a head coach.

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