Defensive

If you don't already read Peter King's Monday Morning Quarterback column at Sports Illustrated, you should start.  He gets great inside information and offers very reasoned opinions on lots of NFL topics.  For some reason, lots of players, GM's, and league executives are willing to tell him things they won't say to anybody else. 

Back in the summer before coach Mangini's first season, Mr. King visited training camp in Berea and quickly predicted the Browns would go 2-14 that season due to a lack of talent and play makers.  I was shocked, angry, and thought, "this guy doesn't know what he's talking about - he probably doesn't pay attention to the Browns."  But, he was right on the money - until the December heroics of the defense and running game saved the season from Detroit-like dismay. 

Anyway, in today's Tuesday Morning Quarterback edition (an abbreviated version of the Monday column mostly made up of responding to reader emails), Mr. King offers the following thought on the Browns:

"I think I like the brainpower Cleveland's brought in to help young coach Pat Shurmur, with Gil Haskell, Keith Gilbertson, Ray Rhodes and Mike Holmgren just down the hall to be sounding boards for Shurmur in his first head coaching job at any level. But I also fear very strong-willed coaches in the past -- Holmgren and Rhodes -- might be overbearing for Shurmur at times. They've got to make sure they're resource people and not more than that."

I think he has a point in that concern - and the thought crossed my mind when the Browns announced the addition of Ray Rhodes.  I thought Dick Jauron was enough veteran, former head coach material for the inexperienced Shurmer.  Adding another former head coach in Rhodes may be too many cooks in the kitchen. 

My thought is this:  It seems to me that Shurmer was hired only for his offensive expertise.  He is the head coach and for all intents and purposes, the offensive coordinator.  Defense is not going to be his thing at all.  So Holmgren and Heckert chose a "stand alone" coach to run the defense.  Someone with the experience and confidence to handle all aspects of the defensive scheme, game planning, and defensive player evaluation and acquisition.  Its almost like there are two head coaches - one for the defense and one for the offense.  I don't foresee Shurmer having a lot of input on the defensive side of the ball with Rhodes and Jauron running things. 

So long as Rhodes and Jauron stick to the defensive side of things - and can get along together - I don't see them becoming overbearing on Shurmer.  However, if things go badly on the defensive side of the ball, one could foresee a power struggle develop between Jauron and Rhodes.  The Browns have done a great job of surrounding a rookie head coach with experienced, veteran assistants.  Let's just hope they can all work together without getting too defensive.