Day: January 10, 2014

Dan Pompei at the Bleacher Report addresses the Browns coaching search with this interesting nugget:

"The Browns have a group of interviewers dealing with head-coach candidates. Included in the group are team CEO Joe Banner and general manager Mike Lombardi. But the man heading up the interviews and calling the shots, according to a source who knows, is Jimmy Haslam. After the Browns struck out on Rob Chudzinski last year, Haslam wants to make sure they are hiring the person he feels is best for the job this time. Haslam’s involvement could be partial explanation as to why the Browns and Josh McDaniels went separate ways. What’s happening in Cleveland is part of a bigger trend of owners taking more control of their teams.”

Team owners getting involved in the down and dirty aspects of team operations is always trouble. The further down he has to go to "get things right", the worse things get.

If Haslam can’t trust his CEO and his general manager to hire the right coach, his “search” should be for a new CEO.

Rich Campbell at the Chicago Tribune addresses the future of rookie linebacker Jonathan Bostic. As he does so, he drops a piece of news about defensive end Shea McClellin:

“[Bostic’s] future could be at outside linebacker, Emery has said, because of his ability to cover ground and tackle. And with the Bears expected to move defensive end Shea McClellin to outside linebacker in running situations next season, according to a person with knowledge of the Bears’ plan, McClellin, Bostic and Khaseem Greene are positioned to compete for the strong-side spot. If the Bears re-sign [D.J.] Williams, which they would consider if he is cleared medically, Bostic would have to battle for time at middle linebacker as well.”

The move of McClellin to linebacker isn’t completely unexpected but its going to have its draw backs. Instead of concentrating on one position, he’s now going to be responsible for learning two. This is something that players might have to get used to doing, at least situationally as indications are that the Bears are considering changing to a hybrid defensive scheme.