Red Right 88

In Cleveland, hope dies last

Archive for the category “Rex Ryan”

20 Jan 2011

Was it something someone said?

The Browns continue to have trouble filling the openings for the team’s offensive and defensive coordinators.

The Browns have failed to land Mike McCoy, who chose to stay in Denver, and Bill Musgrave, who chose the Vikings instead, where he will work with Tavaris Jackson, Patrick Ramsey and Joe Webb at quarterback.

The team is now reportedly looking at former Steelers quarterbacks coach and Miami Hurricanes offensive coordinator Mark Whipple.

We have to wonder how much new coach Pat Shurmur’s stated desire to continue calling the offensive plays on game day is factoring into the search. That didn’t sound like a very good idea when Shurmur talked about it during his introductory press conference; if it is hindering the team’s ability to hire someone for the position then it sounds even worse.

On the defensive side, the Browns interviewed Philadelphia secondary coach Dick Jauron, but Jauron may be inclined to stay in Philly now that Jim Mora has said he’s not coaching this year.

The Browns are also interviewing Arizona defensive coordinator Bill Davis, who also has former ties to the Steelers, having worked their as linebacker coach under Bill Cowher. That sounds promising, but this year the Cardinals gave up the most points in the NFL under Davis.

Why does all of this seem harder than it should be?

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We’re enjoying the ads on the NFL Network for the upcoming senior bowl, where players reminisce about their experience in the game. But we have to wonder: what happened to the Charlie Frye commerical?

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Two One Six Sports takes a look at What Went Wrong with the Cavs

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Rex Ryan has made considerable changes to the Jets roster since taking over in 2009 and has the Jets in the AFC Championship game for the second year in a row.

Posted in Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Cavaliers, NFL, Rex Ryan, Senior Bowl | Leave a comment
10 Jan 2011
2 Comments

What if the Browns had hired Rex Ryan?

While watching this weekend’s playoff games we decided to put on our Hindsight Hat and wonder:

What if the Browns had hired Rex Ryan as coach in 2009? Would it have made a difference?

After Saturday’s victory against Indianapolis, Ryan has now led the Jets to three road playoff wins in two seasons. By comparison, the Browns have won two road playoff games in franchise history: the 1955 NFL Championship game against the Rams and a 1969 playoff game against Dallas.

That’s it.

The Jets have also won 20 games over the past two seasons. The Browns haven’t won 20 games in a two-season span since the 1987 and 1988 seasons.

There’s no doubt his personality would have fit in here; just look at his brother Rob, the Browns defensive coordinator. And the two Ryans working together on the Browns defense certainly would have produced positive results.

Rex Ryan talks a big game and he gets his players to back it up.

But would the Browns be in a better situation than they are right now? That’s hard to say. We still would have liked to see Mangini come back for another year of working with Mike Holmgren and Tom Heckert.

Even if the Browns had hired Ryan over Mangini, the team would still have had to hire a general manager. Would that have been Tom Heckert? Seems doubtful and we like what we’ve seen of his work so far.

Same with Mike Holmgren. If the Browns had played better in ’09 then owner Randy Lerner may not have felt pressure to bring in someone like Holmgren.

And they would still have needed a quarterback, wide receivers, etc. The situation was still one that couldn’t be fixed over night.

That’s the thing when you play the “what if” game, there are so many variables involved that there is really no way to come up with a definitive answer.

There’s one thing we are sure of, though: things would be a lot more interesting. Of course, not everyone would agree.

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ESPN continues its campaign to dump on Cleveland as much as possible.

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First came the news that Anderson Varejao will miss the rest of the Cavs season with a torn tendon in his foot; then today word comes down that Christian Eyenga is in a walking boot.

No word, though, on if Eyenga picked up one of the Browns spare boots for his injury.

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Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell is in town to interview on Tuesday for the Browns coaching job.

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King Kenny brings hope to Liverpool even in defeat. Dude, we could use a big shot of hope around here right about now.

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Athletes and Twitter are always good for a laugh.

Posted in Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Cavaliers, Kenny Dalglish, Liverpool, NFL, Rex Ryan, Ryan Babel
09 Nov 2010

Jets Week is Finally Here

The NY Jets arrive in town on Sunday, reportedly CBS’ No. 1 announcing team of Jim Nantz and Phil Simms will also be in town, and there’s lots to go around.

First up is Gary Myers in The New York Daily News, who writes that Browns coach Eric Mangini has no hard feelings about the team that fired him after the 2008 season:

“For me, personally, it’s special to play the Jets,” Mangini said from the Browns offices in Berea, Ohio. “Just like last week it was special to play New England because I was able to take so much from both of those organizations. And in New York, they gave me my first opportunity to be a head coach.

“I was really proud of the things that we did there and I learned a lot and been able to take those lessons here to Cleveland, apply those lessons here to Cleveland, grew a lot as a head coach. I just really appreciate that time, that experience, those people, all those guys that worked hard. It was a really special time in my life, both personally and professionally.”

The Jets players are saying all the right things as well, according to Manish Mehta in The Daily News:

Darrelle Revis insisted there’s no animosity between the Jets and Eric Mangini, but he didn’t exactly praise his former coach, either. Mangini will get his first crack Sunday at the team that fired him two years ago.

“There’s no hatred with us as the New York Jets organization (from) when Mangini was here,” Revis said. “Smart guy. He did all he could … Now he’s in a different place. I’m sure he’s looking forward to this game … I’m sure after the game guys will go talk to him … and see how he’s been.”

The Jets will face a rejuvenated Cleveland defense coached by Rex Ryan’s twin brother, Rob.

“If he’s half of what Rex is,” said center Nick Mangold, “it’s going to be a major pain for 60 minutes.”

And lets not forget it’s Ryan vs. Ryan this week. Oh, did we mention that it is Rex Ryan vs. Rob Ryan as well?

Finally, old friend Braylon Edwards opens mouth, inserts foot, as Fanhouse’s Pat McManamon shares:

“I remember the comments,” Edwards told (New York’s) Newsday. “I remember the writers, I remember the fans, I remember the coaches, I remember the people in the organization. I remember everything and everybody there that had something to say when 17 exited the doors. … I left there with a bitter taste in my mouth, and I’m going back there for some satisfaction. They can see it for how they want it. They can read it for how they want it. Just know that 17’s coming to work when we play next week.”

It’s been a wacky, unpredictable and enjoyable Browns season through the first eight games of the season. Something tells us that Sunday’s game versus the Jets might top anything we’ve seen so far this year.

Posted in Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, NFL, Rex Ryan, Rob Ryan | Leave a comment
03 May 2010

That Rascally Rex

The National Football League is often criticized as being the No Fun League. The Commissioner’s Office has legislated a lot of the personal displays of excitement out of the game, turning it more corporate.

That’s why Rex and Rob Ryan are a breath of fresh air. Over the weekend, Sexy Rex talked about the Jets top draft pick, cornerback Kyle Wilson, and mentioned how the Browns, especially defensive coordinator Rob, wanted Wilson over Florida cornerback Joe Haden, whom the Browns selected.

“There is somebody that I really know well for a long time that basically said that he was their guy and they picked a lot earlier than us,” Rex Ryan said in published reports. “You can probably figure it out. That’s who he wanted and then after practice, I’m like ‘Yep. I guarantee you were right because this guy is the real deal.'”

There were several reports on draft day that the Browns were debating between Haden and Wilson, which, as pointed out here, is a good sign for the team.

Disappointingly, the Browns would not let Rob Ryan respond to what his brother said, which is surprising given the new air of openness that is blowing through Berea after last year’s black cloud of misinformation and distrust.

In any event, this gives the Browns, and Rob Ryan, a little more fire for what is sure to be a crazy fun week when the Jets come to Cleveland on Nov. 14.

We may just have to wait for the response until then.

Posted in Cleveland Browns, fresh air, National Football League, New York Jets, Rex Ryan, Rob Ryan | Leave a comment

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