Running Browns standing tall in November

Kyle Shanahan clearly believes there are other teams looking for coaches that haves better offenses than the Browns.

(John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Kyle Shanahan was not pushed out the door by the Browns.

The real question is this: Why did he want to leave after one year as the Browns offensive coordinator?

There are a few theories, most based on the idea that Shanahan had issues with the front office.

No doubt, he did. Most coordinators do at some points. They are accountable to the general manager and the head coach. They often would like input when putting together a roster.

That makes sense, because their job depends on how they prepare the players on the field. But usually, their opinions don't carry the same weight as the head coach and general manager.

The way Jimmy Haslam has structured the Browns, General Manager Ray Farmer is in charge of drafts, trades and putting together the 53-man roster. Head coach Mike Pettine picks the 45 to be dressed for games, and he does it by consulting his assistant coaches.

For all the never-ending talk of "dysfunction" when it comes to the Browns, I believe Farmer and Pettine have been working together very well. They see the game the same way -- a rugged defense, a gritty running attack, a physical team.

Shanahan's zone-blocking scheme and accent on the running game fit into that approach. It's why he was hired by Pettine.

A HISTORY LESSON

A year ago, the Browns were looking for a coach. They didn't hire Pettine until January 23, 2014.

Six new coaches were hired before Pettine last season: Lovie Smith (Tampa Bay), Jim Caldwell (Detroit), Mike Zimmer (Minnesota), Bill O'Brien (Houston), Ken Whisenhunt (Tennessee) and Jay Gruden (Washington).

This is significant because it meant those coaches had a jump on hiring assistants before Pettine had the Browns job.

That's also why there sometimes is staff turnover between the first and second seasons of a head coach. The new head coach scrambles to find people for his staff. Some work out, some don't.

And sometimes, the head coach likes the assistant -- but the assistant thinks there are better places to work.

Shanahan needed a job. He went from being a hot coordinator after the 2012 season with Washington to a guy who was part of the 2013 mess with Robert Griffin III. That led to head coach Mike Shanahan and son Kyle both being fired.

Meanwhile, Pettine needed coaches, and I wrote about this being a tough spot for the rookie head coach. Many of the coaches hired had just been fired by other teams during their change of head coaches.

The Browns hired four coaches who had been with Pettine in Buffalo. Three came from Washington (counting Shanahan). Three from different colleges. Two from Tampa Bay. Two from Baltimore. One from Tennessee.

Quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains was hired three days before Shanahan. When Loggains joined the team, it was that he'd either be the offensive coordinator or quarterback coach. He had been fired during a coaching change in Tennessee.

That's right, Loggains was hired before Shanahan.

I've been trying to find out who liked Loggains. I heard he had a close relationship with Mike Lombardi. I doubt that is the only reason he was hired, Loggains must have impressed someone else.

Remember this: When the coaching staff was being assembled in late January and early February, the Browns were still being run by CEO Joe Banner and Lombardi (general manager). They were not fired until February 11, when Farmer was promoted to general manager.

THE DEPARTURES

It hasn't been announced yet, but Loggains has been fired as quarterbacks coach.

He probably should have been let go after giving that ridiculous interview to the Arkansas radio station about Johnny Manziel's "wreck this league" text. In about 100 words, Loggians did the following:

1. He made Manziel sound bad by revealing a private text.

2. He made it appear that Manziel's text led Haslam to order a trade that led to the drafting of Manziel.

3. He made Farmer look powerless, a victim of a text from Manziel to Loggains to Haslam -- as if the general manager's opinion didn't count.

4. Farmer said Loggains was not even in the draft room, so Loggains had no clue what Haslam said to Farmer after receiving the Manziel text,

Obviously, Loggains was infatuated with the idea of coaching Manziel. And obviously, Loggains was wrong on what Manziel would do in the NFL. Nor was Loggains able to prepare Manziel for his chance to start.

Shanahan is a different story. The Browns liked his work and wanted him to stay.

WHY LEAVE?

It's no secret that the 35-year-old Shanahan wants to be a head coach. He was the NFL's youngest offensive coordinator (at the age of 28) when he took over the Houston offense in 2008.

It's safe to assume that Shanahan was not a big fan of Manziel. There may be some denials on this, but I've heard Shanahan didn't think Manziel was ready to start in the NFL. Furthermore, he had doubts that Manziel could become viable NFL starter.

With Brian Hoyer headed to free agency (and not likely to re-sign with the Browns), the current quarterbacks are Connor Shaw, Manziel and a QB To Be Acquired Later.

Josh Gordon also was a disaster because of his lousy practice habits and failure to learn the playbook.

If you're Kyle Shanahan and you want to position yourself to be a head coach in the near future, is Cleveland an attractive job?

That's especially true when Atlanta (Matt Ryan, QB), Chicago (Jay Cutler) , Oakland (Derek Carr), Buffalo (E.J. Manuel), San Francisco (Colin Kaepernick) and the Jets (who knows?) are looking for head coaches. Some of those look like a better spot for an offensive coordinator than the Browns.

Also consider that Shanahan's agent is Bob LaMonte. Browns fans remember all the power that LaMonte had in the Mike Holmgren administration. LaMonte is a master of positioning his clients in the best possible position to advance their careers.

So least some of Shanahan's motives for leaving have to do with his own career -- and that's not unique in the NFL.

THE OTHER STUFF?

I have no idea what to make of the story about texts about play calling from someone in the Browns front office to the sidelines during games. If it's true, it reflects poorly on the Browns. If not, the Browns need to strongly deny it.

They have yet to say anything on the Shanahan situation and have not announced that the coach is leaving.

Did Shanahan and coaches feel pressured to play Manziel when Hoyer faded at the end of the season? That's possible. Did Shanahan disagree with some roster moves? That's very likely.

But are these the reasons that he's leaving?

Not entirely. Remember, he worked in a very political football situation in Washington with the overbearing Daniel Snyder as owner.



Shanahan had no real connection to Pettine. It was a marriage of convenience for both. In the past, Shanahan worked for his father (Mike Shanahan) and his father's protege (Gary Kubiak). So this was a different situation for Shanahan, who didn't have as much influence here as he did with his father and Kubiak.

I'm very disappointed that Shanahan is leaving. But it's hard force him to stay because he clearly wants out, and that's why the Browns had to allow him to leave.