Rookie Crowell makes his case to stay CROWELL Undrafted running back displays speed, determination while gaining 102 yards from B1

Isaiah Crowell combined with Terrance West to rush for 1,280 yards and 12 touchdowns.

(Thomas Ondrey / The Plain Dealer)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It will be fascinating to see who ends up as the Browns offensive coordinator.

I thought Bill Callahan would make sense. The Browns were very interested in hiring him last season, but he remained in Dallas for the final year of his contract.

Now, he signed with Washington -- as the offensive line coach. Supposedly, he received a "lucrative" three-year contract. But he's not going to be calling plays or be an offensive coordinator. I was told he was someone the Browns wanted to interview again, but he went to Washington before visiting Cleveland.

The mess in Washington matches that of the Browns. A decent case can be made that the Browns are a better situation, but that's not the point.

The concern is that Callahan is a respected coach when it comes to the run. It's why Washington hired him. It's why he may have been a good fit with the Browns. The Browns want a coordinator who really believes in the run. That's why they were so pleased to hire Kyle Shanahan a year ago.

Coach Mike Pettine and General Manager Ray Farmer both like Shanahan's zone-blocking scheme. They both believe a strong running game is critical to success in the AFC North. And they both know an elite quarterback is not about to show up in Cleveland soon, so they better figure out how to win without relying on a passing game.

The Browns appeared to have an interest in Chan Gailey, who went to the Jets. Greg Roman went to the Bills. Neither team has a quarterback. I'm not sure how serious either was in the minds of the Browns.

It is crucial that the Browns find an offensive coordinator who believes in the running game. Most prefer to build their offense with the pass first, so that may not be easy.

The Browns do like offensive line coach Andy Moeller. They believe his form of the zone-blocking scheme will be even more effective in 2015, when it's in place for a second year in a row. But that depends upon the offensive coordinator, and what that coach wants to do in terms of blocking schemes and his staff.

Is Marc Trestman the right guy for the Browns? Or is he too in love with the pass?

ABOUT MARC TRESTMAN

Several fans have mentioned that they'd like to see the Browns hire Marc Trestman. He was fired after a 13-19 record in two seasons as head coach of the Chicago Bears.

The local connection is Trestman as the Browns' offensive coordinator in 1988-89, two of the glory years with Bernie Kosar.

Trestman has talent as a coach. He's been with several NFL and college teams. His last stop before the Bears was the CFL's Montreal franchise (2008-12), where he won two Grey Cup championships.

With the Bears, he had some problems with players including quarterback Jay Cutler. It was an ugly situation at the end of this 5-11 season. Trestman seemed overwhelmed. He went for it on fourth down more than any other coach, converting only 13-of-28.

But that's not my main concern. He's not being considered for head coach. Rather, does his approach to offense fit with the Browns wanting to run?

Consider the following:

1. In Chicago, Trestman had a good running back in Matt Forte (1,038 yards). But the Bears ranked 27th in rushing, 30th in rushing attempts. By comparison, the Browns were No. 6 in attempts.

2. Cutler is gifted but moody. He tends to hold the ball too long in the pocket and is sack prone. In his two seasons with the Bears, they ranked No. 7 and No. 16 in pass attempts.

3. In Trestman's two years with the Browns, they were ninth and 10th in pass attempts, 23rd and 19th in rushes. Of course, Trestman had Kosar, and that was the right approach.

4. I'm not sure if he's the right coach here. He also may be in demand elsewhere.

OTHER CANDIDATES

1. The Browns are expected to talk to Anthony Lynn, who was the running backs coach with the Jets. He knows Pettine well. The Jets usually had a strong running attack. He also was the Browns' running back coach in 2007-08. His background is intriguing, but he's never been a coordinator. Can he put together an offense?

2. Brian Angelichio is the Browns' tight ends coach and he received an interview. He's been in the NFL for only three years, all with tight ends. He has 17 years of college coaching experience, mostly with tight ends. Who knows if he can handle the job?

3. They plan to talk to Al Saunders, who has been in the NFL for 32 years. He will be 68 in February. He has had different jobs in the league, ranging from offensive coordinator to offensive consultant for various teams.

4. There are other names such as Raiders quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo and Ravens receivers coach Jim Hostler. Just shooting straight -- I don't know what to make of any of these candidates.

Can Johnny Manziel become a "solid quarterback" as Ray Farmer hopes?

ACCEPTING REALITY

No matter who becomes the coordinator, he will inherit "the muddy at best" quarterback situation, as Pettine termed it.

While Farmer has said he believes Johnny Manziel can develop into a "solid" quarterback, I have major doubts. And I had those doubts before the draft. If anything, I have even more doubts now after watching him look overwhelmed on the field and sometimes very silly with his actions away from the team.

So far, nothing Manziel has shown in the pros indicates that he's solid. In his one game at Baltimore, Connor Shaw appeared far more ready to at least be a backup than Manziel.

So the new coordinator will need to accent the strengthens of the team. A few things come to mind:

1. Profootballfocus.com ranked the Browns with the NFL's sixth-best offensive line. Football Outsiders ranked them 15th in pass blocking, 24th in the run. There is talent on the line and I expect Farmer to add more -- just as he did in 2014 drafting Joel Bitonio in the second round and watching him quickly mature into a top guard.

2. Rookie Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West ran for a combined 1,280 yards and a 4.0 average per carry. They scored 12 touchdowns. Sometimes, it seemed they weren't sure what they were doing -- but they still combined for big-time numbers.

3. When you add in veteran center Alex Mack's return from his broken leg, along with some draft help, the Browns should really be able to block and run effectively. But that must be a point of emphasis.

4. The challenge will be having a respectable passing game. They'll need to find another quarterback, as it's doubtful free agent Brian Hoyer will return. They have to decide if anything can be salvaged from Manziel. The list of free agents includes Jake Locker, Ryan Mallett, Mark Sanchez, Matt Moore, Colt McCoy, Jason Campbell, Michael Vick ... yikes!

5. Receivers are a problem. I would not bring Josh Gordon back, and I doubt the Browns want him around. Returning are Andrew Hawkins, Taylor Gabriel and Travis Benjamin. They love Miles Austin, but his season ended after 11 games due a lacerated kidney. He is a free agent who battled hamstring injuries in 2012-13. This area of the team needs help.

6. When the Browns were 6-3, the line was blocking well, the running game was effective and Hoyer was delivering some big passes on play action. That needs to remain the heart of the offense next year, unless the next Tom Brady or Andrew Luck shows up.

SHANAHAN FALLOUT

The Browns were very pleased with receivers coach Mike McDaniel. They thought he did an excellent job teaching undrafted free agent Taylor Gabriel the nuances of the position, and was a help to veterans Hawkins and Austin.

Other than the suspended Gordon, the Browns didn't deliver much talent to McDaniel. When Gordon returned from his 10-game ban, he acted as if he wanted out of Cleveland.

Quick question: Who led the Browns in touchdown catches last season?

Answer: Travis Benjamin ... with three. I didn't know that until I checked the stats. As Benjamin regressed as a punt returner, he made some progress as a receiver.

McDaniel came to the Browns because he was connected to Shanahan. His departure doesn't shake the franchise, but it's a loss. Wherever Shanahan lands (Chicago? Atlanta?), McDaniel is expected to follow.

So the Browns right now have opening for a coordinator, quarterback coach and receivers coach.