Editor's note: Tony Grossi covers the Cleveland Browns for ESPN 850 WKNR.
Takeaways from John Dorsey’s bye week press conference …
Pressure is on: You thought finding the Browns’ franchise quarterback was the most important task of GM John Dorsey? That’s ancient news. Dorsey clearly considers the selection of his first – and possibly only – head coach to be his most crucial task.
Dorsey confirmed he has never led an NFL coaching search, though he said he was part of one in Green Bay under former Packers GM Ron Wolf. He learned from one of the best, a Pro Football Hall of Famer.
Wolf was able to hire three coaches in his 11-year run as caretaker of one of the NFL’s iconic franchises. Wolf was right on with his first choice, Mike Holmgren, who was able to ride Brett Favre to two Super Bowl appearances (one title). But Wolf’s other two choices didn’t work out as well – Ray Rhodes, whom Wolf fired after one season, and Mike Sherman, who never made it to the NFC Championship Game with Favre in his prime.
Under Browns owner Jimmy Haslam, no GM has survived to hire a second coach. The only ones even included in the process were CEO Joe Banner and GM Mike Lombardi, and Sashi Brown.
Dorsey, 58, totally understands the gravity of this search, not only in regards to his future but mostly in terms of the franchise’s future.
“The one thing I’ve always thought about … one of the most important decisions is the hiring of the right coach to head this organization moving forward,” Dorsey said. “I think that is paramount. I think about that every day driving home. ‘Just make sure you don’t mess it up.’ That’s what I keep telling myself.”
Everyone is welcome: Dorsey was unwilling to go into specifics about the search process other than to outline the criteria he is looking for in a coach.
“Me, personally, I would like to see a man of character, I would like to see a man who can lead young men, and a I would like to see a man who has high football acumen. I mean, those are the three basic things I look for.”
There is a new wave to find the next Sean McVay – young, up-and-comer, offensive-oriented – but when asked about age being a factor, Dorsey dismissed it.
“I just want the best possible head coach to move this thing forward regardless of age,” he said. “I mean, it could be a woman, too … We’re going to look at everything is what I’m telling you.”
While some “insiders” have speculated Dorsey would favor an NFL coach over a college coach, he dismissed the notion of college coaches generally not being successful in the pro ranks.
“Pete Carroll, he did it. There’s certain guys that can do it. That’s a case by case basis,” Dorsey said.
Interesting that Dorsey chose to cite Carroll as an example, because Carroll was twice a failed NFL head coach with the Jets and Patriots before he reinvented himself at Southern California before returning to the NFL as Seahawks coach in 2010.
Come get some: The only definitive news Dorsey dropped was that interim coach Gregg Williams is an automatic candidate.
“I’ll just get this out of the way right now, Gregg will get interviewed for the HC position. I think he deserves that,” Dorsey said.
He was less definitive about any future role for Freddie Kitchens, who has drawn rave reviews in two games in place of fired offensive coordinator Todd Haley.
“I think Freddie’s done a heckuva job,” Dorsey said. “Let’s see what happens as we continue to play six more games of football with regards to Freddie.”
Dorsey elaborated on Kitchens in response to another question.
“You heard bits and pieces of how good he was. I think it was on display in the fourth preseason game against the Detroit Lions. You talk to various coaches and you get a sense.
“He understands from a quarterback’s lens what needs to be orchestrated, and he’s learned from some pretty good guys too. What he’s done is: Ok, what are the strengths of this team? Where are my playmakers, and he begins to distribute the ball in their hands What does the quarterback do good? And he put them in position to achieve success.”
Goodbye and good luck: Dorsey declined to comment on his feelings about fired coach Hue Jackson latching on to the Cincinnati Bengals, with two games against the division rival to come Nov. 25 and Dec. 23.
“I wish him the best. It was hard couple weeks ago, … Wish him the best,” Dorsey said.
In another context, though – a question about how Williams has changed things – Dorsey pointed out some things that obviously were lacking under Jackson’s direction.
“I’ve always been a believer of you play the game like you practice, and I think his practices have been very competitive, they’ve been structured, been very disciplined,” Dorsey said. “Guys have had some energy. That’s a difference I see. There’s been a focus on the little things, which I think is important.”
Dorsey would not elaborate on why Todd Haley was fired, and declined to comment on reports that Haley fully expected to be named the interim coach if Jackson were fired.
“That’s one man’s opinion with regards to that question,” Dorsey said.
The secret committee: Dorsey deflected a question about the roles that owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam will play in the search and the ultimate choice.
“Dee and Jimmy own the team,” he said. “With ownership, what you have to do is you sit down and communicate. Any good organization will communicate as these hard decisions are being made. We as a senior management team will say, ‘Here’s who we think is best for this organization moving forward.’”
Which raised the question of exactly who is he referring to as the senior management team.
“I’m not going to say. I’m not going to say. Let me put it this way, we had the first pick in the draft, and I didn’t say very much. I’m not going to say very much because of the importance of this selection.”
Best guess is that Dorsey's senior team includes top lieutenants Eliot Wolf, assistant GM, and Alonzo Highsmith, vice president of player personnel.
Best job in the NFL: Dorsey hyped job as Browns coach as highly desirable.
“This job is very attractive,” he said. “Kind of like for the same reasons I joined here in 2017. Any head coach candidate, he understands the fan base here, which is unbelievable. There’s a lot of young talent on this team and we’ll continue to get talent. There’s assets in place. The cap position we’re in is great. We have 11 draft picks, and this is the best support staff in the NFL I’ve been around, and we have the ownership. My god, these guys are so passionate and they’re willing to invest. There’s not been a thing I’ve asked of them [not given]. Those are exciting things. Anybody, once they understand that, they’ll see Cleveland is a good place to be.”