Why Herm Edwards is a Bad Coach
As the Browns have struggled this season, I have supported all sorts of strategies in getting this team back on track. When talking to my sister, she inexplicably calls for the Browns to “somehow” get Herm Edwards to come here.
I have no idea why.
Knowing that I can’t effectively make the argument, I have made a call to the bullpen for my best left-handed pitcher, Chris D. Chris D is a lifelong Jets fan. But you have never met a fan like him before. He can remember every game of every season (including some final scores) since he started watching the team as a young boy in New Jersey. Anyway, I asked him to put together a little post as to why Herm Edwards is not a coach anyone would want anywhere near their favorite football team. This should put it to rest, I think.
From Chris D:
Last year when the Jets released Herman Edwards many in the media said that the 4th or 5th round pick they got was a joke. I agreed. Who in the world would pay any compensation for Herman Edwards? Well, apparently I was wrong. You see, for those in the media, coaching excellence is synonomous with press conference prowess. Because Herm has a way with words, he is somehow inexplicably portrayed as a good NFL coach. I know I’m in the minority on this, at least nationally, but let me explain.
1) First, Herm is undoubtedly king of the press conference, which is an important part of coaching. He does a great job of taking the heat off of his teams or his performance by putting it on the spectacle of his remarks. I mean come on, “You play to win the game!”
2) Second, Herm will improve your Defense. What KC has done this year defensively is remarkable. That D was as bad as the Colts yet they somehow look capable of stopping people this year. I have to give him credit here.
3) Third, and here’s where I can advocate Herm no more, HE WILL KILL YOUR TEAM WHEN IT COUNTS. Herm is the guy that can make the second day of any poker tournament but always go out right before the money. Why?
a) He doesnt know how to call timeouts. He actually hired a guy with the Jets for this specific responsibility and they still f***ed it up. Herm’s the guy that calls a timeout with 20 seconds left to try the winning field goal because he just wants to have to kick off again. He doesnt know how to use the 2 minute warning or how the 40-second clock works. Basically, if you want a dumb 9-7 team, he’s your guy.
b) He makes Schottenheimer look like a riverboat gambler. And why not, he’s a disciple. As far as I’m concerned most NFL coaches are too conservative and to have a conservative one is deadly. You cant win. They try to run out the clock in close games when they should pass.
They down the ball and kick field goals from too far away(Cough, Pittsburgh, Cough).
In conclusion, if you have a 4-12 team and want to go 8-8 or 9-7 and snag a wildcard, Herm’s your guy. But I caution you Browns fans, as much as these past few seasons have sucked, which game will you remember more in 5 years? Charlie Frye’s interception against the Ravens, or Martyball costing you Superbowl appearances 15 years ago.
I thought so.
If you want to be good and crushed, Herm is your guy.
Comments
As one of the biggest Browns fans in the world I can’t be rational when it comes to the Browns. So I don’t really have any good ideas on how the Browns could turn this thing around. I would like to think that if we stick with what we’re doing it will simply turn around.
My question for Chris D. is, as a non Browns fan do you think there is any hope for this current team and coaching staff? Can they improve and be a competitive with their current system?
Unfortunately, I don’t think anyone knows the answer to this one because, as I pointed out before, Romeo is a first-time head coach. That being the case, he and his staff are an unknown quantity all the way around. Other than Bill Cowher, though, I don’t know what other established coach you would want. Maybe John Gruden? Maybe Mike Holmgren? Obviously Parcells and unfortunately for Browns fans, Bill Belichick.
Realistically is the coaching the problem? I understand that the post-Carthon era was much more productive than the Carthon era, but we are overlooking some fundemental problems. Injuries plague this team, especially on our already depleted O-Line. Oh yea, WE DON’T HAVE A QUARTERBACK WORTH A SHIT. forgot that one. When your ace is throwing an interception every game and can have his calibre of play mirrored by a guy who took his 3rd NFL snap, you’ve got a problem larger than the coaching staff.
Don’t get me started on the secondary. I understand Baxter, McCutcheon and Bodden were banged up all year, but even with those guys are we going to be any better? Brian Russell may be on his way out, and I think they’re going to try Brodney Poole at SS.
You can only polish a turd so much.
I agree with your sentiment except for one thing. If you take care of the offensive line, that solves about a million other problems.
A mediocre QB will look fine behind a good offensive line because it should allow for plenty of time to make reads and allow for a successful running game. An offensive line will also benefit the defense because it can help keep the time of possession numbers high so the defense isn’t over-worked like the Browns’ defense has been all season.
Until the Browns get the offensive line fixed, this team can continue to assume they aren’t going to have a good season before the first snap.
Great point about the offensive line. I didn’t realize that Schaeffer was the best available free agent tackle last year — he has got to be the worst ever, except for the guy on the other side, who broke his ankle. He couldn’t have broken it in a game … it must have happened stepping off the curb in front of our building.
We need some athletes on the line, not big bodies. Until that happens, God will look bad at quarterback.