could do as their coach for a half-season.On
Tuesday
Joel Bitonio
Color Rush Jersey , he shared his plans for a full one — and maybe
more.Williams, who led Cleveland to a 5-3 record as an interim coach, became the
first candidate to interview with general manager John Dorsey, who is looking
for a “man of character” to lead one of the NFL’s rising teams.Williams had an
impressive run after he replaced a fired Hue Jackson on Oct. 29. The Browns
remained focused and played as well as they have in several years under the
60-year-old Williams, who has served for the past two seasons as the team’s
defensive coordinator.Dorsey said Monday he was interested in hearing Williams’
long-term vision with the Browns. Williams didn’t publicly campaign for the job
during the closing weeks of the season, but several players said they would be
fine if he returned.“He had a clear message,” left guard Joel Bitonio said as
the Browns cleared out their lockers following the biggest turnaround season in
club history. “He was concise, clear message, but we were all on the same page.
We knew what he wanted, we knew what we were going to get from him and that’s
all you can really ask for in a coach.”Williams took over from Jackson, finally
dismissed after winning just three of 40 games in two-plus seasons.Even if he
doesn’t get hired by the Browns, Williams could draw interest by one of the
other teams seeking a coach. Williams coached in Buffalo from
2001-03
https://www.brownsfanshop.com/Terrance-Mitchell-Jersey ,
going 17-31 in three seasons. He won a Super Bowl as a defensive coordinator in
New Orleans.Dorsey is casting a wide net as the Browns look for their ninth
coach since 1999.He intends to interview offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens
for the head-coaching position. Kitchens helped develop quarterback Baker
Mayfield, who set a league rookie record with 27 touchdown passes — 19 in the
final nine games.Dorsey has also asked for permission to interview New Orleans
assistant head coach/tight ends coach Dan Campbell, Minnesota offensive
coordinator Kevin Stefanski, New England linebackers coach Brian Flores,
Indianapolis offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni and Colts defensive coordinator
Matt Eberflus.It’s also probable that Dorsey will meet with former Green Bay
coach Mike McCarthy. The pair spent seven years together with the Packers.Dorsey
said he is committed to a “thorough” and “deliberate” search.One coach to cross
off Dorsey’s list is Oklahoma’s Lincoln Riley. He has agreed to a contract
extension with the school, ending speculation he might rejoin Mayfield in the
pros. CINCINNATI (AP) — A jogging Hue Jackson didn't break stride as he left the
practice field. The recently fired Browns head coach was trying to outrun
questions about what it's like being on the opposite sideline this week.Jackson
left Cincinnati after the 2015 season and spent two-plus seasons trying —
futilely — to get the Browns to win. Now he's back in town , trying to beat them
in a pivotal game.He's hoping his insights give the Bengals (5-5) an edge Sunday
in the intrastate rivalry. The stakes are high for Cincinnati, which has
dominated the series lately and wants to keep it that way. "Everybody wants to
count us out right now," center Billy Price said. "Everybody wants to put us in
the dumpster and light us on fire, but we still have a lot to accomplish. We
have a lot of things going on. We have a lot of winnable games coming up here."
The Browns (3-6-1) merely would like a victory away from the shore of Lake
Erie.Cleveland has lost 25 consecutive road games, one shy of the NFL mark held
by the Detroit Lions from 2007-10. The Browns' last win on the road came at
Baltimore, where Josh McCown led them to a 33-30 overtime victory on Oct.
11
Jarvis Landry
Jersey , 2015 — back when Jackson was the Bengals' offensive
coordinator.Whether the streak endures or ends will come down to whether the
Bengals figure out a way to stop Cleveland's rookie duo on offense.Last week,
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Gus Edwards became the first
rookie QB/RB duo to run for at least 100 yards in the same game, leading
Baltimore to a 24-21 victory over Cincinnati. The Bengals have given up more
than 200 yards rushing in each of the last two games.By contrast, Cleveland beat
Kansas City 28-16 before heading into its bye week. Rookie Baker Mayfield tied a
club rookie record with three touchdown passes, and rookie Nick Chubb ran for a
career-high 176 yards, including a 92-yard touchdown that was the second-longest
by a rookie in NFL history."I think it is our guys believing in it, knowing that
we do not need anything else besides what we have in this locker room, blocking
out the distractions and coming together," Mayfield said. "Things happen, and
you can use it for good. We did."Can they do it again against their former head
coach?Some things to watch at Paul Brown Stadium:HUE KNOWSHow much can Hue
Jackson tip the outcome? Sure, he knows the Browns' systems intimately and the
players personally, but having the bye week allowed Cleveland to change some
things."In all
honesty
Genard Avery
Color Rush Jersey , there are no secrets anymore in the league with how
all the film is out there to show everybody exactly what you're doing," Brown
interim coach Gregg Williams said.OH THAT DEFENSEThe Bengals fired defensive
coordinator Teryl Austin after becoming the first team in the Super Bowl era to
allow 500 yards in three straight games. Coach Marvin Lewis assumed the job of
defensive coordinator as well as hiring Jackson as a special assistant on
defense. The change didn't make enough of a difference as the Bengals got run
over in Baltimore. Their main focus this week is stopping Chubb."We know that's
their emphasis right now and that's what they're going to try to attack us with
because that's our perceived weakness right now," defensive end Carlos Dunlap
said.SERIES-LY ONE-SIDEDThe Bengals have won seven in a row against the Browns,
the longest winning streak by either team in the intrastate series. The Bengals
have won the last seven by 30, 21, 34, 14, 13, 24 and 24 points. The Bengals are
7-1 against Browns rookie quarterbacks under Lewis, who is in his 16th season.
The only loss was 34-24 at Cleveland in 2012 behind Brandon Weeden.ONE, TWONot
only are the Browns hoping to avoid infamy with their 26th straight road loss,
they're trying to start a winning "streak."Cleveland hasn't won two straight
games since
2014
https://www.brownsfanshop.com/Austin-Corbett-Jersey ,
when the Browns reeled off three in a row while improving to 6-3 under
then-coach Mike Pettine. That seems like an eternity ago for the Browns, who
have gone 8-56-1 since that modest run."Any time a team (starts) to win a couple
in a row, it builds momentum, it builds belief and that can have a positive
impact on your team," right guard Kevin Zeitler said. "It'd be real nice if we
can get that going."PLAYOFFS?While the game has significance for Cincinnati's
playoff hopes, the Browns aren't yet finished ruminating about the postseason.
They'd likely have to win their last six games to end a playoff drought dating
to 2002."If you can't and don't believe that we can make a playoff run, then
you're on the wrong team," cornerback T.J. Carrie said. "And I feel like from
that standpoint we all have that feeling and that emotion about we can
definitely do something very special and we're capable of doing it."
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