George McDonald Promoted to Wide Receivers Coach

by Chris Pokorny on May 7, 2009 9:45 AM EDT in General News

Rough Timeline of Events:

-New coaching staff, no receivers coach

-No depth at receiver

-No receiver activity in free agency

-Acquire a bunch of receivers out of the blue

-Name our receivers coach

The lucky holder of that job is George McDonald, who was promoted from offensive quality control coach. He was hired for that position on February 11, and was the most predictable choice for the team's receivers coach. While McDonald has some experience at the college level as a receivers coach, he does not have the experience at the NFL level.

In other news, Pete Prisco released his first Power Rankings of the year a few days ago. (Cue eye roll from many of you). The Browns have the beloved 30th ranking, with the Oakland Raiders even being ahead of us:

New coach Eric Mangini will build this team the way he wants it. But one has to wonder if that's a good thing considering his Jets history.

You can read the full list of rankings here.

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His Jets history being….2 winning seasons out of 3, 1 playoff appearance, and a near playoff appearance last season despite Brett Favre’s best efforts late in the season?

Thankfully, these power rankings are meaningless as most had us in the top 10 last year

by Roger Dorn on May 7, 2009 12:56 PM EDT reply actions

Absolutely. Without Favre’s collapse, the Jets are in the playoffs and Mangini is still in New York, regarded as one of the NFL’s rising young coaches. Only an idiot would argue otherwise.

by drjeo on May 7, 2009 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions

And Mangini’s apparent lack of power to decide about Favre…how much control did he have in NY again?

by rufio on May 7, 2009 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions

prisco's an idiot

Prisco clearly has it out for the Browns. I place no stock in anything he says. As for Mangini, to follow on Roger’s point, it wasn’t that long ago that his nickname was ManGENIUS. His first stint as a head coach was certainly far more successful than that of his mentor Belichick. Now following in Belichick’s eventual footsteps is a bit too much to expect, but the worst team in the league? I don’t think so.

by dmonasg on May 7, 2009 1:23 PM EDT reply actions

Wonder what Mangini’s fate would of been if Favre doesn’t throw 9 picks and 3 TD’s the last 5 games?
Lets give Mangini a shot, Romeo had more than a fair shot.

"Have You heard of the Boom on Mizar 5?"

by Grockcubs on May 7, 2009 1:46 PM EDT reply actions

Short term- I think he's right

As much as I’d love to see the Browns succeed, I think in the short term the Browns will be one step above terrible. While the culture may be changing, there needs to be time for the system to start to take effect. Expect another top 7 draft pick next year, and if the second season isn’t significantly better then I think we can start to judge Mangini.

by tmptplayer on May 7, 2009 3:26 PM EDT reply actions

I just look at the schedule next year and see us as a .500 team. Were we really that bad before Quinn and Anderson went down? I mean we stomped the Giants and had big leads on the Broncos and Ravens that we blew.

by Roger Dorn on May 7, 2009 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions

I think you can argue the current team is more talented than last year, despite the Winslow trade. We had glaring holes at WR and LB. Safety and TE might be the only positions that are worse off, and the OL, DL, LB and receivers have all improved.

www.lowbrowsophisticate.com

by kwoog on May 7, 2009 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions

RB might be worse because jamal will have one more year on him

Eric Berry Bandwagon

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 7, 2009 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions

But we got rid of Jason Wright and picked up James Davis. Getting rid of Wright couldn’t possibly have done anything but improve our RB corps.

by rufio on May 7, 2009 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions

I know that might be an improvement and using harrison more will be too. Im just saying since Jamal is the starter as of now he will probably be worse because he is getting older (Did he have surgery or not i cant remember?)

Eric Berry Bandwagon

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 7, 2009 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions

he did have surgery

by DontCallMeJoey on May 12, 2009 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions

So will he be healthy by the start?

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 12, 2009 5:22 PM EDT up reply actions

sounds like it was just a clean up

by DontCallMeJoey on May 12, 2009 5:42 PM EDT up reply actions

please no staph.

by rufio on May 12, 2009 7:33 PM EDT up reply actions

I wish they would let Harrison start. He is so much better anyway

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 12, 2009 9:36 PM EDT up reply actions

not as a starter. harrison is a 10 touches/game kind of guy.

by DontCallMeJoey on May 12, 2009 11:41 PM EDT up reply actions

I would like to see him have 10-15. Really i dont care who takes Jamals carries i just want to have someone else carry it(besides herron)

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 13, 2009 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions

TE to me isn’t necessarily a downgrade, just a completely different change for the position. Instead of a pass catching tight end, we now have a run-blocking tight end. What effect on the offense this has remains to be seen

And yes, I do think the team is more talented than it was last year. I also think the subtraction of Romeo as head coach is good for something, maybe even a couple wins

by Roger Dorn on May 7, 2009 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions

If we didnt have so many QB injuries we might have had 6 or 7 wins. Now we have a MUCH better coaching staff, we did good in the free agency( i define that as bringing in more talent than you let go), and we drafted pretty good. I wouldnt be surprised if we draft outside of the top 10

Eric Berry Bandwagon

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 7, 2009 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions

I think we are looking at middle of the pack with an outside hope of contending for playoffs given our schedule if the team gels fairly early

by Roger Dorn on May 7, 2009 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions

We are gona have to do well a few more years in the offseason before we are contending for the playoffs. Its just hard in the AFC North

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 7, 2009 5:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Not if Baltimore plays like they did in 07.

Remember also, we were 1 or 2 plays away from beating them last year. We were up by a bunch of points in one of our games. We made the Steelers look bad in a 10-6 loss to them, and if DA could have hit the broad side of the stadium that day we could have won that game too.

by rufio on May 7, 2009 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions

now they have a franchise QB so i doubt they will play like in 07

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 7, 2009 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions

I have said it before, I am not sold on Flacco. Lets see how he does without the training wheels this season.

by Bernie19Kosar on May 7, 2009 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions

We were up 17 on Baltimore late in the 3rd, and had a chance to put it away when we were up 10, but Braylon dropped the TD pass.

We were also up 17 on Denver, before our coverage failed us

We missed a field goal to beat the Redskins on the road in a game in which Anderson couldn’t throw the ball within 5 feet of any WR

We were beating the Colts late until Anderson lost a fumble that was returned for a TD

We played with the Steelers the whole game in Week 2 despite egregious coaching errors by Romeo including burning two timeouts on the same play

by Roger Dorn on May 7, 2009 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions

In the NFL, things can turn around quicker than people think. It happens every year, look at the Dolphins last year for example. 1-15 to making the playoffs over the Patriots

by Roger Dorn on May 7, 2009 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Or the Falcons this year. I thought that they were going to be the worst team in the NFL. Oops.

by Bernie19Kosar on May 7, 2009 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions

I just don’t see it. It’s very hard to argue that this isn’t shaping up to be a better team than last year, and the schedule isn’t quite as tough as last year’s. Talent-wise, I think they’re better than the 10-6 team a couple of years ago, but I think that team benefitted from having very low expectations and sneaked (or is it snook?) up on people. Injuries are, of course, key in the NFL. Injuries are particularly important for a team like the Browns, because their depth of talent isn’t all that great. If a miracle occurs and there are no serious injuries to key players, I think they can go as high as 9-7, but I really expect 8-8 or 7-9. Either would be a good step forward. I expect everyone else in the AFC North to be good (even the Bengals), so that’s an impediment to too much improvement in the record.

by drjeo on May 7, 2009 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions

i agree, injuries are key. thats manginis thing too

Eric Berry Bandwagon

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 7, 2009 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions

The Bengals will be below .500

by rufio on May 7, 2009 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions

and they will continue to have attitude issues from Ocho Stinko and Benson, and then you add Michael Johnson, Rey, and Andre Smith. I almost feel sorry for their coach for having to deal with all that.

Eric Berry Bandwagon

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 7, 2009 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions

not to mention Malauluga….

by Jayson732 on May 7, 2009 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions

i mentioned him. His first name is rey

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 7, 2009 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions

missed that, now i see the light…lol

by Jayson732 on May 7, 2009 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions

BTW, I thought I was DBN’s resident trumpet player. If there is going to be two of us, we’ll have to make more room for the egos.

by drjeo on May 7, 2009 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions

There is enough room on the internet for all kinds of egos

by Roger Dorn on May 7, 2009 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

reason we should stick with DA.

The receivers have reall truly reflected DA success.We lost Joe and Braylon(overrated) was terrible last season. During DA’s Pro Bowl Season his passing percentage wasnt above 60%. That is a directly reflected by Braylon’s mass drops that were ignored due to the sucess that year. If Mangini is smart about rebuilding imo, he will keep DA as starting QB. I doubt DA is gonna just give up his spot. He is really gonna compete this offseason.

by elcoqui on May 17, 2009 3:42 AM EDT up reply actions

I just dont think DA can be consistent and he isnt too accurate

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 17, 2009 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions

Im not just saying this but i think the browns are very underrated

Eric Berry Bandwagon

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 7, 2009 4:38 PM EDT reply actions

Can you believe the latest ridiculous, completely illogical and totally made up rumor by Grossi is now getting traction? Everywhere has Thomas Jones-Braylon Edwards rumors. I truly believe he has a negative impact on the actual Cleveland Browns franchise.

www.lowbrowsophisticate.com

by kwoog on May 7, 2009 4:52 PM EDT reply actions

I don’t even get why people are taking him seriously after he was completely wrong about the Brady Quinn stuff before the draft

by Roger Dorn on May 7, 2009 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions

i realize that Mangini and Kotnkus (sp) operate under this shroud of secrecy and silence…but i really wish they would take Grossi in as their “trusted source” and feed him truckloads of bullshit to clarify to everyone on the planet that this guy should wear a helmet just for walking around.

by DontCallMeJoey on May 12, 2009 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions

not to mention the jets would be idiots if the did that. braylon is overrated. he drops balls like the are on fire or something. having 2 great backs is a good thing and this trade will never happen. i would have to slap someone in new york if it did.

by elcoqui on May 17, 2009 3:54 AM EDT up reply actions

so ur not even a browns fan im guessing

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 17, 2009 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions

I think most everyone here would rather have Braylon so you can run along

by Roger Dorn on May 17, 2009 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions

wrong i am a browns fan. and im a logical one at that read my earlier post and maybe youll understand how i feel braylon has affected this team. im the rare rational browns fans who isnt out to chop qb's heads off.

by elcoqui on May 20, 2009 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions

To me, our whole team is one big question mark at this point. It will probably remain that way until at least halftime of week 1. Mangini doesn’t exactly seem like the type of guy who will run any real defensive or offensive plays in the preseason, and the schemes will be absolutely integral to the success of the team this year.

If:
-Ryan can get Wimbley back to a 16 sack monster who offensive lines need to double (and teach him to bull rush)
-Shaun Rogers plays anywhere close to where he did last year
-Corey Williams is healthy and better in his 2nd year in the system
-Any combination of players is as good as a healthy Robaire Smith at RE
-Veikune shows flashes of what I think he can do
-Hall takes another step forward
-Our starting safeties and CBs stay healthy
-Any of Ivy/Poteat/Francies/Carey are legit 3rd CBs
-We get a legit pass rush from anywhere
-Barton and Elam are legit starters
-Someone with the football intelligence of Tony Grossi couldn’t guess exactly what defense we are in before the snap
This defense can be awesome.

If:
-Braylon catches the ball
-We have a QB
-Jamal is closer to 07 than 08 form
-Harrison and/or Davis can move the rock
-Alex Mack makes the immediate impact at C that Joe Thomas did at LT
-Anyone on the right side of the line can pass block
-Robiskie and/or MoMass and/or Furrey and/or Patten combine to get 80 solid catches, to be a legit #2 WR, and to move the ball
-We use Cribbs somewhere—anywhere
-Thomas and Steinbach don’t get hurt
-Any of our TEs or a combination of our TEs are decent players this year
Our offense looks scary good

If all of that happens, we are easily in the playoffs. I highly doubt all of that will happen, but I also highly doubt none of it will happen. If I had to guess now, I would say 8-8 or 7-9, which is still much much higher than 30th in the league. Its embarrassing to think the Raiders could be better than us.

by rufio on May 7, 2009 5:26 PM EDT reply actions

that’s it?

by Chief WaDrew on May 7, 2009 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions

My biggest concern with the team as it stands right now is the running game. I just don’t see the juice left with Jamal, and even though I expect better run blocking this year, my biggest concern is our ability to get tough yardage when it matters on the ground

by Roger Dorn on May 7, 2009 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions

thats why i think vickers should get a bigger role.

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 7, 2009 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions

I forgot to include him in the and/or’s. Good call.

by rufio on May 7, 2009 7:31 PM EDT up reply actions

I have been thinking about all of these “ifs” these offseason.

I think we will have a QB and i aslo think that if St. Clair can do something good, it will probably be pass block. He used to be a LT. I also think that Tucker/Pork Chop will be solid to good at RG.

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 7, 2009 5:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Hey rufio would u please comment on my 2010 draft thread. Im anxious to hear which parts of it you agree with and what your opinions are

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 7, 2009 6:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Haha why me? I can’t say I’ve looked at this next draft class at all with the exceptions of a few players who look like studs. I’ll head over there, though.

by rufio on May 7, 2009 7:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Your insight is invaluable. Almost god-like ;)

Dawgs By Nature - Covering the Cleveland Browns on SB Nation.

by Chris Pokorny on May 7, 2009 7:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Lower-case g, that might be considered an insult

by Roger Dorn on May 7, 2009 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions

You are smarter than most football experts. Even Todd McShay.

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 7, 2009 8:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, I think it’s way too early to start talking about this. Let’s wait for the 2009 season to play out and see where we stand (and also see what the college kids do this year, because things are going to look a lot different a year from now).

by Buckeye Brad on May 7, 2009 8:03 PM EDT up reply actions

I know its just kinda fun to talk about and know some guys to watch for this season

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 7, 2009 8:53 PM EDT up reply actions

I didn’t expect this topic to get 47 responses and counting :p

Dawgs By Nature - Covering the Cleveland Browns on SB Nation.

by Chris Pokorny on May 7, 2009 9:42 PM EDT reply actions

Not much of it is really about the WR coach. Thats why

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 7, 2009 10:33 PM EDT up reply actions

It’s funny, too, because prior to your comment, not a single one was about McDonald.

Dawgs By Nature - Covering the Cleveland Browns on SB Nation.

by Chris Pokorny on May 7, 2009 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Mcdonald who? Just kidding

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 7, 2009 11:25 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m way more concerned with Daboll than anyone who could be the WR coach.

Hope he is smart, creative, and a good teacher. If he really knows the NE system and BQ can run it anywhere close to the way Brady does, I’ll be happy.

by rufio on May 8, 2009 12:15 AM EDT up reply actions

Would the ranking have been different if McDonald had been named receivers coach last week?

Hard to believe Mangini, with 2 winning seasons and playoff experience, is “ranked” behind 7 other new head coaches with no head coaching experience, and a team lead by Jim Mora…

"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge..." C. Darwin

by Spidey on May 8, 2009 8:13 AM EDT reply actions