Could Jim Schwartz be the Browns’ answer? Why promoting from within makes perfect sense if Kevin Stefanski is fired

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- If nan Browns do portion ways pinch Kevin Stefanski aft Sunday’s finale against Cincinnati, they mightiness not request to look acold for his replacement. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz has emerged arsenic a logical successor, according to nan latest chat connected nan Orange and Brown Talk podcast.

Schwartz, who transformed nan Browns defense into 1 of nan NFL’s elite units this season, offers a compelling operation of experience, strategy success, and continuity that could make him nan cleanable campaigner to measurement into nan caput coaching role.

“There’s a world wherever you could conscionable descent Jim Schwartz into that caput coach seat,” suggested podcast big Dan Labbe. “You tin possibly beforehand personification astatine protect coordinator aliases could bring personification in. Tommy Rees is still your OC. You make that coaching alteration without a ton of disruption.”

This attack would let nan Browns to fulfill nan evident desire for alteration astatine nan apical while preserving what worked good this play -- namely, nan defense that ranks 2nd successful nan NFL contempt nan team’s disappointing record.

Browns hit newsman Mary Kay Cabot reinforced this point: “And besides you’re looking astatine 1 of nan best, astir ascendant defenses that nan Browns person ever had. And do you really want to upset that pome cart? If you do beforehand Jim and make him your caput coach, you tin support that continuity connected your defense, moreover though you would astir apt person a different coordinator.”

Schwartz’s candidacy is strengthened by his existing narration pinch Browns GM Andrew Berry, pinch whom he worked successful Philadelphia. While Schwartz didn’t straight reside speculation astir nan Browns occupation erstwhile speaking to reporters connected Thursday, he did admit his desire to beryllium a caput coach again.

Perhaps astir importantly, promoting Schwartz would apt beryllium a celebrated move pinch a instrumentality guidelines hopeless for alteration but fearful of a complete organizational reset.

" I will say, hypothetically, nan Jim Schwartz of it all, I don’t deliberation this beforehand agency aliases this squad ownership group would person to do overmuch to waste that prosecute astatine each here," noted Browns newsman Ashley Bastock. “I mean, based connected nan guidance to nan characteristic successful nan question and reply I did pinch him, fans seemed very excited astatine that anticipation of him wanting to perchance beryllium a caput coach again.”

There are morganatic questions astir whether a defensive-minded caput coach is nan correct prime successful today’s offense-driven NFL, particularly erstwhile nan Browns’ biggest struggles person travel connected that broadside of nan ball. However, nan squad appears precocious connected violative coordinator Tommy Rees, who could stay successful his domiciled nether a Schwartz regime.

For a franchise often defined by upheaval, nan Schwartz action represents a mediate crushed -- alteration astatine nan apical without throwing everything into chaos. For a squad pinch important talent but disappointing results, that measured attack mightiness beryllium precisely what’s needed.

To perceive nan afloat breakdown of nan Jim Schwartz anticipation and different imaginable coaching scenarios, tune into this week’s Orange and Brown Talk podcast, wherever nan squad provides insider position connected what could beryllium a transformative offseason successful Berea.

Here’s nan podcast for this week:

Listen and subscribe to nan Orange and Brown Talk podcast connected Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

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