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New Browns coach means new discipline
TweetBy MARLA RIDENOUR
In the past 12 months, Country Club Crennel has morphed into the Mangini Preparatory Academy.
Eric Mangini and Romeo Crennel are close friends, their bond forged during seven years together as assistants under Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick.
But the difference in their coaching styles couldn’t be more striking.
As the Browns open training camp with two practices today in Berea, fans will get their first look at the highly organized and disciplined structure Mangini brings. He was hired Jan. 9 to succeed Crennel, who was fired after going 24-40 in the previous four seasons.
Players now must run laps when they’ve committed a penalty and drop to the ground for pushups when a catchable ball gets away. Mangini keeps count of the lap-running offenders. Speakers blare music to improve concentration, with the playlist thoughtfully compiled by Mangini daily. Pop quizzes will soon become routine, although they might not begin until the first game plan is crafted.
Mangini has always been a stickler for detail, at least dating to his days at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn.
“When he puts his mind to something, he’s going to get it done and he’s going to make sure everything is done right,” said Frank Hauser, Mangini’s defensive coordinator and coach at Wesleyan. ”He’s not going to leave any stone unturned. When he was captain his senior year, he made sure everyone else was doing it right as well. He takes care of the little things.”
Linebacker David Bowens, one of six former New York Jets on the Browns roster, knows what bothers Mangini most.
“People who aren’t accountable, people who continuously make the same mistakes and people who just don’t show effort,” Bowens said. “He wants guys who are tough, smart and can compete.”
Bowens said Mangini will drill his players on every situation that could possibly arise. Mangini admitted to digging some examples out of the Browns’ film archives.
“We work on [situations] every day — two-minute, short yardage, backed up, red zone,” Bowens said. “Things like that, where teams would fold or make mental mistakes, we’ll be good at.”
Mangini was 23-26 in three seasons with the Jets before being fired. Now at age 38, the former Browns ball boy must establish authority without alienating his players with his tough tactics.
“The most important thing to me, and to any coach, is that you show the players you can help them be successful,” Mangini said in June. “It may be pushing or yelling or whatever it is, but those things are always done in order for them to be the best possible player they can be.
“Sometimes it’s loving them up and sometimes it’s not loving them up. But my responsibility is to help them improve every single day. I think when players know that’s what your objective is, and it’s not about power structure, it’s not about rules … it’s about a shared common goal of making them successful and making us successful.”
Linebacker D’Qwell Jackson knows Mangini will expect a lot.
“He puts in the time, and he expects the players and coaches to work as hard as him,” Jackson said. “We understand that. It’s going to make us better as an individual player and also as a team.
“From everything I’ve heard, he’s a great guy, he’s smiling. But when it’s about business, it’s about business. He doesn’t mess around with that. The guy is smart as heck. That’s going to motivate every guy on this team. I’m not making predictions, but we’ll be a damn good team come this year.”
Running back Jamal Lewis didn’t cringe when he heard about Mangini’s lap-running policy. Lewis went through the same thing with the Baltimore Ravens under coach Brian Billick.
“That’s how I learned,” Lewis said. “If you jump offside or something happens, he’d send you on a lap. It teaches you discipline. You think about it before you do it.”
But when asked if he liked the idea, Lewis responded with the wisdom of a 10-year veteran.
“It’s a great idea, as long as you don’t have to run it,” Lewis said. “I just sit still until the play is called.”
Comments
Two things: Win your home and away opener, beat Pittpuke twice. Then improve on that.
Wins VS the Squeelers must be paramount at this point, I am sick of losing / losing close games to the black and mold.
GO BROWNS!
Cleveland you have alot of loyal fans we want a Super Bowl win.
I would tell Braylon Edwards that if he wants to pursue things outside of football go right ahead. That guy will be a pain in the a** again this year like he was last year. Trade him now.
His potential is not worth the trouble he brings into the team concept.
dear browns fans,
we can't hear you. our 6 lombardy trophies are making too much noise.
sincerely,
steeler nation
lombardi that is
jrolley, i wouldnt disrespect the Browns first off while they have no Super Bowls they do have more championships than the Stealers. Second, the Stealers only lead the series because they have played and beat the Browns over the last decade and lets face it the Browns for that time has basically been an expansion team.
the browns so-called "championships" are about the equivalent of winning the afc north these days.
not so jrolley. less teams back then so therefore the league wasnt as watered down. but that is a typical stealer fan comment lack of respect for the history of the league.and if it was so easy to win championships back then why is it the stealers never won any?
haha if thats the way you want to spin it, whatever. it'll be 6 more steelers super bowl wins before cleveland ever comes close to competing with the black and gold again.
cleveland professional sports championships since 1964: 0
pittsburgh professional sports championships since 1964: 11
jrolley u diddnt answer my question, typical stealer fan diversion tactic. i wont make comments about the Penguins because they are my favorite hockey team.
Jrolley, yes a typical Squeeler fan. Nobody is denying the Steelers 6 Super Bowl wins. Browns fans acknowledge wins in championship games.
The fact of the matter is the Steelers sucked for 40 + years, finally making the playoffs in 1972 with the "immaculate reception" game VS Oakland.
Nobody knew or can remember Steeler head coaches prior to Chuck Noll, a former Browns player that brought his Cleveland football philosphy to the Burgh that rightfully has the name "Pitts" in it. Same with Bill Cowher, another former Browns player.
Hey Jrolley, when the National Football League stops keeping NFL records before Super Bowl I in 1967. then I will continue to credit the Browns with numerous championship wins.
YOUR way of thinking, then takes away all of the Packers, NY Giants, Baltimore Colts, ect. great teams from the past simply because you think the NFL started in 1967.
Jrolley = "Not Too Smart"... ha ha
How come the Pirates are never mentioned in sports talk? Because they have sucked for decades, and with no NBA team.
Remember, the Steelers were once the NFL doormat, Browns fans never had to wait 40 years for a playoff game !!!!
great call xbrownsx. hey dont forget my chicago bears our titles were then too. by the way its the "immaculate deception" as it was illegal to catch a ball that hit off a teammate. however the stealers diddnt win that year but it robbed the raiders. and isnt it amazing it took Browns to take the stealer to the promised land?
Woolyd, absolutely, the Chicago Bears should be included in my list from great teams from the past. Under Coach George Halas, those teams were very good, playing a physical brand of football that would be considered too rough for today's NFL. Ever see some of those hits Dick Butkus layed on ball carriers and QBs when he played? The field today would be littered with yellow flags for penalties.
Frankly, it teams such as those Halas' Bears teams, Lombardi's / Lambeau's Packers, Paul Brown's BROWNS that built the NFL into the league it is now.
Many other greats, not just those three I mentioned. Remember, in those years, again, Pittsburgh absolutley sucked.
i know what you mean and yes ive seen videos of back in the day. i grew up loving walter payton who never ran out of bounds, initiated contact and had the best stiff arm ever.ill give the Rooneys credit but our teams were the originators of this league