The Mangini question

The Brown Log has often been critical of Eric Mangini, who, at 39 years old, has too often made mistakes that a more mature coach would avoid. Today's clock mismanagement at the end of the first half was a prime example. Mangini often lacks what I refer to as "the intuition of experience.".

That said, Mangini's weaknesses are all flaws that will get better with time as he lives through this school of hard knocks. His weaknesses are in game management where he makes misjudgements under pressure. Decide not to call a timeout because maybe just maybe the other team will have too much time left and might score??? Oh yeah, the Browns need time to score too...

Leave an injured QB on the field?? We lost 2 games we should have won because of this misjudgement. Tampa Bay could see that Delhomme was useless due to his injury as did Jacksonville with McCoy. As a matter fact it was so obvious in those cases fans like myself watching on TV could see that the QB was hurt. So while Tampa and Jacksonville blitzed on passing downs and defended the run on running downs, the Browns went down the drain in games they should have won. Why couldn't Mangini decide to pull the QB? Fear and indecision, in other words inexperience.

Mangini's strengths on the other hand are that he has shown a genius for game strategy and he has demonstrated the ability to create formations and gameplans that are ahead of the rest of the NFL pack. Strengths, if you may, that one does not easily find in a coach. Ask the New Orleans Saints if Mangini can put a fantastic gameplan together. Ask Tom Brady if Mangini can confuse an all-pro quarterback with previously never seen defensive formations.

Mangini has shown himself to be well organised and on player personnel decisions where he has a few days to reflect, he shown shown himself able to stand on principle even in the face of pressure. He is an innovator. In 2010 the Browns often fielded defensive formations never before tried in the NFL such as a zero man defensive line. This permitted the Browns to field a dramatically improved Defense in 2010 and allowed the team to compete in every game. Credit Rob Ryan you say? Sure but the buck stops with the head coach and that gentlemen's name is Eric Mangini.

The offense stunk right? Yes but the Browns bet that Jake Delhomme was the mature presence needed to carry a weak offensive team. That bet failed and Mangini was left to manage the aftermath. The offense was bad but Hillis emerged as a force and our mediocre receiving crew was contributing at seasons end. That's a credit to coaching. Too conservative, maybe but if you don't have The firepower playing it safe is actually the right plan. Mangini has shown on D that if he has the talent, he has the moxie to innovate.

So should the Browns fire Mangini? I'm going to go out on a limb and state uneqivicably "no".

My estimation is that Mangini, who turns 40 next month, will start to trust his gut more in 2011 and avoid some of the bonehead decisions caused by outthinking himself under pressure. All that remains will be his strategic genius, a quality that is most often found in Super Bowl coaches.

In the end we've invested 2 years in building Mangini's experience. My vote is don't dump the guy right when he and the team are ready to repay that investment.