The Browns secured a new leader for their defense Saturday night, firing defensive coordinator Ray Horton in the aftermath of a 1-15 season and agreeing in principle with Gregg Williams of the Los Angeles Rams to replace him.
The Browns have yet to formally announce the moves, but a person familiar with the situation confirmed them after Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reported late Saturday the team’s deal with Williams had been finalized.
Williams has three seasons as head coach of the Buffalo Bills (2001-03) and 15 seasons as an NFL defensive coordinator on his resume. He guided the New Orleans Saints defense when they won the Super Bowl to end the 2009 season. The NFL suspended him for the 2012 season for his role in the Saints’ bounty scandal.
Williams, 58, re-entered the league in 2013 as a senior defensive assistant for the Tennessee Titans and spent the past three seasons as the defensive coordinator of the Rams, who moved from St. Louis to Los Angeles last year.
The Rams defense finished the 2016 season ranked ninth among 32 teams in yards allowed per game (337), 10th in passing yards given up a game (233.3), 16th in rushing yards surrendered per game (103.8) and 23rd in points allowed a game (24.6).
Williams employs a 4-3 base defense, so the Browns will undergo a significant transition from Horton’s 3-4 scheme.
With Horton guiding the Browns defense during the 2016 season, it ranked 31st in yards allowed per game (392.4), 21st in passing yards given up per game (249.8), 31st in rushing yards surrendered a game (142.7) and 30th in points surrendered per game (28.3).
Williams is expected to oust several of Horton’s assistants and bring his own to the Browns. La Canfora reported Williams will hire at least three or four assistants.
ESPNCleveland.com reported Rams defensive backs coaches Brandon Fisher and Dennard Wilson as well as former Rams linebackers coach Blake Williams, Gregg’s son, will join the Browns.
Horton might not be the only top lieutenant Browns coach Hue Jackson will replace in the wake of the team setting a franchise record for most losses in a season.
Early Saturday, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported associate head coach-offense Pep Hamilton is considering leaving the Browns to reunite with coach Jim Harbaugh at the University of Michigan. A person familiar with the situation confirmed Michigan has expressed interest in hiring Hamilton.
He served as Harbaugh’s wide receivers coach at Stanford in 2010 and became its offensive coordinator when Harbaugh left to coach the San Francisco 49ers. Michigan has an opening on its coaching staff after passing game coordinator and quarterbacks/wide receivers coach Jedd Fisch left to take the offensive coordinator gig at UCLA.
Jackson is in charge of the offense and calls the plays, but Hamilton is his highest-ranking assistant on that side of the ball. Hamilton also handles the responsibilities of a quarterbacks coach, even though it isn’t part of his title.
So Hamilton’s departure would create a significant change for the offensive staff as an even greater shake-up unfolds on the other side of the ball.
Match made
Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson would be coached by Jackson and the Browns later this month if he accepts an invitation to participate in the Senior Bowl.
Watson, one of the top-rated quarterbacks in April’s draft, would practice under the guidance of the Browns for three days in Mobile, Ala., leading up to the exhibition game Jan. 28.
Senior Bowl Executive Director Phil Savage made the revelation about Watson, a junior in terms of NCAA eligibility who has graduated from Clemson with a communications degree, during a radio interview Friday on WKNR (850-AM).
“Deshaun Watson is a graduate from Clemson,” said Savage, a former Browns general manager. “He along with three other Clemson Tigers are underclassmen, but they’ve graduated, so they’re eligible. The invite is on the table. We will find out probably next week whether he elects to play or not. But if he does play, he’ll be on the South, and of course, the Cleveland Browns have the South team.”
This obviously could be an important development for the Browns, who own the first, 12th and 33rd overall picks in the draft and lack a bona fide franchise quarterback.
Clemson will play Alabama on Monday night in the College Football Playoff championship game.
Watson told reporters Saturday at media day he’s focused on the national title game and will decide afterward whether he’ll play in the Senior Bowl.
“It’s special. It’s an honor,” Watson said of the invitation, according to NFL.com. “It’s a great opportunity for me and the family.”
NFLDraftScout.com analyst Dane Brugler reported Watson showed interest in attending the Senior Bowl earlier this season and Clemson worked closely with the event’s organizers and the NFL to ensure he would receive clearance.
During Savage’s radio interview, he also said North Carolina junior quarterback Mitch Trubisky would not be eligible for the Senior Bowl if he declares for the draft because the Mentor native didn’t graduate by December.
Help wanted in hurry
It would be in the best interest of the Browns and the Senior Bowl for Jackson to make any additional changes to his staff quickly.
According to the Senior Bowl’s website, the two NFL teams with the lowest winning percentage receive the first opportunity to coach in the game “but only if a majority of their staff — and head coach — are intact.”
The Senior Bowl announced Tuesday the Browns and Chicago Bears would coach in the event.
But the announcement came before news broke about Williams replacing Horton and Hamilton’s possible departure.
Regarding the Browns’ situation, Savage explained Saturday on Twitter that the NFL determines which teams will coach in the Senior Bowl with “assurance that any changes won’t compromise staff for practice/game.”
The first practice will be held Jan. 24.