Cleveland Browns

Browns fill out offensive coaching staff with proven vets

Published Jan. 26, 2016 1:08 p.m. ET

foxsports

By Nick Master

New Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson has had a busy first week on the job, bringing in virtually his entire coaching staff. Jackson elected to retain almost no one from former head coach Mike Pettine’s staff, with the exception of special teams coach Chris Tabor who survived yet another coaching staff turnover. The Browns will have a new look on offense, they will go without a true offensive coordinator with Hue Jackson calling plays, but added a few key assistants to help Jackson try and replicate his offensive success in Cincinnati.

The first among them is Pep Hamilton whose official title is assistant head coach offense and quarterbacks coach. Such a title will give Hamilton significant control over the Browns passing game. He will draw up schemes and work in a way for the Browns to find success through the air. Hamilton will also work directly with the quarterbacks on the Browns roster, whoever they may be next season. He will be the man charged in developing the Browns signal caller of the future. Hamilton’s calling card is his ability to develop quarterbacks with Andrew Luck being his crown jewel. After years of working in the NFL Hamilton joined Jim Harbaugh’s staff at Stanford as a wide receiver coach and was eventually promoted to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He developed Luck in college and eventually followed him to the NFL becoming the Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator before being fired midway through the 2015 season.

Hamilton figures to work in tune with Kirby Wilson who the Browns have hired as running game coordinator and running backs coach. As the running game coordinator Wilson will work hand in hand with the offensive line coach to figure out the best way to block and run the ball. He is the man who will lead the charge for the Browns ground attack. Wilson has spent years in the NFL most of which with the Pittsburgh Steelers, which like Jackson gives him a familiarity with the AFC North. The Browns hired him away from the Minnesota Vikings where he spent two years coaching the running backs including one of the leagues best in Adrian Peterson. Wilson has two Super Bowl rings from his time in Pittsburgh and as running backs coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002.

Hue Jackson elected to bring in another coach he is intimately familiar with in Al Saunders. Saunders was brought in as a senior offensive assistant and wide receivers coach. Saunders was Jackson’s offensive coordinator in his one year as head coach of the Oakland Raiders and has been a coach in the NFL since 1982. Saunders has worked with offenses all around the league and has coordinating and head coaching experience. Saunders figures work closely with Jackson in drawing up offensive schemes and putting players in the best positions to succeed. In addition to being Jackson’s right hand man Saunders will work with the wide receivers, including Josh Gordon as he attempts to return to the NFL. Saunders like Wilson has a Super Bowl ring.

Hue Jackson has added significant veterans to his offensive staff including two Super Bowl winners. Saunders and Wilson are two of the most respected men on the offensive side of the ball in football. Pep Hamilton was seen as one of the brightest young offensive minds in the game and a possible head coaching candidate before the Colts struggles this year. They, teamed with new offensive line coach Hal Hunter, have decades of coordinating experience. The Browns hope this experience will straighten out what has been an anemic offense in the past.

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