Cleveland (92.3 The Fan) – Freddie Kitchens helped salvage what was expected to be a lost season and n Monday got to make his pitch why he can be the coach to take the franchise to the promised land.
The team confirmed the interview with Kitchens Monday evening.
The 44-year old Kitchens replaced Todd Haley as offensive coordinator on Oct. 29 when Haley and Hue Jackson were fired and the Browns’ offense, led by rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield came to life.
“He’s done a nice job in his role as offensive coordinator,” general manager John Dorsey said on Dec 31.
Under Haley, Mayfield was 1-4 as a starter while completing 58.3 percent of his passes for 1,471 yards with 8 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. He was sacked 20 times. Over the final 8 games under Kitchens Mayfield went 5-3 and completed 68.4 percent of his passes for 2,254 yards with 19 touchdowns and 8 interceptions while being sacked just 5 times.
Cleveland averaged more yards and 3 more points per game with Kitchens calling plays, but critics argue that it was because the Browns faced some of the worst defenses in the league and they did not beat a single team with a winning record down the stretch.
“I think he's moved the ball. He's gotten the ball out of the quarterback's hands quicker.” Dorsey said. “I think he's put some flair and different route combinations together that help out the quarterback. I just think overall he's kind of moved the bar on the offensive side of the ball.”
The Browns declined multiple requests from teams to interview Kitchens, who is under contract for 2019, for offensive coordinator openings so they can either hire him as the new head coach or allow the new coach the opportunity to retain him.
“I've always said play calling is an art and not a true science,” Dorsey said. “You've got to feel the moment, and I think Freddie's got a good feel for that type of thing.”
Calling plays and being a head coach are 2 different animals and while Kitchens is on the ascent, is he ready to take over his own team?
“I mean, who the hell is ready to be a head coach? Do you have a résumé that you check off a list and everything? I am not worried about head coach, coordinator – I do not care,” Kitchens said in December when asked about his candidacy for jobs.
If Kitchens had his choice, he’d like to stay.
“I like it here. I like it here a lot. Everybody around here knows that I like it here,” Kitchens said. “I love the town of Cleveland. Cleveland and I get along well.”
Interim head coach Gregg Williams was the first to interview on Jan. 1 followed by former Lions and Colts head coach Jim Caldwell on Jan. 2, Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski Jan. 3, Saints assistant head coach and tight ends coach Dan Campbell on Jan. 4, Patriots linebacker coach Brian Flores on Jan. 5 and Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus on Sunday.
Kitchens has worked with some distinguished names over the years He was a grad assistant under Nick Saban at LSU in 2000, coached tight ends for the Cowboys under Bill Parcells in 2006, and spent 11 years in Arizona where he worked for Ken Whisenhunt and Bruce Arians.
It’s conceivable that Kitchens would be a solid fit as offensive coordinator should Dorsey and the Browns elect to hire a defensive-minded head coach or even Campbell, who played for Parcells and shares similar philosophies.
