Berea, OH (92.3 The Fan) – Gregg Williams’ is happy to talk to you about former players he’s coached, or famous athletes, coaches or celebrities he’s friends with but the one subject he doesn’t want to talk about: being named the Browns full-time head coach.
Once again Monday Williams sidestepped questions about his interest in the full-time job when it comes open in January.
“I appreciate to answer that, and all honesty is that I don’t think it’s fair to the players or to anybody here [to talk about it],” Williams said. “The most important thing is making sure these guys understand how we continue to win and how we get ready for the Bengals. Really. And when they see the mindset’s that way, that’s the way my mindset has always been. We’ll talk about that at the end.”
There will be plenty to talk about when Williams sits down with general manager John Dorsey, among others because he has managed to salvage what appeared to be a lost season for the Browns.
Since Williams has taken over, they Browns have won as many games under him as they did the previous 3 seasons combined – 4.
The perennial cellar dwellers of the NFL have gone from a 2-5-1 team set to bottom out once again to a franchise suddenly on the rise that has been able to threaten the post season, and if you ask some players in the locker room, it’s because of Williams.
“I feel like he deserves credit for a lot of stuff that's going on now, just the fire and the energy that he's bringing to this team has been incredible,” receiver Breshad Perriman said. “I feel like you can't put a limit for the amount of credit you give him.”
The turnaround – especially the results on the field – are impossible not to notice. So what’s been the difference under Williams that wasn’t there before?
“I just think it was just more attention to detail, and just us in the locker room just not letting all the outside elements affect us and affect how we play,” safety Jabrill Peppers said. “It would have been easy to crumble and blame everything else that was going on, but we stuck together, fought it out and we’re on the cusp of having our first winning season around here in a long time, so everything falls how it may.”
Williams is an in-your-face, no holds barred, ultra-aggressive personality.
It shows on the practice field and it shows on game days.
“It's definitely influential,” Perriman said. “Just the way he carries himself, the way he communicates with us, we know what he's about and I feel like, for the most part, for us as a team, we're all falling under his wing.”
While some might find Williams style abrasive, he makes no apologies for it and it’s hard to argue for one with the weekly results.
“I believe all good players want to be taught or coached, motivated and inspired. Everybody does,” Williams said. “But then when the motivation and inspiring thing becomes way too primary, it's once again, why are you here? It's our job to get everybody on the same page, treat everybody the same way, hold everybody accountable, and it starts with me first.
“I have to be the same accountable, say what I mean, mean what I say, and first one here, last one to leave. I learned this a long time ago, too, is that being on time tells everybody exactly right. When people aren't on time maybe it's because only two things I tell these guys: Either it's not important to you or you think you're better than everybody else. That doesn't work in this league. It doesn't work. So that's why I'm the first one in the meeting room. Nobody's waiting on me, and we've got to get ready to roll.”
If the wins continue to add up, legitimately considering him as the permanent replacement for Hue Jackson going forward becomes even more reasonable.
“I’ll never apologize, I love to win,” Williams said. “I’ll never apologize, and I’m a competition-aholic. Ok? I stay away from a lot of things, but I don’t stay away from competition and I’m not afraid of that at any point in time.”
