The organized chaos of the Pettine zoo

This MMQB piece is the best description I’ve seen about what schemes and methods the new coaching staff is bringing to the 2014 Browns.

In a nutshell:

  • Coach Pettine on Manziel: “He has a tendency to keep both teams in the game.” 
  • Based on confusing quarterbacks’ pre-snap reads, the “shape-shifting” defense features players rotating jobs within the scheme.
  • Keep it simple for the dumber players; partner them with the smarter “sponges,” who more often are relied upon to perform a variety of assignments.
  • Don’t give the playbook to Belichick’s buddies! 
  • Most defensive meetings are with the whole unit, not broken down by positional groups.
  • Run a variety of tempos on offense.
  • Pettine, in his first head coaching gig since his high school days a dozen years back, is studying up on those game management situations that not infrequently tilt wins into losses or vice versa.