(On if the defense can get Wimbley to be an impact player like he was in his rookie season) – “What I am looking for from Kamerion is not just impact in terms of rushing the passer, but impact as an outside linebacker in this system. Sacks sometimes come in bunches. Sometimes there’s a bunch of them and sometimes you go on a little bit of a drought. The key thing isn’t to focus on the volume, the numbers. The key thing is to focus on the process. That’s what we are doing with Kamerion and with all of the guys, is to focus on the things that he can do better as a pass rusher.

The things that he can do better in the running game. How to vary up his pass rush and it’s an ongoing process. I stress, it’s not just Kamerion with that. We are always trying to give; here is your core move, what’s your counter off of that move, what’s your secondary move, what’s your counter off of that move. The ability to move the player from right to left, get in the sub package, maybe have him as a walk around type of guy.

All of those things can produce sacks. All of those things can take advantage of strengths. In order to take advantage of those strengths, you have to build in that flexibility and that is something that we are focusing on from a scheme perspective, and also individually identifying strengths and weaknesses, really working on the weaknesses and really trying to complement the strengths.”

(On if Wimbley needs to get stronger physically) – “Sometimes the best way to demonstrate your strength is to play with better technique. That’s a huge focal point for us, is always playing with good technique, hand placement and leverage. It’s always about those things, leverage and angles, and how you take on the blocker and things like that.”

Out of 32 teams, new Browns coach Eric Mangini ranks 25th. First is New England's Bill Belichick and last is Denver's Josh McDaniels.

In the mold of his mentor, Mangini is tough. But he is stubborn and stuck in his ways, which often limits his game plans and hurts his relationships with his players.

The scouts also ranks the top 20 offensive and defensive coordinators. Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan is the 18th best in the league. Offensive coordinator Brian Daboll is unranked.

RealScouts also ranks the top players by position. That's not really worth the time to go through each and find all the Browns. Joe Thomas rates fourth among offensive tackles. Braylon Edwards is rated the seventh best wide receiver. Shaun Rogers comes in as the sixth-best defensive tackle.

Neither Derek Anderson or Brady Quinn is rated among the top 20 at quarterback.

When the Browns finally decide on a starting quarterback, it won't be until late in the preseason.

That was the big news from head coach Eric Mangini at today's minicamp. Mangini told reporters he wants to see how Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn perform before deciding.

So when Quinn was receiving playing time with the first team last month, it didn't mean much. Mangini will look at presence in the huddle when making his choice.

"The big (criteria) for me is huddle presence and the ability to run the offense, so who can most effectively run the offense, who can look at the defense, understand what the coverage is and throw to the right place, who can see a blitz look and put us in the right play, who can do the check-with-me's where you have two plays called and understand this is the better of the two selections," Mangini told reporters.

Any deception in naming a starting quarterback could be purposeful on Mangini's part. It could be in an effort to confuse opponents heading into the regular season.

"One of the things that's tough defensively is not knowing who the starting quarterback's going to be," Mangini said. "I hated when I didn't know who the starting quarterback of the other team was. A huge, huge headache."

Notes…
Steve Doerschuk of the Canton Repository reports that Anderson had to run a lap today after a false start penalty. A quarterback getting that penalty is crazy.

The Plain Dealer has a nice gallery of shots from today's minicamp.

When Browns head coach Eric Mangini met with the media, most stories were either about Josh Cribbs or new cornerback Rod Hood. However, if you dig deep into recap, there are some great thoughts on new linebacker Eric Barton:

(On what Eric Barton brings) – “Eric is incredibly smart and not just in terms of his ability to pick up the information. He absorbs the installs very quickly but his ability to process information on the field. He can see a formation, anticipate the adjustment, he can see a formation and anticipate the play. He is a good communicator. He has good toughness, but I’ve always respected his natural intelligence and his football intelligence.”

(On how important Barton is in the locker room) – “I think that any of the players that have some familiarity can add value because they can help accelerate the learning process in terms of expectations, in terms of the system and the quicker that we can all move forward and everybody understands exactly what’s expected, what we are looking for, the quicker you make progress.”

(On Barton’s run defense) – “I’d say his forte is getting all 11 guys going in the right direction and making sure they are in the right sports. That has huge value whether it’s run or pass. To me, the reason we improved our run defense last year (in New York) was we got better with our technique, we got better with our fits and we got better with the coordination. That will be the case in anything we do here is, how well can the group do it? The same thing with like the running game offensively, some of those six-yard runs could be 40-yard runs, if the receivers do a nice job of blocking on the perimeter, otherwise it just becomes a nice gain instead of an outstanding one.”

Based on Mangini's assessment, Barton is exactly the kind of player Cleveland's defense needs. It didn't seem like last season the Browns had a player on defense who was all that tough and smart.

Also see:

- Patrick McManamon: Meet the new GM, same as the old GM

- Terry Pluto: Eight thoughts on the Kokinis hiring

Notes:
Want to have a groan? Read about how Eric Mangini had a mural of Browns legends painted over. From the perspective of fans, this seems petty and frustrating. More on this after Kokinismania stops running wild.

Make sure to read Luke's previous post for some thoughts on the Kokinis hiring.

You probably know all the particulars about each guy by now. So, instead, here is a fun video of Rob Ryan and his brother, Rex, the likely next coach of the Jets.

I immediately love Rob Ryan.

Why would Seely jump from the Patriots to the Browns? It's not exactly a lateral move. Seely will be assistant head coach/special teams coach, instead of just special teams coach.

Next for the Browns is hiring a general manager. Just in case the team is unexpectedly spurned by George Kokinis, owner Randy Lerner is at least interviewing other candidates.

• Hire a general manager.  He has power of the entire football operation of the team, which includes hiring of a head coach.
• The general manager works with the ownership, and other team executives to hire a coach who works well with the GM.  The coach and GM would basically be a cohesive unit philosophically, so that the GM can seek out players in the draft and free agency who fit the schemes run by the head coach.
• When the time comes, the GM has final say on personnel decisions, with input from the coaching staff.  The GM drafts the players the coaches want, and signs the free agents (all with input from the pro & college scouting department).
• When roster cuts come at the end of training camp, the coach usually provides input to the GM about who he would like to keep, and a cohesive decicision is made on the final roster.  In a typical NFL franchise, the GM usually has a higher degree of control on the final roster than the head coach, though it varies from team to team.

The Browns under Phil Savage and Romeo Crennnel were structured this way, although rather dysfunctionally.  With Mangini, the Browns will not be working under this same structure.  Mangini does have some degree of final say on the roster, and personnel matters in general.  The hiring of a general manager at this point is a bit of a formality.

Presumably the reason candidates such as Rich McKay (Atlanta Falcons), Tom Heckert (Philadelphia Eagles), and Scott Pioli (New England Patriots) took their names out of consideration because they were seeking final control over the draft and free agency.  All three of the candidates were likely seeking to move into a more powerful role, as they play second fiddle right now to someone else.  So on the surface, saying they couldn't hire their own head coach was an issue, but for all three candidates this was a lateral move.

So where does this leave popular choice George Kokinis?  Likely in the same place he was before the Ravens moved on to the AFC Championship Game.  The Ravens do not have to contractually release Kokinis until February 2nd, 2009.  Kokinis has been working with the team to gameplan for their playoff run, and that likely won't change as longas the Ravens are still alive in the playoff hunt.

Kokinis is currently the Director of Pro Personnel for the Ravens.  His description of his duties from the Ravens websites lists that he, "… in his 5th year as director of pro personnel and his 17th season as a member of the franchise, works closely with GM Ozzie Newsome in analyzing NFL rosters and coordinating and evaluating each year’s free agency market. Along with personnel recommendations, Kokinis assists vice president of football administration Pat Moriarty in negotiating contracts for some of the Ravens’ draft picks."

His accomplishments are listed as follows:

1996-2007: (with Baltimore) 2007: Ravens acquired Pro Bowl alternate RB Willis McGahee from the Bills in exchange for future draft choices…Team retained OLB Jarret Johnson, who re-signed with the team during the spring. 2006: Negotiated the contracts of draft picks S Dawan Landry (5th round) and DE Ryan LaCasse (7th round)…Ravens acquired QB Steve McNair in exchange for an ‘07 draft pick, re-signed OLB Bart Scott and also signed a number of significant free agent contributors: DE Trevor Pryce, who led the team with 13 sacks, RB Mike Anderson, DT Justin Bannan, CB Corey Ivy and OLB Gary Stills. 2005: Negotiated the contracts of draft picks FB Justin Green and LB Mike Smith…Ravens signed 3 current starters: WR Derrick Mason, CB Samari Rolle and G Keydrick Vincent. 2003: Became the team’s director of pro personnel, overseeing all aspects of the pro personnel department. 2000-02: Promoted to the Ravens’ assistant director of pro personnel in 2000…Conducted the advance scouting of Ravens opponents and provided reports to the coaches. 1996-99: Kokinis was the Ravens’ Northeast area scout for 4 years, and also conducted “the box” workouts of college prospects before moving over to pro personnel…Moved to Baltimore with the Modell franchise.

Kokinis' strengths are in contract negotiation and pro scouting.  He is by no means a draftnik, outside of signing a few draft picks each season.  His title as general manager would probably be in a facilitative role to Mangini, who will be making personnel decisions.

For all of the hype around the hiring process of a general manager, most of us are missing the point.  Mangini will be making his own football decisions, and coaching the team.  Whoever the Browns hire at this point to be the general manager will be the Robin to Mangini's Batman.

- On coming back to Cleveland where he was a ball boy and public relations intern:
"It is really special to be back here when I got my first opportunity. I couldn't be happier than to come home to Cleveland and see a lot of old friends here."

- On what he learned in three years as Jets coach:
"You learn so much from your experiences. I tell players, win or lose, be honest. I ask myself that all the time. Nobody stops improving. I learned so many things over three years that there's no handbook for."

- What his plans are as Browns coach:
"There's probably a laundry list. There's so many different areas you're involved with as head coach … I go back and look at my notes."

- Mangini talked about playing the Browns in preseason and seeing how similar the offenses of the two teams are.

- The possibility of bringing in George Kokinis as general manager:
"I think he's impressive. He's got tremendous substance. That being said, what's also important is getting the best possible people to fill all the roles in the organization. We're going to go through that process."

- Mangini said he has a distinct vision of the team.

- He wants players to have these characteristics: smart, tough, hardworking, competitive, selfless and a passion for the game.

- There was an implication that Romeo Crennel will be kept with the franchise in some capacity.

- Mangini mentioned bringing in new players a few times.

- He was resolute in keeping the 3-4 defense.

- It seems like Bill Callahan, an assistant head coach in New York, will be brought in to add pieces of the West Coast offense.

- Akron Beacon Journal (Patrick McManamon): Browns' choice just doesn't feel right

- Canton Repository (Todd Porter): Mangini becomes right choice at the right time

- ESPN (Tim Graham): Browns fans might jump to the conclusion they're taking on some other team's rubbish

- Fox Sports (Alex Marvez): Mangini is small consolation for Browns fans

- New York Times (William C. Rhoden): Mangini Lands on His Feet, While Jets Fans Land Hard

- News-Herald (Jeff Schudel): It can work with Mangini

- OBR Report (Rich Passan): A Sense of Deja Vu

- Plain Dealer (Mary Kay Cabot): Sources: Crennel won't be on Mangini staff

- Plain Dealer (Terry Pluto): Scribbles in my notebook

- Plain Dealer (Bud Shaw): Hiring requires a "genius" leap of faith in Lerner

Ryan has been the defensive coordinator for the Raiders since 2004. He is the brother of Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan and the son of legendary coach Buddy Ryan. Find more on Ryan on his wiki. Daboll has been the Jets quarterbacks coach since 2007. Prior to that, he was the wide receivers coach with New England from 2002 to 2007. Read more on Daboll.

AFC North blogger James Walker immediately has some questions for Mangini and the Browns.

Patrick McManamon of the Beacon Journal says the hiring just doesn't feel right. Terry Pluto of the Plain Dealer would probably disagree.

But at least Mark Shapiro is excited.

10:15 p.m. UPDATE: According to the Newark Star-Ledger, Mangini is looking at Jets defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson, defensive line coach Dan Quinn and receivers coach Noel Mazzone as other possible additions to his staff.

Even with Mangini's closeness to George Kokinis, Pro Personnel Director of the Ravens, and Tom Heckert of the Eagles coming in for an interview, Scott Pioli could still be a candidate to run the Browns' front office.

Lastly, current Browns coaches have been told to stay away from Berea.

In this humble blogger's opinion, of the current Browns coaches, the only ones who should stay are quarterbacks coach Rip Scherer and special teams coach Ted Daisher.