Dan Quinn: Top Choice For Top Dawg?

As the interview carousel for a new head coach continues to spin for the Cleveland Browns, one name continues to be on their list: Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator, Dan Quinn.

According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, the Browns might be bringing in Quinn for a second interview.  A lot will hinge on how well Quinn does based on another top Browns candidate: Denver Broncos, Adam Gase–who withdrew his name from consideration,  and will be staying with the Broncos–and Bills defensive coordinator Mike Pettine.

Not to fear Browns fans. With the withdrawal of Gase from the list, the final round of candidates appears to have come to fruition, the Browns will still be in a great position with Quinn as their main guy.  While he hasn’t been on the top of most Browns fans’ lists, his resume experience, at the collegiate and NFL levels, as a defensive line Coach and later progressing to defensive coordinator, overshadows Gase’s resume.

Here is a snapshot of Quinn’s achievements:

Playoff experience:  2001 San Francisco 49ers,  

• Position: Defensive Quality Control 2002 San Francisco 49ers
• Position: Defensive Quality Control 2010 Seattle Seahawks
• Position: Defensive Line 2014 Seattle Seahawks
• Position: Defensive Coordinator

Super Bowl appearances:  2014 Seattle Seahawks

• Position: Defensive Coordinator

College Bowl appearances:

• 2012 Gator Bowl, Florida Gators, Position: Defensive Coordinator
• 2013 Sugar Bowl, Florida Gators, Position: Defensive Coordinator

Defense Top 10 NFL Rankings under Quinn’s position:

• 2001 San Francisco 49ers  No. 9
• 2006 Miami Dolphins. No.5
• 2013 Seattle Seahawks. No.1

Quinn brings to the table an intensity that Cleveland has been severely lacking at the head coaching position, and would be coming off his most successful season as a defensive coordinator with the top-ranked ranked defense in the NFL (a defense allowing only 273.6 yards per game).

For the front office, he brings the winning ways and playoff experience (and soon Super Bowl) to Cleveland.

For the players, he brings a fire and accountability to remove the lackadaisical play on both sides of the ball (particularly the defense) that plagued the team for most of the season.  For the fans, he’s not just another coordinator that would be moving into a head coaching position.

He brings the playoff experience, the discipline, intensity, and a plan for his coaching support staff.

All the things that Cleveland fans wanted when the Browns coaching search, after firing Chudzinski, will be yielded from this search soon.  If Quinn isn’t on top of your list, he should be.