Tag: Bubba Ventrone

Browns growing a strong coaching tree under Kevin Stefanski

Three Browns coaches were named as future head coach candidates by Sports Illustrated.

Three Cleveland Browns coaches were named as future head coach candidates by Sports Illustrated. Sports Illustrated publishes an exhaustive list of head coaching candidates every year. The list highlights the best coordinators and position coaches in the NFL. 

Mike Vrabel was the first coach to see his name mentioned. The former head coach of the Titans will draw much interest across the NFL and college. The Ohio native is a popular name within the state as head coaches Kevin Stefanski, Zac Taylor and Ryan Day cycle through sitting on the hot seat. 

I would love to see him back in the scarlet and gray. Vrabel is an intelligent, tough, and honest coach. He can get a program back on track. Vrabel will have his pick of jobs come the winter.

Bubba Ventrone was the next Browns coach mentioned as a potential head coach. Sports Illustrated isolated special teams coordinators, who rarely get a chance to be a head coach, despite having more success than other coordinator roles. Ventrone has had a tough season in Cleveland – the special teams unit ranks near the bottom of the league.

Browns’ tight end coach, Tommy Rees, was the final coach listed. He was labeled as a newcomer to watch. Rees was the offensive coordinator for Notre Dame and Alabama before joining the Browns. It’ll be interesting to see if Rees rejoins the college ranks at the end of the season. 

The Browns aren’t likely to have a coaching search this season. However, a handful of former Browns coaches will be interviewing for head coach jobs this winter. Former Browns head coach, Bill Belichick, and quarterback coach, Drew Petzing are the two biggest names looking for a job. The NFL season is halfway over and organizations out of the playoff race must start building towards the 2026 season.

Why new RB Nyheim Hines chose to sign with the Browns

What made Hines chose to come to Cleveland?

New Cleveland Browns running back Nyheim Hines missed the entirety of the 2023 season after tearing his ACL in a jet ski accident. Though he is still recovering from that injury and working his way back onto the field, he spoke with the media this week during Browns OTAs.

During that session, he was asked about why he chose Cleveland and felt it was a good fit for him.

“I think it was a great fit just because of the passing game, first off, I know that was something Cleveland was looking forward to, getting a back and getting guys who were explosive in space and then the returner opportunity. The returners have been in and out there’s been a lot of different returners over the years, at least for the past couple years. What I’ve seen when we played them and Bubba was here, so I know, Bubba’s probably one of. Bubba and Ken (Dorsey) are probably the two biggest reasons I’m here, so I’m thankful for that and thankful to be here.”

The move to bring in Bubba Ventrone continues to pay off. After a massive improvement in 2023, two more great special teamers joined him in Cleveland, with Hines and Justin Hardee coming to town this offseason. Ken Dorsey is going to help this passing attack grow, and Hines will likely play a part in that as well.

4 Browns coaches named ‘young NFL coaches to watch’

The Browns had four coaches, headlined by Bubba Ventrone, added to this year’s “young NFL coaches” to watch list for head coaching gigs.

The Cleveland Browns are finding success this season, and as a result, they are finding coaches added to the NFL’s yearly “young coaches to watch” list. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero put the list together, and four of their current coaches found their names mentioned in the NFL.com article. The obvious headliner of coaches who were considered younger and who had never had a previous head coaching position.

Ventrone came over to the Browns this offseason after they moved on from former special teams coordinator Mike Priefer. Before coming to Cleveland, Ventrone was the special teams coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts for the past five seasons. He can also be remembered for his time as a special teams ace for the Browns during his tenure as a player from 2009-2012.

Here is the full list of Browns’ coaches who made the list, including a handful of additions who have ties to the organization and saw their names appear as well.

Colts vs. Texans: Keys to victory in Week 2

Here’s how the Colts can pull off a win over the Texans in Week 2.

Welcome to Week 2 of the 2023 season, where the Indianapolis Colts play at NRG Stadium against the Houston Texans.

It’s a new era for the organization with many new faces, including head coach Shane Steichen and franchise quarterback Anthony Richardson. The team is anxious to get rolling, but wins will not come easy for a roster that has also been revamped and missing one of its most dynamic players.

Here are the keys to victory for taking down the Texans:

WATCH: New ST coordinator Bubba Ventrone prefers hands-on teaching

Watch as Browns special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone puts in reps with his players at OTAs

The Cleveland Browns completed Day 2 of their voluntary OTAs today as the orange and brown flew around the practice field in Berea. One of the more fun sights of the day, however, took place during special teams drills as new special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone was flying around the field with his players.

A former special teams ace with the Browns, Ventrone is used to gunning down the sideline, and old habits die hard. Watch as Ventrone participates in the drills with his Browns players during OTAs on Wednesday (video is courtesy of 92.3 The Fan’s Daryl Ruiter).

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ST coordinator Bubba Ventrone is ‘going to coach the crap out of techniques and fundamentals’

Hear from the new special teams coordinator here!

The Cleveland Browns have their new special teams coordinator, swapping out Mike Priefer for the highly-thought-of Bubba Ventrone. The former special teams ace for the Browns, Ventrone speaks highly of the city of Cleveland and is excited to return. He has young players at every position to work with as kicker Cade York still has the potential to be one of the best despite a rocky rookie season, Jerome Ford flashed as a kick returner, and Donovan Peoples-Jones even returned a punt for a touchdown in 2022.

He spoke to the media today in Cleveland for the first time since his hire, and stated that he has an emphasis on the small details and will “coach the crap out of techniques and fundamentals.”

You can find Ventrone’s full media transcript here.

4 options for Colts to replace Bubba Ventrone

Here are four options the Colts can consider to replace Bubba Ventrone.

The Cleveland Browns hired former Indianapolis Colts special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone last week.

The move ended weeks of speculation about Ventrone’s status with the organization and left a significant void to fill both on the field and in the locker room.

Ventrone is a phenomenal coach whose talents catapulted the Colts’ special teams unit to elite ranking. Replacing him will be difficult, but the team has some formidable options to consider under new head coach Shane Steichen.

Here are four options for replacing Bubba Ventrone:

Blast from the past: Looking back at Bubba Ventrone’s career in Cleveland

Let’s take a trip down memory lane.

The Cleveland Browns turned to one of their former players as they swapped out Mike Priefer for Bubba Ventrone as their special teams coordinator this week. After five seasons as the special teams coordinator with the Colts, and with the majority of those years coordinating a top-five unit, Ventone now looks to leave a massive stamp in Cleveland as he will also carry the title of assistant head coach.

Let’s take a trip down memory lane at Ventrone’s time in Cleveland as a player from 2009 to 2012.

While Ventrone never started a game at safety for the Browns in his four years, he did get some defensive snaps, resulting in two hits on the quarterback. Most of Ventrone’s contributions, however, came as a special teams ace where he racked up 39 solo tackles, forced one fumble, and recovered another in his time.

He then went on to play for the San Francisco 49ers for two years before hanging up his cleats. We look forward to what this former special teams ace can do as he runs the unit in Cleveland now.

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Podcast: Breaking down the Browns’ offseason thus far

What does the direction of the offseason look like so far?

The Cleveland Browns continue their coaching staff makeover with the hiring of Bubba Ventrone. The team is ready to make the necessary changes to be contenders in 2023. On this week’s podcast, we talk about how the team has made significant coaching upgrades and what it means about how Kevin Stefanski and this regime are viewed in league circles.

It is still early in the offseason but the team is better today than they were when the season ended last month. You can listen to the podcast here or watch it here if you want to see the video version of the podcast.

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Kevin Stefanski releases statement on the hiring of Bubba Ventrone

The head coach has released a statement on his latest hire.

The Cleveland Browns have made it official, hiring Bubba Ventrone as their new special teams coordinator. And now head coach Kevin Stefanski has released a statement on the move:

“We are thrilled to add Bubba to our coaching staff. He brings a proven track record as both a player and coach in this league. As a player, he built a reputation as a top special teamer during his 10-year career. He used that experience to make a successful transition to the sidelines, where his units have routinely performed at a high level. He has an infectious passion for the game and we are excited to have him leading our special teams unit.”

The fanbase is thrilled as well, as Stefanski and this regime has been able to turn Joe Woods and Mike Priefer into Jim Schwartz and Bubba Ventrone. There are no excuses now for this regime to go out and win in 2023.

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