Cleveland Browns: Is Mike Pettine The "Right Guy?"

It was reported yesterday that the Cleveland Browns would interview Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator, Mike Pettine for a second time. Pettine is in his first year in Buffalo as the DC. He had spent three years as the New York Jets DC under hard nosed coach, Rex Ryan. The 47 year old had stated earlier today according to Plain Dealer sports writer, Mary Kay Cabot on Twitter, that he "should have some feedback on my interview by the end of the day." There have been several sources that have claimed that Pettine and the Browns are "very close" to a deal.

According to some Buffalo Bills fans, Mike Pettine would be the perfect guy for the Cleveland Browns head coaching vacancy. Now, I can think of two reasons, they would say that. One would be, they're lying and want to get rid of Pettine. Two, they could be telling the truth. The Browns fans really don't know what to think of the coach who has had no experience in head coaching a professional football team.

Browns fans are worried sick. Can you blame them? They don't want another "Chud Experience" which was a complete disaster. Although some may feel good about the Cleveland Browns hiring Pettine, (I haven't met any yet.) you have to think if you're a Browns fan, that this guy was not even who the organization was going after in the beginning, his name did not surface until the very end...like Chud. The Browns fans are hoping that if hired, this is the "right guy" as Jimmy Haslam would put it. They have to worry if Pettine is hired, will he go 4-12 like Chud and be fired at the end of the year only to be in this mess again because they did not hire the "right guy."

Poor Browns fans. They deserve to at least go to a playoff game. The organization owes it to them.

Not a lot of Browns fans know who this Pettine guy is. I decided to give you all some information on the Bills DC.

Pettine is the son of Mike Pettine Sr who went 326-42-4 in 33 seasons as head coach. Pettine Jr after leaving the University of Pittsburgh as a defensive graduate assistant has been coaching since 1995 where he was given his first head coaching job of the William Tennent High School Panthers. He served as head coach for two years. He led the team to nine wins which was a school record.

Afterwards, he left for North Penn High School where he had 45-15 in five years. In 1999, he led the team to a record of 11-2. He was there from 1997-2001.

It seems as though he has no problem winning.

Pettine joined the Baltimore Ravens in 2002. He was hired on as a coaching assistant. He was then promoted to assistant defensive line coach in 2004. From 2005-2008, he was promoted again to the outside linebackers coach. When coaching the outside linebackers, Pettine's defense ranked 5th in the league in 2005, 1st in 2006, 6th in 2007, and 2nd in 2008.

Pettine joined the New York Jets under Rex Ryan in 2009. He served until 2012. While working as the defensive coordinator, Pettine's Jets defense ranked in the Top 10 in the NFL for three years. In 2012, Pettine's defense limited their opponents' to second fewest passing yards and finished 5th in the AFC in total defense.

Under Pettine, the Jets have held opposing quarterbacks to low quarterback ratings according to Buffalo Bills website of 71.0, with 186.3 passing yards per game. The Jets had the highest percentage in 3 and outs in the league. They were outstanding on third down efficiency and held their opponents to only 20 points per game. The defense had 115 takeaways in his four year stint. That was the second most in the AFC and the seventh in the NFL.

Coming up with a new idea of defense, the defense finished first in points allowed with 14 points per game. The total defense gave up no more than 250 yards a game, and 157 passing yards. This was in 2009 in his first year with the New York Jets.

In his first two seasons, Pettine and his defense made back to back appearances in the AFC Championship.

From 2009-2012, Pettine's defense ranked no lower than the top 10 in the AFC. He is the mastermind behind Rex Ryan's blitz happy defense. Pettine spent two years filming practices before becoming a quality control coach under then defensive coordinator, Mike Nolan in Baltimore. In 2009, Pettine had the #1 defense with the Jets in the NFL.

He and his father starred in a movie called, The Last Game, which father and son play each other as coaches in a final season football game.

The defensive mastermind has three children, Megan who is 18, Ryan who is 15, and Katie who is 11. They currently reside in Baltimore with Pettine's ex wife.

Browns fans, I think we have a winner.