CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Browns named Norv Turner their new offensive co-ordinator on Thursday.
Turner, fired by the Chargers as head coach earlier this month, led San Diego to a 59-43 record in six years with three division titles. He also was head coach of the Washington Redskins (1994-2000) and Oakland Raiders (2004-05).
New Cleveland coach Rob Chudzinski expects Turner to make a big impact on that side of the ball, and the Browns can use the help. Cleveland went 5-11 last year and scored just 302 points in coach Pat Shurmur's final season.
Cleveland also added Mike Sullivan (offensive line), Scott Turner (wide receivers) and Brad Roll (strength) to the staff, and retained Chris Tabor (special teams) and George Warhop (offensive line) from last year.
"Norv has been one of the most respected offensive coaches in the NFL over the last 25-30 years, and he has had a tremendous amount of success at each one of his stops -- as a position coach, co-ordinator and head coach," Chudzinski said. "I was able to learn a great deal in the time that I worked for him in San Diego."
Turner's systems and strategies vary depending upon personnel, but you can expect the Browns, and running back Trent Richardson, to run the football next season. Turner's offences have produced the NFL's leading rusher five times in the form of three players: Dallas' Emmitt Smith (1991-93), Miami's Ricky Williams (2002) and San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson (2007).
Cleveland has plenty of questions on its young offence, as Chudzinski and the new-look Browns begin the process of evaluating the talent. Quarterback Brandon Weeden threw for 3,385 yards last year in his debut season, but also threw 17 interceptions and finished with an overall rating of just 72.6.
Richardson, also a rookie last season, compiled 950 yards and 12 touchdowns, despite battling injuries. And Josh Gordon, another rookie, led the team with 805 yards receiving.
Against non-playoff teams, the Browns threw together a three-game winning from Nov. 25-Dec. 9. But they also lost their final three games, signalling the end of the Shurmur era after just two years.
