 The Browns have fired defensive coordinator Todd Grantham. It's a stunning descent for Grantham, who was given a two-year contract extension in June. At the time, the youthful Grantham was viewed as a potential in-house replacement for coach Romeo Crennel if the 2007 season went down the sewer. In preseason, Grantham's television interviews were closely monitored by the Browns' brass to determine whether he "projected" as a head coach. Those tentative plans went awry when two surprises occurred. Grantham's defense was the unit that tanked and Crennel supervised the Browns to a 10-6 season. In the third season under Grantham, the defense allowed 402 points (fourth-most in Browns history) and 5,753 total yards (second-most). It finished 21st in points after hovering at the bottom of the league rankings most of the season and was 30th in total yards allowed. Grantham's best season was his first, when the Browns' defense ranked 16th overall and fourth against the pass. In 2006, those rankings fell to 27th and 15th. This season, the Browns plummeted to 24th against the pass and gave up 29 touchdown passes. Opponents completed 340 passes against the Browns, second-most in team history.
Grantham also could not significantly improve the run defense. The Browns were 30th against the run in 2005, 29th in '06 and 27th in '07. The Browns have not yet confirmed the firing. It's possible they will name secondary coach Mel Tucker Jr. to succeed Grantham. |
