Byron Leftwich, Freddie Kitchens, Todd Monken & Bruce Arians
March 27th, 2019
Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich
Joe had many chat targets at the NFL Owners Meetings in Phoenix this week. A lot of mileage was put on the ol’ sneakers at the posh and expansive Arizona Biltmore resort.
Browns new head coach Freddie Kitchens was one of those guys.
The proud Bruce Arians disciple seems like a heck of a regular dude and Joe wanted to talk to him about Byron Leftwich. There aren’t many people around the NFL who can speak about Leftwich the coach, and Kitchens was on staff with Leftwich in Arizona for two seasons.
Well, Joe finally cornered Kitchens 1-on-1, and Kitchens was nice as could be but said he didn’t want to talk about Leftwich — but then he did … and then he didn’t again.
Kitchens explained to Joe that even though Arians brought in Leftwich to the Cardinals as a coaching intern back in 2016, Leftwich was dropped in Kitchens’ room (he was QB coach) and it was Kitchens who primarily showed him the ropes.
A year later, Kitchens was coaching tight ends and Leftwich was quarterbacks coach.
Joe asked Kitchens if he had Leftwich on his list of potential hires for the Browns, and then Kitchens said he didn’t want to talk about coaches on other teams. But then Kitchens wanted to make sure Joe was aware that he likes Leftwich.
It got a little awkward for a moment.
Anyway, Joe changed the conversation in a hurry and eventually Joe brought up Todd Monken, Kitchen’s handpicked Browns offense coordinator who just held the same job in Tampa.
Kitchens said Monken very much is a Bruce Arians type of guy and seamlessly fit into their overall coaching philosophy and core values in Cleveland, which are really just like those of his mentor, Arians.
The NFL is an interesting an incestuous world.
For more on Leftwich, Joe got hold of an NFC head coach, who asked not to be quoted, to ask about Leftwich’s work as offensive coordinator for a half a season in Arizona last year. “For a sh*t situation, he was impressive,” the coach said. “I think he got a lot out of the quarterback [Josh Rosen], and there are a lot of people now studying how much.”
March 27th, 2019 at 9:50 am
I am still a little surprised we let Monken walk. Fully behind BA but I hope letting Monken go wasn’t a mistake. Leftwich has huge holes to fill. I hope this isn’t the same type of move we saw with Koetter/Smith – BA/Leftwich.
March 27th, 2019 at 9:51 am
Hmmmm.. Um, not really sure how to react to this one, JOE.
I have been feeling pretty good about Leftwich until now.
Can you clarify? Did you get the feeling that Kitchens really didn’t think much of him and just did not want to say so?
March 27th, 2019 at 9:56 am
Read between the lines. Monken>Leftwich
March 27th, 2019 at 10:05 am
Arians opinion>kitchens opinion
March 27th, 2019 at 10:06 am
Not sure what younposters are reading. Kitchens is a brand new head coach, if he says he should’ve hired Leftwich and Leftwich explodes and Monkens shats, then Freddie looks like a fool, so why we he put anything out there. Secondly, why are we still on the Monken train when it has already left the station. We still couldn’t score in the red zone or run the ball with Monk, not saying he wasn’t a good coach, bit name me anyway of the new coaches who retained their staff, Kitchens sent Greg Williams packing.
March 27th, 2019 at 10:09 am
imo, it sounds like kitchens is still butt over the fact that BA picked BL to coach QB’s and not kitchens…..
and it speaks volumes that an “intern” can come in and coach the most important position after 1year while the coach, “showing him the ropes” was reassigned to coaching TE’s…..
sounds like BL knew more than kitchens and was getting better results…..
BL>TM….BL>FK…
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
March 27th, 2019 at 10:21 am
Seems like Bruce didn’t hire the best available coordinator just someone he knew which is a disservice to the fans and organization
March 27th, 2019 at 10:33 am
Freddie Kitchens was a stud QB at bama before Leftwich started making a legend for himself. Kitchens then went into coaching and has learned from the best. I really hope leftwich is the guy arians thinks he is going to be. Funny how the browns & bucs are going to be linked for the next 10 years due to them being the worst in the NFL for so long
March 27th, 2019 at 11:15 am
“imo, it sounds like kitchens is still butt over the fact that BA picked BL to coach QB’s and not kitchens…..”
My first thought. Sounded bitter about how that played out but not as an indictment to anyone, he just probably felt he had put more of the work in than Leftwich at that point and deserved more
March 27th, 2019 at 11:35 am
Amazing how highly Monken is respected in the nfl as well as Dirk but its coaching that held back JW
March 27th, 2019 at 11:43 am
@813 and Lord Cornelius: EXACTLY!! Kitchens wasn’t thrilled about the demotion and the awkwardness of not talking Leftwich, but reiterating that he (Kitchens) is a supporter is the almost scripted response style of someone that is bitter in hindsight but is happy with the current situation…..letting bygones be bygones.
March 27th, 2019 at 11:52 am
We lost with Moken…..lets get behind BA and his staff…..it’s what we have now!!!
March 27th, 2019 at 12:40 pm
Kitchens talks and sounds like he took 3 Xanax before his interview.