Gregg Williams has had no shortage of responsibilities since being named the interim coach of the Cleveland Browns, while at the same time, holding the dual role of defensive coordinator, but that is okay with the veteran NFL coach.
Williams embraces the challenges because of the thrill he gets from competition.
“I really do love everything that I do in my job,” Williams said earlier this week. “I am happiest during the season when you get a chance to compete. I am a competition-aholic anyway.
“I have had a lot of good experiences, have had a lot of big winning streaks and had a lot of different things that have gone on -- Super Bowl championships and all of that stuff. It is fun for me to be involved with these young guys here getting a chance to believe in themselves. It really kind of sparks me to see the flash in their eyes, the strut in their steps and the confidence in their body language when they get a chance to put everything together. It does help.”
Williams took over the on-field leadership role of the Browns when coach Hue Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Haley were dismissed in an unprecedented mid-season upheaval in the coaching staff on Monday, October 29.
Williams took the interim role and was given an inexperienced offensive coordinator in Freddie Kitchens, but the Browns have averaged 24.6 points per game, up nearly 3.5 points from the Jackson/Haley offense over the first eight games of the 2018 regular season.
“I think it is only natural for somebody to think that a little bit, but you can’t waste your time thinking about those things,” Williams said of missed opportunities earlier in the season. “You can’t change that. Those things cannot be changed.
“The only thing that you do have an impact on is what is up next. You have to focus on what is up next. This game at this level is so hard that you can’t be bringing in outside factors on trying to change the old times but do what you can do right now, one day at a time and come out and take the next game at hand.”
What makes everything a little better for Williams is the fact that the Browns have won three of their last four games and had a bounce-back showing this weekend.
The Browns talked all week about wanting to get back that winning feeling after a loss to the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium in Houston on December 2 snapped their modest two-game streak, and that is exactly what happened at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Despite playing from behind or even for much of the game, the Browns got nine fourth-quarter points on the way to a 26-20 victory over the Carolina Panthers, which improved their record to 5-7-1 overall and 4-2-1 at FirstEnergy Stadium this season.
“I think anybody that gets a chance to look at us right now sees how hard they are competing and sees how hard they are playing,” Williams said. “All three phases, as I mentioned, are playing complementary kind of football on what we have to do to help everybody win a close ball game.”