{"id":7504,"date":"2015-01-22T07:42:00","date_gmt":"2015-01-22T12:42:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jmusportsblog.com\/?p=7504"},"modified":"2015-01-22T07:42:00","modified_gmt":"2015-01-22T12:42:00","slug":"former-jmu-qb-john-defilippo-named-cleveland-offensive-coordinator","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jmusportsblog.com\/?p=7504","title":{"rendered":"Former JMU QB John DeFilippo Named Cleveland Offensive Coordinator"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"DeFilippo\"<\/a>JMU alum and former QB for the Dukes, John DeFilipo is the NFL’s newest offensive coordinator…for the Cleveland Browns. So, congrats? Well, yeah. John is coming off a job with the Oakland Raiders, so he’s in the rare position where a move to the Cleveland is actually a huge step up in term’s of organizational maturity. In Oakland, DeFilippo coached the QBs and did a pretty good job getting the most out of rookie Derek Carr. John is well respected in NFL circles and considered to be a rising star in the coaching profession by some.<\/p>\n

All kidding aside, this is awesome news and a terrific opportunity for one of JMU’s own. The NFL is obviously the dominate player on the sports landscape in America. John has been chosen to perform one of the rarest and most sought after positions in sports. It’s well deserved.<\/p>\n

As a coordinator, John will have responsibility for improving the Brown’s offense and trying to bring some playoff success to a city that badly wants, and deserves, a winner. Cleveland fans have been subject to some heartbreaking moments, including the Drive, and the Fumble. They even briefly lost their team to Baltimore when Art Modell split. But they’re a loyal bunch who have stuck by the Browns through it all, which makes this an awesome opportunity for John. If he and the rest of the coaches can groom Johnny Football and turn him into a bona fide NFL franchise QB, they’ll be the toast of the town.<\/p>\n

DeFilippo played QB for JMU and his name was mentioned as a possible coaching candidate after Mickey Matthews departure. While we’re happy with the Everett Withers hired, DeFillippo was actually the guy Todd and I were hoping would get the job at one point. We couldn’t be happier that he’s getting a shot to run an NFL offense. Heck, maybe some of you fans of a certain completely disfunctional NFL organization being run by a small angry man with a Napolean complex could jump on the Browns’ bandwagon and support John. In any case, congrats and good luck to DeFilippo.<\/p>\n