Odds Still Against Gregg Williams Being Named Browns Head Coach in 2019

• Gregg Williams has won four of six games as Interim Head Coach with the Browns
• Has Williams done enough to keep the job for 2019?
• Or should you put your money elsewhere for the Browns’ next head coach?

With a 3-36-1 record as Head Coach of the Cleveland Browns, Hue Jackson’s time finally ran out after a Week 8 loss to Pittsburgh.

Defensive Coordinator at the time Gregg Williams may have been ahead of the curve in joining Cleveland this offseason, possibly foreseeing Jackson’s pending demise.

As far back as Hard Knocks, you could see there were fractions in the Browns’ coaching staff. Since Williams was given the reigns he’s been making an argument for the team to keep him on past this season.

Odds Gregg Williams Is Browns Head Coach Game 1 of 2019 Season

Odds taken 12/20.

Is Williams Responsible For The Browns’ Turnaround?

The bar was set extremely low by his predecessor, but the results speak for themselves as the Browns are both 4-2 SU and ATS under Williams.

Mathematically, they are also remarkably still in the AFC playoff hunt.

Dig into those wins, though, and you’ll see none of them came against a winning team. Wins over Atlanta, Cincy, Carolina and Denver have come against opposition with a combined record of 23-33.

They failed to step up against stronger opposition with losses to KC and Houston.

Cleveland Browns interim head coach Gregg Williams gets it‼️

“The things I’ve learned through life is that – you have to be a life coach first, & then a football coach second.”

“I think some of the best coaches in the country are high school coaches” pic.twitter.com/KScTZTZj21

— CoachTube.com (@thecoachtube) December 19, 2018

The Gregg Williams we see on the sidelines these days seems to have come a long way from the over-the-top DC who was a dealt a one-year suspension in 2012 for his role in Bountygate.

Williams has taken on a calmer demeanor with the young Browns and seems willing to adapt to help the team and possibly extend his head coaching career.

“I’ve got to morph to help these guys,” he said. “We all have to. Each person out there, each player, each coach — me first, I’ve got to to do whatever is best to help the guys that are here. I’m trying to do that the best that I can.”

Browns Stats With Hue Jackson vs Gregg Williams

Statistically, Cleveland has not only improved their record under Williams compared to Jackson, but have also increased their scoring and tightened up defensively.

On Sunday, they’ll get another chance to face their old coach who’s now with the Bengals when Cleveland hosts Cincinnati.

Though Cleveland has faced their share of struggles recently against their division foe, they defeated the Bengals 35-20 only four weeks ago under Williams.

The #Browns have not played well vs their division rival #Bengals over the last 8 meetings going 1-7 ATS. This Sunday the #Browns are big 8 point favorites at home. https://t.co/JtRzEvNxf9 #betting #sports #gambling #NFL pic.twitter.com/lvFdOtfi50

— Lineups (@lineups) December 19, 2018

Is Williams The Man For 2019?

The odds say no.

And that could be because he has very little head coaching experience to his name. Williams was last a head coach for three seasons from 2001-2003 with Buffalo.

His results were not exactly anything to get excited about with three losing seasons and a 17-31 record.

At 60 years old and with the trend in the league of hiring young offensive minds to head coaching positions, it’s hard to see Williams as the long-term solution.

Despite a 4-2 record as interim head coach of the Browns, The MMQB TV crew isn't convinced that Gregg Williams is the long-term answer in Cleveland: https://t.co/PSpdvMFYNo pic.twitter.com/kuTV63hHVu

— SI's Faces in the Crowd (@Faces_SI) December 20, 2018

However, his fate could be decided by how the Browns end the season.

If Cleveland beats Cincy on Sunday and follows it up with another win against Baltimore in Week 17, he’ll end with a 6-2 record. Cleveland will also have won four games in a row and five of six to close the year.

What’s also important is that he seems to have connected with the players including rookie QB Baker Mayfield who said he loves “Everything” about Williams.

https://twitter.com/FredGreetham/status/1072569665308762112

With Mayfield and a host of young talent on the roster the Browns’ head coaching job will be highly sought after this offseason. The list of candidates is large, though Williams’ odds have shortened considerably since his appointment.

Though it seems the smart move would be to invest in a young coach of the future, closing the season with four straight wins may be enough to earn Williams the job.

Browns’ management is also not know for always making logical decisions, so sticking with the hot hand at +120 offers the best value.