Mike Priefer is happy to be back in his hometown of Cleveland and coaching the Browns special teams. The former Vikings special teams coordinator has returned to Northeast Ohio at a very good time, with the local team on a major upswing.
“Great time to be Brown with the team that we have,” Priefer said in his press conference. “I am really excited to be here and I am proud and happy to be a part of it.”
How does Priefer think he can help the Browns special teams? In a word, discipline.
“We are going to play disciplined,” Priefer continued. “I do not want to go into a situation where I think, ‘Hey, (the special teams) are going to go out and win every game for the Cleveland Browns.’ That is not our role on special teams. Our role is to go out there and be a weapon in all six phases, including field goal and field goal block.”
He has some work to do. The Browns kicking units struggled, and the coverage units lacked cohesion and chemistry. Too many big plays against them led to Amos Jones being fired from Priefer’s new job.
Even so, there are some talented pieces for Priefer to work with in return men Jabrill Peppers and Antonio Callaway. Undrafted rookie Tavierre Thomas proved a capable coverage teams ace late in the season, too.
