As Browns fans, we should be familiar with Chudzinski. He served as interim offensive coordinator for five games in 2004 when Terry Robiskie took over head coaching duties after Butch Davis quit because of a so called “panic attack”. Even though those five games resulted in some terrible losses, Chudzinski earned valuable experience as a coordinator - which led him to impress Savage during their first meeting in 2005, and eventually lead to his hiring as full time offensive coordinator this past week.

We have all read the reports about Chudzinski. How he was a fantastic tight end for the University of Miami in the late 1980’s, and served as the Hurricanes offensive coordinator for their recent dominant seasons, before following Butch Davis to Cleveland. But the interesting information about Chudzinski lies a bit more behind the scenes.

Savage and Crennel have always looked for head coaching potential as a key characteristics when hiring coordinators. Even though it appears they completely struck out in that regard with Maurice Carthon, they did find that quality in defensive coordinator Todd Grantham. Both Crennel and Savage feel that Chudzinski follows the same mold as Grantham - passion, organization, and severe motivation to succeed.

The leadership qualities of Chudzinski are there if you look for them. As a player for the Hurricanes, Chudzinski was named to the Iron Arrow Society - an honor reserved for recognizing outstanding leadership, character and service to the University of Miami. Chudzinski also carried an extremely high GPA at Miami, logging a perfect 4.0 during 1989 - two examples of the qualities that the Browns are looking for.

What’s also interesting to me is that Chudzinski, who spent the past season as the tight ends coach for San Diego Chargers, impressed Savage and Crennel with his theories on how to “attack” a defense with the run and the pass. And why wouldn’t his theories impress them? Chudzinski has witnessed the magic of LaDanian Tomlinson, Antonio Gates and Philip Rivers first hand, and surely knows what it takes to be a high scoring offense.

Why do I find this interesting? Because it maybe that Chudzinski looks at the current Browns team, with Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow and Charlie Frye…and sees no breakaway running back threat.

Of course the Browns offensive problems go deeper then just no breakaway running back threat, but after witnessing what an all-pro runner, like Tomlinson can do for an offense, Chudzinski may make the drafting of Oklahoma running break Adrian Peterson a priority.

Some may argue that it doesn’t matter who we have at running back - we could have Jim Brown back there and even he would not perform with our horrendous offensive line. I disagree.

True, the line needs fixing and upgrading, but we also need that workhorse running back that at a moments notice can break the long TD run…and Reuben Droughns is not that type of runner.

While Chudzinski was serving as interim offensive coordinator with the Browns during the last five games of 2004, an interesting thing happened. Lee Suggs had arguably the best three game stretch of his NFL career. He carried that ball 21 times for 105 yards against the Chargers, carried it 38 times for 143 yards against the Dolphins, and finished the year with 26 carries for 131 yards against the Texans in the finale.

Those are workhorse numbers for a running back who had just as bad as an offensive line that the Browns have now - yet with Chudzinski calling the plays - the running game had success anyway.

You can even look at Suggs and compare him physically to Adrain Peterson as well. Suggs is 6′0 206 lbs…Peterson 6′2 218 lbs…Peterson is slightly bigger then Suggs which could equal a better ability to handle a workhorse load. Peterson and Suggs have similar “upright” running styles, and rely on quick cuts and slashes to be effective. In short…Suggs is a “poor mans” Adrian Peterson, and if Chudzinki could find success for Suggs with his play calling…then just imagine what he can get out of a stud like Peterson.

I have made no secret about my desires for the Browns this offseason. I believe that they should draft Adrian Peterson with their first pick - then build the line through a loaded free agent class, and in later rounds of the draft. But Peterson is a back that I believe does not come around very often.

Hopefully, in my opinion anyway, the hiring of Chudzinski is a stepping stone to that outcome.