Browns' Jackson will not take over play-calling duties
Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson, right, talks with team owner Jimmy Haslam before the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at FirstEnergy Stadium on Oct. 14.
Cleveland Browns coach Hue Jackson told reporters Sunday that he might need to get involved to provide a spark to his ailing offense. But on Monday he said that he will not take over the play-calling duties.
Jackson watched as the Browns' offense struggled during Sunday's 26-23 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After the game he seemed to suggest that he might take over play-calling responsibilities from offensive coordinator Todd Haley, who was hired after the Pittsburgh Steelers did not pick up his contract after last season.
He dismissed that possibility Monday.
"I never said that I would take over the play-calling," Jackson said. "I just want to make that clear. I think sometimes things get said, written, whatever that is. When I said I'll do whatever I think I need to do, that is to help. If there was something that I needed to change, I would. Regardless of what that may be. I think my frustration, again as a coach, I got to be careful not to get too frustrated, too."
Jackson has been an offensive coordinator with four different NFL teams and said he can use his expertise to help the Browns' offense get untracked.
The Browns (2-4-1), who have lost two in a row, produced just 305 yards of total offense and went 3-for-14 on third-down attempts against the Bucs. The Browns' only points in the first half came on a safety.
Those numbers came on the heels of posting 317 total yards and converting 6-of-16 attempts on third down in the previous week.
"I want to take a really good look at it, be very thorough through it, watch it all, and see how I can help and infuse myself," Jackson said. "I do plan on doing that -- infuse myself to help and assist our offensive coaching staff."
Jackson said he plans to give Haley anything he needs to solve the problem, and added that Haley was receptive.
"He's very open to it," Jackson said. "He didn't say, 'No, you can't do that.' Anything like that. We are all committed to doing one thing: trying to find a way to win."
On Sunday, Jackson noted his dissatisfaction with his team's offense.
"Trust me, I'm not trying to create any issue here," Jackson said after the game. "But I think if the offense is not playing well and we haven't over a period of time, being a head coach and an offensive guy who's done this, I think I have every right as a head coach to jump in here and see if I can help, and assist, and get this thing to where I think it needs to because we need to be better on offense. And if that's my specialty, then I need to be involved more and I will be."
--QB Baker Mayfield did not throw any interceptions against Tampa Bay on Sunday. It was the first time in his four games as a starter that he did not have any picks.
--RB Nick Chubb had 18 carries on Sunday, two days after Carlos Hyde was traded. Chubb's previous high in rushing attempts was three. He gained a team-high 80 yards on Sunday, well below his season-high 105 yards he had against the Raiders.
--WR Jarvis Landry had a season-high 10 receptions on Sunday against Tampa Bay. He had 97 receiving yards.
--S Briean Boddy-Calhoun played one snap the previous two games, but was on the field for 95 defensive snaps as the starting free safety on Sunday. Counting special teams participation, Boddy-Calhoun was on the field for 113 plays.
--WR Breshad Perriman, who signed with the Browns on Oct. 13, played 11 snaps in his Browns debut Sunday. He had one reception for 6 yards.
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