Hue Jackson is nice guy, both as a person and in his role as the second-year head coach of the Browns.

 

 

In press conferences, he often begins his answers with a laugh. When he doesn’t, and when his answers, while not dragging his players through the mud in public (he would never do that), aren’t exactly praiseworthy, either, you know he’s unhappy. And behind closed doors, he might unload on some people – or at least as much he ever unloads on anyone. Again, he’s too kind a man to get too deep into that.

 

 

Realizing that, then, it was clear that Jackson wasn’t too happy with  veteran wide receiver Kenny Britt dropping a pass while wide open far down the field inSunday’s 21-18 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday in the regular-season opener.

 

 

When asked on Monday if Britt, a big free-agent signing in the offseason, had performed as needed, Jackson made it clear in no uncertain terms that he did not.

 

 

“Yeah, I think Corey (Coleman) made some plays and there was one huge one we had him open down the field that went the other way,” Jackson said. “Those things will happen from time to time. Obviously, Kenny dropped the ball in the middle of the field and I know that is what we all are talking about.

 

 

“I have seen players do that before, and we all have. I have had some of the great ones in this league drop balls, but we can’t do that to a young quarterback because he needs guys to make as many plays for him as they can in this situation.

 

 

“I think Kenny gets that. He knows that is inexcusable. He has to make that play for the quarterback. He has to play better. It is just that simple. That is where we are.”

 

 

Jackson was asked what he had seen from Brit that makes him believe he’s a starter.

 

 

“Let’s see where we go this week. Let’s see what we are doing this week. Let’s find out,” Jackson said.

 

 

“You are saying that he is starting this week. We don’t know that. Let’s see where we are this week and go from there.”

 

 

Uh, you can count on Britt not starting on Sunday when the Browns are in Baltimore go face the Ravens.

 

 

Then there’s the special teams, which, under the guidance of coordinator Chris Tabor, have been especially bad since he arrived in 2011. They were again on Sunday, with the Steelers blocking a punt just minutes into the game and recovering it for a touchdown.

 

 

Jackson was asked about that immediately following the game.

 

 

“It was huge,” he said. “Obviously, that is kind of the difference in the game when you look back. The momentum switched.

 

 

“We had a miscommunication there and let a guy go free. We didn’t handle that right early in the game. That is disappointing, but we have to grow from that. That happened early so we had opportunities to go make some other plays on both sides of the ball. We have to make enough when those things happen to get the chance to win the game.”

 

 

Are you listening, Chris Tabor?