Josh Gordon expected to play against Pittsburgh. Hue Jackson on offensive coordinator Todd Haley and the rest of the season.
ANSWERING THE BIGGEST QUESTION ABOUT JOSH GORDON
By STEVE KING
Browns head coach Hue Jackson has spent much of his press conferences recently, particularly those the last several days, answering questions about wide receiver Josh Gordon.
That’s not surprising, since Gordon is, when healthy mentally, physically and emotionally, the most talented offensive player on the team and one of the most talented in the NFL.
First it was reporters asking when Jackson thought Gordon would rejoin the team. Now that he has done that, they are asking the coach if Gordon will play against Pittsburgh in the regular-season opener on Sept. 9 at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Hmmm.
OK.
Let me assure you that, with any shadow of a doubt, Gordon will play against Pittsburgh. Gordon could have rejoined the team at 12:59 p.m. that day, one minute before kickoff, and he would play in the game.
All right, that might be a little facetious – a little silly – but in truth, so are those questions about the possibility of Gordon playing against Pittsburgh.
I know, I know, those questions have to be asked – you want to hear it from the head coach so that you know it is “official,” and the members of Browns media corps, which is one of the best in the NFL, are just doing their job – but you know, I know and everybody knows that Gordon will be in uniform and ready to go against the Steelers. And if Gordon is suited up, guess what? He’s going to play, probably a lot. The while game? Yeah, I’d say so. I would almost bet on it.
The Browns need to win. They need to get off to a good start or else Jackson is going to lose his job. Having Gordon increases the chances for that happening – that is, the Browns winning, not Jackson getting fired – because he is a threat to score a touchdown and change the game whenever he gets his hands on the ball.
So, before it gets asked again – and it will – Josh Gordon will definitely play against Pittsburgh.
HUE ON HALEY AND THE SEASON
Browns head coach Hue Jackson had interesting and informative answers to two big-picture questions following practice on Tuesday.
First, when asked about his feelings about, and expectations for, his team going into the season, he said:
“Very excited. Probably more excited than I have been the first two years because I truly believe that winning is in this group, in this coaching staff, in this group, in the plan that we have laid out. I think that there is a chance. Now, we have to go do it. We have to coach well. We have to improve our players, and the players have to buy into what we are all selling. At the same time, I have never been more confident about a group having the opportunity to have success than ever before.”
When asked about being the CEO of the team now after the addition of offensive coordinator Todd Haley, who has taken over Jackson’s job as play-caller, he said:
“I see more. Probably the assistant coaches do not like me as much because I am always in their rooms talking about something I have seen, whether it is in walkthrough or whether it is in practice. It allows me to see a lot more of our football team and to give some real concrete evaluation to the things that are happening. Obviously, when you see it in real time, it is different than when you go up and have to see it on tape.
“I really appreciate the staff that I have. I am glad that Todd is here. He is doing a great job with the offense. I always tend to lean that way, but at the same time, this has been really good for me because I get to see our team at all the different levels and see where we need to improve and how we need to get better and sometimes even lay out a plan on how to do that. That has been good.
“The season is going to be the season, but I kind of like where I am right now. I have to continue to help our staff help these players be the best that they can be.”
Also see: Josh Gordon returns
