The best – and, more importantly, most telling – quote to come out of the Browns’ rookie mini camp last weekend?
That’s easy. It was one made by head coach Hue Jackson.
Jackson was asked on Saturday during his last press conference of camp if he was worried about wide receiver because the Browns didn’t draft anyone there, causing some to think they are thin at that position.
“I am worried about everything,” he admitted. “I am being very honest.”
When Jackson said “everything,” he meant everything.
EVERYTHING!
That includes not just the wide receivers, but the running backs, quarterbacks, offensive linemen, tight ends, defensive linemen, linebackers, cornerbacks, safeties, kickers, punters, holders, long snappers, kickoff coverage units, kickoff return units, punt coverage units and punt return units.
Jackson is worried about his top players, those at the bottom of the roster and everybody in between.
He’s worried these spring OTA practices, the full-squad mini camp, training camp, preseason games and regular-season contests, including those both home and away, especially far away, as in London – not Ohio, but rather England.
He’s even worried about where the bye falls, and doesn’t fall.
And speaking of falling, Jackson is more than worried about injuries.
He’s worried about getting off to a fast start, finishing strongly and playing well in between.
He won’t say it, but he’s probably also worried about his job, his assistant coaches’ jobs, his players’ jobs and the jobs of the people in the front office who are in as deep on this total rebuilding effort as he is.
Yes, Hue Jackson is worried about a lot – a whole lot – and that’s not going to go away anytime soon. Actually, you would … well, worry … if Hue wasn’t worried. That would be bad, irresponsible. You would ask yourself, “Does the guy care?”
Jackson certainly does care. It’s why he’s worried.
That’s what happens when you’re the coach of a team that went an NFL- and franchise-worst 1-15 record last season, has had nine consecutive losing records and only twice in the 18 seasons of the expansion era has posted a winning mark. In addition, these new Browns have made the playoffs just once, and that was 15 long years ago in 2002.
So while the Browns have done some very good things in the offseason in the NFL Draft and free agency, they still have a long, long way to go before they’re ready to compete for a playoff spot.
That fact is numbing, and worrisome.
And the depth of the problem is not lost on Hue Jackson.
