The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Jackson evasive about QB situation
Hue Jackson might have a second career guarding state secrets if he doesn’t succeed at his current profession.
The Browns’ third-year head coach, the first speaker on Feb. 28 at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, was evasive when reporters tried to get him to reveal how the Browns rate the crop of quarterbacks available in the 2018 draft.
As their reward for finishing 0-16 last season, the Browns have the first pick in the draft on April 26. They also own picks 4, 33, 35, 63 and 65 in the first three rounds.
“Having six of the first 65 picks is going to be a huge opportunity for us to move forward,” Jackson said at Lucas Oil Stadium. “I’ve seen them all (the quarterbacks). This is another opportunity to talk to them, to get a feel for them.
“I think it’s too early in the process to talk about where they
rank, but this is really the start of it.
“I think it’s really about getting to know them as people and digging into all the medical things and being able to put a face with the name. I like hand size, guys who are athletic, but it still has to fit in with what you’re trying to accomplish on offense.”
Sam Darnold of Southern Cal, Josh Rosen of UCLA, Baker Mayfield of Oklahoma
and Josh Allen of Wyoming are considered the top four quarterbacks in the draft. Jackson commented on each in the 17-minute interview.
On Darnold losing nine fumbles in 2017:
“You have to see where that’s coming from,” Jackson said. “Is it because the guy’s not protecting the ball? Maybe somebody is hitting him on the arm. It could be his grip. It’s something we have to find out about.”
Jackson is disappointed Darnold is waiting until the USC pro day March 21 to throw in front of NFL personnel.
“Sam’s making the decision,” Jackson said. “We wish he would throw, but there are going to be times to watch him work out. Do I wish he was throwing to watch him compete with the other guys? Yes, I do. But that’s not going to hinder us making a decision on what kind of player he is for our football team.”
On Mayfield being just a shade over 6-foot tall:
“There are always outliers,” Jackson said. “There are guys still playing that are below 6-foot-2 (Drew Brees with New Orleans and Russell Wilson with Seattle) and have
played really well. There is always that one player that’s going to be special and this young man might be that.”
Rosen told NFL Network on Feb. 27 that an ESPN story alleging he didn’t want to play for the Browns had no basis.
“Obviously we’ll ask that question and (Rosen) will be able to answer it,” Jackson said. “I don’t get concerned about those things because sometimes things get written that people don’t say.”
Allen has the strongest arm of all the quarterbacks in the draft, but he completed only 56.2 percent of his passes in
2017. Allen will be throwing against much better defenses in the NFL.
“We’re going to find out why it’s 56.2 percent,” Jackson said. “That’s why we’re here at the combine. That’s what we’ll be doing over the next month or two is finding out why those things are happening.”
In non-quarterback matters, Jackson said he expects Joe Thomas to decide soon on whether he plans to play in 2018. The 10-time Pro Bowl left tackle suffered a season-ending triceps injury midway through 2017, ending his streak of 10,363 consecutive snaps.
“It’s on his time,” Jackson said. “Joe has been a tremendous Cleveland Brown. I think it’s only right we give him the opportunity to work through this and make the best decision for him.”
One more nugget: When the Browns finished 1-15 in 2016, Jackson said he would jump in Lake Erie if that happened again. After the 0-16 finish in 2017, he said he would make good on that promise. He repeated that vow at the end of his combine interview.
“It’s going to be a cleansing of the Cleveland Browns,” he said. “That’s what it will be.”