The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Touches eluding playmaker
Browns — again — looking for ways to get ball to Johnson
Duke Johnson has been a square peg in a round hole for so long in the Browns’ offense, no matter the play caller, that he is numb to the situation.
The theory was trading starting running back Carlos Hyde to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Oct. 19 would increase opportunities for Johnson and rookie running back Nick Chubb. It worked for Chubb in the game against the Buccaneers in Tampa on Oct. 21,
but not for Johnson.
Johnson had one carry for a loss of 4 yards and four catches for 23 yards against the Buccaneers.
“Surprised?” Johnson said before practice “I’m not sure if I can use the word surprised. I wasn’t surprised at all, to be honest with you.
“I can go back and forth and say that I should get the ball and let me get the ball. At the end of the day, I don’t call the plays. I don’t put myself into that situation to get the play. When my number’s called, I have to find a way to make the play, regardless of when it is and what the score is. We all just have to find ways to make plays when the opportunity’s given.”
Johnson doesn’t have a touchdown this season.
Johnson, a third-round draft pick from Miami in 2015, signed a three-year, $15.6 million contract extension in June. The timing is significant because current general manager John Dorsey, not former Director of Football Operations Sashi Brown, made the decision that Johnson is a key part of the Browns’ future.
Johnson caught a teamhigh 74 passes last season for 693 yards, but even then scored only three passing touchdowns. He carried 82 times for 348 yards and four rushing touchdowns.
Head coach Hue Jackson called plays last season. Now that job belongs to offensive coordinator Todd Haley.
“Duke is obviously one of our better players,” Jackson said after practice Oct. 24. “He’s had a heck of a career here. Trust me, we’re always trying to find different ways and different avenues to get
him the ball.
“Sometimes you call his number and maybe he doesn’t get it and sometimes he does. We just have to continue to find ways and look at different options for him because he’s one of the better playmakers on our team.”
Jackson has said the same thing since 2016, even when he was calling plays. It’s like, “I’m gonna clean out that garage someday” – and someday never comes.
Johnson will get his chances, Jackson said. Trust him on that one. It might
not be on Oct. 28 in Heinz Field when the 2-4-1 Browns play the 3-2-1 Steelers, but Jackson said before the season ends, Johnson’s chances will increase. He said part of the problem is Johnson doesn’t run between the tackles often, so opponents know what to expect.
“People know when he’s in the game that he’s in there for a reason, and he is not in there for nothing,” Jackson said. “I think part strategy, part creativity and I think all of it needs to come into play to keep finding ways for him.
‘I think these guys, before the season is out, you’re going to hear from them both. I think they both are going to have to contribute to our football team and our offensive football team being good.”
Chubb had 18 carries against the Buccaneers. He had 16 in the first six games combined.
Finding ways to get the speedy Johnson more involved comes at a time when the Browns are looking for ways to start faster. They have scored a league fewest eight points in the
first quarter.
“I think the thing around here is we don’t need to reinvent the wheel,” quarterback Baker Mayfield said. “We need to perfect our craft. You look at the good teams around the league, they work hard at what they do and they become very, very good at it.
“We have what we have. We don’t need to try to change too much. We just need to get better at what we’re doing. There’s no secret recipe for success, besides working your (butt) off with what you have.”