Daily Dawg Tags: Hue Jackson tries to buck up DeShone Kizer
By Thomas Moore
Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson says he supports rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer. If only Jackson’s actions backed up his words.
It has not been the best of years for Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer.
Kizer is 35th in a 32-team league in completion percentage, 34th in yards per attempt, 31st in touchdown passes and tops in interceptions despite being benched at halftime of two games and being benched for the entirety of a third game.
Kizer allegedly has the support of his head coach Hue Jackson, who spoke on Monday about the importance of Kizer not getting down about being the quarterback of an 0-12 team, according to clevelandbrowns.com:
"“When I saw his face today, he was down. But I told him in front of the whole offensive football team, we’re not doing that. We’re not going to get down.”"
It’s nice that Jackson has his quarterback’s back. Of course, it would also help if Jackson, in his role as offensive coordinator, would build a game plan that supported his rookie quarterback a bit better, perhaps one that did not task him with throwing the ball an average of 34.5 times a game.
It would probably help Kizer’s confidence a bit if his head coach:
- was not leaking to the media how he was texting Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson on the day of the 2017 NFL Draft.
- was not actively trying to convince the Browns to trade for Cincinnati Bengals backup quarterback A.J. McCarron
- was not rushing to McCarron to give him a giant bear hug during pregame warmups after the trade fell through.
- was not leaking to the media about how he absolutely wanted the Browns to select quarterback Carson Wentz in the 2016 NFL Draft.
- was not expressing disappointment that he received a “chilly reception” from Wentz prior to the 2016 season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles.
- was not texting his plans for the game to a national reporter on the morning of the game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
But, sure, no reason for Kizer to get down. Jackson has his back 100 percent.
Cleveland Browns news:
DPD Podcast: Talking about the Browns 0-12 start
The latest episode of the DPD Podcast breaks down the Cleveland Browns’ 0-12 start as time is running out to pick up a single win in 2017.
Fandom 250: Browns fans deserve to be No. 1
It is easy to root for a winning team. The games are fun and the escape sports are supposed to provide from everyday life is evident each time the team takes the field. Then there is the Cleveland Browns, arguably the worst franchise in all of professional sports.
Hue Jackson tries to keep DeShone Kizer’s chin up (ohio.com)
"Hue Jackson continued to emphasize he believes rookie DeShone Kizer can become a winning NFL quarterback, but the coach also didn’t try to hide the elephant in the room: The Browns will likely feel compelled to draft a quarterback early, perhaps first overall, in next year’s draft."
Wins the only thing that will satisfy the Browns (clevelandbrowns.com)
"The Browns’ loss to the Chargers on Sunday afternoon unfolded in a frustrating fashion that’s been all-too-familiar over the past few months. After falling behind by double digits, Cleveland rallied in the fourth quarter before stumbling down the stretch, seeing two last-minute drives come up short in Los Angeles. In the process, the Browns fell to 0-12 and came up on the wrong end of another game decided late for their fifth time in six weeks."
NFL news:
Giants fire Ben McAdoo and Jerry Reese (New York Times)
"The Giants were a cocky group in training camp four months ago, and no one typified the self-assurance more than the team’s robotic coach, Ben McAdoo, and his aloof boss, the general manager Jerry Reese. As the team’s losses mounted this season, the Giants, N.F.L. standard bearers since 1925, were humiliated and mocked, never more so than last week when McAdoo benched the popular longtime quarterback, Eli Manning. The furious outcry over the treatment of Manning rattled the normally stoic Giants ownership, and on Monday they abruptly fired McAdoo and Reese with four games remaining in the season."
Gronkowski suspension shows Roger Goodell doesn’t know when to use his power (Washington Post)
"Rob Gronkowski is one of the most watchable players in the NFL with his combination of juvenility and burliness, those wood-axe forearms and that hair that looks like it was moussed with last night’s beer. If there was a mean streak in him it was undetectable before Sunday, when he suddenly helmet-stabbed a defenseless player lying face down on the ground. Nevertheless, he should have been suspended for multiple games. The NFL has made examples out of lovable poster boys before, for far less."
Eagles need to find another gear (ESPN)
"Quarterback Russell Wilson reminded everyone late Sunday night — including the Philadelphia Eagles — that it’s not how you start in the NFL, it’s how you finish."
Antonio Brown cites karma after violent game (ESPN)
"As Pittsburgh Steelers receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster talked to reporters Monday night about his vicious block on Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict, fellow receiver Antonio Brown yelled “karma” repeatedly, then said “Touchdown Brown” will pay Smith-Schuster’s eventual fine."