Cleveland Browns: Fresh from Browns’ Kitchens, it’s Duke Johnson, everybody!

The Cleveland Browns finally cooked up something new as first-time offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens put the ball in Duke Johnson’s hands

Wait, who is this Duke Johnson fellah listed as the Browns top receiver in Week 9?

Now if I do recall, back in the ol’ Jackson/Haley days, there was a rarely used Browns running back by that same name, Duke Johnson.

But that certainly couldn’t be the same young Johnson who caught 9-for-9 passes for 78 yards and scored two touchdowns all in one game, could it?

More from Dawg Pound Daily

• How the Browns could maximize Nick Chubb in 2023
• Can Deshaun Watson get to Patrick Mahomes level for Cleveland Browns?
• 3 Cleveland Browns who should see an expanded role in 2023 and 1 who should not
• Is Marcus Davenport on the Browns radar in 2023?
• 5 Free agents from Super Bowl LVII Cleveland Browns should target

Otherwise surely Jackson and Haley’d a tried it. Right???

Wrong, and that’s exactly what made new Browns offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens look like a genius against the Kansas City Chiefs last Sunday, despite the loss.

Kitchens and rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield seem like total whiz kids because they figured out that:

a) the Browns need more wide receivers, and

b) Duke Johnson can actually catch.

Give Kitchens credit – Jackson and Haley couldn’t seem to figure it out, and they had eight full games and a preseason.

Kitchens had never called plays for a regular season NFL game before, and yet even he knew that Johnson should be targeted more than 3.6 times per game. In fact, he almost tripled that and look what happened: Johnson caught everything thrown at him, scored twice and started looking all Gurley-like.

Given more than a few days, imagine what else Kitchens will plan for Johnson and Baker, for Antonio Callaway as a legitimate deep threat, for Jarvis Landry and David Njoku across the middle and for Nick Chubb as the counterbalance to it all.

Premature Kudos to Kitchen’s offensive line for only allowing two sacks against the Chiefs, because before that the Jackson/Haley Browns O-line allowed a league-worst 33 total sacks in just eight games.

Premature Kudos to Kitchen’s game plan that turned into three touchdowns, a 51-yard field goal and 15 first-half points, because before that the Jackson/Haley offense could only manage an average of 6.8 first-half points. Though in retrospect their tendency to kick extra points more often than not was kinda nice.

Premature Kudos to new (interim) head coach Greg Williams‘ Browns for only committing four penalties for 20 yards against the Chiefs, because before that the Jackson/Haley Browns were in the top-five for most penalties committed with 81 in just eight games.

With seven games and a bye remaining in the Browns 2018 season, nobody is seriously expecting this young Browns team to win more than two or three of those upcoming match-ups.

Maybe the Browns beat…

…the Falcons and Bengals (the second time) because they’re both at FirstEnergy?

…the Broncos because it’s not on a Sunday?

… the Ravens because we’ve already beaten them and everyone else seems to be doing it now?

Those are all big maybes.

At unrealistic best, the 2018 Browns finish a magical 6-9-1 but that still keeps them in or near the AFC North basement.

However, if Kitchens continues to stir the offensive pot and has Mayfield target Johnson more and more, by next season Duke can be the legitimate dual backfield threat the Browns thought they lacked.

Their own private Le’Veon but the kind who actually shows up to play.

Ball-catching Duke Johnson, welcome to the Browns offense, sorry for the idiotic delay you endured but the team sure could use you right about now.

Mr. Kitchens, congratulations on your promotion, can’t wait to taste what you and the Baker are cooking up for the Duke and the Browns next.

Surprise us, won’t you?

Make it well done and have it smell like W’s.