Friday, January 15, 2016
Former baseball pitchers Tom Glavine and Gregg Maddux gave Nike the slogan: “Chicks dig the longball.”
You know who else does? New Browns coach Hue Jackson.
The former Bengals offensive coordinator likes to throw deep. His old quarterback Andy Dalton ranked second in yards per attempt (8.42) during the regular season right behind another ex-Jackson protege, Carson Palmer (8.70).
On Thursday, he told The Kiley & Carman Show on 92.3 The Fan of his affinity for deep balls and large wideouts. Somewhere, former Browns GM Ray Farmer — creator of Honey, I Shrunk the Receivers — fainted.
“I think the big guy is huge in this league,” Jackson said. “You gotta have a dominant vertical threat in the National Football League to have a good offense.”
If only the Browns had a 6-foot-3 wideout capable of running past defensive backs. Oh, wait, they do. Sort of.
Jackson is busy compiling a coaching staff and helping the Browns pick a player personnel director. In a few weeks, however, he might have a major decision to make on former All Pro and resident knucklehead Josh Gordon.
The club’s mercurial receiver can apply for NFL reinstatement next month after sitting out the entire 2015 season for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. He’s played just five games over the past two years because of repeated failed drug tests.
Gordon brings new meaning to “ineligible receiver.” He stretches opposing defenses and stresses his own coaches like few others. So if commissioner Roger Goodell grants his return should the Browns keep him or try to move him like they’re expected to do with Johnny Manziel?
Jackson was predictably non-committal in response to a Gordon question Wednesday night at his introductory news conference.
“What I’m anxious to do is evaluate him just like we’re going to evaluate every player on our roster and see if they are the right fit for the Cleveland Browns,” Jackson said.
Yeah, yeah. Don’t be surprised if he retains Gordon. Although Jackson spoke about the importance of player “accountability” and “integrity,” NFL coaches tend to make allowances for tall, swift wideouts who averaged 117.6 yards per game in their last full season.
Jackson possesses a strong personality and commands respect from the locker room. He’s confident in his ability to get the most out of players, even ones occupying the Isle of Misfit Toy section.
As a former Bengals receivers coach, Jackson coaxed production from the nutty Chad Johnson, T.J Houshmandzadeh and Chris Henry. It’s interesting that in a Browns-issued quote sheet offering Jackson testimonials, comments from Johnson were included.
“You get more than just a coach,” Johnson said. “Hue Jackson is a gem. He was a gem for me and I am speaking gem, g-e-m. He was a gem for me in really allowing me to see the game of football differently when he was in Cincinnati. ... With Hue coming on board [in Cleveland], being able to get the maximum amount of potential out of each player is what I know is going to happen because he was able to do it with me.”
Could Jackson have the same impact on Gordon?
The Big Tease shouldn’t lack for motivation. He’s either a year or two from free agency depending on whether 2014 counts as an accrued season. (Farmer suspended Gordon for the finale, giving him just five games played. An accrued season consists of six games. His agent grieved the ruling.)
Regardless, Gordon is likely one failed drug test away from being an ex-NFL player. If he could remain sober and regain his form, No. 12 would represent a massive boost to Jackson’s vision of a Browns’ vertical attack. But as Gordon’s friend and teammate Manziel has proven, such players are often unreliable.
Look for the club to select a big wideout in the draft. If he earns reinstatement, however, the guess here is Gordon at least participates in spring practices.
When he’s right few g-e-m-s sparkle quite like Josh Gordon.
Tom Reed covers the Browns for The Plain Dealer.