MMQB: Hue Jackson wants players to feel the urgency

Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson was interviewed by Albert Breer of the MMQB last Thursday for his column that was published today.

Jackson agreed with Breer that both he and general manager John Dorsey want the players to feel the urgency so that any thought of an 0-16 season is well behind them, and it starts with Tyrod Taylor being ushered in as the team’s new starting quarterback. Jackson also said that “every position group has been upgraded with more talent.” Jackson also spoke to the newfound synergy between the scouting department and the coaching staff to help acquire the right personnel:

“We see things the same. So when you’re trying to acquire players, there’s a reason why we’re putting him on our team. There’s a reason why we’re doing everything that we’re trying to do in the offseason to get this team to be the best they can be. It doesn’t mean we agree all the time, but we have great discussions and great conversations about why. You gotta win your ‘why’ on why we’re doing this.”

Breer couldn’t leave Jackson off the hook without asking about rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield and whether he could win the starting job. Jackson was definitive and clear-cut, though: Taylor is the starter.

“What’s in my mind is Tyrod’s our starter. We have two very capable players, one in Drew Stanton, who also has a ton of experience, and we have a young, emerging quarterback that’s got a lot of work to do, and has to learn a lot. I don’t want to put a ceiling on any player, but I already know where our pecking order is. And again, I’ve said this before, I’m not going to stop him from being the best version of him, I’m not going to stop him from working extremely hard. I just want to do everything I can so when he goes out to play for the Cleveland Browns, whenever that is, he’ll know and he’ll be ready to play.”