All the hoopla regarding Brown's new Head Coach, Hue Jackson, is that he is a quarterback guru, some call him the quarterback whisperer. This is all that Cleveland fans have to go on to provide hope for the future. This is the one feature that seems to set Jackson apart from other recent Head Coaching selections by the Browns. Cleveland hasn't had a good QB since Bernie Kosar and Jackson is supposed to change that. With Cleveland sitting at #2 in the draft, Browns fans debated which of the two top rated college QBs was better. Some analysts preferred Goff, others Wentz. All seem to think that both are going to be fine NFL QBs. But all of that changed for Cleveland fans when the team traded out of the 2nd draft position down to #8, plus additional picks. No longer are Cleveland fans talking which QB. Sure, Paxton Lynch is mentioned as a possibility at #8, but the shine is gone. No one is thinking franchise QB at #8.

 

So that returns Browns fans to their main (perhaps only) reason for hope--Hue Jackson is a QB guru. He'll find one, if not in this draft, then next draft. In the meantime, he'll return RGIII to his form as a rookie sensation. If not RGIII he'll have McCown, Austin Davis, Connor Shaw, or Pat Devlin in tip-top form (no one really believes that).

 

The only proof we have that Jackson is an exceptional QB coach is because he took a small-school player like Joe Flacco and developed him quickly. So good was Jackson, the story goes, that Flacco led Baltimore to two playoff victories in his rookie year (2008) and soon after became a Super Bowl MVP (2012).

 

The second bit of evidence that Hue is the QB Master is that last year, Andy Dalton had a superb year at QB, improving over previous years. Again, credit is given to Hue Jackson for Dalton's success last season.

 

My question for those who watch the Bengals, did Hue Jackson really "develop" Andy Dalton or were there other factors in play that deserve more credit than Hue for Dalton's success last year (like maybe Dalton himslef)? How much credit does Hue deserve?

 

My real reason for asking this question is because I wonder if Browns fans are hanging too much hope on Hue as a QB whisperer? My personal hope is that Hue is "all that," but hope springs eternal...

What is this Browns you speak of?

What is this Browns you speak of?

 

:lol2:

I don't think of Jackson as a quarterback whisperer. I see him much more as being top notch at offensive scheming. He knows how to get the most out of each of his players abilities and makes the offense work for the players he has. I also think he is excellent at communicating and getting buy-in from his players. I give Jackson credit for improvement in Dalton because of these more than being a QB guru.

I don't think of Jackson as a quarterback whisperer. I see him much more as being top notch at offensive scheming. He knows how to get the most out of each of his players abilities and makes the offense work for the players he has. I also think he is excellent at communicating and getting buy-in from his players. I give Jackson credit for improvement in Dalton because of these more than being a QB guru.

 

I agree, I think Hue has a unique psychological connection with his players.

I don't think of Jackson as a quarterback whisperer. I see him much more as being top notch at offensive scheming. He knows how to get the most out of each of his players abilities and makes the offense work for the players he has. I also think he is excellent at communicating and getting buy-in from his players. I give Jackson credit for improvement in Dalton because of these more than being a QB guru.

 

I'm with you.

 

I can only speak to Jackson as a Bengals fan, but I think the offense as a whole improved under him. I've never been a Dalton hater, but he does have his shortcomings (is that a pun?). I think he played much more within himself under Jackson's direction than he had before and that led to better results.

I don't think of Jackson as a quarterback whisperer. I see him much more as being top notch at offensive scheming. He knows how to get the most out of each of his players abilities and makes the offense work for the players he has. I also think he is excellent at communicating and getting buy-in from his players. I give Jackson credit for improvement in Dalton because of these more than being a QB guru.

 

I'm with you.

 

I can only speak to Jackson as a Bengals fan, but I think the offense as a whole improved under him. I've never been a Dalton hater, but he does have his shortcomings (is that a pun?). I think he played much more within himself under Jackson's direction than he had before and that led to better results.

 

This, in my view, is better than being a QB whisperer. It is the complete package.

He had a heck of a lot of weapons in Cincy and used them very well, won't have those weapons in Cleveland most likely

 

If Browns give him time he can turn them around, he is basically working with an expansion level roster. Good start this year by having essentially two first round picks (8,32 but Patriots don't have a pick in the first so 32 is considered second). 6 top 100 picks, and 12 picks in the entire draft. Next year they'll have two first round picks as well and I don't expect the Browns or Eagles to be good so they could have two pretty high picks.

 

Browns fans should be optimistic honestly

People forget that in Jay Grudens last year the Bengals were a top 10 offense in the league and Dalton threw 30 plus tds. Part of that reason was the weapons Dalton had around him. We didn't see that during Hues first year because all the weapons were hurt.

 

The one thing Hue did very well was the mental side. Not in terms of playing, but in terms of him being a leader and in terms of playing with some swagger and confidence if that makes sense.

Cleveland.com's Terry Pluto spells out one key to Dalton's success under the direction of Hue Jackson... the running game.

 

Here's an excerpt:

 

Given the recent history of Jackson's offenses, the Browns need a major upgrade in their running game. That's why I expect them to draft at least one running back to compete with Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson.

 

Want to know one of the main reasons why Andy Dalton improved in his two years with Jackson calling the plays for the Bengals? They ran the ball.

 

RUN THE BALL

 

In 2014, Jackson took over as Cincinnati's offensive coordinator. Here's a look at the pass/run balance for the Bengals' play calling in the last two years:

 

2014: 503 passes, 492 runs.

2015: 505 passes, 467 runs.

So you can see that Jackson jacked up the running game, making it 54 percent passes compared to 46 percent runs. That's a nice balance.

 

Here also is what Jackson told the Cincinnati media not long after taking over as offensive coordinator in 2013: "To me, running the ball is the nuts and bolts of your offense."

 

Guess what job Jackson had the Bengals in 2013? He was the running backs coach.

Cleveland.com's Terry Pluto spells out one key to Dalton's success under the direction of Hue Jackson... the running game.

 

Here's an excerpt:

 

Given the recent history of Jackson's offenses, the Browns need a major upgrade in their running game. That's why I expect them to draft at least one running back to compete with Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson.

 

Want to know one of the main reasons why Andy Dalton improved in his two years with Jackson calling the plays for the Bengals? They ran the ball.

 

RUN THE BALL

 

In 2014, Jackson took over as Cincinnati's offensive coordinator. Here's a look at the pass/run balance for the Bengals' play calling in the last two years:

 

2014: 503 passes, 492 runs.

2015: 505 passes, 467 runs.

So you can see that Jackson jacked up the running game, making it 54 percent passes compared to 46 percent runs. That's a nice balance.

 

Here also is what Jackson told the Cincinnati media not long after taking over as offensive coordinator in 2013: "To me, running the ball is the nuts and bolts of your offense."

 

Guess what job Jackson had the Bengals in 2013? He was the running backs coach.

 

The thing with this is in 2014 Hues first year as OC the Bengals had the 6th best rushing offense but Dalton had his worst year since his rookie year. Last year the Bengals didn't run the ball well and passed more and the passing game was better. I think the numbers were even more in favor of the pass last year and they started to balance out when McCarron took over. Dalton actually seems to be at his best when they throw more and is why also in 2013 under Gruden he played great.