Cleveland hopes to create more opportunities for star wide receiver Josh Gordon, who hauled in just one pass on three targets during Sunday's 21-21 tie against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jackson said he was putting his foot down, and Gordon would not get any preferential treatment.
Gordon said the coaching staff decided at halftime to play him more than was originally planned. "Josh, when he's going like we know he can, he has an opportunity to make plays". "He has to continue to work to be in the right spot".
Gordon, meanwhile, understands he'll have to do his part, too. "I think in the National Football League, that's the biggest jump for most teams - after that first week".
Despite a 48-40 loss to Tampa Bay, Drew Brees targeted Michael Thomas, who has quickly emerged as one of the top wideouts in the game, 17 times and Thomas caught 16 of them for 180 yards and a touchdown.
"Physically I felt great", he said. Tyrod Taylor has said what most of us were thinking, that the film from the Browns' opener showed opportunities he missed down the field. According to Nate Ulrich of The Beacon Journal, Gordon has voiced that he wants to make a strong impact on the game with his play alongside Taylor this season. "That starts with myself".
Cleveland's entire offense misfired in the opener, but Gordon believes the unit can take a large leap forward in Week 2. "I was just out there running my route and the ball came out, I gotta adjust to the ball as I see it".
"Definitely wish some things could just be altered in the course of the game", Gordon said September 12 as the Browns ramped up preparation for the September 16 game in New Orleans. The game will be played inside a dome, so Taylor should have a better passing game. He did add 77 yards and a touchdown as he did all he could to keep the Browns in the game.
On Sept. 10, Jackson said starting Gordon was "a mistake" but refused to assign blame and insisted the team had "worked through it". "It's always going to fall on the head coach or the quarterback in some type of way but we all know that's not the case".
