Browns head coach Hue Jackson reacts after a play in their 45-42 loss to the Raiders. (John G Mabanglo/EPA-EFE/REX)
CLEVELAND -- This is what happens when you bring back a coach with a 1-31 record.
Especially when a new general manager was hired and paired with the old coach who'd won one game in two years.
That's the situation created by Browns owner Jimmy Haslam.
John Dorsey replaced Sashi Brown as head of football operations. Dorsey also knew he had to retain Jackson as coach.
Ownership, Dorsey and Jackson admirably came together on the theme of "Let's Get Hue Some Players."
Or as Haslam said before the 2018 season: "I think we'll see the real Hue Jackson. He's got good quarterbacks. He's got some skill players...three really good backs and a good defense."
After seven games, the talent level has improved to the point where the Browns have played four overtime games this season.
Four overtimes in seven games!
That's still hard to believe, and it does show improvement.
But the team's record is 2-4-1, and that feels disappointing because of so many close losses.
The Browns have advanced from awful in the previous two seasons to agonizing.
The frustration in the fan base bubbles up. Many fans couldn't figure out how Jackson survived in the first place.
Then they watch the Browns lose three games each by three points -- and they point the finger of blame at Jackson.
BENEFIT OF DOUBT
Dorsey has been given the benefit of doubt for a variety of good reasons.
He came from Kansas City, where he had four winning seasons and three playoff teams in his four years as general manager.
He made a variety of creative and dramatic moves to upgrade the talent level this season.
He has been very supportive of Jackson whenever speaking in public.
He has given the fans a reason for hope.
And in some ways, that has made it even harder for Jackson. Expectations are higher.
The coach is not stuck with the Ivy League Analytics front office -- as the Sashi Brown regime was viewed. By the middle of the 0-16 season, Jackson was able to portray himself as a victim of a clueless front office who gave him no chance to win.
Ownership generally bought into that argument, dumping Brown but giving the coach a fresh start with Dorsey.
The interesting sidelight is Dorsey is a former NFL defensive back, a hardcore scout -- but he also likes analytics. He tries to blend the best of the old and new worlds of running a football team.
The bottom line for Jackson is he can't fault the front office if he fails this season.
CAN HE FIX IT?
No one should be expecting a playoff team. But it's driving the fans nuts to see how close the Browns could be to a 4-3 record.
Jackson is 1-3 in games decided by three or fewer points this season...and 2-10-1 in his time with the Browns.
Jackson said he still has support of Haslam and the front office. But he knows the pressure is on.
Most Browns fans know how Jackson did himself and offensive coordinator Todd Haley no favors with how he spoke about the offenseafter last Sunday's 26-23 loss in Tampa.
Nearly everything Jackson said about how the offense is underperforming and starting slow is right...bottom line being only four touchdowns scored in the last three games.
His intention may not have been to blame Haley, but Sunday's outburst came off that way.
Monday, Jackson tried to repair the situation at his press conference, saying he won't take over play-calling from Haley.
Jackson's real work has to be done in private with Haley and the other members of the coaching staff who deal with the offense. They have to be hurt by how the head coach handled this.
Arizona just fired offensive coordinator Mike McCoy. Tampa Bay fired defensive coordinator Mike Smith last week.
That makes assistant coaches nervous.
Jackson has replaced 18 assistant coaches in his 2-plus years with the Browns.
The Browns play at Pittsburgh Sunday. The Steelers fired Haley after six years as their offensive coordinator.
It's a huge game for Jackson, for Haley and for the Browns this season.
It's when the Browns don't need these distractions and drama -- something needlessly created by the head coach. Now, how will they respond?
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