FILE PHOTO: Aug 9, 2018; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson looks on during the first half against the Cleveland Browns at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
August 28, 2018
Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson had sharp words for defensive coordinator Gregg Williams on Monday, a day after Williams said that cornerback Denzel Ward’s back injury was caused by “stupid” tackling.
“Gregg doesn’t get to do just what he wants to do,” Jackson told reporters Monday. “I mean, we’ll work through all of that. But our players, there’s a certain way we do want them to tackle because of size, structure and all that. We don’t want a guy to get hurt or anything like that.
“I mean, I’m sure Gregg does advise, but we don’t need to do all that stuff in the media.”
Williams spoke to reporters on Sunday about Ward, who had an MRI that revealed no structural damage to his back after he was hurt tackling Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz on Thursday in a preseason game.
“I was glad to hear (it wasn’t serious), and maybe he’ll finally listen to me and stop doing those stupid things the way he’s trying to tackle and tackle the way I tell him to tackle and he won’t get hurt,” Williams said of Ward. “I think this was a good enough shock that maybe he thinks that I might know what I’m talking about.”
Williams declined to say exactly how he’s been teaching Ward to tackle, saying, “You can ask that to Denzel.”
When pressed further, Williams suggested smaller players like the 5-foot-11, 190-pound Ward should, “cut the guy that time right there instead of a 290-pound man running over his face.”
Williams, 60, is known for his outspokenness and colorful language, both of which have been on display during the team’s appearance on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” during training camp. He is in his second season with the Browns.
–Field Level Media
