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BEREA, Ohio – Duke Johnson, frustrated by his lack of chances all season, received an encouraging speech on Thursday morning from someone who got even worse, and that helped him put the things in perspective.
He met quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who was selected for Baker Mayfield in the third week and is now the quarterback.
"He told me to just be more positive," Johnson told cleveland.com. "Focus on all the benefits, it's not all bad, it's not all good, you're going to have days when you're not feeling well, just find a way to get through that." & # 39; & # 39;
Despite the fact that Taylor lost his job after suffering a concussion against the Jets, he helped Johnson make himself clear. Taylor, who had paid for his teammates to travel for low season training sessions and was expected to start a good part of the season, has kept a low profile since stopping the bench and has not complained. .
"He goes through things himself, but you can always rely on him, you can always talk to him," said Johnson. "He's very positive, he's a very good guy.It's his beliefs.That's what he believes in and I've had a glimpse of it today by talking to him. He is still our captain. "
Taylor's speech had an immediate impact. "I just had a more positive practice today because I talked to him," said Johnson, who confessed that he was losing his pace.
"It could be frustrating, but it was not exaggerated," he said. "I'm just trying to understand."
Last season, Johnson was named Browns Local Player of the Year at the Pro Football Writers of America Local Chapter. He led the team with 74 catches for 693 yards with three TD passes. He also ran 82 times for 348 yards and four touchdowns.
After five games last season, he has 23 assists for 270 yards and one touchdown. This year, he's 10 for 91 yards. At his current clip, he will finish with 32 catches for 291 yards and 55 runs for 240 yards.
"I do not think these games have to be as tough as them," Johnson said. "I think I can help this team win if more opportunities are offered, but even with the few that I get, I'm just trying to get the most out of it. help win and avoid overtime games if we do not have to, win in regulation, I'm all for, whatever I have to do. "
Coach Hue Jackson has always advocated more keys for Johnson. In 2016, he finished third in the team with 53 catches for 514 yards. Jackson said it could be used more with Rashard Higgins (MCL sprained) for 2 to 4 weeks.
"Duke's skills allow us to do a lot of different things with him," he said. "We had a little bit of it last week and I'm sure we'll do other things with him as he goes in. Duke is very talented, obviously when he has the ball in his hands, good things are going on. & # 39; & # 39;
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Johnson, who apparently did not also impress offensive coordinator Todd Haley, said his main job had recently been that of blocker.
"I had a bad first week of blocking, I would not say it's bad, but it was not up to my standards," he said. "These last three or four weeks, I've blocked more than me" Since I was in the NFL, I'm stuck and I'm proud of it. I am happy to do so because it gives Baker (Mayfield) and our team a chance to win. "
Haley, who played against 51 percent of Johnson last week after averaging in the mid-30s of the previous three weeks, said he was trying to get more of Johnson's contacts.
"You want all your players involved," he said. "Going back, it's sometimes a bit harder than the others, you can not just throw it out, we spent a lot of time with him there, we have to make sure we run the ball. with him and we throw him in. At the same time, we try to get Nick Chubb to bear.
"He had some bad luck in his chances, but when you start the game with Carlos (Hyde) running in the teeth of the defense for 10-11 yards, that also excites you."
He said "It's a good problem, and it's all part of the recipe to be a real good offense." Duke, I think he played more games than normal. position, at the end of the bunch and at the end of the game.After two minutes of play, we had a lot of situations that brought him to play, but I thought that he had taken full advantage of his opportunities. "
Johnson, who captured a goal for seven yards against the Ravens and five shots for 35 yards, triumphed brilliantly in the 12-9 overtime win, rushing for 15, five and four yards to set up the 37 yards of Greg Joseph. goal on the field of gamewinning.
"It's" nonsense "for me," said Johnson about the three races. "I'm looking at the last two races that I had it, just to put ourselves in an excellent position in the field.It was a bit easy to manage, because of the way we locked it.O-line did an excellent The goal was to protect the ball and fight for the yards. "
While Higgins did not participate in this match and the Browns did not sign veteran Rishard Matthews, Johnson thought he could be called this week to play more receiver. Until now, it has not been told that this was the case.
"I have no information about it," he said. "For the moment, my role is still my role, but I suppose we can make further progress, there is nothing different about it just because Higgins is not here."
He said that he did not walk up to Haley and complained.
"I've never been a big supporter of the coaches and the requirement of the ball," he said. "I've always been the type to let my show on stage and my player story get talked about and at the end of the day it's up to you to decide how much I get the ball if I do it. even get in. I'll always let my work talk. "
Johnson said that if Haley "comes to me and says that he needs me," yes, coach, I've got it. "Apart from that, I do not like having the impression of trying to do your job, because it's your job as special teams (coordinator), offensive coordinator, I do not want them to feel like I'm not meeting anyone. "
Similarly, he has not volunteered to return the bugs, even if the Browns are struggling to cope.
"My only job is to do everything they need, what they ask me for," he says. "I've never returned a kitty of my life before I did it here." High school does not count because it's backyard football. was here because they asked me, they needed me to do it, I would do it again if they wanted to. "
Johnson, who signed a three-year, $ 15.6-million extension during the off-season, was hoping to take advantage of his big 2017 season.
"You must have a lot of hope," he said.
Because of Taylor, he has a little more today.
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