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Is Hue Jackson a square peg in a round hole for Cleveland Browns?

Hue Jackson

Hue Jackson’s arrival with the Cleveland Browns was roundly hailed as a brilliant fit for an organization that desperately needed change. Then Cleveland started losing all its own top talent via free agency, despite the fact that cap space isn’t an issue, considering the team will have close to $30 million after signing draft picks.

Then came the realization that new chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta — one of the brain trust for the original MLB moneyball style of cap management — is the one bringing the change, not Jackson.

In an interview with ESPN Magazine, one NFL personnel man revealed he thinks Jackson is walking into a time bomb being paired up with DePodesta. Calling it a “very bad fit,” the unnamed executive predicted Jackson and his coaching staff would not see eye-to-eye with the analytics-driven methods DePodesta and his team will utilize.

But that ain’t all, folks. The war room during the 2016 NFL Draft could get ugly.

“It’s not just Hue Jackson,” the former executive said. “When data overrides gut, the majority of his coaching staff will all be there screaming, ‘What the f— are these computer guys doing? They don’t understand football, they don’t understand the locker room. They’re killing us.’”

Perhaps Jackson was of the understanding that, as soon as he signed on with the franchise, he’d lose his starting center, right tackle, starting safety and star deep-threat receiver. Perhaps it was understood that would be part of the deal.

We don’t have the answer to that question at this time, but it’s a tough sell to say Jackson was on board with such an arrangement.

You don’t just let top talent like that walk out the door. And you most certainly don’t disrespect those men. The new front office was reportedly scaring free agents away last month and was rumored to have pulled an offer to Mitchell Schwartz — a guy who played out his rookie contract.

Maybe after the draft concludes we’ll all marvel at what the new-look Browns achieved. That’s not what’s being perceived by conventional minds right now, though. And while some of Jackson’s methods as an offensive mind can be innovative and fresh he’s not exactly a trend-setter in the industry.

There might be clashes. The two parties might be perfect for one another. But right now it seems like Jackson might be a square peg that’s about to be pounded into a round hole.

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