Josh McCown

Josh McCown is eager to play for QB-friendly Hue Jackson, who played quarterback in college.

(Joshua Gunter, Cleveland.com)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns quarterback Josh McCown doesn't know Hue Jackson, but he knows many quarterbacks who have played for him, and he can't wait to get started.

"As a quarterback, you've got to get excited about playing for a guy like that,'' McCown told cleveland.com.

McCown, who's under contract for two more seasons, witnessed his friend Andy Dalton have the best statistical season of his career under Jackson this year before breaking his hand with three games left in the season. Dalton finished second in the NFL with a career-high 106.2 rating -- far better than the 80-somethings he posted in his first four years in the NFL.

He also threw 25 touchdowns against only seven interceptions - almost half his previous low interception total of 13.

"I don't think anybody would argue that Andy was played at a high, high level before he got hurt and I'm excited about that,'' said McCown. "Andy has always spoken very highly of the offense under Hue and he's been very positive about him.''

What's more, McCown watched backup quarterback A.J. McCarron, a fifth-round pick last year, step in and play well the final three games of the season, earning a rating of 100-plus in two of his three starts and throwing four touchdowns and no interceptions. Overall, he finished the regular season with a 97.1 rating.

"Hue did a nice job with A.J. the last three games of the season and there wasn't a huge dropoff in play,'' said McCown. "They played some good football and usually when that happens, you have to give credit to the coach and the people around him.''

McCown also saw Jackson, a former college quarterback, get the best out of his former Bears teammate Jason Campbell when Jackson coached Oakland in 2011. Campbell, who played for the Browns in 2013, had a 4-2 record and was playing the best ball of his career when he broke his collarbone against the Browns and was lost for the season.

Jackson was fired after going 8-8 that season, and it also spelled the end of Campbell in Oakland.

Jackson also has a huge fan in his former Bengals and Raiders quarterback Carson Palmer, and coached Baltimore's Joe Flacco to playoff berths in each of his first two seasons.

"I've been around long enough that I know a lot of quarterbacks in the league,'' said McCown. "They all say great things about Hue.''

McCown stressed that the film doesn't lie.

"When I watch the tape from this year and the last few years, I have respect for what the Bengals were doing because there's a plan, there's an intent to where they're attacking defenses,'' McCown said. "It's well thought out and put together. To me, that's the biggest compliment of anything, because you are what you put on tape and that's what excites me the most about this.''

What McCown saw from the Bengals this year was an offense that finished seventh in points per game and seventh in yards per play. He saw an offense that kept defenses off balance with an array of creative formations and one that took plenty of shots downfield. It was supported by a strong running game and featured a balanced attack.

"You can get a bunch of opinions from different people, but when you put on the tape, that's when you really know what you're getting as a coach and a playcaller,'' said McCown. "For me, that's the best evaluation I can get of a coach, and I have great respect for the kind of offense he runs.''

McCown, a 14-year veteran, is also thrilled that Jackson has a year's experience under his belt. He's been around long enough to watch plenty of new head coaches make rookie mistakes.

"It's a good deal for us as players because it won't be his first time through everything,'' said McCown. "We're getting somebody that's been a head coach before and that experience is invaluable.''

McCown, who's recovering from his broken collarbone, said Jackson's hiring has been well received by the players, especially the veterans who have been through a lot of changes. Joe Thomas, for one, warned he might want to leave if he didn't like the new coach. But McCown is optimistic that Jackson will win over a team rocked by Mike Pettine's firing.

"I've received a lot of texts from guys and they've all been positive,'' said McCown. "The guys are excited about the direction we're headed and the respect that Hue's garnered through what he's been able to accomplish in the league. Like the rest of the guys, I'm thrilled with what's happening. It's great.''