CLEVELAND -- Hue Jackson is right about many of the problems with the Browns offense.



They start too slow. They don't do a good job protecting quarterback Baker Mayfield. They aren't scoring enough points.



He's also right about having experience calling plays and shaping offenses. He succeeded in that role as the offensive coordinator with the Cincinnati Bengals. That was part of the reason the Browns hired him as head coach in 2016.



But Jackson is wrong when he blames the media for trying to create division between himself and offensive coordinator Todd Haley.



For decades, I've listened to frustrated Browns coaches immediately after losses.



I've never heard a head coach speak so publicly about needing to step into a coordinator's domain as Jackson did after Sunday's 26-23 loss in Tampa.



"I've got to jump in head first all hands, feet and everything to go figure that out," Jackson said after losing yet again in overtime.



Jackson called plays in his first two seasons as the Browns' head coach. I wondered if he'd continue to let Haley to do that job if the team struggled.



"I feel like I have to and I want to (help the offense)," Jackson said after the game. "I'm not going to continue to watch something that I know how to do...That's just the truth. That's nothing against anyone in the building."



Because Jackson was an offensive coordinator, he has to know how he'd feel if his head coach was so publicly critical.

This is not to defend Haley. He's struggled with a team that has scored only four touchdowns in the last three games.

It's mind-boggling that the Browns have scored only six points (two field goals) in the first quarters of seven games this season.

Haley has an offense with a rookie quarterback, a rookie left tackle, a rookie running back and some very young receivers. No one should expect a powerhouse.

But the offense is in a major regression after showing some early season promise.



CLEANING UP A MESS?



I reviewed what Jackson said because he's trying to blame others for his own problems.



He talked publicly about helping the offense and "infusing himself" into it. Those points could be made in a meeting with Haley and other coaches on offense.

Just the coaches, no one else needs to know.

I'm sure other head coaches have shown that kind of discretion.



But being so vocal, so public and so critical of his offensive coordinator is a failure of leadership on his part.



He also said Sunday, "I'm the head coach of this football team. Period. Period. There's nothing else that needs to be said. Nothing. That's the way it works.

"I'm the head coach of the football team. That's it. It's not about butting heads. I'm the head coach of the football team."



At least four times, he mentioned he's the head coach.

He did the same in the first episode of Hard Knocks when Haley questioned Jackson about having players sit out practice to avoid injuries.



It's odd Jackson feels he has to keep reminding people that he's the head coach. It's not a good sign.



"It was not harshness on the staff," Jackson explained Monday. "It was harshness of I want to win."



No matter how Jackson tried make nice on Monday, he's opened the door to speculation of there being a significant split within the coaching staff.

That's especially true because Haley is a former head coach, a veteran offensive coordinator and has a very strong personality.



MOVING FORWARD



Jackson insisted he still has the full support of ownership and of General Manager John Dorsey.



But he knows his job is on the line. His record is 3-35-1 in three seasons, and he has yet to win a road game. The road losing streak is at 19 heading into Sunday's game in Pittsburgh.



I'm not sure firing Jackson in the middle of the season solves much -- unless there is someone available right now the Browns would want to be full-time coach next season.

Interim head coaches rarely work.



Somehow, Jackson has to not only "fix the offense," he has to repair the damage he did to his coaching staff.



At Monday's press conference, a much calmer and better prepared Jackson insisted, "I never said I'd take over the play calling (from Haley)."



He also explained: "When I brought Todd Haley here, I made the commitment to give him total autonomy of the offense."



He added that he worked with Special Teams Coach Amos Jones the last few weeks to improve that area of the team, and no one complained about that.



That's because he didn't seem to be criticizing his special teams coach. His comments were measured.



If he did the same with Haley, he wouldn't be having all the headaches he does right now.





