Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Dick Jauron said Thursday that his team's cornerbacks no longer will huddle with the defense, an adjustment made following the Cincinnati Bengals' quick-snap touchdown in last weekend's season opener.
Jauron accepted share of the blame for Sunday's blunder, when the Browns were slow reacting and the Bengals hurried to the line, snapped the ball and threw a game-winning touchdown pass during the fourth quarter of a 27-17 victory. Jauron, who's in his 27th season as an NFL coach, said he had his head down and was looking at his call sheet when the Bengals snapped the ball.
Jauron called the gaffe "hugely disappointing to everybody." He said the team will use hand signals going forward.
The Browns were waiting for linebacker D'Qwell Jackson to call the play when the Bengals made the snap. Cornerback Joe Haden scampered to get into position, but by the time he recovered, rookie A.J. Green had darted off the line and soon hauled in Bruce Gradkowski's pass for his only reception and first career score -- one that will haunt the Browns.
"It's one of those things that clearly you don't expect, and when it happened, you probably will never forget it," Jauron said.
Notes:Browns coach Pat Shurmur said during his Thursday press conference that he didn't expect wideout Mohamed Massaquoi to be limited at practice with a hamstring injury, but that the receiver was still behind. "Massaquoi is still dealing with not having had as many reps in camp," Shurmur said. ... Veteran OT Tony Pashos didn't practice Thursday. Shurmur said he plans to rotate Oniel Cousins and Artis Hicks at right tackle but prefers to find an eventual starter at the position.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
