BEREA, Ohio – The Cardinals thought they did a good job in minimizing Duke Johnson's role in the second half of Sunday's game.
Will all due respect, nobody limited the rookie's effectiveness better than the Browns.
A day after a 34-20 defeat at FirstEnergy Stadium, Browns coach Mike Pettine acknowledged the coaching staff needs to keep one of their few playmakers more involved. Despite catching passes of 16 and 52 yards in the first half, Johnson earned only one touch after intermission, a 3-yard carry.
The three overall touches marked his fewest of the season even while leading the club's running backs with 24 snaps. His previous low had been seven in the opener after missing virtually the entire preseason with a hamstring injury and concussion.
Johnson ranks second among NFL rookies in catches (33) and third in receiving yards (331).
"Duke is a guy who has showed he can do some damage with the football," Pettine said Monday. "I think that is on us as a staff to find more creative ways to get him the football, whether that is in the run game or whether that's in the pass game. He is showing to be the guy we thought he was."
First-year offensive coordinator John DeFilippo has made Johnson an integral part of game plans since the Week 3 loss against the Raiders. His pass-catching ability, elusiveness and versatility present matchup problems for linebackers and safeties. The trend continued in the first half against the Cardinals as his two receptions help set up touchdowns.
Cardinals coach Bruce Arians thought their halftime adjustments on Johnson were effective, but Pettine concedes the rookie just wasn't a big part of the second-half plan. The Browns were blanked after intermission, while registering just six first downs and 98 yards total offense.
"I just think it was the way the game flowed," Pettine said. "I never felt like there was a point in time in the second half where 'Hey, we can't go to Duke anymore.'"
Quarterback Josh McCown didn't target him after intermission. The running back didn't second- guess the Browns for their decisions to go elsewhere with the ball.
"I trust my team, I trust my coaches," he said.
Johnson has rushed for just 179 yards on 52 carries this season. It will be interesting to see if they try to get the 5-foot-9, 210-pound back more involved in the running game.
The Browns rank next to last in rushing, averaging 84.0 yards per game.
"We cannot be one-dimensional," Pettine said. "If we are more of a pass team than a run team so be it, but to me, you can't live at an extreme end of either spectrum."
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