Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson thinks Robert Griffin III is progressing faster than expected

Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson seems to be happy with what he has seen from Robert Griffin III up to this point. When asked Wednesday how Griffin is progressing, he gave a positive report.

“I think he is a little ahead,” Jackson said. “He’s done a good job. He is working at it every day, along with the other quarterbacks.”

Griffin opened eyes in the Browns’ second preseason game in Atlanta. He threw a 50-yard touchdown pass to Terrelle Pryor – the former Oakland Raiders quarterback who’s now a Browns WR – in the first quarter. In the second quarter, he threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to tight end Gary Barnidge.

However, the biggest news of practice was Jackson’s excitement about a checkdown pass Griffin threw to tight end Randall Telfer for a touchdown. ESPN’s Tony Grossi said Griffin was amused by his coach’s exuberance.

“It’s funny ‘cuz you can throw a checkdown and the coach will go berserk,” Griffin said. “And you throw an 80-yard bomb and he’s like, ‘OK, next play, guys.'”

The Browns are going to need checkdowns, bombs and a couple of those long touchdown runs if Griffin’s legs will allow it. They have been through an endless cycle of quarterbacks since returning to the NFL in 1999. Their offense looks as explosive as it has been in years with Pryor, Duke Johnson at running back and wide receiver Josh Gordon returning to the field from suspension in Week 5.

Some stability at the quarterback position might put the city of Cleveland in a yearlong sports euphoria.