The Browns' Quarterback Dilemma
Berea, Ohio (AP) — In yet another challenging season for the Cleveland Browns, the team is once again grappling with the question of who should be their starting quarterback. With the team sitting at 2-6 entering their bye week, the decision between Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders has become a focal point.
The Browns are expected to give Sanders, their highly anticipated fifth-round draft pick, his first NFL snaps soon, likely before the season finale against Cincinnati on January 4. This move comes as the coaching staff and front office evaluate the performance of their current offense, which has struggled across multiple positions.
Evaluating the Offense
Head coach Kevin Stefanski emphasized that the focus is on improving every position on the field, not just the quarterback. “We have to be better by position and put our players in better spots,” Stefanski said. “We’ll look at all of it this week and make a decision coming out of the bye.”
Sanders, who has been practicing with the scout team, has moved up to backup after Joe Flacco was traded to Cincinnati. However, the coaching staff has not yet indicated when he will take over. For now, their attention remains on the current roster.
Flacco’s Impact in Cincinnati
Flacco’s move to the Bengals has proven to be a significant shift. Since joining Cincinnati on October 7, he has shown marked improvement, posting a 100.1 passer rating and a 64.3% completion rate. He has thrown seven touchdowns without an interception, aided by receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, who have been instrumental in his success.
In contrast, the Browns’ offense has struggled significantly. Gabriel, who took over from Flacco, has not performed much better, with a 75.8 passer rating and a 59.4% completion rate in October. His performance has been inconsistent, with four touchdowns and two interceptions.
Receiving Struggles
The Browns’ receiving corps has also faced challenges. Jerry Jeudy leads the league with eight dropped passes, and the team is tied for second in total drops. These issues were evident in their recent 32-13 loss to New England, where the wide receivers managed only two receptions out of 21 total.
Tight ends Harold Fannin Jr. and David Njoku had 10 catches, including both touchdowns, while three running backs accounted for the remaining nine. This lack of downfield production has left the passing game struggling, with Gabriel completing just one of eight passes that were at least 20 yards from the line of scrimmage.
Running Game Spark
Despite these challenges, rookie Quinshon Judkins has provided a spark to the running game with eight carries of at least 12 yards. However, due to the team’s persistent passing struggles, defenses have focused on stopping him. Judkins missed training camp and the first regular-season game due to off-field issues, which may have affected his early performance.
Persistent Issues
The Browns’ offensive struggles extend beyond the quarterback position. Their 35.5% successful play rate is the worst in the league, and they face the second-highest average yards to go on second down. On 70.3% of those plays, they face at least 7 yards, nearly 10% above the league average.
This has led to a high rate of three-and-outs, with 25.6% of possessions ending in a three-and-out. Under Gabriel, this figure jumps to a league-leading 29.5%.
Coaching and Play-Calling
Stefanski, a two-time Coach of the Year, faces ongoing questions about whether to turn play-calling duties over to first-year offensive coordinator Tommy Rees. So far, he has opted to stay the course, but the results have not been encouraging.
Future Considerations
The Browns must decide whether switching to Sanders or bringing back Deshaun Watson would lead to improvement or if more comprehensive changes are needed. Sanders, known for his athleticism and accuracy, has shown promise during practice. Quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave noted that Sanders is “working hard and really learning by the day.”
If Watson returns, he could bring a veteran presence, but his tenure with the Browns has been controversial. Fans remain divided over the decision to trade for him and sign him to a massive contract.
Looking Ahead
Whoever the Browns choose, the offense will look different when they face the New York Jets on November 9. With the NFL trade deadline approaching, key players like Jeudy and several veteran starters on the offensive line could be on other rosters by Tuesday.
