There’s an old story about someone questioning an old sportswriter about what team he roots for, the response he got was “I root for the story”.
We think this applies to what the Cleveland Browns are doing with the quarterback position. There are several people in the local media asking when Kevin Stefanski will pull the trigger and replace Joe Flacco with rookie Dillon Gabriel.
We continue to say we will bet making the change is based more on Gabriel’s readiness to be a professional quarterback and less on Flacco’s performance in the three games played to date.
Flacco hasn’t been great, but to be fair, if not for a bad kicking game, the Browns would be 2-1 right now, and we doubt there would be calls for a change. Flacco does lead the league in attempts and also has the lowest passer rating in the league. He’s also thrown the second most interceptions thus far with four, behind only Jake Browning.
He hasn’t thrown the ball downfield much, as his average yards per attempt is also a league low 5.0. However, perhaps that’s by design.
Stefanski preached all off-season about taking care of the football after his team was second in the NFL in turning the ball over a year ago. Our guess is he’s had that conversation with his QB as well, and Flacco doesn’t want to put the ball in any risky spots.
The coaching staff and Flacco realize what the strength of this team is, and it’s their outstanding defense. So, we feel that’s the game plan going into every game, let Jim Schwartz’ unit keep the team close and do enough offensively to keep it close and have a chance to win it in the fourth quarter.
That’s not sexy, but if the Browns win, many fans won’t care.
Look, we get it, we would all love for the Browns to have a high-flying offense like the one they will see this Sunday in Detroit, but they don’t have the offensive line or the skill talent at wide receiver to play that way.
But there is more than one way to achieve victory.
Right now, Stefanski thinks his best chance to win is to run the ball and mix in the short passing game to shorten the game and keep his defense fresh. And we are also sure he believes the right QB to do that is Joe Flacco.
Why hasn’t Flacco taken more shots down the field? Probably because that’s not the game plan.
Is winning that way sustainable? We also believe the coaching staff and front office know it is not, but that’s what they are working with now.
When they feel Gabriel is ready to execute that game plan, we will probably see him. Also, when the schedule eases a bit and some of the skill players gain experience and get better, then they will open up the offense a bit.
Heck, if Quinshon Judkins can have the success on the ground he had last week, you might see some more play action throws from Flacco.
We know the better story is to see Gabriel and perhaps Shedeur Sanders as soon as possible, but for Kevin Stefanski and the players, the best story is winning football games.
And we think they know playing the way they have played offensively the first three weeks gives them the best chance to win, if they execute.
Cleveland Sports Perspective 