The Browns now have five QBs on their roster, including Deshaun Watson, who will is serving an 11-game NFL suspension. (TheLandOnDemand)
Why are the Browns collecting big, strong, mobile quarterbacks?
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Takeaways from Browns practice and interviews …
The amazing transformation of the Browns’ quarterback room continued Thursday as Kellen Mond arrived and Josh Rosen was returned to the practice squad.
That brought the number of QBs on hand to five, counting Deshaun Watson, who is serving an 11-game NFL suspension.
In recent days, the Browns have reaffirmed that in Watson’s absence Jacoby Brissett is QB1 and Joshua Dobbs is QB2.
The addition of Mond on waivers from Minnesota and Rosen’s return do not threaten those roles. But since Brissett and Dobbs are playing on one-year contracts, it’s fair to say the Browns are thinking beyond this year.
“I mean, just keeping as many as good players as we can,” explained Glen Cook, VP of player personnel. “We were fond of Kellen from afar throughout the [2021] draft process. And having opportunity to get a young player in who we still see some development runway for and work with him and see what he can do for us and how he develops. And we like what Josh did in camp, so we’re glad to have him back, too.”
The common thread among the five QBs is size – each is 6-3 or taller and 215 pounds or more. For the most part, each is athletic enough to use his legs to escape defensive pressure on scrambles or planned runs.
Cook claimed that going big at the position after four years of the diminutive Baker Mayfield “just kind of played out that way.
“Each situation is unique in terms of how they came available and the timing of when we signed them,” Cook said. “I’d say Jacoby is not as athletic as the other guys. Mond is, and obvious Josh [Dobbs] is. I wouldn’t say it’s an intentional philosophical change.”
While some may think the acquisition of Mond and Rosen is a hedge against Dobbs holding down the backup job, that doesn’t appear to be the case. Dobbs has been the most consistent quarterback in preseason, leading nine scoring drives in 11 possessions in the three practice games.
Cook expressed some surprise, however, about Dobb’s performance. He had very little playing experience in four years with the Steelers.
“I can’t say we knew with certainty he would come in and perform this way. But from the spring until now, he’s taken ahold of the reins and really gotten better every day,” Cook said.
What’s surprised the Browns the most about Dobbs?
“I wouldn’t say surprised. I just think his ability to run the offense number one,” Cook said. “I think he’s very sneaky in terms of an athlete. He runs away from people. He controls the pocket with his athleticism. He’s really productive and consistent as a passer. He’s done well. We’re really happy with him.”
On those receivers
Other than Rosen, the only other player the Browns put in a claim for was Jets tight end Trevon Wesco, who was awarded to the Bears.
Cook said it was not frustrating that the club didn’t find value in any of the receivers released at the league-wide cut to 53.
“We are young and they are improving,” Cook said of the young group after Amari Cooper. “We are trusting our process and what we saw in their abilities for each player when they came out. We are going to give them their opportunities to grow. These guys come along at different points of the season and different points of their careers. Whoever steps up and is ready to go, I think we have faith in them. The Coach [Stefanski] has faith in them. We will be good there.”
But he admitted the makeup of the room could change over the course of the season.
“I think it can,” he said. “We will see. I think I watched another coach talk and speak about this, but you start to figure out who you are as the course of the season goes on – some of the things you do well and things you maybe do not do well. I think Coach and the staff will adjust as we need to. I think we will see. We will see.”
Winovich speaks
It’s been a frustrating preseason for Chase Winovich, who missed over two weeks with a hamstring injury, but it ended with him making the 53 and returning to practice in time to be ready for the real season.
Winovich was all smiles in his first appearance in front of the media.
“Hi, I’m Chase,” he said at the onset.
He said he never worried about the Browns saving a roster spot for him while he worked his way back.
“One, I’m a veteran. I’ve played a lot of football,” Winovich said. “There’s only so many looks you can get playing the outside linebacker-defensive end role. So coming back, it’s just football. It’s what I do. When it comes to injuries and setbacks, sometimes you get presented with situations that aren’t what you ask for but are what you need.
"I’m a spiritual person, so sometimes these things are part of a bigger picture you can’t yet understand. Each time they’ve put me in positions that ultimately gave me exactly what I needed to learn at the time.
“I think there’s a huge trust factor. It’s a mutual respect. I mean this sincerely, I have thoroughly enjoyed my time not only on the team but in the Cleveland area I’ve loved getting to know my teammates and loved the coaching I’ve received here. I hope to be a Cleveland Brown for a long time.”
Brownie bits
Per terms of the collective bargaining agreement, players get a three-day vacation and return on Labor Day Monday. “This is some time where they can definitely get a quick recharge of the battery,” Stefanski said, “and not think about football for a little bit but still making sure that they are taking care of their physical, whether it is nutrition, hydration or those type things, so still being smart getting a workout in over the weekend. We kind of gave them a plan for that. It is important as the season gets ready to go you have to unplug for a little bit.” Coaches and other staff remain on the job, however …
The claim put in on Wesco indicates the Browns are not comfortable with just two tight ends on the regular roster. They brought back two more to the practice squad. “It’s still fluid,” Cook said. “That’s kind of how it played out. [Andrew Berry] would say you want to keep the best 53. The roster’s going to change throughout the season.”
