Browns impressed with Joe Flacco’s workout, but will keep Dorian Thompson-Robinson as starting QB – for now
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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.
Second thoughts on Browns 13-10 win over Pittsburgh Steelers …
1. Joe Flacco received no promises from the Browns about playing in a game or even being elevated to the 53 roster. It’s strictly a practice squad deal at this point. But Flacco was happy to accept the invitation to a workout on Friday – his first ever for an NFL team. “The guy doesn’t need the money,” said a source close to Flacco. “He’s doing it because he loves the game and wants to be with a winner.” The workout lasted less than an hour and after about eight throws it was obvious to the Browns that Flacco, 38, still had that cannon arm that carried him through 15 NFL seasons and he had kept in good shape. “He’ll be able to throw the ball 70 yards when he’s 70,” said the source. The Browns’ plan for now is not to interfere with the development of Dorian Thompson-Robinson, and that is partly the reason Kevin Stefanski was careful not to overstate the role Flacco might have in the future. The coach confirmed DTR will make his third NFL start Sunday in Denver.
Joe Flacco, 38, was signed to the Browns' practice squad. If called upon, he could be the fourth QB to win a game for the Browns this season.
2. If all goes well, DTR would improve each week and the Browns would rely on defense, special teams and their running game to chase down the Baltimore Ravens for the AFC North title. If DTR stumbles, Flacco could be up to speed in a few weeks and ready to step in. “If Josh Dobbs can go to Minnesota and start in a week, Joe Flacco can do it,” said the source. Stefanski said, “[Flacco’s] just a guy that has seen a lot, has played in different systems … [We] feel like he can bring value to that room.” Flacco was 1-8 in three seasons with his last team, the Jets, who had offensive issues beyond him. The lone win came in that epic Browns’ meltdown in Cleveland last year. Why has no team other than the Browns called on Flacco this season when so many teams have quarterback problems? My theory is this: There are so many young GMs who simply are learning on the job and don’t have the wisdom to call on experienced quarterbacks to bail out their seasons. In the case of the Jets, who may have blown their playoff chances by sticking with inept Zach Wilson, it appears Aaron Rodgers is calling the shots. The big question now is if and when it comes time for the Browns to consider a move at quarterback, who will make that call – Stefanski, GM Andrew Berry, or chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta?
3. The Browns have now won games with Deshaun Watson (four), P.J. Walker (two) and Thompson-Robinson (one) at quarterback. No other team has done that this season. More incredible is the fact each has overseen a game-winning drive in the final minutes. Here’s what they did: Against the Colts, Walker moved the team 80 yards in 12 plays, aided by two Indianapolis defensive penalties. Walker was 3 of 8 for 56 yards to set up Kareem Hunt’s 1-yard TD run with :19 left in a 39-38 win. Against the Ravens, Watson moved the offense 58 yards in 12 plays. Watson was 3 of 3 for 30 yards, and had a keeper run for 16 yards, to set up Dustin Hopkins’ 40-yard field goal as time expired in a 33-31 win. Against the Steelers, Thompson-Robinson moved the Browns 48 yards in 8 plays, aided by one Pittsburgh defensive penalty. DTR was 4 of 5 (counting a clock-stopping spike) for 39 yards to set up Hopkins’ 34-yard field goal with :02 left in a 13-10 win.
4. In 2013, the Browns won games under coach Rob Chudzinski with Brian Hoyer, Brandon Weeden (in relief of Hoyer) and Jason Campbell. In 2010, Eric Mangini won games with Seneca Wallace, Colt McCoy and Jake Delhomme. In 1988, Marty Schottenheimer waded through Bernie Kosar, Gary Danielson and Mike Pagel over the first three games, but Danielson didn’t win his game. Emergency pickup Don Strock came on in Game 7 to produce a win, and Pagel recovered from his injury to start in the wild-card playoff game, which the Browns lost, 24-23, to the Houston Oilers, with Strock having to relieve a re-injured Pagel. There has never been a Browns season in which four quarterbacks registered a win. So Stefanski can make history if Flacco is called upon sometime in the last seven games and he comes through with a victory. Now here’s the rub: Chudzinski was fired after winning with three QBs, Mangini was fired after winning with three QBs, and Schottenheimer stomped out of Art Modell’s office after winning with three QBs when the owner demanded changes on his coaching staff. Stefanski needn’t worry. His work this year is earning him a place in the conversation for NFL coach of the year.
5. The overlooked aspect of the Browns’ 13-10 win over the Steelers was the fact they were flagged for only one penalty all game – an accidental hands-to-the-face by right tackle James Hudson – while the Steelers committed one hurtful, defensive penalty on each of the Browns’ three scoring drives. Stefanski said, “What we talk about when you’re on offense at home, your operation should be great. You should have an elite operation. And I thought the guys were locked in from that perspective. But we talk about playing clean. We want to play clean on all three sides of the ball, and clean is your technique, clean is your hand placement, clean is your assignment on a given play. So, I just felt like our team was playing clean throughout that game.” The challenge for DTR this week is playing on the road, in Denver, for the first time in his fledgling career. It’s a big difference, particularly for the quarterback and offensive line.
6. The strength of the Browns is their defense, of course, and that side of the ball has had good fortune on the injury front. But the NFL season is a war of attrition and the defense took two hits in the victory over Pittsburgh. Safety Rodney McLeod suffered a bicep injury that will require immediate surgery and end his season, Stefanski said. And linebacker Anthony Walker left with a hamstring injury that Stefanski described as “week to week.” McLeod made his second start of the season in place of free safety Juan Thornhill, who has a calf injury. (McLeod also made three starts as a third safety.) Stefanski wouldn’t speculate on Thornhill’s availability for Denver. Rookie Ronnie Hickman and D’Anthony Bell are candidates to replace McLeod in three-safety sub packages, but neither has much experience at free safety if Thornhill isn’t ready to return. As for Walker, his leadership on the field can not be understated. The Browns could have linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk available from injured reserve soon. Until then, Tony Fields and Matthew Adams could receive increased snaps.
