Dorian Thompson-Robinson is the only quarterback drafted by Browns GM Andrew Berry. The Browns have not done a good job of developing him in two years. The time has come to give DTR an extended shot in the last three games of 2024. (USA Today)
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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’ 21-6 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs …
1. The Browns have now played seven games with Deshaun Watson at quarterback and Kevin Stefanski as play-caller, and seven games with Jameis Winston at QB and Ken Dorsey as play-caller. In general, the Browns made more big plays with Winston and Jerry Jeudy flourished under Winston. But because of Winston’s interceptions, the overall results were more similar than you’d think.
2. The Browns scored 109 points with Watson-Stefanski; 130 with Winston-Dorsey. They actually ran the ball better with Watson-Stefanski -- partly because of Watson’s running ability -- with 660 rushing yards and a 4.2 average; v. 630 and a 3.86 average with Winston-Dorsey.
3. In the first seven games, the Browns made 108 first downs and were 23 of 97 on third-down conversions (23.7%). The last seven games, they made 146 first downs and were significantly better on third downs (33 of 99 for 33%).
4. In the first seven games, Jeudy was frustrated and played second fiddle to Amari Cooper. Jeudy had 21 receptions on 42 targets for 266 yards (12.6 yards per catch) and 1 TD. After Cooper was traded and Winston took over, Jeudy had 49 receptions on 75 targets for 786 yards (16.0 average) and 3 TD. Jeudy caught 50% of the balls thrown him by Watson v. 65% of the balls thrown him by Winston. Overall, Jeudy’s 1,052 receiving yards rank him fifth in the league, and his 15.0 overall yards per catch is second to Justin Jefferson (15.6) in the top five.
5. The biggest discrepancy in the two offenses, of course, is Watson’s puny yards-per-attempt (5.31) v. Winston’s (7.17), and Watson’s TD-to-INTs ratio (5 to 3) v. Winston’s (12 to 12). Passer ratings were similar -- Watson was 79.0; Winston 80.6.
6. The bottom line in the two offenses is this: The Browns were 1-6 in the Watson-Stefanski regime and 2-5 under Winston-Dorsey. Essentially, the offense remained broken under both “eras.” Therefore, there’s no reason to not give Dorian Thompson-Robinson an extended look at quarterback at this time. Stefanski wouldn’t disclose the plan at quarterback, probably because he had not yet met with GM Andrew Berry and strategy officer Paul DePodesta, a.k.a. the Collaborative Council, or the quarterbacks. Stefanski said, “Ultimately, we want to do what’s best for the team.”
7. Stefanski said he did not believe that Nick Chubb would need surgery on his broken left foot and that he expected the recovery time to be “shorter-term” than the 15 months it took Chubb to come back from two knee surgeries last year. Chubb will be 29 on December 27 and he is not under contract beyond this year. Nevertheless, nobody in the Browns’ locker room believes Chubb has played his last down for the Browns. After the loss to Kansas City, guard Joel Bitonio said, “If Nick Chubb wants to be a Brown, he’ll be a Brown next year. That’s all I got for that. He’s earned that, and they’ll figure something out.” On Monday, I asked Jerome Ford to respond to those who say Chubb will never be the same runner he was two years ago. “They just need to take a deeper look at the film and the things that he’s put into this game in the past,” Ford said. “Give him a little bit more time. When he’s back and he’s rollin’, I feel the play and the work will speak for itself. I have no doubts about how Nick Chubb will play when he comes back from this one. I had no doubts about the last one just because of how he works. When the time comes, he’ll be able to shut all the naysayers up.”