Ken Dorsey finally gets to call plays for a Browns dual-threat QB

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 …

Ken Dorsey was brought to Cleveland as a good fit for Deshaun Watson because of his experience working with dual-threat quarterbacks.

But Dorsey didn’t call the plays in the seven games started by Watson. Kevin Stefanski did. The result was an offense that didn’t score 20 points in a game.

Stefanski had experience running his play-action passing game with quarterbacks like Jameis Winston, who specialized in playing under center and not in the shotgun.

But Stefanski didn’t call the plays in the seven games started by Winston. Dorsey did. The result was an offense that turned the ball over 12 times on interceptions.

Enter Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who takes over for Winston. He’s another dual-threat QB who favors the shotgun and will run when his reads fail to take him to the right passing target.

So maybe the Browns finally got it right because Dorsey will call the plays now with a quarterback style that helped to build his NFL coaching resume.

“Dorian’s a different player. He has a skill set different than Jameis,” Dorsey said.

“Obviously, Dorian has some mobility traits to him with some speed and that type of thing to adjust and get out of things and make plays with his feet. But we’ve seen that from Jameis a good amount, too. Jameis was exceptional getting out of the pocket and making some off-schedule plays. I think there’s a balance there.

“We ran some things with Jameis that we would run with Dorian and obviously we’ll run some things with Dorian that we didn’t run with Jameis.”

One of the tasks in managing DTR is to keep him composed and not over-zealous in running with the ball but also in toning down his passes with the right touch.

“There’s a time and a place for those types of [running] plays where you’re going for it,” Dorsey said. “You’re trying to make somebody miss, or you got to lower your shoulder for a first down or whatever it is At the same time, there’s that balance of making sure that we’re not taking extra hits, we’re getting down, being smart with ourselves to move on to the next play.

“So, as a young player, a lot of times, you feel like, ‘I can make a play and the play’s never dead.’ But at times, sometimes the best decision is an incompletion and move on to the next play. So that’s obviously something that you continue to preach just from a learning aspect of it. But I do think he’s got a skillset that teams have to account for, and I think that as he grows and as he gets a feel for when to use those things and when to stay in the pocket, I think that that’ll make him more and more dangerous.”

As far as keeping DTR from being over-hyped when he wings it, Dorsey said, “It’s just being able to layer throws and being able to make the throws you need to over the top of coverage and what-not. So, I think they’re guys who go out and at the end of the day when it’s time to compete, they’re going to compete at a high level. And a lot of times those juices get flowing for a guy like him, and you see that come out.

“But it’s a, ‘Let’s play within the system, let’s trust our progressions, trust our reads, trust yourself, trust your guys around you, and good things will happen.’ I think that’s something — it’s going to be obviously new for me, calling it with Dorian. I haven’t called it with him except in the preseason and just getting that feel of getting him into a rhythm as quickly as possible.”

Jeudy weighs in on Madden-gate

A story in The Athletic reported that Jets owner Woody Johnson nixed a trade for Jerry Jeudy because his teen-age son questioned Jeudy’s rating in the Madden NFL video game. Jeudy completed the 2023 season in Denver with a rating of 81 on Madden23.

Jeudy reacted to the report in the morning by writing on X “I blame @ochocinco.” That was a reference to former Bengals receiver Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, who assists the Madden franchise in formulating ratings for players.

In the locker room on Thursday, Jeudy laughed off the report.

“To be honest, I don’t believe it,” he said. “I think it’s fake news. It’s funny.”

When the Jets trade fell through, the Browns were able to acquire Jeudy from Denver for a fifth- and sixth-round draft pick. On a tear the past seven games, Jeudy is fifth in the NFL with 1,052 yards on 70 receptions.

“I’m glad my Madden rating was low,” Jeudy said. “It got me here.”

Incidentally, Jeudy’s current Madden rating is up to 83.

“We gotta upgrade that,” Jeudy said.

Brownie bits

Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz verified the defense played one of its best games in the 21-7 loss to Kansas City. Schwartz said the nine punts forced were the most the Chiefs have had in Andy Reid’s 12 years as Kansas City coach. And Patrick Mahomes’ 19-of-38 passing day was the lowest completion percentage he’s had in 128 career games, including 18 in the postseason. “So, good things, always is, there’s bad things, always are, but certainly not looking for consolation prizes,” Schwartz said …

Receiver Cedric Tillman, a key player because of his long-standing connection with high school teammate DTR, was limited at practice but has not cleared concussion protocol …

Cornerback Martin Emerson was limited, also, and has not cleared protocol. Emerson said his first concussion – in the NFL and college – occurred when he took the crown of a Chiefs’ player’s helmet to his temple while defending a run play …

DNPs were tight end David Njoku (hamstring), defensive end Myles Garrett (back) and defensive tackle Shelby Harris (elbow).