Dillon Gabriel takes blame for two turnovers, responds with two scoring drives

Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns and NFL analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.

PHILADELPHIA, PA

More takeaways from Browns 22-13 win over Philadelphia Eagles …

1. Media as entertainment: Dillon Gabriel is a master of the canned, uninsightful quote. He often recites football cliches like a head coach. But he can be brash, too, and something he said on the Browns’ telecast of the game came off as controversial. In answering a question from field reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala about shutting out the noise surrounding this QB competition, Gabriel said, “There’s entertainers and there’s competitors, and I understand that, but my job is to compete. That’s what I’m focused on doing.” The comment could have been interpreted as a shot at teammate Shedeur Sanders, who dabbles in songwriting and singing in his free time and also enjoys the celebrity of an accomplished entertainer. So I asked Gabriel to explain his comment. His response: “All of you in this room are entertainers. You have a job to do and I respect that. I’m a competitor, so I have a job to do as well. I think just understanding that, that’s how I live by, and I’ve said that multiple times. Definitely not a new quote.” A reporter followed up by asking to clarify whether he was referring to Sanders. “First off, I am all about our team and each other," he said. "I would never make that … and I’ve said [it] before, that’s why it’s interesting. For me, entertainers are you’all. Competitor, that’s what I am, and all my teammates. And we both have jobs to do.”

2. About those giveaways: Gabriel took the blame for both offensive turnovers that resulted in Philadelphia’s only two scores, which is what quarterbacks are expected to do even if there are mitigating circumstances. On the interception returned 75 yards for a touchdown by Andrew Mukuba, it appeared that tight end Blake Whiteheart errantly drew Mukuba into the area targeted for receiver Diontae Johnson. Stefanski: “There shouldn’t be [two offensive players so close to each other]. They were out of their sandbox. They were in the wrong area of their sandbox. We’ll get that cleaned up. … That should never happen.” The coach added, “Not all interceptions are created equal, but we can’t do that as a football team.” Gabriel said, “I look back and definitely want to throw it away. There was miscommunication on my part. It’s something we have to clean up and I will make sure of that.” The botched handoff resulted when Gabriel didn’t place the ball far enough into the gut of running back Pierre Strong. Stefanski: “Those two, us as coaches, we have to get them on the same page. We can never do that. Ever.” Gabriel: “Just miscommunication as well. I have to be better there to help each other out, knowing exactly where the launch point is. That’s something that will be corrected and fixed as soon as possible.”

3. What happened next: Coaches always want to see how young players respond after mistakes. Thus, it was a bright point that Gabriel responded after each turnover with drives that resulted in field goals, the first covering 49 yards in 10 plays and the second 31 yards in six plays. “I think the response is everything,” Gabriel said. “I think in many cases there’s maybe mistakes on display or maybe plays you want back, but for the most part there’s got to be that continuation … the competitive nature to go out there and continue to compete. I’m a gunslinger. I’m gonna continue to sling and be aggressive that way. Like I said, that can’t happen. We’ve got to throw it away in that situation, but I think as a unit, and us coming together, I want to help my teammates out by being better.”

4. The numbers: Gabriel directed five possessions in his two quarters of play. He oversaw three scoring drives (one TD, two field goals) and the two turnovers. He converted six of eight third downs – five on completions. The Browns had 194 total yards offense and 11 first downs in the first half against the Super Bowl champions’ second- and third-team defenses. Overall, Gabriel was 13 of 18 for 143 yards with one INT. He was sacked twice and exited with a passer rating of 72.2. Stefanski said, “Plenty to clean up. There’s some things I thought he did well. Our offense as a whole on third down was very good early, which allowed us to stay on the field. But plenty to clean up.”

5. Defensive dominance: The performance by Jim Schwartz’s second and third teams completed what was a preseason tour de force against the Eagles the entire week. On Wednesday and Thursday, the first-teamers drew rave reviews from even the Eagles. On Saturday, the backups held the Eagles offensive backups 88 total yards, eight first downs and 4 of 12 on third downs. Eagles QB3 Dorian Thompson-Robinson started and was 5 of 8 for 17 yards. He was sacked once, rejected at the line of scrimmage once, and was pummeled into a 45-yard Pick 6 by linebacker K.J. Henry. Rookie QB4 Kent McCord was 8 of 16 for 47 yards and one TD. Six defensive players recorded a quarterback hit and linebacker Nathaniel Watson was credited with three tackles for loss. “I’ll tell you I was really pleased with Wednesday and Thursday, really pleased with the guys today, obviously,” Stefanski said. “You know, our brand of defense you have to play really, really hard. You have to compete like crazy and I think that’s what you see from our guys.”

6. Big week coming: Stefanski wouldn’t comment on reports of imminent arrivals of running back Quinshon Judkins, whose domestic charges were thrown out on Friday, and undrafted receiver Isaiah Bond, who posted on social media that he had signed with the Browns after charges of sexual assault against him were dismissed, also on Friday. The coach confirmed he will treat the final preseason game on Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams as a “dress rehearsal,” but declined to say whether starters would play. He also declined to give a timetable when he would name his starting quarterback for the season.