Only in Cleveland: The Cleveland Browns since their return to the NFL
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Confession time: When it comes to Cleveland Browns quarterbacks, I don"t know what I want.
Actually, I do know.
I want the same thing you do, and I"m not talking about the elusive "Franchise" quarterback.
When it comes to Browns quarterbacks, finding a combination of competence and durability would be a reason for a standing ovation.
Instead, I"ll stay seated while writing about the Browns 24-9 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
This was the 10th time that Steeler quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has won a game at FirstEnergy Stadium.
That ties former Brown Derek Anderson for the most wins by a quarterback in this stadium, where the expansion era franchise first took the field in 1999. Ex-Browns quarterback Tim Couch is next with nine victories at FirstEnergy.
This is not about replaying how the Browns passed up Roethlisberger in favor of Kellen Winslow in the 2003 draft.
It is to say that I have been writing about wanting to see more of Cody Kessler.
Well, I did in Sunday"s loss.
Sigh...
Kessler started, but was knocked out of the game late in the third quarter with what probably is a concussion. If so, this was the second concussion of the season for the rookie quarterback.
Kessler has started eight games this season. Three times he has failed to survive four quarters because he was injured.
That"s not a good sign, as Kessler can"t stay on the field.
THEN THERE"S PERFORMANCE
Long before his concussion late in the third quarter, this was truly an awful game for Kessler.
It was harder to know if the rookie quarterback was shaken more by the frigid, wind-whipping, teeth-rattling weather -- or the aggressive Steeler defense.
But his decision making was SOOO ... SLOW ... it was painful to watch.
This is not about being impatient with a rookie. Some of the mistakes were from inexperience.
But he took three sacks when he simply held on to the ball for too long.
He seemed confused by the defenses. When his primary receiver was covered, Kessler had problems knowing where else he wanted to throw the ball.
He was 7-of-14 passing for 128 yards. He had an interception. He was sacked four times, and three were on him because he held the ball for so long.
Being the quarterback on the winless Browns may seem like a hopeless assignment.
But I"m grading on a curve, just looking for progress from Kessler.
In the last three games, he has been sacked nine times. With him on the field, the offense has scored 23 points in a little over nine quarters.
I don"t know what to say about Kessler, other than his lack of arm strength was very apparent on this wind-whipped day.
But most alarming, his early season poise seemed missing.
SO NOW WHAT?
When it comes to Browns quarterbacks, I"m just confused.
You can say it"s been like that for me for years, and you"d be right.
Josh McCown has some good and bad moments, but he also can"t stay healthy. He suffered a broken bone in his shoulder in each of the last two seasons.
He"s also 37 years old.
Over the weekend, I wrote that I have no real interest in watching Robert Griffin III play.
But Griffin is working to come back from the shoulder injury he suffered in the opener.
The way this season is going, the Browns may need him to start.
Rookie Kevin Hogan better stay ready, too.
At this point in the 0-11 season, I have no strong opinions on who should start at quarterback for the Browns.
I"m open to suggestions.
My guess is the Browns feel the same way.
Source: http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/index.ssf/2016/11/when_it_comes_to_quarterbacks.html
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