Some thoughts on the Browns’ quarterback situation – er, controversy – as they return to work on Wednesday and begin preparations forSunday’s road game against the Houston Texans:
*Head coach Hue Jackson said Monday that he will base his decision on naming a starter on “what’s best for the football team.” Does he mean now, or going forward? For if he means now, he might pick Kevin Hogan. But if he’s talking about big-picture and long-term, then it’s DeShone Kizer. He’s the only quarterback on the roster who has a chance to the guy. If it isn’t him, then the Browns are going to have to go back into the NFL Draft again next year to get their man with one of their two first-round selections.
*When Jackson talks about the need to win some games now as one of the reasons for benching Kizer in favor of Hogan at halftime of last Sunday ‘s 31-7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, I hope that’s what he – and not someone above him – really feels. For if he’s doing this because he’s getting pressure from Sashi Brown or, worse yet, even Jimmy Haslam, then I’m more upset than I already am.
*Jackson knows better than to handle things this way. A quarterback controversy consumes a team. It’s all anyone talks bout. It divides the locker room. Nothing else seems to get done – or even matter — while all of this chatter about the quarterback is ongoing. Other than that, a QB controversy is a great idea.
*My guess is that Hogan’s moment in the sun won’t last long. It has nothing to do with Hogan, and all to do with Kizer. Once Jackson thinks Kizer has stood on the sideline long enough to see the game from a distance and get his bearings, the coach will put him back into the game.
*If you’re going to play a young quarterback, then you’ve got to ride the wave – the good, the bad and the indifferent. It’s just the way it is. But that the Browns were not patient enough to do that, is greatly disappointing.
*All the media people seem to think that Jackson will announce on Wednesday that Hogan will start against Houston. I’m not so sure. I think it could well be Kizer. Again, by starting Hogan, it just slows down the process of finding out about Kizer. So why do it? In the long run, this could be a disaster. It could end up being the downfall of Jackson if he’s not careful.
