Browns QB Cody Kessler posted an 80.6 adjusted completion percentage under pressure in 2016, best by a rookie QB since 2006. pic.twitter.com/BSIDswwbfO
— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) May 14, 2017
80.6 adjusted completion percentage under pressure. Damn. That’s pretty good. At this point, I’m just rooting for somebody….anybody…to come out of the Cleveland Browns quarterback predicament a clear winner. I mean, shit – how long has it been since this franchise had a true franchise quarterback? Otto Graham? It has seemed like Cleveland is where quarterbacks go to die for the last 20 seasons.
It’s May – there’s still plenty of time for Kessler to lose the job, but he’s definitely deserving of this opportunity. It seems as though Browns coach Hue Jackson agrees.
When the Cleveland Browns kick off the full team OTAs on May 23, Cody Kessler will be the starting quarterback.
So says coach Hue Jackson, who declared it Saturday during the rookie minicamp,
“They’ll all get reps. Obviously, Cody will start this out. He deserves the opportunity to (start).”
Brock Osweiler, Kevin Hogan and rookie second-round pick DeShone Kizer will all get reps during the early sessions, but the competitors will have to take the job from last year’s primary starter.
Kessler has worked on his arm strength, notably fine tuning his mechanics to get more zip on his deeper throws. He had some success as a third-round rookie from USC but seldom challenged defenses.
Kizer took part in the weekend camp with mixed reviews. The team is clearly not interested in forcing the job upon the rookie from Notre Dame.
Osweiler is the presumptive No. 2, but Jackson backed away from committing to the high-priced newcomer.
Well, what about Hogan, coach? Tehehe.
Look – I know this is going to sound absurd considering the Browns were 1-15 last season, but this doesn’t seem as dire a predicament as many have made it out to be. One would assume Kizer is the “future” of the Browns quarterback position and Osweiler is certainly the big ticket commodity, but Kessler is completely capable of fending them off.
The stats don’t back that up, so I’m not going to share them. BOOM – I’m the editor, I do what I want. But, I look at the game Kessler had against the Tennessee Titans – 336 yards…two touchdowns. He showed a lot of potential then. Kessler completely took over the game. Well, he and Terrelle Pryor did. And, of course, now Pryor is in Washington.
Which – of course, is a stereotypical Browns move. Don’t worry – they replaced an ascending top-tier receiver with Kenny Britt.
All kidding aside, a healthy Corey Coleman and rookie tight end David Njoku should give this Browns offense a couple of dynamic weapons. They have a nice stable of running backs in Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson. And, the greatest left tackle of the last decade, Joe Thomas, is still a Brown. There are some interesting pieces on this Browns offense for whoever plays quarterback.
That said, I hope Kessler earns the nod. He’s talented, has shown potential, and can’t be held solely responsible for an atrocious defense and a thin roster that blew up in the form of 1-15.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. A strong advocate of GSD (get shit done) and #BeBetter, he’s down to talk Tennessee Titans and Alabama Crimson Tide football over a beer any day. Check him out covering the WWE for WrestlingNews.co. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley, @WrestlingNewsCo
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