Browns should roll with DeShone Kizer
The Cleveland Browns appear to have a real quarterback prospect in DeShone Kizer. Frankly, Kizer represents a hope that Cleveland hasn’t had for its football team since the days of Bernie Kosar.
Sure, the Browns have taken plenty of cracks since Kosar at a franchise. There was Tim Couch and Brady Quinn, Brandon Weeden and Johnny Manziel. All four of those men were drafted in the first round since 1999, but it was quickly evident that those players didn’t have the right stuff. Kizer has only played half of a preseason game, but anybody who watched him carve up the New Orleans Saints had to be impressed.
Forget about the stats. Don’t worry about the 11-of-18 for 184 and a touchdown, because that isn’t what actually matters. If you watch the film, Kizer was moving beautifully in the pocket and showed the ability to rifle the ball throw a piece of scrap metal. He certainly needs to refine his mechanics, because his passes will sail occasionally. The former Golden Domer is a work in progress who will throw the Browns into some games, and throw them right out of others.
If Cleveland was going to be in the conversation for a playoff berth this year, that would be enough to consider keeping him on the bench. However, the Browns are not going anywhere fast. With only Brock Osweiler as the other feasible starter, why let Kizer languish on the bench when he could be learning with each snap?
Osweiler is reportedly going to be the starter to begin the season, at least according to left tackle Joe Thomas. Per ESPN, Thomas believes Osweiler is the man, for now.
“I could be totally wrong,” Thomas said. “I might be going out on a limb here. But I think that they’re grooming Brock to be the starter in Week 1 based on what I’ve seen.”
Head coach Hue Jackson is understandably trying to entrust the veteran while easing Kizer into NFL life, but there is no downside to playing the kid. Cleveland doesn’t have a bevy of weapons at his disposal, but it does have an excellent offensive line with the front of JC Tretter, Joel Bitonio, Kevin Zeitler and Thomas. Few teams in the league can provide Kizer better protection.
Eventually, Kizer is going to be the starter. It may be Week 4, it may be December, or it might be Week 1 of the 2018 season, but it is going to happen. Osweriler isn’t the future, and everyone in the city knows it, including Osweiler.
The argument here? The future is now, and Kizer would be in a no-lose situation by climbing under center and taking the controls.
