‘This guy shouldn’t even be a starting quarterback’

Thoughts on DeShaun Watson and more in this week’s ‘5 questions’ segment

The Cleveland Browns are a team with high expectations, but a question at quarterback that could hold them back in 2024. With the New York Giants set to take on the Browns Sunday, we turned to SB Nation’s Dawgs By Nature for this wee’s ‘5 questions.’ Chris Pokorny answered our deep, probing, analytical questions.

Ed: After two games, how would you assess the 1-1 Browns?

Chris: The defense is as expected. Even though they aren’t ranked No. 1 statistically yet like they were a year ago in terms of yards, they have the same degree of aggressiveness that makes it difficult for opponents without a polished offense to move the ball. On offense, it’s still a struggle with Deshaun Watson, because you never quite feel like the offense is fully functional. It’ll be interesting to see how things look whenever Nick Chubb returns, and also when the team’s two starting offensive tackles return. For now, the offense is having issues with dropped passes, scoring touchdowns, pushing the ball downfield, and getting consistency from their top receiver (Amari Cooper). The easiest fix should be getting Cooper in sync again. Overall, Cleveland has signs of a talented team that needs to get their chemistry together — which is why it’s good that it’s early in the season when there is still time to correct these things.

Ed: The DeShaun Watson trade has been “what” for Cleveland?

Chris: “Return to sender.” We are in year three of Deshaun Watson’s contract, and it still feels like we have barely seen the guy play, and when he does play, everyone usually thinks the same thing: “This guy shouldn’t even be a starting quarterback.” Now, granted, he did a good job improving from his disastrous Week 1, but even with that, the offense only scored 16 points against a Jacksonville defense that wasn’t very good. Compare that to last year, when Joe Flacco came off the couch and was leading them to 30 points per week, and then the deficiencies of Watson become even more glaring. I am still hoping that the lightbulb magically turns on for Watson so that the Browns can be a top contender, but until that happens, not many people have faith in his ability to lead a consistent Browns offense.

Ed: If you could take one player off the Giants’ roster and put him in Cleveland’s lineup who would it be? Why?

Chris: Without question, it would be left tackle Andrew Thomas. I know the Giants have a couple of impressive players in their secondary, but the Browns’ defense is already stacked back there. Our left tackle, Jedrick Wills, is entering the final year of his rookie deal. For a former first-round pick, I wouldn’t call him a bust per se, but he’s always just been a bit average. Thomas would be a significant upgrade, and with Myles Garrett dealing with a foot injury, I’m already expecting Thomas to have an edge on him more than he usually would.

Ed: Dalvin Tomlinson is a 2017 second-round pick by the Giants. He just seems to keep going and going. How important a player is he for the Browns’ defense?

Chris: Despite the Browns having a top-ranked defense a year ago, Dalvin Tomlinson underachieved a little bit. This year, he had his knee scoped before the season, so he has been eased into the lineup during the first two weeks. I’d rather have him than not, but at this point, I wouldn’t label him as an essential player for the defense. Instead, it’s the cumulative impact that Tomlinson, Quinton Jefferson, and Shelby Harris have as a rotation of players that do a fair job up front.

Ed: The Browns will win Sunday because? The Giants will win because?

Chris: The Browns will win Sunday because the defense will play tight coverage on the Giants receivers, and Daniel Jones won’t be able to beat them or consistently out-run the pass rush when the safety is coming up to help or spy. And then, with the Giants’ run defense struggling, Cleveland will have some sustained drives.

The Giants will win if Deshaun Watson plays like he did at home in Week 1, and their defense creates some short fields for them.