Evaluating the Cleveland Browns at the quarter mark
By Thomas Moore
Sep 27, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown (13) makes a pass for seven-yard gain against the Oakland Raiders during the first quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
Thumbs up: The Quarterback Play
Who would have thought that, after all the off-season hand wringing, that the quarterback position would be one that isn’t really a problem?
After recovering from an opening-day concussion, Josh McCown has done just about everything the Browns could have asked for him (other than that pesky 0-2 record). He’s one of just four Cleveland quarterbacks, along with Otto Graham (1953), Brian Sipe (1980) and Brian Hoyer (2014), to throw for 300 yards in consecutive games (for what that’s worth) and has delivered mostly competent play at the position.
As for Johnny Manziel, while he was not impressive coming off the bench against the Jets, he produced just enough highlight plays against Tennessee to earn the win and continue the tiresome debate over who should be the starter.
More importantly, Manziel’s performance showed that he is buying into the plan the Browns have created to rebuild his game and that the plan is working. There’s little doubt that the Browns will need to call on Manziel again this season, and form the early returns that will not be a bad thing.
Next: The Running Backs