Cleveland Browns: Hue Jackson Cannot Go Back to Cody Kessler in 2016

Coming out of the game against the New York Giants, it’s painfully clear the Cleveland Browns simply cannot go back to Cody Kessler this year.

Make no mistake, Josh McCown is not a good NFL quarterback. The Cleveland Browns don’t have one. With that in mind, the remainder of the season becomes about the rest of the offense. Cody Kessler makes it so no one else on offense can function, let alone improve, and it becomes a discussion about Kessler’s development at the expense of everyone else.

The Browns don’t need to cut Kessler. Hue Jackson doesn’t need to give up on on his handpicked quarterback. The focus for Kessler needs to be getting healthy first and making the necessary adjustments so he can be a viable NFL quarterback for 2017 and beyond second.

Against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens, Kessler combined for just 219 yards passing. McCown threw for 322 yards against the Giants Sunday.

All of them came in losing performances, but the rest of the offense could perform with McCown at quarterback. He’s going to make crippling mistakes. That’s just what he does. The point is between the awful interception or terrible sack caused by holding onto the ball far too long, he gets the ball to playmakers that the Browns want to evaluate.

The Giants are 8-3 and on track to the playoffs. Against a likely playoff team, the Browns put up the following:

Terrelle Pryor, 6 catches for 131 yards
Isaiah Crowell, 6 catches for 47 yards
Seth DeValve, 3 catches for 39 yards
Corey Coleman, 3 catches for 38 yards and a touchdown
Rashard Higgins, 2 catches for 34 yards

Pryor and Crowell are pending free agents while DeValve, Coleman and Higgins are all rookies. These are the players this group must be able to evaluate, so they can effectively decide how to move forward. If the Browns are going to lose, they can at least get something positive out of it.

More from NFL Spin Zone

Yes, Kessler can improve where McCown is at the end of his career, but after eight games and 192 pass attempts, a quantum leap in two weeks or a month is unlikely. Meanwhile, the cost for everyone else on offense is too high.

Here are the per game averages for all the Browns quarterback this year:

Josh McCown – 220
Robert Griffin III – 168
Charlie Whitehurt – 168
Cody Kessler – 155
Kevin Hogan – 23.5

That’s right. Kessler is even behind Clipboard Jesus, who most have forgotten was ever on the Browns. And look at how much more production there is with McCown; a 140 percent increase. Production that benefits those young players the Browns hope can be a foundation for this team.

All indications are that Robert Griffin III will be able to play after the bye week against the Cincinnati Bengals. It stands to reason that Griffin will be the starting quarterback, assuming he’s healthy, not only for that game but the balance of the season. In the event Griffin gets hurt again—as he tends to do—or is simply ineffective, the Browns must go back to McCown. The only scenario where they can go to Kessler is if he’s the last option.

With the season dragging on, much of the conversation goes to the psyche of the team and players. Losing is obviously draining and takes a toll on everyone within the organization.

Another part of this that becomes a drain on the team is having the team feel like it can’t even compete. That’s the danger with Kessler continuing to play quarterback this season. As much as everyone wants to win, these young players are still trying to figure out they belong in the NFL. With Kessler in there, it’s becoming impossible to determine because they don’t get the opportunities to prove it.

Next: NFL Power Rankings Week 13: Browns at No. 32

The Cleveland Browns have their bye week followed by the final four games of the season. Much of the focus for this stretch needs to be about giving the players on this young offense reasons to hit the ground running as they go to the offseason and prepare for 2017.

It’s painfully clear the Browns need to address the quarterback position, so continuing to trot Kessler out there and negatively impact the rest of the offense doesn’t make sense. Let Kessler focus on 2017 now while trying to give the rest of this young offense every opportunity to improve and develop.

Home/Cleveland Browns