The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Jackson: QB Kizer must be consistent
Rookie contends he is learning role quickly
It isn’t a matter of if DeShone Kizer will be the starter, it’s a matter of when Hue Jackson will anoint the rookie.
It isn’t a matter of if DeShone Kizer will be the Browns starting quarterback in 2017. It’s a matter of when coach Hue Jackson will anoint the rookie from Notre Dame.
Kizer, picked 52nd overall in 2017, could win the job before the season opener, a month later or after the bye. Whenever that time comes, Jackson wants to make sure Kizer is ready.
“He’s worked extremely hard, but he still has to show,” Jackson said after training camp practice on July 28. “What I mean by that is he has to play consistently over time.
“It’s only been two days. But he is different. He does see the big picture a little different than some other guys do, but that doesn’t always equate to being a really good football player.”
Like all good coaches not wanting to lose credibility with his veterans, Jackson is making Kizer and other rookies climb the depth chart. It’s the same with No. 1 overall pick Myles Garrett, who is playing second team right defensive end behind Xavier Cooper.
Cody Kessler was at quarterback with the first team when
“He’s worked extremely hard, but he still has to show. What I mean by that is he has to play consistently over time.”
— Browns coach Hue Jackson
training camp opened on July 27 in Berea and it was the same on July 28, followed by Brock Osweiler and Kizer.
But nobody believes Kessler is the quarterback of the future and Osweiler is fighting an uphill battle. Jackson said he would like to name the starter for the regular season by the preseason opener Aug. 10 against New Orleans, but he said he won’t rush his decision.
Kizer’s improvement from the time minicamp ended in mid-June to now is evident in the way he throws the ball and the command he seems to have of the offense. Kizer spent five weeks after minicamp ended devouring the playbook and being tutored by quarterback guru Tom House in California.
“This conversation I’m having with you now versus the one we had the first day of minicamp — completely different,” Kizer said before practice July 28. “I’ve spent some time with (the playbook), getting the verbiage down, understanding some of the whys and the hows within our playbook. The more time I have with it, the more I’ll be able to understand it.
“This is a completely different situation than OTAs. As long as I continue to learn and continue to match the speed of the game, hopefully I can be in position where one day Coach Jackson can answer that question as yes, that I’m capable of being a starting quarterback.”
Kizer was the third quarterback in the rotation again on July 28, but he worked behind the first offensive line, such as it is with left tackle Joe Thomas (rest) and left guard Joel Bitonio (foot) not practicing.
Kizer’s best pass during 11-on-11 was a right sideline throw to Rashard Higgins into the wind rolling to his right on play-action. He also found Mario Alford on the left side about 20 yards downfield in 11-on-11 with the wind behind him.
When Kizer wasn’t lining up, he would check the play sheet to know what the other quarterbacks were running. Other times he would consult Jackson or quarterback
coach David Lee. He is trying to learn as much as he can as quickly as he can.
“He’s a young player and I’ll always chat with him like I chat with all of them because it’s important they understand our system and how to orchestrate our football team,” Jackson said. “Those are the things I share with him – little nuances of our system, little keys that maybe he didn’t get in college, things that are tell-tale signs in the National Football League that can help you make faster decisions.”
Not many workplaces duplicate the NFL. Where else would a co-worker help someone else take his job? Yet that is what Kessler is doing. He knows the Browns offense better than any of the other quarterbacks. Part of his offseason was spent helping Kizer understand it. Kessler and Kizer worked side by side with House.
“I was able to hang out with Cody for five weeks, four weeks, so we were still talking in the same language I was talking with here,” Kizer said. “Cody’s a guy who started eight games last year. The way he commands the huddle and is able to go up there and communicate the right way and get the guys into the right play consistently is something I look forward to doing.
“I just obviously want to speed that up and get to that understanding as fast as I possibly can, so that time spent in this offseason was something that led to that a little more.”