DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum What can we expect from DW?

No, what those fan bases are expecting is wins. They aren't worried about stats and salary justification.

Some Browns fans have become so fixated with "perfect" they forget that wins trump all.

No it won’t.

I am not saying I am right. I am saying it is futile to argue with people who have a set mind. I also think it too early to draw any conclusions. At least for those who say they have no or limited concerns have past history on their side. It's not like we traded for Marcus Mariota and expect him to all of a sudden ball out.

Except that we have only received Marcus Mariota type play from Watson at this time. Individuals don't want to have conclusions reached from Watson's poor play the last 2-years yet are very quick to point out his games against the Titans and a half against the Ravens as some kind of measuring stick. Those games were 5 games apart and certainly shouldn't be considered a trend. It's also 1 1/2 games out of 12 played that gives him a 12.5% chance of producing adequate play over the last 2-years when he was available. Of the 66 QB's that started a gamme in 2023, Watson was ranked 26th which (by the way) was 15 spots below our former QB.

https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-qb-index-ranking-all-66-starting-quarterbacks-from-the-2023-nfl-season

To be clear, I don't have a mindset either about Watson. If it was any other QB in the NFL that has only appeared in 12 games in 3-years with the posted production numbers of Watson, this forum would be calling him trash and a bust for sure. I'm hoping for a turnaround this season as much as you do but to give him a pass or lower expectations is not what the Browns are paying for. If he's elite and expects to be considered as such, then he needs to produce it on the field which as of today - he's failed at miserably.

Lolz.

Just like yourself, I want to see a full season and will not base my opinion of his play on what we have seen thus far. But no matter how you slice it, that's what we've seen thus far and I'm not going to try to convince others they shouldn't need sold evidence to the contrary before thinking he is somehow different than what they have seen to this point. I know why they feel the way they do and I get it.

I especially get it when saw Flacco get up off the couch and perform the way he did. They're expecting more than that and for all our sakes I hope they get that. Because if they get that, we all do.

For the third year in a row, Browns FO expects us to have faith in this DW debacle. NOPE.

By definition, that IS his body of work. Period.



We have nothing more, and nothing less, than what has been shown thus far. In this league, you are what you've done. It is a very bottom-line business. That time in Houston is just ancient history of someone he used to be... what he has done since is who he is now, until/unless he changes it around.
Does he have the potential to change that around? Sure. He just hasn't, yet.

He's been outplayed, in back-to-back seasons, by Jacoby Brisset and Joe Flacco, respectively. If he wants to not be object of scorn and ridicule, he needs to be a significant and noticeable upgrade over the bargain bin QBs.
For every reason anyone can give as to why he offers hope, he has given twice as many reasons as to why that is likely false hope.

It's his job to change that narrative.

Really, that’s the bottom line as we get set for ‘24. This is year 3, the first was pretty much gonged by his suspension, his second by injury just when he was starting to get his stuff together.

Stay healthy and perform. If he can’t....?

I agree Bone as long as DW stays healthy. If he gets hurt within the 1st 5 games of the season and is out for the rest of the year we're right back to not knowing where we stand with him and how good he can be for us.

“Everyone has a plan: until they get punched in the face” – Mike Tyson.

I agree. Everything points to all being well and him playing to an expectation nearly all will approve.

I agree. DW is still young, not to mention he has saved some wear and tear the last 2 seasons on other parts of his body even though he was injured. His legal distractions should be behind him and he's got solid talent around him with a new OC. IF he stays healthy I believe DW will have a good year.

I guess my overriding point is that what we see in practice, workouts and even preseason doesn't mean much. If it did there would be 80 or more top tier QB's in the NFL.

What to expect from DW- he won't be sex offender again, he probably will get hurt- when/how bad? No one knows. He was a legit 5-1 last year, hopefully he's smarter and healthier this year- 12-5 would be outstanding. Go Browns!!!

DW just needs to play mistake free as much as possible. Be solid to above solid. A few splash plays. Run very judiciously and slide or get out of bounds. Just be smart. If he plays smart the Browns should be good. It’s really that simple.

I agree Rish. We don't need him to be that dynamic guy from his past (although it would be nice) .. but we do need him to be accurate, smart, and make the plays that are in front of him

ROI. Return on investment. You don't pay a QB elite money and then say it's okay if he plays average ball and doesn't make a lot of mistakes. That's not how corporate America works. It may be the way fans brains operate. But to win a SB........ People are describing Kirk Cousins.

I don't think he meant average. As for ROI, we don't determine that. The coach, gm, and owner determine if it was worth it or not.

So you're saying in business you don't pay a player based on expecting him to deliver at the level he was compensated? So you think a successful business that's paying out top five compensation to an employee that only ranks in the top 12 considers that the proper return on investment? I've never heard of such a thing. I thought this team was analytics driven? And now you're suggesting they will ignore the analytics?

I think all that matters is if Watson is good enough to get us to and win a Super Bowl. In a league without Mahomes and with the talent across this roster, I would say yes, if he can stay healthy. In a league with Mahomes, it's a crapshoot for every single other QB in the league, not just Watson.

Watson needs to stay healthy and the Browns need some breaks to go their way. We have as good a shot as anyone (except for KC) if that happens.

j/c:

This pic was on my Facebook feed yesterday, I really like it:

I've never questioned DW's passion and love for the game, nor his desire to bring a championship to Cleveland. Plus, it seems like many, if not all, Browns players look to DW as their leader on the field and in preparation for the X's and O's. It's all about getting his head right and putting together the offensive scheme best suited for DW strengths......and staying healthy!

I do appreciate him wearing Bernie's jersey (currently Tillman's) as I am sure he heard the news.

Classy move with the Bernie jersey.

I echo everything you said about Watson.

In addition, I am sure those muscles have been adequately massaged.

I assumed it was a Miles Austin jersey!

I find it odd he would choose that timeline to describe what great shape he is in. Two years ago would have been July of 2022. He hadn't played in an NFL game for over 18 months at the time. Maybe he was in better shape than being NFL ready is? But then I guess it's true that being in shape isn't the same thing as being in NFL shape. A lot of workout warriors are in great shape.

Me too.

The only thing I can take away from that is exactly what you described.

I agree with this 100%, and while I would love to eat my words at the end of this season DW has no incentive to even play.

He already has his money, he was already hurt early in the preseason, and now has arm soreness. Let's not forget Derek Carr played with this same injury last year, Baker two years before that.

Ask yourselves last season would you have rather had Baker or DW under center I would take Baker all day.

In two years we are going to have to draft a QB having wasted the last prime years of our Oline, Cooper, Myles, Chubb, and Ward.

The gross mismanagement of bringing in Watson will lead to another rebuild.

Again I hope to eat my words but DW didn't win in Houston either while having prime DHOP and a good, not great team around him. I feel bad for his teamates that only needed average QB play last year from DTR and Flacco getting off his couch to get us to the playoffs without Chubby who I really hope can come back and finish his career strong.

Ryan Wilson from CBS sports was on with Carmen this morning.

He has us drafting Quinn Ewers with our first pick next year.