DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Looking Back: Browns 17 Vikings 21 Gabriel Named Starter

Ari Meirov
@MySportsUpdate
·
40s
#Browns are benching QB Joe Flacco and rookie Dillon Gabriel will become the starter.

His first start will be in London vs the #Vikings and the Brian Flores defense.

Adam Schefter
@AdamSchefter
·
3m
Joe Flacco will serve as Dillon Gabriel’s backup and Shedeur Sanders will remain Cleveland’s third-string QB.

My initial reaction to this news was concerning that he'd be facing a Flores D in his first start ever but, after thinking about it more, we might be going up against Wentz and our D should be able to handle him. Plus, Minnesota has three OL injured. This is probably a low scoring game and perhaps Gabriel's legs might be able to make a few plays for us that might ultimately be the difference.

I think this is a winnable game, especially if Wentz starts.

and I don't think we wanted to wait two more weeks to pull the trigger. Joe has been that bad

Expect a lot of play action and rolling out of the pocket. I’m excited to see this kid but I do wish it wasn’t against such a good defense in such a novel environment. Oh well, sink or swim, here ya go kid.

This might end up being a 6-3 type game.

Derek Anderson v Trent Edwards!

Disappointing that the Browns have to turn to a 3rd round reach at QB in a season the AFC North is actually winnable.

I get it... I don't hate it, but I don't like it. I'm curious if Cam Robinson will make his debut (I think that has a higher possibility of benefiting the offense).

It really is trial by fire. Playing that defense in London without OTs or any legit weapons lol ... good luck

Looks like he's living on the edge... seems like he'll be a fringe starter.

I think playing on a neutral site is a benefit to Gabriel. No hostility from the home or away crowd. He can throw INTs in peace!

I'm excited. I don't know if he'll pay well this weekend because (1) it's the 5th game of his rookie year, (2) it's against a really good defense in a totally foreign environment, (3) the OL is in shambles and (4) our receiver room just turned over two (very underwhelming) starters for two relative unknowns.

But it's my belief that if "the guy" is on our roster, it's very likely Gabriel. He's got literally every aspects I prize in a starting QB except maybe 4-5 inches of height and 20lbs. If he had the exact same numbers coming out of college but was 6'2", he'd have been the #1 pick. Literally the entire "weaknesses" section of every scouting report was entirely about height, weight, & arm length. His strengths were all about his processing, read skills, awareness, smarts, resiliency, deep experience and winners attitude. This might be the best field test for physical attributes relating to field success in memory.

I expect we'll be in play action a lot, rolling him out of the pocket. Lots of rushing (hopefully), screen passes and multiple TE sets, quick outs to the sidelines. Can our guys get open? Can the OL hold long enough for anything to develop beyond 10 yards before he has to run for his life? Is it just too early for him? Is he just too short and he can't see the reads to make them? Will balls get batted? Will his tiny body just get crumpled by Cashman or Greenard? Or... will he shock the world and once again prove that what's between the ears matters way more than physical measurements? Inquiring minds want to know!

Shedeur weighs in on the QB change. What a clown.

I think if DG is able to keep the offense moving, then he'll be fine. This team was never going further than where the defense could take it on its own... so as long as we don't put the D in bad positions with turnovers and can at least sustain drives then the game could turn in our favor. If get behind and are forced to throw then we're in trouble.

It stands to reason that if he gets cut, teams aren't exactly going to be fighting to claim him.

Every clown show needs a midget.

I'm excited to see him play for more than a few minutes. I don't believe this is the ideal (?) game/place to start him though. I would have thought that a home game (with the crowd behind you) against a less elite team would have been preferable. Simply my own opinion of course....

I'm as excited for Dillon Gabriel as I was for Charlie Frye, Cody Kessler, and DeShone Kizer!!!

His only hope is if Conklin plays and even then it's not looking good.

He wasn't a reach in round 3. Most pre-draft sites listed him as a 3rd or 4th round pick. Some had him as round 5, but very few compared to those ranking 3 & 4. The Browns drafted him towards the end of the 3rd round, the pick we received from Buffalo. Hardly a reach.

Does the "Sanders Team" not have anyone to council this kid on how to improve his chances to play by how to act professionally? No one to show him how to make a positive impression on other teams that may need a QB and have a remote interest in acquiring him by trade or pickup if released?

Just stoopid. Leave him home. USA Today lives for this crap. Ripe for more hype.

For some context

This is right on time, actually. With our terrible tackles and poor receiver play, we need a game manager type. Flacco only made sense if you were going to protect him and ride his big arm. Having him dink and dunk from an ever-collapsing pocket was never going to work.

that's one of the weirdest things I've seen a QB do

So this is the simpleton some people want to be our QB??

He didn't drop 4 key passes that were perfectly thrown.

The 3rd string QB prioritizing what Rex Ryan says on a show nobody watches. Maturity!

Most teams do not want the backup to be a distraction. The Browns managed to roster a 3rd string QB that is distraction.

*Not shooting the messenger SPFM*

I'm excited too. He gives us some hope. We need hope. I think Gabriel will turn out to be a decent NFL QB. We'll see soon enough if that is so or if he is just Colt McCoy 2.0.

P.S. Can't he just wear lifts in his shoes or is that frowned upon in the NFL? Asking for a friend.

So if we put him on stilts then he would own the NFL? Height question taken to its logical extreme.

Just a question; why did Shadeur act the way he did? I like the kid, and I would love to see him develop into a high-end QB for us. Just answer the questions like a gentleman and be done with it. JMO

Not to this extreme, but kind of like signing Tom Brady to be our third string QB, then wondering why the media was making our third string QB a main storyline. SS and his marketing team are a walking roadshow.

Mental or physical? If you're referring to the former we may have just found ours.

What it shows is his total immaturity. You are right that it doesn't make him a bad guy. It's just proof that he has a lot of growing up to do.

Rex Ryan is a clown. Exactly the kind of "entertainer" Gabriel was talking about in his quip. That said, I didn't want Sanders for one reason above all others... the distraction machine. His talent never justified the hype; he may turn out ok but I doubt it. He's by all accounts a pretty decent kid and he does work hard I gather. He's a lighthearted and fun kid, that's all I see in that "pantomime" spot but when I watch him play I see a backup. He's got good size and a solid arm, he's pretty good like half the time but he's not decisive in a good way when he has multiple reads, he doesn't have great skills when things break down and he has a bunch of unconscious bad habits like drifting. All that would be expected and fine for a backup QB except this is Cleveland and now everyone has to have a huge opinion and conversation about the backup QB. The only upside is that it's allowed Gabriel to fly under the radar.

It's pretty easy to fly under the radar when you aren't leaving blips on the screen.

I got what I wanted one game after it should have happened. Trade Sanders for a cold hot dog. Not a blip on radar screen, you must be sightless- all conference in THREE tough leagues- if Gabriel had been 6' 3" he'd have been number one pick. Go Gabriel, Go Browns!!

Who do you think would be willing to give up that cold hot dog?

No worries, I wouldn't have taken it that way.

It doesn’t help when his dad gives him a figurative thumbs up on social media for his pantomime.

What with all the Vikes injuries, I believe we will hold them to 6 or 7 points and put a 'W' in our win column....

Stand tall and win !

He must have missed the "Do Not Feed The Animals" sign.

Maybe,.....anything can happen- I'm glad Gabriel is getting a change- Flacco, great guy, but a known target in pocket. Youth gives you roll-out opinion, especially with our current tackles. More hope with younger guy than known product. Hope eternal.

Stefanski likes Gabriel. He liked him so much he had Berry reach in the draft for Gabriel almost 3 rounds early. These next few weeks with Gabriel under center are a referendum on Stefanski. Not Gabriel. Stefanski could not work with Baker. It has been stated that Stefanski told Berry he cannot work with him. Berry then went out and got a replacement for Baker in Deshawn Watson. To get him they spent a ton of money and assets to get him. Stefanski could not make that work either. So, he had finally put his stamp of approval on a QB Dillon Gabriel. It was a smartest guy in the room kind of move. No one but the Browns seen Gabriel as a 3rd round talent. Now Stefanski has benched Joe Flacco and inserted his guy. I hope it works. I hope he is the smartest guy in the room. If Gabriel is the future, it will prove that Stefanski knows what he is doing and what he needs to run his offense. The same offense that has barely scored more than 20 points in a game in more than a year. Plugging in his handpicked QB should really make the offense click. We will see!!!

The kid has nimble feet and seems aware. We will see how he does, I’m hoping he looks solid in his first start.

You forgot to say "Once Upon a Time" before you started your Fairy tale.

'Like'

I'm looking forward to this game more than any other so far this year. Joe has looked his age. The other rookies have performed well. Gabriel has only been given a limited platform to look good - but he has done exactly that with his chances ... he's looked good. Maybe his TD throw was a fluke and the next time he tries to thread the pass and drop it in between a high/low CB and Safety it'll get picked. But we won't know till we seem him try. My sincere hope is that we don't call a game that is so conservative it makes it harder for Gabriel because everything is 3-12 yards deep.

I have a bet placed for Gabriel to score two TDs - I have CLE on the money line. Honestly think this is exactly the sort of scenario where KS has always found a way to surprise. Let's go !

I haven't watched his College games since we drafted him --- so much to like.

Quick release. Really seems to see the field and doesn't lock on. Nice touch. Excellent throws on the run (hoping we see a good amount of roll outs today). Back shoulder end zone throws were outstanding. He's not going to get as much time to throw today - the D will try to confuse him. But his processing speed and quick release should help enormously.

* Edit... given the CLE Wr's - why not give Treashon Holden on the practice squad and try him out? He didn't make the Dallas roster - but he must have a chance to push for a place here? ....

You keep writing that Gabriel was over drafted but 3 rounds early? So you are saying he was a late 6th round pick? That just isn't true, unless you are being really selective of the legitimate sites that evaluate players, or are using only your evaluation.

The day of the draft I searched sites and read his profiles from legit sites, not Billy Jo Jim Bob's grandma's basement blog. Since you have been posting this "way over drafted narrative" I did it again. I used 5 or 6. Only one had him at a straight 5th round grade. On average he was rated as a 3rd or 4th round pick.

You either really dislike Gabriel or are blinded by your Berry & Stefanski contempt. I have no idea if DG becomes a regular starter, much less a quality starter, but most guys not taken with early first round picks. There are multiple exceptions that can be listed, but so many more who don't.

It sometimes appears as if you would prefer the Browns lose just so you can be right. I just don't understand this kind of thinking.

I don't care who plays, I just want to win. I have been a fan too long and am tired of waiting for them to just play in a SB, much less win one.

And they got a steal on Sanders because they got him four rounds after he was projected to be drafted.