DTR Gives Cleveland Some Hope
Nov 19, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) walks off the field after the Browns beat the Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Like I said last week, the Browns do not flinch. After losing yet another franchise player in QB DeShaun Watson, this team stayed poised and kept chugging. Rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson started his second game for the Browns, and presumably will be starting the rest of the season.
Many criticized the organization when they learned P.J. Walker wasn’t getting the start. But after Sunday it’s obvious why.
Yes, the Browns are 2-1 this season when Walker starts, but those wins are not because of him. In fact, the Browns should be 3-0 with him starting if it wasn’t for a late game interception in the Seahawks game, which led to their game winning score. Not trying to take a shot at the quarterback, his play in those situations was admirable. But the defense is who to look at for those wins, not Walker.
Yes, Thompson-Robinson in his first start played awfully, but that was with an hour’s worth of notice. Now with a weeks’ worth of practice, the rookie played at the level many expected out of him given his breakout preseason.
Now DTR did only have a 55.8 completion percentage, but if you watch the tape back, there were a plethora of drops by the Browns receivers, specifically David Njoku. The numbers will always say 24-43, but those who watched the game know how well this rookie really played.
Thompson-Robinson was perfect on the final drive to set up Hopkins’ game winning field goal. An incredible feat for a rookie in his second start against a very good defensive line. Walker was the QB for the Browns when they kicked the field goal against the 49ers, but again, that was not because of his play. Instead, penalties, and honestly, a little bit of luck was on the Browns’ side during that drive.
Most could admit, in a vacuum it was probably the better idea to start Walker in this game. But football is not played in a vacuum. Walker has more experience than DTR, but we still have a whole half a season in front of us. The former UCLA QB has such a higher ceiling. Starting him against the Steelers sets up for this team to potentially grow as the season goes on and still try to achieve their goals. That might not happen, but with Walker, they were going to be who they were.
The Browns do not need an all-star QB to make a run in the playoffs, they just need someone to play well enough to get some points on the board and let the defense do the rest. Walker can maybe do that. But if there’s a possibility you can get more out of DTR it’s in retrospect an easy no brainer.
Despite the tumultuous season and recent injury to Watson, Sunday’s performance somehow gave the fan base hope. Maybe something still can happen. That feeling alone makes the decision to start DTR, in retrospect, a no brainer.
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