The Cleveland Browns were pleased enough with the play of rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel against the Minnesota Vikings last weekend that they traded Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals, but the story could play out far differently on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
Pro Football Talk noted on Saturday, October 11, that Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has devoured rookie quarterbacks over his long and successful career in Pittsburgh.
Dillon Gabriel Played Well in NFL Debut, Browns Emphasized Run Game
GettyCleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel.
Gabriel completed 19-of-33 passes for 190 yards and two scores during his first NFL start as part of a simplified game plan that focused on mostly quick reads and short passes to tight ends Harold Fannin Jr. and David Njoku, as well as the Browns’ array of running backs.
The best way for Cleveland to protect Gabriel against Pittsburgh is to again keep things simple for him and allow him to use his mobility to improve his sight lines and buy himself more time against a pass rush led by superstar Steelers edge T.J. Watt. Another focus for the Browns should be the running game, which the offense utilized effectively against the Vikings in London.
Rookie Quinson Judkins carried the football 23 times for 110 yards, while the team as a whole logged 32 carries for 140 yards (4.4 yards per attempt).
Pittsburgh is 3-1, leading the AFC North Division over Cincinnati by 1.5 games and coming off of its bye week following a win over Minnesota in Dublin two Sundays past.
Browns Elevated Shedeur Sanders to Backup QB This Week
GettyCleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
Even if Gabriel struggles, it is unlikely that head coach Kevin Stefanski will pull him from the game — unless it gets entirely out of hand or Gabriel suffers an injury.
However, if the Browns do make a change under center, it will be to rookie Shedeur Sanders. Flacco held the QB2 job until Cleveland dealt him on Tuesday. At that point, fourth-year quarterback Bailey Zappe moved up from the practice squad to compete with Sanders for the backup position.
Stefanski told reporters on Wednesday that he would let practice play out and make a decision on QB2 later in the week. Sanders ultimately got the nod, and has now moved up from QB4 in early May to one injury/poor afternoon of play by Gabriel from getting his first real shot in the league.
“I’m in a great mental space overall, so I would say you tend to get a little bit more excited when you see a light at the end of the tunnel,” Sanders said on Thursday.
“We’re going to make sure we do everything we can to make sure Dillon’s ready for the game. Whatever that means,” he continued. “I’m overly confident within myself. I know when I first got here, I’m ready to play, but it’s up to the coaches and whatever decision they make then, I’m fine with.”
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