The Cleveland Browns are gearing up for their upcoming preseason games, with a particular focus on the quarterback competition. Head coach Todd Monken has announced that Deshaun Watson will start the first preseason game against the Bears on August 15th, followed by Shedeur Sanders starting the second game against the Bills on August 22nd.
Watson, who has been alternating reps with Sanders during training camp, is excited to showcase his skills in a live setting. He has been working hard to improve his comfort level in the offense and has been making plays that the coaching staff has noticed. Mike Bajakian, the quarterbacks coach, has seen Watson's progress and has praised his ability to handle the natural ebbs and flows of training camp.
Monken's decision to have both quarterbacks play a half during the first preseason game is strategic. He wants to give each quarterback a chance to experience different game situations and to showcase their skills. Watson, in particular, has been working on his decision-making and anticipation, and has been getting rid of the ball on time without having to move around in the pocket.
The preseason games add another layer to the evaluation process, as they offer a chance to see how each quarterback handles the finality of drives and the potential of taking hits from opposing defenses. Watson will have the opportunity to step into the starting role once again and showcase his skillset in a live setting.
Monken has seen a lot of good things from Watson over the course of the four or five months he has been with the team. He believes that Watson has done a lot of really good things athletically and is making plays that the team will get a chance to see. However, the competition is far from over, and the coaching staff will continue to assess the quarterbacks' performance as the preseason progresses.
In my opinion, the Browns' quarterback competition is a fascinating development. Watson and Sanders are both talented quarterbacks, and the coaching staff's approach to evaluating them is interesting. The fact that they are giving each quarterback a chance to start and play a half during the preseason games is a testament to their commitment to finding the best possible quarterback for the team. It will be interesting to see how the competition unfolds and who ultimately emerges as the starting quarterback.
