Cody Kessler is the franchise quarterback Cleveland has been waiting for
The Cleveland Browns have been searching for a franchise quarterback ever since they rejoined the NFL in 1999, but they have finally found the man for the job.
Couch, Detmer, Wynn, Pederson, Holcomb, McCown, Garcia, Dilfer, Frye, Dorsey, Gradkowski, Anderson, Quinn, Delhomme, Wallace, McCoy, Lewis, Hoyer, Weeden, Campbell, Manziel, Davis, and Griffin III. 23 have tried and 23 have failed.
This changes now, because Cody Kessler is the quarterback that the city of Cleveland has longed for.
It’s a pretty big statement for a quarterback entering his second season after only playing four complete games in an injury-filled 2016 campaign, but he rose to the occasion when his number was called.
Kessler had a 6-to-2 touchdown to interception ratio with a 65.5 completion percentage, a mark that would have been top ten if he would have qualified. He moves very well in the pocket and is very accurate.
What is even more impressive is that with two minutes left in the half, Kessler’s numbers climb even higher. His completion rate jumps to 72.2 percent and his average QB rating surges to 113.7 from his season average of 92.3.
Kessler reminds me of a Sam Bradford or Alex Smith. A prototypical game manager that is very accurate and is there to make plays when necessary. Unfortunately, once a quarterback is labeled a “game manager,” it seems like everyone puts them on the back burner.
Everyone is looking for their “franchise quarterback”, but no one seems to realize that there is more than one type of franchise quarterback. The Minnesota Vikings started 5-0 until injuries tore that team apart while Bradford fueled discussions of starting even when budding star Teddy Bridgewater returns from injury.
Look at some of the most successful quarterbacks the league has ever seen. Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Steve Young, Kurt Warner and Brett Favre all were at one point number two on the depth chart. Point is, they had the tools to succeed and once they had the opportunity, they took it.
Cleveland is in the perfect position to finally build around a quarterback instead of just throwing new guys out there and hoping they can stop the bleeding.
Their offensive line, while one of the worst in passing situations, ranked in the top ten in power run blocking with a success rate of 71 percent, while their backs averaged 4.82 yards a carry. They have a clear number one wide-receiver in 6-foot-4, 230-pound Terrelle Pryor, a fantastic number two in Corey Coleman. They also have a dynamic duo of Duke Johnson and Isaiah Crowell in the backfield.
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Add Myles Garrett and a top corner or another pass rusher to a core of Danny Shelton, Christian Kirksey, Jamar Taylor, Emmanuel Ogbah, and Jamie Collins and you have a young, improving defense with some talent to work with.
Hue Jackson worked wonders with Andy Dalton in Cincinnati, it’s time to see what he can do with a quarterback that has all the tools to succeed in the NFL. It’s time. It’s time to build around Cody Kessler.