Cleveland Browns: Cody Kessler faces impossible task ahead
Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Cody Kessler is being trusted with running the team’s offense after being the third-string quarterback less than two weeks ago.
The Cleveland Browns have had a history of putting rookie quarterbacks on the field before they are ready, and the same is true again as Cody Kessler is set to start this Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.
In an ideal world, Kessler, a third-round pick in this year’s draft, would have remained on the bench for the duration of the 2016 season. But this is the Browns, so of course the first two starting quarterbacks went out with injuries before September is even over.
There is some optimism surrounding Kessler, but it seems to be the same old story. It would be different if he was declared the starter before the season began, but it is hard to expect a player to come in and turn things around after only being the starter for a week, no matter how long he has been in the league.
He is now being given the task of trying to avoid a disastrous 0-3 start to the season. He will try to do this in his NFL debut, on the road against a Miami Dolphins defense featuring Mario Williams, Cameron Wake and Ndamukong Suh.
It doesn’t get much harder, especially when the team will be using a new center in John Greco, and will be without rookie wide receiver Corey Coleman, who broke his hand in practice. Yes, it is just one of those years.
No one wants to accept that this season is over, but the likelihood of an 0-16 season is better than that of the Browns reaching the playoffs. Expecting a rookie quarterback, and one who expected to be on the bench for the entirety of the season, to turn this season around is just unfair.
Kessler could pull off a miracle and torch the Miami defense this Sunday, but fans just need to hope he stays healthy. If he can do that and be able to start in Week 4 against the Washington Redskins, the season can maintain some type of order. A win would obviously be better, but having a quarterback start two consecutive games would be a nice sight after the disastrous start to the season.
Hue Jackson needs to focus on easing Kessler into the game during the first quarter, avoiding too many early mistakes that would end the game prematurely. Some hate to hear the suggestion that the Browns should play conservative, but this is not a playoff-bound team. If rebuilding is the goal, and Kessler is expected to be a part of this team in the future, his career cannot be hindered because he is asked to do too much in his debut.
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