The Browns’ quarterback picture is still taking shape, and Todd Monken isn’t in any rush to force an answer. The first-year head coach said he’s watching more than just the final result of each rep as Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders work through camp.
“The most important thing is, from a process standpoint, how we (are) operating at the line of scrimmage,” Monken said, via The Athletic. “Where are their eyes (on pass dropbacks)?
Have they taken command of the huddle, and then cadence, and then understanding the concepts? I think they’re all doing good.
They’re all fine. All of our players are working through mistakes and fighting like hell to get better.”
Monken made it clear he won’t sort out the depth chart until the offense is fully installed and the Browns get deeper into padded work, preseason action and a joint practice.
“At this point when you’re installing, when I’m scripting, I really am not scripting on who is at quarterback,” Monken said. “They each have a different skill set, so as of right now, I’m not evaluating any of them.
I’m not making a decision on any of them until we get through all the installs. Nothing’s going to be decided over these install practices.
We’re just getting it in, letting the guys compete, see where we’re at - that’s at all positions. Once we get further along in pads, the full install in, we get to compete against other people in the preseason (and in a joint practice).
That’s really when I’m going to be able to see it because I haven’t coached any of these four quarterbacks until now. I haven’t been around them.
I don’t have any preconceived notions of who they’ve been or where they’re going. I just take it day to day.”
Watson said his focus is on trusting what he sees and letting the game come back naturally after recovering from two Achilles injuries.
“The biggest thing for me is just letting my instincts take over - not doing anything extra, not doing anything less, just staying balanced and letting it come,” Watson explained. “Day to day it’s getting better, and honestly, I think the biggest thing is just playing football.
I haven’t played football in a long time, so for me, it doesn’t matter how long I play or how many games I play. I just want to play football.
A lot of people wrote me off and said I wouldn’t be playing football again after two Achilles injuries. I’m proving that wrong and proving myself right.
It’s a great opportunity for me to get out there and showcase what I can do.”
Sanders, meanwhile, said the more he learns, the more settled he feels in the offense and in his role as a leader.
“We always strive to have our best days every day,” Sanders said. “But I play better and feel better whenever I have all the information, and I know exactly what’s going on at all times.
So that’s why I just spend every minute, every hour of my time really focused on being the best quarterback I could be and being the best leader for this team I could be. That obviously translates because the more information I know, the more comfortable I am as a person.”
Elsewhere in the division, the Bengals’ camp battles are coming into focus, especially at cornerback. Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic says DJ Turner II and Dax Hill have the outside jobs secured, leaving the nickel role and two reserve spots as the main fight.
DJ Ivey, Tacario Davis, Ja’Sir Taylor, Josh Newton and Brayln Lux are in the mix for that third cornerback job, with S Kyle Dugger also a possible option. Dehner called the outcome “anybody’s guess,” though he thinks Davis may have the early edge.
At linebacker, Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter are “entrenched as starters,” but Dehner is watching to see whether they can stop looking like the “rattled rookies they were last season.” If they keep appearing “hesitant,” he wrote, the defense could be headed for trouble.
Up front, the Bengals still have work to do at tackle. Dehner said the third and fourth tackle spots are unsettled, with Cody Ford, Javon Foster, Andrew Coker and Brian Parker competing. Ford is expected to land the third job, while Parker is a name to keep an eye on.
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