If you’re saying Watson was always going to be the starter, then you’re also saying winning was never truly the priority. At every position,not just quarterback, you find the best player who gives your team the best chance to win Week One. This isn’t about developing a player or acting as if the season is already over. You don’t get to turn winning football on and off like a faucet. Culture is what you do every day, not what you say.
The best guy plays. Which quarterback can consistently get the offense in and out of the huddle, make the key throws, protect the football and lead the team in critical situations? That is what should determine the starter.
I’ve heard people say there have been days when Watson was “unplayable.” I have watched every practice, and I haven’t seen one of those days. There have certainly been days when he has made too many mistakes, but there have also been days when he has done a lot of really good things.
The same is true of Sanders. There have been days when he has played well and shown that he can make the necessary throws. There have also been days when he has experienced operation issues or made bad throws. However, not every operation issue is the quarterback’s fault. Sometimes another player lines up incorrectly, runs the wrong route or misses an assignment. The quarterback will always receive too much credit when things go well and too much blame when they don’t.
I also believe there is a tremendous amount of confirmation bias surrounding these two quarterbacks. Both of them will make plays that confirm whatever you already believe about them. If you support one quarterback, you’ll focus on his positive plays and the other quarterback’s mistakes. But looking at the total picture,every rep, every decision, every situation and the context surrounding each play, is what a coach has to do.
I do my best not to pick a side. I don’t have a horse in this race. I simply evaluate what I see on the field. This decision should not be based on an agenda, popularity or the desire to “take a look” at someone. Playing a quarterback simply because people want to see him is losing football. It should be about identifying the quarterback who has earned the job and gives the Browns the best chance to win Week 1.
The best guy plays. That is what winning organizations do. Just my thoughts.
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