CLEVELAND, Ohio — Browns offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt understands the Browns can’t run the exact same offense for Jacoby Brissett as they will for Deshaun Watson.
“There are definitely different aspects of the offense that we will run with Deshaun that we may not run with Jacoby and vice versa to be honest,” Van Pelt said prior to the Browns practicing on Tuesday. “Both guys bring a different set of skills, but they are both experienced guys and played a lot of games in the NFL so we have to do it best to get the best out of them.”
Brissett will be the Browns’ quarterback for the first 11 games and the transition of first-team reps exclusively to Brissett really took hold on Tuesday. Watson worked the scout team.
Van Pelt said he has seen Brissett take command of the Browns offense the last few weeks and called his backup quarterback a natural leader, applauding the extra work he does.
“I will look out of my window after practice 45 minutes later, and he is still on the field,” Van Pelt said. “He is an intelligent guy. He has played a lot of football in his career. Very comfortable with where he is.”
Brissett has started 37 games in his career and appeared in 60. He started full seasons for Indianapolis in 2017 when Andrew Luck was injured and again in 2019 after Luck abruptly retired.
His experience has been valuable for a team that needs a steadying presence while they wait for Watson to return in December.
“He does bring that rock in the locker room and on the offensive side of the football,” Van Pelt said. “Even going back to earlier in training camp, we were may be two weeks in and we had a really bad practice offensively, and he was the first one to call the group up and kind of just address the issues we were having at that time . He’s a guy who has been there and he has done it.”
Behind Brissett
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Joshua Dobbs vs. Philadelphia Eagles, August 21, 2022
As it stands now, Joshua Dobbs is one play away from taking over as the Browns starting quarterback. Brissett has generally stayed healthy in his career when he has started, but there’s no such thing as a sure thing when it comes to health in the NFL.
Dobbs, who has attempted 17 regular season passes since entering the league in 2017, looked sharp in last Sunday’s preseason game against the Eagles. He completed 14 of 20 passes for 141 yards and rushed four times for 47 yards and a score.
The Browns are expected to play at least some of their starters in Saturday night’s preseason finale against the Bears, but Dobbs will again get an opportunity to shine at some point during the contest, whether he starts or comes in after Brissett.
“(Dobbs) has a great understanding of the offense. He is a very intelligent young man. He does a lot of good things,” Van Pelt said. “He is athletic, obviously with the runs he has had in this preseason and the scrambles. Very excited about his development so far.”
Catching on
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper catches a pass during individual drills at practice in Berea. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com
The Browns’ depth at receiver has been a question mark, but Van Pelt definitely likes what he sees at the top of the depth chart.
“I’ve been really impressed with Amari (Cooper),” Van Pelt said. “He is a guy who I have always admired from afar as a receiver coming out of college. explosives A true pro. He showed every bit of that out on the field in the practice reps he has gotten.”
Van Pelt also praised Donovan Peoples-Jones, slated for the No. 2 receiver role, as a solid player who does a lot for the offense in both the pass and run games.
Here’s what Van Pelt said about some of the other players in the room:
“(WR Demetric) Felton (Jr.) has come on now as a slot receiver. In his second year, I like a lot of his qualities that he brings. Then there is a group of young guys behind that. Those guys have potential. There are some hard workers. (WR) Mike Woods (II) is a guy who has not been on the field as much, but when he has been on the field, he has been productive. (WR Mike) Harley (Jr.) is a guy who just can run all day. He’s an Energizer bunny.”
Van Pelt also praised Anthony Schwartz for how he bounced back from a rough showing in Jacksonville and he is seeing rookie David Bell start to grasp the offense.
“Schwartzy has put together some really good practices here of late,” Van Pelt said. “He is doing everything we have asked him to do. He gets guys open alone with his speed. He made some plays on the ball this past game, as well as in practice. David Bell is just a young guy. He is learning his way right now. He is getting better each day — that is the thing that I have seen from him. He started off just a little unsure of maybe the offense, and now you can see his play speed is increasing and he is starting to get a better understanding.”
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