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Browns rookie Thompson-Robinson content to learn from Watson, Dobbs | Jeff Schudel

jeff schudel, the news-herald, willoughby, ohio
·4 min read
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May 13—If there is one team in the NFL that through the years has proven there is no such thing as having an excessive number of quarterbacks, it's the Cleveland Browns.

Baker Mayfield and Case Keenum were booth sidelined with COVID-19 in December 2021, so Nick Mullens was the starting quarterback in a game with the Raiders on Dec. 20 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns managed just 236 yards total offense, yet nearly eked out a 14-13 victory, but Daniel Carlson kicked a 48-yard field goal on the final play to send Las Vegas out on top, 16-14.

Or how about 2000, when Tim Couch, Kelly Holcomb and Spergon Wynn played quarterback in the 3-13 season? Or 2004 with Jeff Garcia, Holcomb and Luke McCown putting together a 4-12 campaign?

The Browns don't want to get caught in that predicament again.

Deshaun Watson is set as the starting quarterback, and his NFL-imposed suspension from last season is behind him and a talented team has been built to support him. The whole plan could crumble if Watson is injured, so General Manager Andrew Berry used a fifth-round pick in the draft last month on UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

Thompson-Robinson zipped the ball with authority May 12 and 13 during rookie minicamp in Berea. He will be third on the depth chart behind Watson and Joshua Dobbs when training camp begins in July, but he has the potential to pass Dobbs at some point.

"I think it'll be a huge learning curve for me and something that I can take advantage of, for sure," Thompson-Robinson said May 12. "For me to be able to learn from a guy like Deshaun, Josh, Kellen (Mond), all those guys in that room, as well as the coaching staff, I think it's going to be huge for my developmental process in my future.

"Right now, I'm trying to win for this team. I'm not worried about me and what I have going on, so whatever I can do to help the team out, I will."

Robinson is 6-foot-2, 203 pounds. The NFL.com predraft scouting report says his ceiling will be as a backup quarterback, but sometimes those guys get it wrong. The same report says he "delivers the ball with a tight spiral," "gets through his progressions with good timing" and "very accurate passer in quick game and on possession throws."

On the down side, the NFL.com report on DTR says "Delivery operation needs to become quicker" and "decision-making can become problematic when he's not in rhythm."

Thompson-Robinson played five seasons at UCLA. He passed for 10,710 yards with 88 touchdown passes and 36 interceptions. He played five seasons instead of the typical four years because athletes affected by the 2020 COVID shutdown were given the option of staying in college an extra season.

Thompson-Robinson did not have to call plays under Coach Chip Kelly at UCLA because of the system Kelly uses. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski is not concerned.

"Honestly, I don't think it's a challenge," Stefanski said. "I don't see that as a problem or an issue for him. He's very intelligent. He did it at the East-West Shrine Game and had no problems. He's a smart kid."

Thompson-Robinson is definitely getting his work in. He is the only quarterback in the rookie minicamp.

—Watson is footing the bill for himself and more than a dozen teammates on the offensive side of the ball for a trip to Puerto Rico in the week ahead while the players not making the trip complete Phase II of the offseason program.

Stefanski said Watson asked him about taking players away during the offseason program and Stefanski was fine with the idea.

"As you know, voluntary program," Stefanski said. "I'm very appreciative of the guys that are here and working here. When the guys decide that they want to get together and be a team, I'm very, very much in favor of that."

Bonding is big in the NFL these days. The purpose of the Puerto Rico trip is so the players can grow closer together and also work on football.

Stefanski was asked whether the coaches gave Watson a script they would like Watson and the players to use when they practice in Puerto Rico.

"I don't know if we're allowed to," Stefanski said. "So if we're not allowed to, no. If we're allowed to, yes."

Watson took some of his teammates to the Bahamas last year.

I didn't know that

...until I read my Snapple bottle cap:

Mercury and Venus have no moons. ... An alligator can go through 3,000 teeth in a lifetime. ... Twenty-five percent of the bones in your body are in your feet. ... Russia and the United States are less than three miles apart. ... It takes the interaction of 72 muscles to form human speech. ... Peanut butter can be converted into diamonds.