The Cleveland Browns quarterback decision may be settled with Deshaun Watson under center for Week 1, but the offensive scheme could look considerably different than what has been on display throughout most of camp. Sports Radio 92.3 The Fan hosts Ken Carman and Anthony Lima discussed a notable shift in practice reps, pointing to an increase in RPO and read option concepts that had largely been held back during the public portions of camp.
“Did you see what they started running a lot more in practice? It’s RPO and read option runs. All along, they were gonna save that stuff. You weren’t necessarily gonna see that stuff because I think that’s gonna be a big part of their offense, to be honest. And you’re really not running that with Shedeur,” Lima said.
"Did you see what they started running a lot more in practice…"
➡️ @SportsBoyTony and @KenCarman react to Todd Monken's comments on the decision to go with Deshaun Watson leading the #Browns offense pic.twitter.com/vv1dfn7p4H
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) August 26, 2026
Read option and RPO concepts are built around a quarterback’s ability to threaten defenses with his legs, forcing defenders to account for both the run and pass on the same play, a skill set that fits Watson’s background far more naturally given his history as one of the more dynamic athletic quarterbacks in the league before injuries limited that element of his game in recent seasons.
This adds important context to the broader concerns about Cleveland’s completely overhauled offensive line, since read option and RPO schemes can serve as a form of built-in protection by forcing defenders to hesitate before committing fully to the pass rush. With questions still lingering about whether this rebuilt offensive line group can consistently keep Watson upright, incorporating more designed quarterback runs and option concepts gives Monken another tool to help offset some of that uncertainty, all while playing into exactly the strengths Watson himself.
Whether these concepts translate into consistent success once the games begin to count remains to be seen, but the combination of Watson’s own comments about showcasing more of his athletic ability and now confirmation of expanded practice reps in these packages suggests Todd Monken has been building toward something more dynamic than what Browns fans witnessed throughout the bulk of training camp.
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