There are many reasons for the surprising success of Deshaun Watson and the Cleveland Browns this season. Most of the unknowns entering the campaign have been answered positively, which is why the Browns are in first place in the AFC North heading into Week 5.
Watson was a huge question mark, mainly because he had not played in almost two years, and it was unclear what he had left to offer coming back from two Achilles tendon tears. But he has gotten better with each game, and it looks like he isn’t affected at all by that previous injury.
In fact, Watson may be more mobile than he ever has been in his time with the Browns. His ability to make plays while on the move, either running or passing, has helped him engineer three straight game-winning fourth-quarter scoring drives.
Browns legend Joe Thomas recently shared his honest reaction to Watson’s resurgence, saying that having a quarterback with his elusiveness not only benefits the offense, but it is a huge challenge for the opposing defense.
“I think it’s what we sort of dreamed of when the Browns brought him here from Houston: a quarterback that can make plays when everything breaks down with his legs, keeping his eyes down the field so he can still make those explosive plays throwing it, or he can pick up easy first downs running it. And really, it gives you a full man advantage against a defense when you have a quarterback that’s a weapon like that because now they’ve got to take one of their resources, one of their 11 dudes, to be able to always watch that quarterback position. So it all works together. I sure am happy that we’re seeing it now because that’s the reason that he’s been so clutch right now is his ability to get out of the pocket and make plays that aren’t necessarily the called plays, where he’s just throwing it three, four, five steps into the pocket,” Thomas said.
One of Watson’s highlight plays from this season is a perfect example of that. Against the Carolina Panthers in Week 3, the Browns were trailing after the two-minute warning, facing a third-and-10 at the 14-yard line. Watson avoided pass rushers in the pocket, rolled out to his left, then threw across his body to Harold Fannin Jr. in the end zone. Adding a two-point conversion, it gave the Browns a 21-18 lead with 1:44 remaining and the eventual victory.
According to Thomas, Watson’s mobility is also very helpful to the Browns’ rebuilt offensive line. It prevents opposing pass rushers from heading straight for the quarterback, instead having to be more disciplined in their assignments, which makes them easier to block. With two rookie starters among the all-new unit, that cannot be underestimated.
Thomas also said that it was difficult to foresee this ability in training camp, which does not allow for tackling the quarterback. So all of the optimism expressed by head coach Todd Monken that was dismissed by critics seems to have been warranted.
There is still a long way to go this season, but it is more likely that Watson will improve, not regress, over the course of the campaign, which bodes well for the Browns.
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