BEREA, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns’ final practice of their offseason workout program was a sign of the progress quarterback Deshaun Watson and the offense have made in installing their new scheme.
There was Watson, throwing the ball as aggressively as he had in any practice open to the media. Many passes went for chunk gains during seven-on-seven drills, including a completion in tight coverage to tight end David Njoku along the sideline. Another, a 50-yard pass that just bounced off wide receiver Elijah Moore’s fingertips in the end zone, was the longest reporters had seen Watson attempt.
“I’ve gotten to see him throw throughout the course of his rehab,” coach Kevin Stefanski said after practice. “I don’t know when it was but a while back, he looked very normal to me. So, that looked normal to me.”
As the Browns put a bow on offseason workouts with the final day of mandatory minicamp on Thursday, there is growing optimism in the new-look offense.
“It is juicy,” Njoku said. “I am not going to say anything else. Leave it at that. But I’m really excited for this year.”
This offseason, the Browns hired Ken Dorsey to replace Alex Van Pelt as offensive coordinator. Dorsey has a background in coaching mobile quarterbacks — he worked with Josh Allen and Cam Newton — and is bringing changes to the drop-back game the team hopes mesh better with Watson’s skill set. Watson, a three-time Pro Bowl selection with the Houston Texans, has struggled since being traded to Cleveland before the 2022 season. Since making his debut as a Brown, Watson’s 41.9 QBR is the sixth-worst mark in that timeframe.
In particular, there has been a focus on choice routes, which give wide receivers the freedom to break in multiple directions depending on a defender’s leverage. Watson has familiarity with choice routes dating to his time in Houston. The concept requires the quarterback and pass-catcher be on the same page.
