Browns QB Dillon Gabriel debut: Tracking passes, decision as we did with Shedeur Sanders

Not only are Cleveland Browns fans all about the quarterbacks, but the team itself has invested in creating a QB-centric series of video content around the four-man competition as well. In much of a “rinse and repeat” of last week, the Browns will have a rookie quarterback starting without a lot of the other starters getting any playing time.

QB Dillon Gabriel is healthy enough to start, while QB Shedeur Sanders is likely to come back next week in what is shaping up to be an interesting and important last set of tests for the quarterbacks. A slightly messy situation at the most important position in football.

You can follow along and chat with others in our Game Thread while also, like we did last week with Sanders, having this window open as we track every Gabriel pass and decision. Without quick access to All-22 film, this will be an initial evaluation based on what we can see from the television copy.

2nd and 6, 41-yard line

• Empty backfield
• Quick pressure, tries to escape up the middle
• Sacked
• Right guard Zak Zinter miscommunicated
• Gabriel unable to make anything out of it

3rd and 10, 37-yard line

• 10-yard pass to tight end
• Stayed in the pocket, moved forward and kept his eyes upfield
• Gave Blake Whiteheart a catchable ball where he could complete the first down

2nd and 6, 49-yard line

• Escaped out of pocket, away from pressure
• Only got a yard, seemed limited by hamstring
• Perhaps an early departure from the pocket

3rd and 5, 48-yard line

• Stayed in the pocket as it closed around him
• Great ball placement over the line and defender to Jamari Thrash
• Led Thrash to the sideline, kept ball up where Thash could pull it in

3rd and 2, 33-yard line

• Went through progressions well with no pressure
• Good, strong throw to Pierre Strong for a first down

1st and 10, 28-yard line

• Quick decision to get ball to Diontae Johnson on a little stick route
• Put ball right on Johnson who was able to turn upfield

1st and 10, 5-yard line

• HC Kevin Stefanski forced to burn a timeout as the offense couldn’t get it together in time

Browns scored a touchdown on 2 straight runs from the five:

1st and 10, 28-yard line

• Gabriel couldn’t find anyone quickly, Eagles got pressure
• Late throw to RB came in a little hot, perhaps high leading to first incompletion for Gabriel

2nd and 10, 28-yard line

• Something was off on the play, OLine was running a screen of some kind but Gabriel threw it to the outside receiver
• Either that was a WR screen to the slot or the Oline was just wrong

2nd and 15, 23-yard line

• Strong throw to hit Thrash over the middle to get 11 yards back and give the Browns offense a chance on 3rd...