Defending Brock Osweiler

Channeling MKC, Mike Florio wrote an article implying that Brock Osweiler's thursday preseason start actually makes it less likely that he will start opening day.

To be clear, this wasn't a dumbass article, which is why I linked to it (quality control).

Hue Jackson himself said that the starter will get fewer reps than the guys behind him, and the younger guys behind him need more reps.

Mary Kay will soon be predicting that DeShone Kizer will start the third "dress rehearsal" preseason game, as by that time his rapid development will have him ready to step in and stuff, given his "rapid improvement"...

Anyway Mike is being logical and stuff, but if you read this article, you can feel that Florio is full of skepticism over Osweiler period.

Hard to blame people who feel that way.  His 2016 season with the Texans was about as bad as DeShone Kizer's 2016 with Notre Dame.  (Please re-read that last sentence).

Indeed, even with Denver, he was just "okay"--not really anything special.

It still feels like prejuduce to me.  Brock started slow in Cleveland this season, but (unlike Kizer, at least in this dimension), he improved rapidly, and kind of took over the friday scrimmage, the one after that, and monday's practice with the first team offense.

You can throw that 57% completion percentage out the window too, because starting with that scrimmage, he's been hitting everything he throws at, short, intermediate, and deep.

Brock could regress once he starts getting beat up.  We'll see.  But to just brush off what he's done here; to call it a mirage; isn't objective.

What Wiley and Jackson have seen is a pretty good quarterback.

It's true that the younger guys need more reps in order to develop.  It's just as true that Osweiler doesn't, because he's a veteran starter.

Florio points out that the other players matter.  They knew that Brock was regarded as a toss-in when that trade was made.

It doesn't matter.  Now the players know that he's currently the best quarterback on this roster.  That's all they care about.

Now: Players improve over time, and that's especially true for quarterbacks.  Quarterbacks keep getting better right into their 30s.  When position players are losing speed and quickness, quarterbacks are still getting better.

This does apply to Brock Osweiler.

Coming out of college, he was a project.  Then he was starting for the Superbowl-winning Denver Broncos, and did a decent job.  Then he started 14 games for the Texans and stunk up the joint.

But all along, he was accumulating experience, and learning.

Now, he returns to a similar system to that which he succeeded with in Denver.  He's been humbled, and had to dig his way out of a deep hole.

This is why I say again, this Brock Osweiler should be an upgrade over the younger version who started for the Broncos.  He should be wiser, stronger, and more disciplined.

And if he is, then he will be the opening day starter, period.

Terry Pluto is absolutely right.  There is no reason to rush a CLEARLY not-ready-for-primetime DeShone Kizer into the meatgrinder anytime soon.  Just start the best quarterback!!!

As you know, I run the Cody Kessler fan club.  Well, I have to step down.  I'm not giving up on him yet, but that Kevin Hogan...well I'm afraid Kessler might lose this fight.