The next couple of practices are important for the Browns quarterback competition, but coach Hue Jackson cautioned against the kinds of snap judgments that are hard to avoid in the moment.
Jackson cited a situation in Thursday's practice, when Cody Kessler took multiple sacks on a possession, as a case-and-point example of how the roots of success and failure on a given play go well beyond the quarterback.
"Sometimes the sacks don't have anything to do with the quarterback," Jackson said. "We made it sound like the quarterback, I mean, there was three missed assignments in protection, so that wasn't the quarterback. I know that for a fact."
On the opposite end of the spectrum was Thursday's top play, when rookie DeShone Kizer connected with James Wright on a long pass down the heart of the field.
"I think those are the plays that quarterbacks have to make and he made it and he made some others, but again, I have seen some other guys make some plays," Jackson said. "Every ball is not a long ball, I think you guys know, so there were some good balls thrown around the field. There were some balls we need to have back, some other balls we need to have completed, so we will keep working at it."
Jackson stressed each member of Cleveland's quarterback competition needs to "show me something" at Friday's Orange & Brown Scrimmage as he continues to evaluation the position.
"We need to play well as a team, because it is under the lights, in front of our fans," Jackson said. "It is an opportunity to get a tune-up game before we play a real game next Thursday, so it will be fun to see the guys play."
-- The Browns will be divided into two teams Friday, brown and white, in a scrimmage that will pit the first-team offense against the second-team defense and the first-team defense against the second-team offense.
"I think what it really is about is going out and having a good scrimmage and competing," Jackson said. "What I am going to learn, a lot of it, some of it, I know. I am going to learn a little bit more tomorrow night. But I feel like I have some information that I can put it together. Again, I want our guys walking out there feeling good about their opportunities, whether it is offensively, defensively, special teams. I think that is what is important for our team."
-- Asked to name a few players who have caught his eye at training camp, Jackson highlighted two under-the-radar defensive players, two running backs and two players competing for the same position.
On defense, he spotlighted DL Travon Coley and LB Deon King. King, who was added to the roster in June, played four games for the Colts and two for the Chargers last season. Coley, whose name has come up often during training camp, spent time on Cleveland's and Baltimore's practice squads in 2016.
Matthew Dayes, the second-to-last pick in the 2017 draft, and Duke Johnson Jr. have been consistent playmakers out of the backfield, Jackson said.
"He has made plays in every practice he has been involved in," Jackson said of Dayes. "All of the different things we are doing with Duke Johnson, that is exciting for me, because those are guys that have a chance to be some bedrocks for our football team."
Both Shon Coleman and Cameron Erving garnered praise from Jackson, who confirmed the competition at right tackle remains ongoing. Coleman and Erving have each split time at left tackle, as well, when Joe Thomas rests.
"We will get a chance to see them on both sides at tackle and be able to evaluate them in that way," Jackson said. "I think that is good for our football team and our organization."
