When the Cleveland Browns moved on from Alex Van Pelt and brought in Ken Dorsey, it was for a clear reason. 

To get the most out of Deshaun Watson, the franchise quarterback who has not had a defining moment for Cleveland since the trade and subsequent controversial contract. 

On Monday, in Dorsey's first meeting with the Cleveland-area press, he revealed the key to unlocking a level of Watson the league hasn't seen since he was wearing a Houston Texans uniform. 

"It's working together hand and hand," Dorsey said when asked how to get the most out of Watson. "The first thing is we go through and evaluate the season. We have honest conversations. We look at the tape and watch what he did on the field." 

Dorsey has experience working with former Carolina Panthers star quarterback Cam Newton as the quarterback coach from 2013 to 2018. 

He also spent a short stint with the Buffalo Bills, working with Josh Allen and the offense from 2022 to 2023. Dorsey was fired in Week 10 after the Bills dropped to 5-5. 

Newton had significant success under Dorsey. Newton won an MVP and dragged the Panthers to a Super Bowl appearance in what became one of the defining seasons for a quarterback in recent NFL history. Now Dorsey is going to attempt to recreate the magic he had with Newton in Carolina. 

For Watson, the Browns are hoping Dorsey can be a quarterback whisperer. Cleveland needs him to be. 

Watson, in 12 games played for the Browns, has been – at best – a league-average quarterback. 

He has thrown for 2,127 yards, 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Watson also has a passer rating of 81.7. During the 2023 season, he was rounding into form, with a comeback win over the Baltimore Ravens, at the time of his season-ending injury. 

Van Pelt was sent away because Watson wasn't playing well enough. Dorsey has now come in and is offering insight on what Watson needs to be the quarterback the Browns paid for nearly three years ago.

"He wants to be coached and driven," Dorsey said. "I will be able to pick up where the staff has left off on that. Let's build a great base of fundamentals that we can depend on throughout the year. When things get messy, we will still be able to rely on those things, deliver accurate throws and make great decisions." 

As for getting the most out of Watson, that is a not-so-simple, simple task. 

"It's understanding those guys can do things most others can't," Dorsey said of mobile quarterbacks like Watson. 

"There's going to be some times where they are going to make unbelievable plays where everyone is going to be like – that's amazing. But then there are going to be times that they scramble around and might take a sack or something. There is a give-and-take there. But it's the understanding of making sure we are playing smart, not conservative."

The message is clear: To get the most out of Watson, Dorsey doesn't plan to take it easy. 

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There is a reason to everything.