Browns rookie QB ready to make plays in Hall of Fame game
It took time to get here, but fifth-round draft selection quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson will debut in the second half of Thursday night's Hall of Fame game. The Cleveland Browns will take on the New York Jets at 8 p.m. in Canton. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski revealed that he expects Kellen Mond to start the game […]
It took time to get here, but fifth-round draft selection quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson will debut in the second half of Thursday night's Hall of Fame game.
The Cleveland Browns will take on the New York Jets at 8 p.m. in Canton. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski revealed that he expects Kellen Mond to start the game but wants to turn to Thompson-Robinson to close it out.
It is a challenge the former UCLA quarterback already feels up to, thanks to the progress he says he is making in training camp.
“I think I’ve done really well," Thompson-Robinson said of his progression during training camp. "Just grasping the playbook, learning my teammates, learning how Coach (Kevin) Stefanski wants things done, both on the field and off the field. So just trying to become a complete pro and making sure that I’m setting an example.”
Still, there is something to be said for live game reps, that to Stefanski, matter in the long-term development of a quarterback.
“Yeah, like kind of what we’re saying earlier, every rep is important," Stefanski said. "Those game reps – they can tackle you now. They’re not worried that you’re wearing a red jersey, so you are playing the game at full speed. You have got to play fast. Everything’s going to happen faster for all those rookies that are playing in their first preseason game under the lights. So just looking for him to operate and really take an extension of what he’s been doing here on the practice fields to the game.”
But Thompson-Robinson plans to take that on-field progression into action against the Jets. Specifically, the rookie wants to make plays with Cedric Tillman and Thomas Greaney, two players he has already formed connections with.
“Well, obviously my guy Cedric (Tillman) and then Thomas Greaney, tight end, who I got the chance to play with down at the Shrine game," Thompson-Robinson said. "So those are two guys obviously I have really good chemistry with already going into it. But we have a lot of good guys. Austin Watkins, number 80 out there, speedster, and I think our running back Hassan Hall, I think he’s going to do really big things. I think he’ll show all his stuff on Thursday for sure.”
So heading into the biggest night of his professional career to date, Thompson-Robnsion is planning to take in the gameplan and play the style of game he's gotten comfortable with.
"I'm really good when it comes to the cerebral side of football things and being able to grasp a playbook and go out there and execute," he said. "But this is my first time having to call plays in the huddle, having to get it in a headset and being able to spit it out it and we don’t have the shortest of play calls, so that’s probably the number one thing I’m going to be focusing on for sure. Making sure I can get guys lined up and making sure that everybody’s on the same page.”
Browns set QB rotation for Hall of Fame game
The Cleveland Browns play football Thursday.
Feature image via Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports.
