In the middle of the season, a lot of Browns fans were questioning Davis’ willingness to stay 100% behind the struggling Tim Couch, and looked at Kelly Holcomb as a potential magic fix.
Personally, I thought Holcomb seemed like a fairly capable QB, but hadn’t really been challenged, and have enough time to really make an impression. I figured Davis knew what he was doing, and that people that advocated Holcomb were just redirecting their feelings of dissapointment in couch into some idealized hope that Holcomb would save us, rather than his actual merit as a quarterback.
Then the playoff game happened. Holcomb had a really great game. Almost every pass that day was dead on - even the incompletions were more often the fault of the receivers than not. Those balls were right on target, almost all game.
Despite a shut out in the running game, he was still able to consistently move the ball through most of the game.
So, I’m thinking hey may really be our answer to the quarterback situation, but I’m not sure.
I think they are both good quarterbacks. Tim Couch has shown that he can operate well under pressure, pulling out fourth quarter wins against the Jets, Ravens, and Titans. He screws up occasionally, but then again, he’s only 25 years old.
Holcomb is probably the best second string QB the Browns have had in a long time. He understands the style of offense the Browns run extremely well, and his ability to read defenses and react to them is superb.
I think they should stick with Couch as a starter, but they shouldn’t be shy about yanking him mid-game if he’s having a bad day.
I’m just glad they have Holcomb sitting on the bench when they need him.
Skinny (lifelong Browns fan and old enough to have seen them win their last national title…what was it, 1964?)
A burgeoning Browns fan? You aren’t switching teams are you?
I think they should go with Holcomb, unless it’s just been a fluke the last few games. Let them fight it out for the job in camp, and if the person struggles in the first couple of games, let the other one give it a shot. But I think Holcomb is just more impressive than Couch.
No, no… I had a mild interest in football back before the team left, and I was only mildly interested when they came back, but for whatever reason, I’ve becoming more and more a football fan as time goes by, so I’m a ‘burgeoning’ browns fan in the sense that I’m first starting to become a ‘serious’ fan.
I am NOT a Browns fan. But I became a Kelly Holcomb fan during the games that I saw from the butt end of Ohio. I think he’s a lot more confident and exciting player. He has that intangible quality that seems to come in the really good QBs, where he never seems shaken, a confidence that he’s never out of a game. I saw about the opposite in the games where I saw Tim Couch play. The game where Couch seemed to give away the game to the Ravens, but Holcomb almost brought them back, on what turned out to be a broken leg, was one of the highlights of the season. A lot of courage and desire there. It also seems that Couch skies a lot of his passes, which isn’t a good thing when you don’t have a lot of tall receivers. Maybe that’s a problem with his mechanics, a lack of follow through perhaps.
If I were the Browns management I’d trade Couch to the Bengals for their first round pick this year and fill some other need with that pick.
Well, as a Steeler fan, you may not want my opinion - but I would trade Couch and try to pick up a good backup quarterback. (And I would trade Stewart, but this thread isn’t about the Steelers.)
For the last four years I’ve wanted Couch to develop into a top shelf QB, while he has had a few very good games I suspect he might not be more than an ever so very slightly above average player. How ever his limitations do seem more mental than physical, so baring a debilitating injury the faithful can still pray for a later career conversion a la Rich Gannon / Jim Plunket.
That being said I have more faith in Holcomb. I say they both enter camp this year knowing the starting position is up for grabs and let them fight it out. However, if someone wants to pony up a first round pick for Tim and eat his cap number I’d trade him in a hot minute. ShibbOleth, you wouldn’t happen to have Mike Brown’s phone number?
I’m kind of torn on this one. I’ve liked Couch since we got him, at times he’s looked real good, & at times he’s looked pretty bad. You really can’t question his toughness, heart & desire to win. You can question his reading of defenses and getting rid of the ball quickly.
I’m not even close to being sold on Holcomb. I think he’s a great back up, but hasn’t shown enough (IMO) to be given the starter job. This year he played in part or all of 5 games;
Started against Kansas City - Tore 'em up, looked awesome. Then again, everyone tore up KC. IIRC they had the worst “D” in the league.
Started against Cincinnati - Looked OK, got the win at home. Couch posted similar numbers in the second game on the road.
Came in for Couch against Baltimore - Our offense looked completely inept until the 3rd when Ray Lewis got hurt. Couch promptly drove down the field and scored. Next possession, Couch gets hurt. Holcomb brought us back in that game, but he threw 2 ints, one on the last play, and about 3 more that should have been picked.
Came in for Couch against Atlanta - Didn’t look too good. Threw 2 ints, William Green & the Defense saved that game for us.
Started against Pittsburgh - Looked real good. Pittsburgh had the 20th ranked pass defense & had a starting DB out. Also the field was sloppy, which helps the receivers and the pass blocking.
My opinion, we should stick with Couch for 1 more year. I think he has a higher “up side” than Holcomb. He has shown improvement every year. He seems to have the unteachable ability to mount 4th quarter comebacks (10 so far in his career). Finally, after a 2-4 start, we did go 7-3 down the stretch to make the playoffs.
Tough call, I’ve seen quite a bit of both of them. Couch is decently. Holcomb has looked good and had some sick numbers this year, but most of those were against really bad pass defenses (my Steelers included). I’m not saying that to knock him, because he has had a really nice touch on many of his throws, but you do want to keep it in mind before you proclaim him the new king.
Another piece in this puzzle is how the Browns look vs. the Cap. (I have no idea). I’d imagine at this point that Holcomb could probably be had for cheaper. Also, there are going to be more than a few QBs looking for new teams this offseason (off the top of my head: Jake Delhomme, Kordell, Jake Plummer, possibly Brian Griese, one of Kurt Warner/Marc Bulger) so I don’t know how Couch would do if he showed an interest in finding a new home. He’s not a bad QB but I don’t see him really standing out in the group I just mentioned.
And so sorry, because I do like you folks…but I get my Pittsburgh fan license revoked if I don’t take a shot at you here.
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