Dillon Gabriel recognizes small margin for error, says struggling offense has 'got to go take it' when chances come

BEREA — The lessons come fast and furious at this level.Dillon Gabriel has the incompletions, bruises and losses as proof.The rookie is 0-2 since taking over as the starter, losing in London to the Vikings and at Pittsburgh. The Browns (1-5) have scored a total of 26 points in his starts, dropping to last in the NFL with a 13.7 average, and Gabriel is 48-for-85 (56.5 percent) for 411 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions, eight sacks and a 77.1 passer rating.Zone Coverage Podcast"You continue to learn from each start, each time going in there," he said Wednesday as the Browns prepared to host the Dolphins (1-5) on Sunday. "There's a lot of details that you want to fine-tune and continue to get better at and get more comfortable with that."The margin for error is small, as well. I think I knew that but continued to learn that and try to evolve to be better for this team."The Browns' margin is minuscule.Every penalty, dropped pass or negative play seems impossible to overcome, so each mistake is magnified and scrutinized. That those issues have continued — the Browns are tied for 11th with 351 penalty yards, second with 15 drops, 10th with 17 sacks allowed — has coach Kevin Stefanski and Gabriel searching for answers."There's got to be change," Gabriel said. "There's some tough times and you've got to work your way through it. That's point-blank. You've got to get to work, find different solutions. And I know I've said that before, but you have to go do that."And then when you get in those moments, you've got to go take it. There's times you've got to go win a game, have a play or a chunk that could be the difference. And the difference is what everyone strives for to be on top."Dillon Gabriel keeps getting hit, keeps getting up, doesn't miss snap in ugly, painful lossAs ugly and painful as the 23-9 loss Sunday in Pittsburgh was — Gabriel said he's fine physically after six sacks and 16 hits — the Browns had chances to put pressure on the Steelers. Cleveland went 0-for-3 in the red zone, settling for two Andre Szmyt field goals and turning the ball over on downs."It needs to be better. That's plain and simple," Gabriel said. "Got to get in the end zone, got to score touchdowns in the red area, not field goals."The first trip was at the end of the first half, so the clock was a factor as Szmyt kicked a 31-yarder as time expired. The other top chances for a touchdown came in the fourth quarter with Pittsburgh already at 23 points.Perhaps the best opportunity came from just outside the red zone with 11:21 left. Gabriel was flushed out of the pocket to his left but had time and pointed for receiver Jerry Jeudy to turn upfield. Jeudy got open behind the defense on the scramble drill but Gabriel, who was still moving forward and to his left, missed him with a throw along the sideline."From play to play there's a lot of things that you want back and you take notes on and you want to continue to emphasize," Gabriel said. "The common theme is when you need it, you got to go get it."Finally an agreement: City of Cleveland to support Browns' move to Brook Park, gets $100M commitment from HaslamsHe explained the miss in which Jeudy was able to get only the fingertips of his right hand on the ball as it sailed wide and out of bounds."I could have just put it on him, but he was starting to get even with the defender and starting to get over the top, so I wanted to put a little more touch," Gabriel said. "But one of those throws in between that you look back and maybe I could have put the ball on his left inside shoulder, maybe would've been a tougher catch or could you maybe just flatten the ball a little bit more."That drive ended in a 32-yard field goal following two incompletions and a sack after reaching the 3. Cleveland's final drive reached the 14 but ended with two incompletions.Jeudy called Gabriel a "competitor" and "dawg" for getting up after all the shots he took against the Steelers."Dillon did a great job taking what the defense gave him," Jeudy said. "He had a good game. We had some drops, he had some misses, and that's part of football."When he replaced Flacco, Gabriel said he was the "biggest fan" of Jeudy. They've yet to find the desired connection as Jeudy's disappointing start has continued. In Gabriel's two starts, Jeudy has seven catches on 18 targets for 58 yards. He doesn't have a touchdown in six games."It's continuing our work together," Gabriel said. "Jerry's hardest on himself and wants to play at a level for us as a team, but also himself. We believe in Jerry. Jerry believes in himself, and we're going to just continue to work at it. It's one of those things you got to work your way through."I don't want to keep sounding mundane and saying the same thing, but it starts with me and being able to help that connection. Then, of course, just creating easy touches and then the rest will come. But the confidence-building for everyone is a part of it, as well."The issues are spread across the offense and have limited the big plays. Whether it's the lack of time in the pocket for a play to develop, a lack of separation by receivers or the quarterback missing them, the Browns have only 11 pass plays of 20 yards and none of 40 yards. The longest against the Steelers was a 24-yard catch by rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr."It's always being aware of immediate reactions and trying to be smart with the football, knowing when there's times to take shots and not, but also just knowing where we're at at certain points and wanting to play positive, efficient football and continue to do that," Gabriel said. "But, yeah, we want more chunks in the pass game and more explosives for sure."Jeudy said the Steelers are a one-high-safety team so the Browns had more opportunities to throw downfield. They couldn't capitalize."Like I said all year, all 11 people just got to be on the same page at the right time," he said. "One guy messed up, it is all hell break loose for the offense. But we just got to make sure everybody's on the same page and execute on that play to really get the exposure we need."Gabriel's counterpart Sunday will be Miami's Tua Tagovailoa in a battle of left-handed quarterbacks from Hawaii. They don't have a relationship."Knew of Tua," Gabriel said. "We played against each other once and, of course, him playing in Hawaii, everyone knew Tua."Gabriel will start, and play, in front of the home crowd for the first time. The fans are frustrated and many of them are angry with the state of the team. A segment of the crowd could call for backup Shedeur Sanders if Gabriel struggles early."It'll be a lot of fun to start at home and excited to be back here," Gabriel said.The post Dillon Gabriel recognizes small margin for error, says struggling offense has 'got to go take it' when chances come first appeared on BrownsZone with Scott Petrak.