When Hue Jackson pulled the plug on DeShone Kizer in favor of Kevin Hogan, the Cleveland Browns coach was looking broader than just changing the quarterback or chasing elusive wins. Switching from the erratic, unreliable Kizer to the more stable, steady Hogan will help the Browns develop the other positions around the quarterback.

The Browns are painfully young all over the offense, but especially at the skill positions. Kizer’s incapability of running the offense as it is designed was preventing the progress of all those other young players.

David Njoku is a prime example. The first-round rookie tight end was withering on the vine with Kizer, who struggled to find him. Sometimes quite literally; this is an easy pitch-and-catch touchdown and basic read, and Kizer misses it, fleeing a clean pocket with his eyes down.

When Hogan came into the game, he hooked up with Njoku for two fantastic receptions, one of them a touchdown. It’s fair to say the Browns do not get those points with Kizer in the game. Now Njoku has higher confidence and has proved he can do more. Kizer was holding him back.

That’s true with some of the other young receivers. They are taught all their football lives to trust that the QB will find them when they’re open, especially as the primary target on a play. But Kizer couldn’t do that for the likes of Rashard Higgins or Ricardo Louis — not consistently enough.

With Hogan at the controls, the Browns can more properly develop the receiving talent. It will also help the offensive line, which doesn’t have to worry about the quarterback behind them being when or where he’s not supposed to be.

Does it help Kizer’s development to sit and watch? Maybe. Does it help everyone else’s development to have Kizer sit and watch? Absolutely, and the team around Kizer — if he ever does develop — will be a lot better for it.