CLEVELAND It's decision time for Browns' Davis

Kelly Holcomb and Tim Couch were both effective in a 38-31 loss to the Packers.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
CLEVELAND -- Blackout in Cleveland? Not anymore. Kelly Holcomb and Tim Couch flipped the switch Friday at Cleveland Browns Stadium, illuminating the team's quarterback competition.
The decision on whether Holcomb unseats Couch for the starting job rests in coach Butch Davis' hands, and it should be made in the next couple of days.
But it won't be easy.
Holcomb and Couch combined to complete 11-of-17 passes for 217 yards and three touchdowns, with one interception, in the Browns' 38-31 preseason loss to the Green Bay Packers.
In command
"Both played well," Davis said. "They were in total command of what Green Bay was doing. They were never in a panic situation. The maturity we have with players on offense is evident."
In a quarterback duel that has captivated the city and the NFL, Holcomb took advantage of his start in the Browns' second exhibition game of the season.
"I don't know, man. Did you ask Coach Davis?" Holcomb said to reporters when asked if he's the next Browns quarterback. "It's his decision.
"As a quarterback, you have to manage the game, and we both did that," Holcomb added. "You have to prepare yourself to be the starter. You have to prepare yourself to be the back-up. It's about the Cleveland Browns winning football games."
Holcomb completed seven of his 10 passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns while directing the Browns' first three series. His only mistake was an interception on his final throw.
"Every time you step on the field, you have to make a statement," Holcomb said. "I feel like I've done what I can do. After that, you can't control anything else."
Off and running
Holcomb, who has started just four games in a six-year NFL career, didn't waste any time impressing coaches and fans.
On his second pass attempt of the game, he executed a perfect play-action to running back William Green -- and then hit him for an 82-yard touchdown.
After faking the hand-off to Green and a reverse, Holcomb found Green on a short pass, which the second-year running back turned into a huge gain.
"I don't know if I've ever seen an 80-yard touchdown on a screen pass," Holcomb said. "[Green] took off and he was gone. Nobody was gonna catch him."
Holcomb didn't let up from there. On the Browns' second series, the quarterback directed a nine-play, 74-yard drive, which culminated in a 14-yard touchdown pass over the middle to tight end Steve Heiden.
Davis left Holcomb under center for a third series, but it didn't last long. Packers cornerback Al Harris stepped in front of Quincy Morgan to intercept the pass, ending Holcomb's night.
"That's part of being the quarterback," Davis said. "You live by the sword, and sometimes you die by the sword. If we had a three TDs to one [interception ratio] all the time, we'd be pretty damn happy."
Couch's turn
Even with Holcomb's success, the Browns are still Couch's team, until Davis says otherwise.
Cleveland's top draft pick when it returned to the league in 1999, Couch entered the game to mostly cheers with 9 minutes, 14 seconds remaining in the first half.
"Kelly was playing well, the offense was rolling and I was just excited to get into the game and be a part of it," Couch said.
He completed his first four passes, the fourth being a well-timed ball that receiver Kevin Johnson snagged for a 20-yard touchdown.
"I just wanted to come in and play well with my opportunity," Couch said. "I thought I did that."
Couch's second and final series of the game was less than desirable, as he threw three straight incompletions, one of which was dropped by running back James Jackson.
That made Couch 4-of-7 for 51 yards and the one touchdown.
"We have two quarterbacks who can play, but it's going to be unfortunate for one guy and the other guy's going to have a great offense to work with," Couch said. "It's going to be an exciting time for whoever's in the game, and whoever's not will be pulling for him."
By the time Cleveland departs for an exhibition game against the Detroit Lions next Saturday, it should finally know the answer to a frequently asked question: Who will be the Browns' starting quarterback? "You have to prepare for any situation," Couch said. "I'm ready for whatever's going to come out of this."
The wait is nearly over.
richesson@vindy.com