Good Derek, bad Derek
By Marla RidenourThe least encouraging thing about Sunday's 34-17 loss at New England was that 'Bad Derek,' aka Browns quarterback Derek Anderson, appeared again, just as he did in Oakland. This time Anderson's Jekyll and Hyde impersonation included three first-half interceptions that led to 14 Patriots points and halted a drive to the New England 1.
While the Browns may be hoping to get through the season with Anderson so rookie Brady Quinn can watch and learn, Anderson's inconsistency has to be driving the organization nuts. He has shown resilence to rally his team in the second half of both the Raiders and Patriots games (this time closing the gap to 20-10 with 14:10 remaining), but usually he's taking advantage of a less-aggressive defense at that point.
Surprisingly, Browns coach Romeo Crennel did not chastize Anderson for poor decision-making, even though his rating of 59.0 was his second-lowest of the season (57.0 at Oakland). Two of Anderson's interceptions came on tipped passes and linebacker Mike Vrabel hit his arm on the other.
"I thought they were good decisions," Crennel said. "I was looking right at one of them and the guy was open and he tried to get it in there. The linebacker broke on it and tipped it up and they intercepted it. On the other one he got the arm hit, so that hurt. That is part of the game. We've got to protect better and we have to deliver quicker."
Anderson's most costly interception was his first, which stalled the drive that could have given the Browns a 7-3 lead. Tight end Steve Heiden was his intended target, but cornerback Asante Samuel tipped the ball to linebacker Junior Seau on third and goal at the 1.
"He had a chance to make it happen," Crennel said. "He got flushed out a little bit and probably his feet weren't set enough because he was on the move. Maybe if he had been able to set his feet and deliver the ball he could have gotten it in."
Crennel knew the importance of that turnover.
"If we get that touchdown you have a little confidence, you score on a team that hadn't been allowing any points and then maybe you're able to do some things the rest of the game. By not scoring, I think some of the guys wonder about what we are able to do and how we missed that opportunity and those kinds of things. But we did get it together a little bit in the second half and were a lot more competitive."
Crennel may have been going easy on Anderson because he still likes the team's chances with him in the lineup rather than Quinn and doesn't want to damage Anderson's confidence. Also Crennel doesn't seem to be under as much pressure with the team 2-3 and facing winless Miami next week. Just about every Browns fans would take 3-3 at the bye, considering the brutal stretch of defenses Cleveland faced in the first six games.
But if Bad Derek continues his regular appearances, Crennel may be forced to change his plan with Quinn.
October 8th, 2007 at 12:16 am
I think it's time to put in Brady Quinn starting with the Miami game next week. The Dolphins are 0-5 and their defense is not a top-5 defense like last year- it's now a mediocre defense. It's not that I don't like Derek Anderson, because I do. I think he has a chance to develop into a solid NFL quarterback. The problem is, he still makes alot of rookie mistakes, because basically, he is a rookie as far as NFL starts goes (7 starts I think). He's still learning how to read defenses, when to try to make a play and when to throw the ball away, etc… If we're going to play a quarterback that is learning and is going to make rookie mistakes, why not play the 1st round pick guy that's been given over 20 mil up-front money and who's the guy that we gave up a 1st round pick in next year's draft for?
If we never made the trade to get Quinn, I'd be fine with having Anderson start and continue to grow with Frye as the back-up, but we DID make the trade. Quinn's not going to get killed out there with this offensive line. I don't know how he's going to learn so much sitting on the sideline watching from a young inexperienced quarterback who's still learning himself. Even our "veteran mentor" only has about a half-year's starting QB experience in the NFL and he just has happened to hold the clipboard longer. The only way Quinn is going to learn is to get in there and play. I'd hate to see him sit on the bench the whole season - I don't see how that would help us any for next year. Anderson will probably continue to improve this year and then we'll just bench him next year no matter what just because Quinn's getting the cash. Then, we'll have Quinn start the season next year learning and making the rookie mistakes that he could have gotten through this year by playing.
Who knows, if we play Quinn the rest of this year we may find out that Anderson is actually the better pro-prospect, but we won't know what we have with Quinn until he plays. If he shows much less promise than Anderson the rest of this year, we could go back to Anderson next year and try to trade Quinn to get a pick back. I seriously doubt this would be the case, though, because I'm confident that Quinn's going to perform well once he gets his chance.
October 8th, 2007 at 6:29 am
Brady Quinn should not even be being discussed at this point. The Browns have been moving the ball batter than they have in years and a huge part of it has been Derek Anderson. Yes, he's made some bad decisions but yesterday was just his 7th start in the past two years. Most of his mistakes have been what you might refer to as "Rookie" mistakes. Maybe its not his rookie year, but is terms of starting, until he's made at least twice as many as he's made thus far, he's basically a rookie in playing time.
October 8th, 2007 at 7:47 am
Tan Buckeye - Your comments are very interesting. They could have been applied to Charlie Frye. Young, barely beyond the definition of "rookie" - making some mistakes - needing time, coaching and team support to develop - but no patience with him. Off with his head.
Yet the answer you still hear from the bleachers sounds like: "The guy's making rookie mistakes, so let's go with somebody even newer, and NOW." Strange, huh?
To paraphrase a quote we've heard before: "You develop the team you have, not the team you wish you had . . ."
When the Browns organization takes responsibility for its development decisions, and learns to coach the talent it has, then the franchise will turn around. Until then, it's simply a bad product - not worth the fans' money or support.
October 8th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
Tan Buckeye says Quinn shouldn't even be in the discussion, what a dolt. He's for playing a 6th round waiver wire pickup instead of the first round pick we have on the bench. Quinn was drafted to be the leader this team needs at the QB position, and there's no reason why he shouldn't be playing now. Anderson couldn't beat out Frye, so why are the Browns playing him now? Quinn should be aloud to play and grow with the other young players on offense and learn the system along with them It's decisions like staying with DA that make Crennel such a bad headcoach. Not only are we wasting the 07 season, but 08 as well.
October 8th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
I felt that we could have won the game if it were not for andersons 2 int. and the whole thing with Quinn is that you know that he is good just how good is the question. Now you look at big ben he was thrown into the fire and look what came out - i am sorry to say it but he is a really good quarterback. Even if we stick with ANDERSON - then in a place where we were at with 46 seconds left on the clock no chance of winning - then put Quinn in and get him the experience. This is what they need to do if they want to develope him right - you can only learn so much from the sidelines!!! Because in all fairness Anderson knows that he is on his way out with the browns.
October 8th, 2007 at 1:25 pm
It's time for Quinn. This kid is smart you know he has a graps on the offence now. Anderson would have called a time out when he was sacked and hurt his shoulder before he would be replaced by Quinn because he knows and all the BROWNS FAns know that once Brady gets in their no more playing time for Anderson all the team needs is a smart QB and Quinn is the one PLAY HIM NOW DAMIT
October 11th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
Puck, public education has failed you miserably. I do agree with what you were trying to write though. Brady is the future and I think he'll be starting at some point this season.