obie7661
12-18-2006, 05:42 AM
By Terry Pluto
BALTIMORE - The Browns shouldn't spend a single second thinking about it, just play Derek Anderson at quarterback for the final two games.
Don't worry about how it looks or what message is sent about Charlie Frye.
After a 27-17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, the Browns are 4-10. This is the fourth season in a row of at least 10 losses.
This team needs players, and if Anderson can become a starting quarterback, all the better.
As General Manager Phil Savage said after the game, ``Some people may say that we don't have a quarterback, but we may have two. Don't forget that Charlie was 11-of-13 in that first half against Kansas City before he got hurt.''
Savage doesn't mention that to diminish what Anderson has done since taking over for the injured Frye (sprained wrist) three games ago. He knows that the Browns have had far more questions than answers at quarterback since returning in 1999, and he likes the idea that the Browns could have two worthy of attention.
He said Anderson ``held up well against the best defense in the league.''
The Browns need so much -- especially linemen. That's linemen on offense, linemen on defense. They also need defensive backs, a running back...
OK, you get the point.
It's still too early to declare that Anderson absolutely, positively should be the starting quarterback next year. But he should start for the rest of this season, no questions asked.
If Anderson shows enough to start in 2007 -- or at least convince the Browns that they can find a starter between Frye and Anderson -- that allows the team to spend draft picks and free-agent money to fill so many other holes.
An excellent test
Anderson was a sixth-round pick by the Ravens in 2005, so he's well-known to the Ravens' defense. They kept Kyle Boller and Anthony Wright over Anderson last season, and Savage was able to claim him.
This seemed like an excellent test as there would be no sense of surprise; the Ravens had seen plenty of Anderson in practice.
But Anderson came out boldly, nailing a 36-yard pass to tight end Kellen Winslow on his first play. At one point, he completed 13 passes in a row.
Let's repeat that: Against the Ravens on the road in a reasonably close game, Anderson completed 13 straight passes. And straight they were -- otherwise that swarming defense would bat them down, pick them off and otherwise drive Anderson to the same state of despair that has plagued so many other quarterbacks on this field over the years.
The numbers show Anderson connecting on 23-of-32 passes for 223 yards and two touchdowns. He had two interceptions. One was a badly overthrown ball. The other might have been the result of receiver Braylon Edwards running one way when Anderson thought that he'd go the other way.
Anderson said ``the cornerback jumped the route'' and he took the blame.
In his first six quarters, Anderson had been sacked only once.
Baltimore drilled him five times, and he fumbled once.
But this is the same defense that sacked Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger nine times. They tracked down slithery and speedy Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick four times. They have 50 sacks, a team record, this season.
Every quarterback takes a beating against the Ravens.
What you want to see is if the quarterback bounces back up. You want to see if he seems jittery in the pocket. You want to see if he begins to lose faith in his blockers and, even more importantly, in himself.
Anderson keeps passing
What you noticed about Anderson is he stood strong and tall, all 6-foot-6, 230 pounds of him. He didn't panic, and kept trying to find ways to move the ball.
After the game, a frustrated coach Romeo Crennel had little good to say about Anderson or anyone else in an orange helmet. He was bothered by the interceptions and sacks. At one point, Crennel said something about ``We could run the ball 50 times in a row and not turn it over, then that's what we'll do.''
Here's a bulletin for the Browns coach: You won't be able to run the ball 50 times against the Ravens, which has the league's premier run defense.
The reason this was a close game is because Anderson kept throwing the ball. The Browns scored their first touchdown on a superb soft fade pass into the corner, caught by receiver Joe Jurevicius. The veteran caught five more passes Sunday, as Anderson is using him wisely.
Consider that 18 of his 36 catches have happened in the past three games.
Anderson also unleashed a lightning bolt from 14 yards to Edwards for a touchdown.
Two touchdown passes: One short, high and soft, the other hard and straight.
In 10 quarters, Anderson has completed 62 percent of his passes. Five have been for touchdowns, four intercepted, and he's been sacked six times. His rating is a solid 85 percent, and he has played at Pittsburgh and Baltimore.
Next week, it's the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home.
And when the Browns break the huddle for the first time, Anderson should be at quarterback.
BALTIMORE - The Browns shouldn't spend a single second thinking about it, just play Derek Anderson at quarterback for the final two games.
Don't worry about how it looks or what message is sent about Charlie Frye.
After a 27-17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, the Browns are 4-10. This is the fourth season in a row of at least 10 losses.
This team needs players, and if Anderson can become a starting quarterback, all the better.
As General Manager Phil Savage said after the game, ``Some people may say that we don't have a quarterback, but we may have two. Don't forget that Charlie was 11-of-13 in that first half against Kansas City before he got hurt.''
Savage doesn't mention that to diminish what Anderson has done since taking over for the injured Frye (sprained wrist) three games ago. He knows that the Browns have had far more questions than answers at quarterback since returning in 1999, and he likes the idea that the Browns could have two worthy of attention.
He said Anderson ``held up well against the best defense in the league.''
The Browns need so much -- especially linemen. That's linemen on offense, linemen on defense. They also need defensive backs, a running back...
OK, you get the point.
It's still too early to declare that Anderson absolutely, positively should be the starting quarterback next year. But he should start for the rest of this season, no questions asked.
If Anderson shows enough to start in 2007 -- or at least convince the Browns that they can find a starter between Frye and Anderson -- that allows the team to spend draft picks and free-agent money to fill so many other holes.
An excellent test
Anderson was a sixth-round pick by the Ravens in 2005, so he's well-known to the Ravens' defense. They kept Kyle Boller and Anthony Wright over Anderson last season, and Savage was able to claim him.
This seemed like an excellent test as there would be no sense of surprise; the Ravens had seen plenty of Anderson in practice.
But Anderson came out boldly, nailing a 36-yard pass to tight end Kellen Winslow on his first play. At one point, he completed 13 passes in a row.
Let's repeat that: Against the Ravens on the road in a reasonably close game, Anderson completed 13 straight passes. And straight they were -- otherwise that swarming defense would bat them down, pick them off and otherwise drive Anderson to the same state of despair that has plagued so many other quarterbacks on this field over the years.
The numbers show Anderson connecting on 23-of-32 passes for 223 yards and two touchdowns. He had two interceptions. One was a badly overthrown ball. The other might have been the result of receiver Braylon Edwards running one way when Anderson thought that he'd go the other way.
Anderson said ``the cornerback jumped the route'' and he took the blame.
In his first six quarters, Anderson had been sacked only once.
Baltimore drilled him five times, and he fumbled once.
But this is the same defense that sacked Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger nine times. They tracked down slithery and speedy Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick four times. They have 50 sacks, a team record, this season.
Every quarterback takes a beating against the Ravens.
What you want to see is if the quarterback bounces back up. You want to see if he seems jittery in the pocket. You want to see if he begins to lose faith in his blockers and, even more importantly, in himself.
Anderson keeps passing
What you noticed about Anderson is he stood strong and tall, all 6-foot-6, 230 pounds of him. He didn't panic, and kept trying to find ways to move the ball.
After the game, a frustrated coach Romeo Crennel had little good to say about Anderson or anyone else in an orange helmet. He was bothered by the interceptions and sacks. At one point, Crennel said something about ``We could run the ball 50 times in a row and not turn it over, then that's what we'll do.''
Here's a bulletin for the Browns coach: You won't be able to run the ball 50 times against the Ravens, which has the league's premier run defense.
The reason this was a close game is because Anderson kept throwing the ball. The Browns scored their first touchdown on a superb soft fade pass into the corner, caught by receiver Joe Jurevicius. The veteran caught five more passes Sunday, as Anderson is using him wisely.
Consider that 18 of his 36 catches have happened in the past three games.
Anderson also unleashed a lightning bolt from 14 yards to Edwards for a touchdown.
Two touchdown passes: One short, high and soft, the other hard and straight.
In 10 quarters, Anderson has completed 62 percent of his passes. Five have been for touchdowns, four intercepted, and he's been sacked six times. His rating is a solid 85 percent, and he has played at Pittsburgh and Baltimore.
Next week, it's the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home.
And when the Browns break the huddle for the first time, Anderson should be at quarterback.