Coming off a surprising 10-6 season, the Cleveland Browns have one of the more interesting quarterback situations in the NFL, with Derek Anderson returning as the starter and first-rounder Brady Quinn acting as the back-up for another season. Despite Anderson’s trip to the Pro Bowl last season, some Browns fans think Quinn is the better long-term option, while others believe Anderson is better suited to the vertical passing game that made the Browns a force on offense last season.
The Plain Dealer’s Terry Pluto is one of the best columnists in the business, and he offers an interesting assessment of both quarterbacks after watching them in camp.
The moment I put the names Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson in the same sentence, that’s enough for some fans to immediately start up their emails with some serious opinions and huge expectations, especially for Quinn. Well, I’ve watched three different practices, and I can assure you that the Browns have two very different QBs in Anderson and Quinn.
Browns quarterbacks Derek Anderson (3) and Brady Quinn (10) have contrasting skills at the position, which makes analyzing their games more complicated. Let’s start with this: Overall, Anderson has looked better. Part of it is due to Anderson usually working with the first team. It’s more fun to throw to Kellen Winslow, Braylon Edwards and Donte Stallworth than to Travis Wilson, Paul Hubbard, Martin Rucker and Kevin Kasper. And yes, Rucker and Kasper have made some nice catches and show promise, but they are not Winslow and Edwards. Hubbard dropped 20-yard pass from Quinn, and a few other passes were dropped. I do like how Rucker (6-foot-4, 260) is a big target with good hands and should see some playing time.
Let’s remember this: Anderson has a much stronger arm, and a slightly quicker release. He threw a 50-yard pass to Stallworth seemingly with a flip of the wrist. Stallworth beat A.J. Davis badly on the pattern. When Anderson plays, the Browns have a more vertical offense. The ball goes downfield. The receivers know it and love it. The defensive backs, especially safeties, worry about it — and play off the line of scrimmage. Running backs also love his strong arm because it means linebackers and safeties are farther from the line of scrimmage, giving them more room to run.
Let’s also understand this: Anderson is a gambler. He threw one pass at a receiver surrounded by four defenders. It wasn’t picked off because a couple of the defenders collided. I watched part of the practice with ESPN’s Chris Mortensen. We go back to the early 1980s when he covered the Braves for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and I was the PD’s baseball writer. Mortensen watched that throw by Anderson and mentioned that Tom Brady and Brett Favre both told him that they’d sometimes try ridiculous passes in practice just to see if they could do it. What you want the QB to do is not to try them in the games, especially when it’s close.
Let’s not forget: Anderson is 25, has started only 18 games and usually it takes a starting QB three seasons to reach his peak. He can learn, and he can get better. Quinn has thrown a grand total of eight NFL passes. He never even played in the first half of a preseason game — that has to change this August. When Quinn plays, there are shorter passes, more sprint-outs, more throws of 5-to-15 yards. He is pretty crisp and confident. He also has developed a chemistry with Wilson, who has made some nice catches near the sideline on down-and-out patterns.
Let’s see: Quinn has not thrown that many passes downfield. It is not his comfort zone, just as some of the in-between throws that Quinn does well seem awkward for Anderson. My point is the two QBs will require two types of game plans. The good thing is watching them, you don’t wonder, “Why would any team draft these guys?” They both have to look of a starting NFL quarterback.
The Browns are in a great position. Anderson looks like he can be a star if he can control the interceptions and not fade again at the end of the season. Quinn brings a different skill set, and he might not be the best fit for this Browns offense, but so far he looks like a player who can succeed in the NFL. The Browns might have a tough choice at the end of the season regarding the future of this position, but many teams around the league would love to have this problem.
Right now, my money is on Anderson. He has a great line, and punishing back and excellent receivers. With a year of experience under his belt, he just might tear up the league this season.
