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Anderson's numbers aren't as important as win-loss column
By Marla Ridenour\
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Thursday, Nov 01, 2007
BEREA: Derek Anderson was probably not being evasive, just being himself.
He also might not have wanted to go where the question Wednesday was taking him. Just a few minutes earlier, Browns coach Romeo Crennel had declined the same trip down memory lane, to the trade of starting quarterback Charlie Frye two days after a 34-7 season-opening loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Anderson, when asked if he thought after the Steelers game that it could have been him who was dealt, said simply, ''Could. Didn't.''
Had that happened, rookie Brady Quinn probably would be the starting quarterback, and Frye his backup.
Instead, Anderson is the sixth-leading passer in the NFL, with a 95.5 rating, and Frye is No. 3 on the Seattle Seahawks' depth chart. Anderson's 17 touchdown passes rank second in the league behind the 30 of the New England Patriots' Tom Brady. Anderson's average of 8.3 yards per completion is tied for second with Tony Romo of the Dallas Cowboys, trailing only Brady's 9.3. The Browns, who are at home Sunday against the Seahawks, are 4-3 and averaging 26.7 points with Anderson as the starter.
He's on pace to break the Browns' record for passing touchdowns in a season: 30, set by Brian Sipe in his league-Most Valuable Player season, 1980. With 1,744 passing yards, Anderson has a shot at Sipe's team record of 4,132, also in 1980.
The Browns still must face the top two defenses in the league in the Steelers and Baltimore Ravens, but they also play the New York Jets (29th), Buffalo Bills (30th) and Cincinnati Bengals (31st).
Browns running back Jamal Lewis was with the Ravens when they drafted Anderson in the sixth round in 2005. The Ravens intended to put Anderson on their practice squad when they released him that Sept. 20, but the Browns claimed him on waivers.
''I couldn't believe they let him go at the time,'' Lewis said. ''He was a good quarterback. He's finally gotten his opportunity, and he's taking full advantage of it. That's what you have to do if you want to move up in this league.''
Lewis isn't surprised by the throws Anderson is making; he has seen those in practice with two teams.
''The thing you worry about is 'Can he manage the game?' And he's managed the game well, and he's gotten a lot better since preseason,'' Lewis said. ''He's not as panicky in the huddle. Sometimes we have to tell him, 'Slow it down, settle down.' He's getting better every week, and that's the surprise to me.
''When things are not going well, he's very poised, and that's what you need from a quarterback. Be poised, be patient and be calm because that calms everybody else down.''
The Browns have won back-to-back games for the first time since 2003, and Anderson did not throw an interception against the Miami Dolphins and St. Louis Rams, his only two career starts without one.
Anderson attributes that to ''making good decisions and guys making plays. I haven't forced too many balls, and I'm letting things come to me. I've had time; I haven't been rushed in my reads.''
Observers are starting to take notice of Anderson. He will be a restricted free agent after the season and is no longer considered just a caretaker until Quinn is ready.
''All of sudden this guy named Anderson from Oregon State has the second-most touchdown passes in the NFL. They are for real on offense,'' former NFL coach Steve Mariucci said Sunday on the NFL Network. ''They need to keep Derek Anderson, sign him long term and have two good young quarterbacks on that team.''
Crennel will not let that type of praise or big numbers go to Anderson's head.
''There are a lot of instances where he still looks like a kid, particularly earlier in the game,'' Crennel said. ''Sometimes he could do better. Hopefully he'll keep getting better; that's what we want from him.''
Crennel will continue to harp on Anderson's decision-making, if necessary.
''When he makes bad decisions, then we're all over him,'' Crennel said. ''Poor decisions, from that position, usually end up being negative plays. Those are the plays that cause you to lose games.''
Anderson might be gaining respect, but he said that doesn't matter to him. He doesn't look at the league stats to marvel that he's second to Brady.
''I don't think I've got to chase him because he's 30 ahead of the rest of us,'' Anderson said, joking about Brady's big lead.
When it was pointed out to him that he has thrown more touchdowns than Peyton Manning, who has 13 for the Indianapolis Colts (7-0), his response would have pleased Crennel.
''We don't have as many wins as they do,'' Anderson said. ''It doesn't mean anything.''
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/.
BEREA: Derek Anderson was probably not being evasive, just being himself.
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