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Do IT this week: Layering
Browns coach says backup quarterback could replace Anderson
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Tuesday, Sep 23, 2008
BEREA: Browns coach Romeo Crennel said backup quarterback Brady Quinn will get increased reps with the first team this week and, if necessary, he could replace struggling quarterback Derek Anderson on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Anderson has played erratically since the start of the season, and the Browns would head into their bye week 0-4 if they lose to a Bengals team that showed feistiness against the Super Bowl champion New York Giants before falling in overtime Sunday.
''I think we have to look at all positions. I think we have to get the other guy [Quinn] ready to go and we'll see how it progresses from there,'' Crennel said in his Monday news conference.
Anderson has struggled mightily in three games this season, completing 43-of-93 passes for 405 yards, two touchdowns and five
interceptions. He has a quarterback rating of 43.5.
Crennel said that the issues related to Anderson aren't totally of his making, pointing to the team's injuries and mistakes by players that affect overall production.
So what does Anderson need to get better?
''Several things have to happen. We have to protect better. We have to be better route runners and catch better,'' Crennel said. ''Then he has to throw better. I think all of those things impacted the results [Sunday at Baltimore], especially in the second half.''
While there is little disputing that the Browns are banged up, especially on the offensive line and at the receiving position, Crennel said Anderson has made his share of questionable decisions on the field.
Yet, the coach said, he never considered pulling the quarterback during the course of the game against the Ravens that the Browns lost 28-10.
''We felt like D.A., who had gotten all the practice reps this week, gave us the best chance, so I decided to leave him in there,'' Crennel said.
Crennel is unlikely to hesitate with respect to making that decision again, however, emphasizing that what the team needs right now is a win more than anything else.
''I've told Quinn all along that he's one play away, and that's the way he has to approach it,'' Crennel said. ''He prepares himself every week like he's the starter and like he's going to get playing time.''
Is the first-round draft choice out of Notre Dame ready? Quinn attempted only eight regular-season passes in his rookie year.
''I think a year to prepare and get versed in the system helps him,'' Crennel said. ''It's not like he's a total rookie, but you still haven't had the game reps. And the game reps are the thing that get you experience, basically.''
Quinn handled the developments diplomatically as he prepared to race off to a team meeting.
''You just have to keep preparing. Every week it's the backup's job to be [ready to be] the starter. Nothing's changed,'' Quinn said. ''We have a lot of things we have to work on, a lot of things to put together, so hopefully we'll find some more answers from the game this past week, have another good week of preparation and go to Cincinnati confident.''
Crennel said changing starters might or might not be the answer.
''If we decided to go with him, we'd just have to put it on the fact of what we've seen in practice and what we feel he is able to do,'' Crennel said. ''There's no hard evidence that says he'll have more success.''
Working with Edwards
Wide receiver Braylon Edwards made a costly error during the game against the Ravens that cost the Browns a first down when he committed an illegal block. Coupled with dropped balls, the receiver isn't getting off to the best start of the season. Crennel said that the coaching staff is working with him.
''We coach Braylon up, we talk to him, counsel him and point out to him the correct way to block — the correct angles to take — and that you're not supposed to block in the back. The thing we try to emphasize is on penalties, they hurt your team; they cause you to lose. We talk about it, but evidently we don't talk about it enough,'' Crennel said.
Tucker's no-show
The Friday injury report listed right guard Ryan Tucker as probable for Sunday's game, but shortly before game time, Crennel put the offensive lineman on the inactive list. His explanation: He wanted an extra defensive lineman for the rotation.
Brownies . . .
Wide receiver Donte' Stallworth continues to nurse an injured quadriceps and remains frustrated by not being able to play.
''I feel as if I could bring a little something to this team right now. Right now I think we've just got to keep our heads down, keep grinding and not worry about what's going on outside of this room,'' he said. . . . Players are circling the wagons in light of the loss to the Ravens. There was a players-only meeting early Monday afternoon at the Berea training complex. . . . The Browns brought undisclosed players in to work out with the team Monday.
Injury update
Linebacker Shantee Orr suffered a mild concussion in Sunday's game. Anderson bruised his forearm.
George M. Thomas can be reached at sportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/sportsblitz/
BEREA: Browns coach Romeo Crennel said backup quarterback Brady Quinn will get increased reps with the first team this week and, if necessary, he could replace struggling quarterback Derek Anderson on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Posted 05:20 AM, 09/23/2008
I always seem to get the same feelign about Crennel after a press conference. Either he plays dumb so the media only hears certain things.. or he's just that ignorant. "Coach Crennel, Could you explain the increase in penalties this year?", Romeo responds with "We coach them up, tell them penalties are bad, tell them penalties will make you lose." These guys have played the game their whole lives. They know that, he's just not enforcing discipline. He makes himself sound like a first year high school coach.
Tallmadge, OH
Posted 07:39 AM, 09/23/2008
0-3 means no playoffs. Why not start BQ and trade DA for a draft pick? The Browns are going nowhere again this season. Next fire the wothless fatman coach Crennel and hire someone who's a proven winner like Bill Cowher to take the team to the playoffs next season. Yes, it will cost Lerner money, but it's better to spend on coaching then miss the playoffs year after year after year.
Posted 07:52 AM, 09/23/2008
The Browns have so many problems that Brady couldn't solve them all if he was the second coming of Otto Graham. However, he needs to be at the helm because he is a leader and DA is not. Coaches need to coach == not make excuses. Romeo has to go, and the sooner the better. He is like a redwood tree -- planted and immoveable.
akron, oh
Posted 08:12 AM, 09/23/2008
No matter who they put in as QB, they need to change on the coaching staff. Put Quinn in and maybe you might get some of the fans back. But Romeo has to go, get a coach who is not going to make excuses any more. We need someone who will ride their butts to get something done right. Hopefully, Quinn will play better than Anderson. One can only hope and pray.
Posted 09:58 AM, 09/23/2008
bye bye Romeo
Posted 10:32 AM, 09/23/2008
It looks like the Browns will go 4 and 12 or at best 8 and 8. So with that realization lets give our team a chance. Stop telegraphing plays. the Browns moved the ball well on the first series and that was about that. If it is Anderson or Quinn have them call their own plays, since the Browns present play caller can be figured out in 5 minutes, then defending against the Browns is easy..So maybe Anderson has the best offensive mind and his calls will not be predictable or defendable..
Posted 10:52 AM, 09/23/2008
The Browns has too many inexperience players on their team, and the head coach knows this.
Akron, OH
Posted 03:01 PM, 09/23/2008
Crennel does play that simple-minded game a little too well.
Posted 01:46 AM, 09/24/2008
Here we are with another blown opportunity. Instead of dealing DA when he was a hot commodity last winter to restock our draft picks, some of which we dealt away for Brady Quinn, we did nothing. Quinn was supposed to be the QB of the future; DA was a one year wonder. There is a reason DA was on the practice squad in Baltimore. He got lucky here for a season. We had a chance to get back into the first round of the draft and go with our QB of the future, instead we got the real DA signed to a contract extension and no draft picks.
Posted 03:36 AM, 09/24/2008
there is nothing to lose with change when your 0-3 (0-7).
Tallmadge, OH
Posted 03:39 PM, 09/24/2008
BQ is the future who needs to play now. Fire Crennel and trade DA. Hire Bill Cowher. Let's get the Browns winning again.
