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Judging by drills, quarterback has legitimate chance to become starter
By Terry Pluto

If the Browns had to open the season today, the quarterback probably would be Derek Anderson. That's the word from some with the Browns, but it's written in pencil, and keep in mind that Anderson is being judged on drills where they wear shorts and helmets and the quarterback is not being sacked. He has the strongest arm of the three candidates, and it will look the best in this type of minicamp setting.

That said, the Browns also believe Anderson showed some promise in the four games he played last season. He completed 63 percent of his passes, five for touchdowns, with eight interceptions. His stats were skewed a bit because he was terrible in his final start, completing 10-of-27 with four interceptions and a QB rating of 12.1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He also suffered a separated shoulder in that game.

New offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski has a new offense, and all three quarterbacks have been struggling to grasp the different motions and formations. This takes away some of the advantage that incumbent Charlie Frye would have. Brady Quinn is a rookie, so it's no surprise he has been overwhelmed. All three have been at some point.

Frye's best moments have been in the two-minute drills when he has been on the move around the pocket. His advantage is having played against the Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers and Oakland Raiders, the first four opponents on this year's schedule. He knows their defenses, and with 18 pro starts, he has more experience than anyone else.

Listening to General Manager Phil Savage, it's obvious the quarterback spot is wide open, and Anderson definitely has a legitimate chance to become the starter. It's between Frye and Anderson, and it might not be decided until the middle of the exhibition season.

Fearing a holdout

As for Quinn, here's what the Browns aren't saying: They fear a holdout. The Notre Dame star was the 22nd pick. Savage and the Browns said several times that they ranked him among the top five players in the draft. No doubt, agent Tom Condon will mention that to the Browns in contract talks. The Browns will say, ``Look, we had him ranked high, but he was drafted 22. That's not our fault.''

In terms of wanting to get on the field this season, the last thing Quinn needs is a holdout. Adjusting to the pros is hard enough. Chudzinski's system is more complicated than some other pro sets. Not having been in the NFL has Quinn already behind Anderson and Frye, and missing practices certainly wouldn't help him close the gap.

Maybe there will be no holdout, but that will be only if the Browns decide to immediately pay Quinn far more than the projected pay for a 22nd pick. There is pressure on all NFL teams not to do that because it escalates rookie salaries for many other picks in the same area of the draft.

All this is why the NFL needs a rookie salary cap much like the one in the NBA, where players are slotted based on where they are picked. That leaves more money for veterans rather than kids who have never played a pro game. It also eliminates rookie holdouts.

Somehow, the Browns have to find someone who can put a motor on the offense. In the past four years, they've barely averaged 17 points per game. In 2005-06, it was fewer than 15 points.

TALKIN' MORE BROWNS ...

• The Browns were thrilled with the early look at Jamal Lewis, who has taken part in more drills than anticipated. He had surgery to remove bone spurs from an ankle, and he feels better than at any time last season, he has said.

• Lewis is only 27. He has a lot of miles on his legs and has been knocked around, but he rushed for 1,122 yards last season with that painful bone spur. He has lost about 10 pounds to 248, and might drop a few more before training camp to help his speed. As Savage said, ``I've got a very good feeling about Jamal. He is hungry and has something to prove. He wants people to see that he has a lot left, and he's very happy here.''

• Savage also is upbeat about Jerome Harrison, who had a good preseason in 2006 but played little once games began. He is slated to be a sometimes third-down back. Harrison is listed at 5-9, 199 pounds, but he's up to 210 -- and it's mostly muscle. He gained 1,900 yards at Washington State in 2005, so the Browns do think he's durable.

• Rookie Eric Wright has drawn raves for his work at cornerback. He has been picking up the defense quickly, and he is a gifted athlete. The Browns don't want to say it so early, but he does have the inside track on starting. The key is keeping veteran Leigh Bodden healthy at the other cornerback spot. The Browns think that with Bodden and Wright at the corners, and with safeties Sean Jones and Brodney Pool, their defensive backfield should be solid. They also are pleased with backups Daven Holley and Ken Wright. Fifth-rounder Brandon McDonald from Memphis also has drawn some attention at cornerback.

• D'Qwell Jackson started last year as a rookie, and the linebacker has shown signs he might be even better this season in terms of understanding the defense. The Browns need Jackson and Andra Davis -- both inside linebackers -- to do a better job against the run.

Link

IT'S JUNE........It means more Mid August


Garold Warren ( Big Dummy) always looked good in June...

He starts out with this headline

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Judging by drills, quarterback has legitimate chance to become starter

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Then he gives this reasoning

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but it's written in pencil, and keep in mind that Anderson is being judged on drills where they wear shorts and helmets and the quarterback is not being sacked. He has the strongest arm of the three candidates, and it will look the best in this type of minicamp setting.

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Basically, what he is saying is that there is very LITTLE chance that Anderson will start... Geez

Man you can tell it's down time in Football when they have to jack readers around like that just to get something to write about...

Its a true toss up... I know for sure that Quinn has no chance of starting the Pitt game, and if he doesnt start that game... He's not starting any of the other 15 games b/c the Browns are gonna do what the Bears did, and that is stick with one QB no matter what...

Whether its Frye, or Anderson... I think they can do enough to win us some games... Anderson did make a good run when he started, and the Tampa game did kill his stats, but he plays pretty well for a guy that was on someones practice squad... I like him, but I like Frye a little more.. not sure why, if its the hometown thing? or his name? lol... but it has to be about the QB's skill set, and if Anderson shows that he is the better QB, and that he is capable of doing more than just manage the offense... START HIM!!

but on madden.. Frye is my starter.. lol.. I hate using slow QB's..

j/c

Can't blame Pluto or the other writers for this kind of stuff. It's their jobs to report on things. It's just that time of year that there isn't much going on, so they have to drum up whatever they can.

I pretty much just ignore it all. Unless it's big news about contract signings, etc., it just doesn't mean much to me at this point.

Although I was impressed with Anderson in his time last year, actually making him the starter has me nervous.

I can't quite put my finger on why. I like his pocket presence, his arm, and the way he seemed to go through his progessions last year.

But having to come in as the backup when nothing is expected of you vs holding a team's fortunes in your hands...man, I'm starting to get nervous thinking about it.

Hearing him talk makes me feel like he is just happy to be in the NFL...he has backup QB written all over him.

Whereras, I'm not all that impressed with Frye's skills, but he actually wants to carry the Browns. Two completely different mindsets...

Honestly, I think I'll be more concerned about the first few games if Anderson wins the starting job than if Charlie does.

All this is why the NFL needs a rookie salary cap much like the one in the NBA, where players are slotted based on where they are picked. That leaves more money for veterans rather than kids who have never played a pro game. It also eliminates rookie holdouts.

I have said this time and time again..do that and U eliminate holdouts..but I know all the counterpoints about it too so no one needs to point it out.

The Browns need Jackson and Andra Davis -- both inside linebackers -- to do a better job against the run.

I doubt if Davis ever gets better..he has terrible instincts and is often out of position...Jackson has the instincts but not the body...the size may hinder him.

Davis is a pretty good interior run stuffer, he just doesn't pursue well. Backs can cut back against the grain on him, and he doesn't have the footwork to recover.

No it isn't his footwork , it's his head..he takes poor angles to get to a back and he ALLOWS himself to be blocked down and ridden away from the play.

.. " I doubt if Davis ever gets better..he has terrible instincts and is often out of position...Jackson has the instincts but not the body...the size may hinder him. "

.... BINGO !

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I doubt if Davis ever gets better..he has terrible instincts and is often out of position...

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Nothing personal Attack, but man do opinions differ on Davis. It's amazing when you think about it. We all see the exact same games and one person will say that Davis sucks and another will say that he's all pro material. Cracks me up.

What is for sure is that the powers that be within the Browns must feel he's pretty good. They haven't cut, traded or put someone ahead of him in the lineup.

So what's it say when all these guys that are supposed to know football better than any fan disagree with those that say he sucks?

As for me, I remember games when the kid was on fire and played lights out. I also remember games when I thought to myself, what the heck is he doing.

As for one opinion on him, I'll leave that to those that work with him everyday to determine his worth. Thus far, they haven't shown anything that says he isn't thier guy!

Just an observation....

My opinon on Davis has never changed..how often does he fill a hole?

I watch those shots that show him when a back comes through, Davis will shift either to the right or the left depending on where he THINKS the back is going.. the guard then hits him on the exposed side and rides him away..
He'll let the back jig him one way and he falls for it..
He rarely comes right up and hits a guy immediately or FORCES the back to go into another tackler.

No worries at all. I think that's the beauty of football...opinions vary greatly on him.

I see Davis as a bit of an oddball at ILB. He's a complete throwback, and reminds me a lot of Carson when he was on the Giants. Davis does well, to me, in short zone coverage, at the interior run, and blitzing. He's not a modern ILB that runs sideline to sideline, but given the defense the Browns run, I don't see it being as big a problem.

Personally I think he's cornerstone. He's not flashy, but I like his presence. When I started checking out various Browns boards and sites, I was kinda stunned at how much backlash there is for him out there. Oh well!

I think Davis is a pretty smart LB... and for him to get the tackles he gets.. he must go str8 ahead for the tackle sometimes..

Just clicking, But see what I mean.. Look at what Attack said,, now if he's right, then what the heck is RAC and the rest of his coaching staff doing keeping a bum like that on the team,,,,,, See my point! He's still there, he's still on the team.

What's that say about Attacks opinion? Again, no offense intended Attack, but based on how the team seems to think of him, that would make you wrong!

Again, I'm not saying that Attack... but if you want to look at what the EXPERTS (you know, the ones that actually get paid to make these determinations) say, then yeah, they are saying you are, at the very least, not looking that entire picture... Thus coming to the wrong conclusion. (that's what they would say if they wanted to be nice )

However, my guess is they would just say your wrong and leave it at that

Ask yourself why isn't he a dominate MLB?

I trust my eyes in what I see.
If I see a guy making a lot tackles 4- 10 yards downfield , one game he has 15 tackles the next game he disappears then I look at the inconsistancies.
And Davis has a lot..and he doesn't have good instincts against the run..

He actually is better defender in pass protection.
Whyis he starting?
He is starting because we don't have anyone better ..
He is sufficient for what they can live with..he's not a major problem.
The so -called experts can say what they want , as of yet only the Browns coaches promote him..
This argument ensues every year ..some just chime in because they can't see it for themselves..

BigC U see him having slow lateral movement..it's not the liability his instincts are...the way he reacts to a play tells me lot..he gets caught up overreacting to the backs coming in the hole..it's where he goes which tells me he can't read it correctly..
I have and will stick to my view about him.

Tackles are such an overrated stat. The Broncos have been beefing up their numbers for years. So Davis getting 160 tackles really doesn't do much for me, but still I like his game.

Browns fans should remember the silly tackle numbers Wali Rainer used to get!

Not to pile on here...but...my nickname for A Davis is....Wali Rainier(sp?)

Attack, don't take what I'm saying personal man,, my observation is that the opinions vary on Davis,, no question. you have yours, others have thiers.. I won't argue with you on what you see. It's your opinion and fine with me.

But my point is this, only one mans opinion really matters,, RAC. And, at least for right now, Davis is still on the team...

I know you are NOT gonna sit there and say that you know more than RAC are you?

I'm not looking at total number of tackles but most importantly where he gets them.
Other posters like to throw stat totals around and expect that to change how a good a player is or really isn't.
U mentioned Rainer but I don't see Davis being a huge upgrade over him.
He's a step up but I have seen better , more consistant backers than Davis.

Davis is in another stratosphere than Rainer. Rainer was a physical guy, good tackler, but he never tallied up many tackles for loss, and most tackles were downfield.

Davis on the other hand provides some impact, and teams have to scheme around him.

I'll have to say I'm surprised at the backlash against Andra here...for as sexy a guy as Leon Williams sounds like, he would not provide the same impact as Andra.

I hate this time of year....back to baseball it is

Dra has NO INSTINCTS ... he runs behind the pile WAY TO OFTEN ...

hes not a good tackler ...

he doesn't play football GOING DOWNHILL .. he seems to always be going UPHILL ..

he can't shed blocks worth a damm ...

he hardly ever FILLS HOLES ...

I dont see him making a POSITIVE IMPACT very often ...

with that said .. last eyar was the best hes looked .. not that thsts very good ... but i saw him VERY OCCASIONALY fill a hole and shed a block ... NOT OFTEN .. but more than he ever did before ..

and he is a SMART PLAYER and that will help him in this scheme .. RAC likes SMART PLAYERS for the inside in his 3-4 .. look at Brushi and Johnson (I believe thats his name .. VERY SMART PLAYERS) ..

now . i LOVE TALKING FOOTBALL ... i have all but 1 or 2 of the games on Tivo ... so pick a game and we can dissect his play as best we can play by play ... u game?

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I hate this time of year....back to baseball it is

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LOL....agree....June was always Big Moneys best month of football, after that his game went down hill...

Dooooo it BiiiiiiiGGG

hehe

I love hoooooooeeeeessss

LOL

*L* ... i am not into pi$$in matches either .. WASTE OF TIME .. why u thnnk i dont talk to guys like soup or many others ...

if u don't wanna do it ... no probs ..

i only want to do it to talk football and discuss plays ... one of us may change our minds ... if u could show me where i was wrong in a game or two ... i'd be THRILLED to admit and learn that ..

I want him to be better than i think he is .. just dont see it ..

i hope williams can displace him ... NO CLUE if he can .. but i would LOVE for it to happen ..

Little curious here ..just what are these opinions about Davis around the league?

It is a myth that Davis makes most of his tackles 4-10 yards downfield. Last year I went back through all of our games and counted each tackle, and for how many yards of a gain. I wished I would have saved the info. I know for a fact his average tackle was less than four yards downfield.

I am not saying whether he is good or bad, just that it is wrong to suggest his tackles are all downfield. I think the bigger problem is how often he may be out of position.

I know who you are, and know you bring a different perspective to this board that we don't often get.

No . do it now or forget it .. *L* ..

no need to let me know his good games .. wanted to dissect one with u .. for me thats fun ... not know whitch ones u thought were good ..

didn,t know u had your own board .... good for U .. sounds like fun ... good luck with it ..

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Pdawg It is a myth that Davis makes most of his tackles 4-10 yards downfield
Where do they occur?
And I'm not asking cuze I don't have a clue..but where U see them happening..and if he's out of postition as U say(and I've already ranted about) then where are his tackles coming from?
He couldn't be out of position and stuffing the run at the same time..

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I thought they were happening downfield as well. I researched it to prove someone wrong with facts. Turns out I was wrong. I can'r remember where his average tackle was made.

When he is out of position it usually isn't him making the tackle. Things like that do not show up in stats. That's why stats alone are for losers.

Had to be Soup..we've argued about Davis constantly..
Soup tried to show his tackles come at or two yards off the LOS..
Considering how well teams ran on us those stats didn't sound accurate to me.

Yes, it was Soup. I believe it was just over three yards but that is coming from a faulty memory. I don't think it's just about tackles. It is very costly when he is out of position and mt opinion is that he is far too often. I don't have game film to look at and check like others do.

Just a thought here,,,, But

Wouldn't the coach bench Davis if:

1. If he played out of position all the time or even most of the time

2. Missed tackles

3. Had most of his tackles too far down field

4. Wasn't a force in the middle

5. In short,, didn't do his job

I mean,, all you guys are sitting here, writing about all the bad things that Davis does.. all the things that if RAC saw them that way, would most likly mean that Davis would be off the team or at the very least relegated to second string duty.... no?

I'm not going to sit here and tell anyone they are wrong,, cause, frankly I don't know for sure.. didn't pay that much attention often enough.

But really, how is it that a coach in the NFL for the last 30 or so years, a man that clearly has the ability to break down film and who has all the access in the world to all the film on Davis, who clearly knows what he expects from an ILB because he's coached some of the best over the years.. a man that knows where an ILB is supposed to be and sees everything clearly on film week in and week out...

How in the hell can a guy with all that experience not see what you guys see?

One of two things are true,, either RAC is a total loser who isn't any good and has no clue,,,,, or you guys don't know what your talking about.. I don't see a third choice, but I suppose there could be one..

I'd love to hear it!

...and just to throw on top, guys don't fall too in love with Leon Williams just yet. He showed a lot of problems at Miami with the ability to pick up defenses.