DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum PD: Anderson in mix for more playing time

I thought Anderson was Baltimore's 2005 sixth round pick, who was waived for the purpose of being put on Baltimore's practice squad. We picked him up before he could clear waivers....

I agree that on a lot of teams, Charlie and Derek would both be backups and probably not given the chance to develop. A lot of backup QBs never get that chance, because they are behind someone who is already experienced and polished. I wonder if Brady or Rothlisberger would ever have played or been successful, if their respective starters hadn't been injured and the teams forced to play them.

Just because a lot of teams may not play a third round or lower draft pick, doesn't mean that the QB in question is not capable of being a winning QB for the team..... Most times, a backup only needs a little work or coaching that the "starter" doesn't need. So the starter plays....

Charlie and Derek are in the best position either one of them could hope to be in. Both are QBs who needed extra time and coaching to be successful in the NFL. Neither could have expected to have played behind Farve, Brady, Palmer, Manning or Hasselbeck.

If we choose Charlie over Derek or vice versa, I'm sure that the # 2 QB will find himself in demand with other teams.... simply because our # 2 got a chance and exposure in Cleveland, that they would not have gotten elsewhere....

But if you counter that with the number of runs for positive yardage he gets, along with the completions he makes while scrambling, the sacks aren't nearly as bad. He often makes up for those sacks by getting first downs at other times.

It just doesnt balance out. Taking sacks are a killer and Charlie runs into a lot of sacks. It was something that i saw a lot of in preseason when everyone was up in arms over the OL. There would be a lot of room to step up inside the pocket and he would run right into the defender. there has been some improvement but not close to where it should be.

As for Charlie would have done better against Pitt? umm 2 games 12 or 13 sacks and hasnt thrown for a single TD.

Anderson may not be the guy but he is closer to being the guy than Charlie.

So far Anderson has shown a better pocket presence than any QB we have had since Kosar.

The strong arm. I know its one pass but the 2nd TD to Heiden was simply special.

Accuracy. 21 of 37 with 9 drops. guys thats damn good accuracy for any QB.

Leadership. No running game. No defense. Receivers dropping everything. He did not rattle. The one pick he wasnt rattled just made a bad decision and one of very few bad decisions.

Going through progressions. The pass to JJ was special. When you see a qb go from 1-4 and back to one, it shows something. It is a very short lists of QBs that allows that play to happen.

I am not completely sold on this kid by any stretch but I cant help but like what I see. If he isnt the guy we are back to square one looking for a starting QB.

Well....i probably could have done a little homework on that but it didnt change what i was trying to say.

All I am saying is that are "best" situation is what every other team is trying to avoid at all costs. I think DA may have more upside but the fact that we are left to figure out this question leads me to believe we should be asking a different on altogther.

Our QB situation is worse than before the season started. I cant stomach that one.

i've gotta feeling that if he starts this game, he and all of the WR's will be playing ALOT of catch this week. they will be more accustomed to his fast ball for this game and could very well pull this out. <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

... " they will be more accustomed to his fast ball for this game and could very well pull this out. "

..............................................................................................................

... Yea , I read that crap talk that came out of Leon too .. All I could was shake my head .. <img src="/images/graemlins/plthumbsdown.gif" alt="" />

That's on my Christmas wish list this year! <img src="/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

i don't think it was crap talk like alot of people wanna believe. was it the entire problem? no but it WAS extremely cold and nobody was really used to catching his passes.
i used to have a hard time catching certain pitchers in school. i don't see why this would be any different at any level.

Can't but that one <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> .. I do understand what you are talking about behind the plate though ( me too ) .. JJ seemed to do just fine ! .. Edwards needes to sut up and step up in the off season .. Ton of talent going to go down the drain ( with the Browns ) if he doesn't get some help in the off season ( head & hands working together ) <img src="/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

Mourg, I agree with most of your takes on here, but I think it is too early to make these statements. He's only played a game and a half. I know you used the term 'So far', but I think that's a bit of a stretch. But I do hope he gets the rest of the snaps this season so we can really see what this kid has got.

However, I do agree with this statement, and I am very concerned about the qb position if neither Anderson or Frye are the guy.

First things first , first things first , FIRST THINGS FIRST ...Da Line , Da Line <img src="/images/graemlins/rofl.gif" alt="" />

I am not disagreeing that the line needs to be upgraded, and I really hope we do that in this years draft. But I guess I'm in a somewhat of a small camp around here that thinks the line is only part of the problem and doesn't tell the whole picture. I believe better qb play would make the line look better. Just my $.02.

But as it pertains to Anderson vs. Frye, I guess we can assume that all things being equal one of them will give us a better opportunity to win behind this OL than the other. And from there, couldn't we reasonably assume that if the line were upgraded, then that same person would perform even better?

Can you ask Santa to replace the Elfs playing on our front lines <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I checked and there appears to be some "Clause", that prevents replacements since it is a union shop with something about pointed ears being required and such. The upside though, there's always great chocolate chip cookies for everyone in the locker room! <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Well then lets at least draft Rudolph as a lead blocker so he can blind the Defense and we can get some kind of running game <img src="/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

Isn't our defense already blind ........ ? <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

NAAAAAA Lame maybe, but not blind <img src="/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" />

So they aren't hoafing it out on their plays? <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

I think the kid that was at the game a few weeks ago would be an improvement <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Mourg, too man fans are so flip floppy on our QB situation, because we don't have a Brett Favre or Peyton Manning type of talent and I just have to say that DA has had two decent games but with MUCH less pressure than Frye has had, now when we play Baltimore and if DA does start we will see what he looks like under similar pressure; my thought is that he will look as average as Frye.

[color:"white"] JJ seemed to do just fine ! .. [/color]

who knows why.... he could be more used to a harder thrown ball than the rest of them. does hasslebeck have a fastball? i really don't know if he does or not.

[color:"white"] if he doesn't get some help in the off season ( head & hands working together ) [/color]

well we dumped KJ, quincy, and (the guy that went to the 49r's). we can dump him as well. i can't see this regime keeping anybody that can't produce. that is if this regime is still here. <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Amen to that Toad. We should be learning from our mistakes. The Couch/holcomb thing set this team back. Now we are going to do it all over again with Frye/DA. We wonder why this team never progresses.

Oh please!

I guess that the team should have given the safety job to Pool in the pre-season ..... because being beaten out by Jones might have damaged his psyche? Or are QBs somehow more delicate creatures, without the emotional strength of a 2nd year safety? <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

These guys are professional football players. Emphasis on professional. If someone else can and does do your job better than you do ...... you're not going to start. A coach or management staff that doesn't put the best players on the field because they're afraid they might hurt someone else's feelings isn't going to be around for long.

It's kind of like real life. Produce .... or lose your job.

I agree much of the motivation in not bringing in more competition for Charlie was motivated by wanting to give him the feeling that he is the man. And to a degree, I agree with that.

Here is the difference and the problem.

First, Charlies competition came from the squad....Anderson was 3rd string to start the season. Somewhere along the way he was elevated above Dorsey who was #2 going into the season. That fact indicates Anderson has improved each week.

The second factor is Charlie has hit his plateau. He is IMO at the point his talent can take him no further and only his gamesmanship will elevate him further.

Anderson on the other hand continued to develop as his skill set is superior to Charlie's.

Charlie gets hurt, Anderson gets a shot and opens some eyes. That starts to make people think that since it is clear Anderson has better tools, how much better can he become if given the chance to develop his gamesmanship??

Had Charlie progressed more, this wouldn't be an issue. But he hasn't, and IMO Charlie is about as good as he is going to get. One of the things that helped Charlie early on was the fact he was a early bloomer. He was a college bloomer...a kid who got it and made it work....but his flower is about as pretty as it is going to get.

I disagree with everything you posted.

How in the world can you think Frye is already as good as he'll ever get?

Again I disagree with everything you posted.

You disagree with my comment that Anderson went from 3rd string to 2nd string??

Dallas Cowboys Romo...has made the team look better.....
From the OL..Recv`rs...to the running game...
this might work for DA.....given a few games...

Just a couple random thoughts here:

As you all know (or most of you) I am a big Charlie backer....watched the kid through college and have enjoyed seeing him try to get his feet in the NFL. BUT, If DA can learn TOUCH then let DA start. He does have good speed on his throws but it can be a mind number in cold weather trying to catch fastballs. (feels like a brick in your hands when catching it) Anderson has progressed admirably since training camp. That has to be a benefit for him and letting him get the chance to prove one way or another if he might be "the guy" isn't a bad thing. Let Charlie's wrist heal up properly and let DA have his 5 minutes of fame. Baldymore will be a good testing ground for DA as someone else pointed out. Now if our OL keeps looking better as they have the last 2 games maybe we won't be in as bad of shape in the offseason as we thought we would be. We do have to remember that our OL has been hit kinda hard with injuries and illness. Losing Bentley before the season started did not help us one bit, but on the brighter side of that we did get a very good C out of the whole mess.(Hank Fraley)

Charlie does have some things that he really needs to learn not to do, i.e. turning and going right into a defender when the play more or less gets blown up. Throwing into triple coverage when there might be a better option, i.e. throw it away or tuck and run.

So before we hang both these kids out to dry, let the coaches see what they have for the rest of the season and let them make the decisions. As fans of the game, I know that we are some of the most fickle and hard to please group of folks anywhere around. Cleveland fans have been and always will be the most dedicated and hard to please group of fans around. (jmo)

Atomic I completely agree.

I am biased against any running quarterback. Frankly, I wouldnt want Michael Vick or Steve Young so that doesnt help Charlie lol. those types of QBs can work, i just dont think they are worth the effort. I still just want to see the game slow down for the kid because he puts in the effort to succede. Its just so hectic when he is in the game. Even when good things are happening, i feel like i am developing an ulcer and if i had hair I would be pulling it out lol.

I like a pocket passer. I think Anderson can be a good one. Its funny but as hard as he was throwing in the Steelers game wasnt as hard as he often unloads. That was DA's version of touch lol

[color:"red"]now when we play Baltimore and if DA does start we will see what he looks like under similar pressure; my thought is that he will look as average as Frye. [/color]
And thats whats rac wants to see..how he looks...if he plays accordingly..welll...if he melts down..no big loss..

LMAO, I didn't get to watch the first 3 qtrs of the game. What I kept hearing from the announcers was how hard and fast he was throwing and how in the 6 degree weather they were like bricks. Did see the 4th qtr and had to kinda agree that he was throwing hard. I know what you mean Mour about that wasn't as hard as he can throw. Kid will learn to use a bit of touch. Once we have receivers other than JJ that can handle a hard throwing QB and catch the damn balls it would be interesting to see how well he can do. Like I said, I'm not ready just yet to give up on Charlie.....he still has a bit of learning to do. But until then let DA give it his best shot. Next Sunday will be the tell tale with DA, if he can do something good against Baldymore, then give him the rest of the season and rest Charlie and let him get 100% healthy. jmo

Recievers in Green Bay have had no trouble catching bricks in cold weather over all the Brett Farve years <img src="/images/graemlins/saywhat.gif" alt="" />

LMAO, maybe that's because I heard a rumor that Brett Favre actually uses bricks in practice. <img src="/images/graemlins/saywhat.gif" alt="" />

I think he bounced a few off Verba's head while he was there. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I was about to say the same thing GM. The Packer WR seem to catch everything Favre throws at them.

LMAO GM, is that Verb's problem? Might explain why he's the #3 in the NFL at his position. <img src="/images/graemlins/rofl.gif" alt="" />

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I don't care who the QB of the Browns is,, as long as he gives us the best chance to win games....

If Anderson turns out to be the next great QB,, I'm good with that.

Ditto

Roethlisberger was the 11th pick in the draft. Of course he would've played.

Yea, Ben is a no-brainer there, the team was planning on Maddox's quick exit... I think they were hoping Ben could ride out the year, but that was going to be it...

As for Brady, great players find a way to get on the field, it may not have been for NE, but he would have played somewhere.