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The biggest surprise in the first half of this season has been the play of Cleveland Browns quarterback Derek Anderson. All you really need to know about Anderson is that his own coaches weren't even sold on his ability to lead this team at the start of the year. He lost a preseason quarterback competition to Charlie Frye, who was traded to Seattle after the season opener.

Anderson took over the starting job and has led the usually lousy Browns to a 3-3 record, despite dealing with the looming presence of first-round pick Brady Quinn. Anderson has been so good, Browns general manager Phil Savage said, "If you had to pick one guy who has saved our season, Derek would that person."

His numbers haven't been jaw-dropping -- he currently ranks 12th in the NFL with a passer rating of 88.9 -- but he's done what the Browns have asked of him. "The more I've played, the more comfortable I've gotten with my role on this team," Anderson said. "All I'm trying to do is be a positive presence when I'm out there. I always want the guys to know we can make things happen regardless of the circumstances."

While Anderson still can be inconsistent, he has proven to be a dangerous playmaker. His chemistry with tight end Kellen Winslow and wideout Braylon Edwards has both receivers on pace for career years. He essentially has ignited Cleveland's passing game, while playing in a new offense installed by first-year coordinator Rob Chudzinski.


Jeff Gross/Getty Images

Derek Anderson had one of his best games against Cincinnati.
Thanks in large part to Anderson, the Browns are averaging 27.8 points a game. Chudzinski's system is based on taking shots downfield and creating mismatches, and Anderson has enjoyed some monster days.
His five touchdown passes in a 51-45 win over Cincinnati on Sept. 16 tied a franchise record and he arguably played better in a 41-31 win over Miami on Oct. 14. He completed 18 of 25 passes for 245 yards and three touchdowns against the Dolphins. More importantly, he did not make one glaring mistake.

At 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds, Anderson has all the physical attributes, but his decision-making hadn't been sound in the past. "He has the accuracy and the arm strength that can help him get real hot when he's on," said Baltimore Ravens vice president Ozzie Newsome. "But because of those same attributes, he'll also take some chances with the ball and try to fit it into places that he shouldn't."

This reputation as wreckless is partly what caused Anderson to slip in the draft when he left Oregon State. Baltimore actually wanted to put him on its practice squad after making him a sixth-round pick in the 2005 draft, but Savage claimed him off waivers when the Ravens cut Anderson before his rookie season ever started.

While Anderson showed flashes of potential during three starts last season, he wasn't consistent enough to prevent the Browns from drafting Quinn to be the quarterback of the future.

Anderson admitted he didn't think the Browns would give him a great shot to win the quarterback job with Frye and Quinn in the mix -- "I wasn't always convinced of that," he said -- but he managed to stay resolute. In fact, that unflappable nature is exactly what has allowed Anderson to succeed when his opportunity arrived. "The big thing with Derek is that there isn't a question about who the starter is anymore," Edwards said.

"In the summer, the story was always about whether Charlie, Derek or Brady would be the guy. There was a lot of uncertainty and I think that affected Derek. It probably made him question how much the team believed in him."

Belief is no longer an issue for Anderson. Savage has been so pleased with his quarterback he's been unwilling to talk about when Quinn eventually will play. Savage also recently ran into Anderson in the Browns' weight room and praised his effort. "The thing that Derek has done very well is stay poised," Savage said. "He hasn't allowed one bad play to turn into a series of bad plays. Right now he's just having fun out there and he's going to deal with the seriousness of all this later."

That's obviously another way of saying Anderson will have to lose his job one day. For now, however, that is not an issue. The Browns are playing the best football they have played during head coach Romeo Crennel's tenure, and they're actually entertaining on offense.

That phenomenon has plenty to do with the unassuming guy under center.

LinK

It's great that Anderson is getting some positive remarks from the national media, he deserves it he's played beyond most fans expectations. This also helps get the word out to other teams maybe helping him land a job as a starter somewhere once Quinn takes the over, and also his stock has raised quite a bit and will only continue to rise if he keeps playing at the same level as the first 6 games. Maybe we could get back in the 1st round. Not to sure of what his contract status is though after this season. But it would be sweet if Phil could work out some kind of a deal getting a 1st round pick and maybe a 2nd day pick to go along with that. Or resign him and keep letting him and Quinn battle it out in camp, either way this works out Derek has made a statement that he's deserving of the starting role as an NFL QB. Good for him.

We've gotta resign this guy and let him and Quinn battle it out in camp next summer. I think he's going to be a RFA next year though we would get compensation for him if he goes elsewhere. I think we'll sign him to 1 year tender and see what happens in camp.

Finally some media showing some respect for DA. Hopefully he can finally put together 2 good games in a row and get us over .500 for the first time this late in the season in a long time. Right now you gotta be rooting for Anderson the ultimate underdog and I for one like his gunslinger mentality.

I understand Quinn is a 1st rounder and we gave up picks for him, but for the life of me I can't understand how people are convinced he is going to be better than DA is right now.
I was one who didn't want DA, and now I see I was wrong. Anderson was affored something Frye and Couch never were. He got to sit and learn, just like we want Quinn to. Yet some still think Quinn would be an upgrade now. Maybe the two years on the bench given to Anderson is what is helping him achieve now.
This thread is titled "band jumping". I'm guessing they mean on the "bandwagon", if so count me as one. Anderson seems to be improving game by game. If he continues, I'm hoping they sign him for a few more years.Let him and Quinn battle for the starting position next year, but keep both.Quinn's time on the sidelines this year and even if some or all of next year are a good thing, and people need to realize this.
If Quinn really turns out to be a good QB, imagine what that means for this team. Two starting quality QBs on the roster and no drop off when one replaces the other. The talent at the position has been so bad in the recent past, it would be awesome and show the development the team is under.

One thing I've been thinking about too is, Quinn's contract. If he starts right away, I think he makes more money. If he's the back up all year and maybe next year, I believe the team could save some cash.

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"He has the accuracy and the arm strength that can help him get real hot when he's on," said Baltimore Ravens vice president Ozzie Newsome. "But because of those same attributes, he'll also take some chances with the ball and try to fit it into places that he shouldn't."

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Sounds to me that it's something you teach a QB.... When to take chances and when not to take chances...

Question, is there such a thing as making a guy TOO aware of taking care of the ball.. What I mean by that is, is it right to try to eliminate the whole gunslinger mentality.. To make a guy so afraid of screwing up that he goes completely the other way with it?

I only ask because that's one of the things that makes Brett Favre so dangerous..

Did you ever see the Doug Floutie heisman winning pass video. Most people have. Thrown right into double coverage.

( granted it was last play of the game)

you will never see video replayed of a decision not to throw because it was a challenge to complete the pass.

Ok, so what are you saying? That it's right to remove the gunslinger mentality from a guy?

See, I seem to want to believe that you teach him when the right time for gunslinging is and when it's not the right time.. That to me makes more sense,,, but that's just me.

Well, I wasn't thinking about that, but I suppose that could have been a problem,, who knows,,

Tie a kid up in knots and you just don't know what your going to get...