Colt McCoy says “Thanks Coach Crennel for the career opportunity”… Anderson/Quinn back for round two?
Well, Browns fans can relax, but just a little bit. No, Colt McCoy has not really thanked former Cleveland Browns head coach Romeo Crennel for a career with the Browns. And neither Anderson nor Quinn is back in Cleveland. But McCoy should thank former Browns head coach Romeo Crennel, for he never would have been looked at by Cleveland in the 3rd round last year had the former head coached actually led his team instead of caving to public or internal pressures in 2008. And there IS much more in common between the 2008 and 2011 offseasons than many fans are probably aware of or care to remember. So sit back, strap in, drop some nitrogen under the tongue if necessary, and listen why the Browns are at a critical junction in McCoy’s tenure with the organization.
Derek Anderson came off the bench in the first game of the 2007 season to replace the vanquished local hero Charlie Frye, who was expected to revitalize the Browns offense following a university hall of fame type career at Akron. Unfortunately, it never happened, but all Anderson did after being called upon was flat out-perform all expectations, throwing for nearly 3,800 yards, 29 TDs and a QB rating of 82.5, en route to a Pro-Bowl selection. Granted, he also had a meager completion rate (56.5%) and threw 19 INTs, which is less than stellar, but for a young quarterback who had little assistance from the running game (527 pass attempts in 2007) and a notoriously porous offensive line, the numbers were pretty good.
McCoy, likewise, came off the bench to start this past season for the Browns in the sixth week, albeit due to injuries to starter Jake Delhomme and back-up Seneca Wallace. He missed three games due to his own injuries, but returned in week 15 to take over the starting duties for good for the remainder of the season. Although his numbers were statistically less impressive in his first season starting, mainly due to fewer number of games played (8 vs 16), even worse pass protection (27 sacks vs 14 for Anderson in 2007), and a much improved running game that shared some of the offensive load, McCoy’s production was comparable and showed glints of hope. In fact, McCoy was actually more efficient in running the offense when comparing QB ratings, if you look at that score with any relevance. Another comparison we should draw more attention to and keep an eye on this offseason is the fact that McCoy’s production, like Anderson in 2007, fell off drastically at the end of the season and he looked lost at times. This likely was the result of opponents having shut-down the Browns running game by the end of the season. Regardless, both played awful to close out their seasons, although Anderson’s performance arguably may have cost a play-off appearance in 2007.
But the real similarity involves the situation the Browns organization now faces, and how it could impact the QB position. They have a popular young back-up poised to possibly start and certainly is the fan favorite. On the opposite side, sits the starter who, for all intent and purpose, shouldn’t be a back-up when considering his contract.
Following the break-out Pro-Bowl season Anderson put together in 2007, the Browns had a similar situation at QB. Anderson surprised everyone with his performance over the course of the season, but was a free agent and was sure to draw plenty of interest throughout the league. Was he a one-hit wonder, or did Cleveland find their Tom Brady? Brady Quinn was the young gunslinger Cleveland had traded away future 1st round draft picks for to acquire in the 2007 draft and only had spot duty in his rookie campaign. He was the fan favorite, in part due to being from Ohio, but also in part to fans blaming Anderson for costing the organization a playoff spot with his poor performance to end the previous season. What to do, what to do… do you let Anderson sign with someone else knowing he can perform as a starter in the NFL, or do you risk it all on an unproven sophomore baller whose popular with the fan base and which would justify the draft choices given up to acquire him? The Browns sided with Anderson and signed him to a lucrative contract. Or so it seemed.
Derek Anderson had played the first 14 weeks of the 2007 season with a fearlessness and confidence of a person who had nothing to lose because, lets face it, he had nothing to lose. It wasn’t his starting job that was lost in week one. He was the back-up. Nobody had any real expectation for him to succeed. That is, until it became a very real possibility the Browns could make the playoffs. Nobody placing bets after week one would have made that gamble. But there they were, late in 2007 and in position to make the playoffs. Then we saw it… he played scared, tentative, and indecisive. He knew he was a part of something that could be really special and important for the organization and fans, and the pressure got to him. He won’t ever admit it, well, maybe one day, but no matter. It was obvious to anyone who watched and could separate emotion from appreciation for the game. But we’re also talking about a player who was not a veteran quarterback. He was a first year starter and 2nd year player in the league. Given proper assurances, a full offseason of intense coaching and instruction, and the confidence-building support of the coaching staff in the offseason, there would have been no reason to expect a completely different outcome had the Browns returned in 2008 to challenge for the playoffs once again.
But the 2008 offseason was a complete debacle. To say Anderson or Quinn won or lost the starting job during the 2008 season is completely unfair to either. Neither won or lost the starting job. Then Head Coach Romeo Crennel knew Brady Quinn was the fan favorite, an Ohio native son, and the projected face of the franchise. He also knew, and one can bet was reminded often, the front office had spent two first round draft picks to get him in 2007. And as a result, Crennel illustrated all-to-well the difference between a good coordinator and a good head coach… a lack of central leadership and strength. He instead failed to name a starting QB from day one of the first off-season workout, and it continued throughout the training camps and preseason until the first regular season contest in 2008. He created a QB controversy when there never should have been a controversy. It was widely publicized that even Anderson and Quinn didn’t know before the 2008 preseason games who would be named the starter. And the regular season starter wasn’t named until the day of the first game.
Now, one could argue that Anderson should have been named starter from the outset without any hesitation. Why else do you resign a quarterback to $7M per year? What else do you do with a returning pro-bowler who’s healthy? What could have been better than to give Quinn a couple more years of seasoning and maturity to develop and learn the game at the NFL level… to become the franchise quarterback of the future the Browns had hoped they were getting? After all, it worked wonders for Aaron Rodgers of Green Bay. And if not Anderson, then why re-sign him? Or perhaps, franchise him (no salary cap penalties) and then trade him for draft picks or needed bodies elsewhere. Heaven knows the Browns needed assistance on the offensive and defensive lines, to say the least. But that didn’t happen. Crennel and staff completely dismantled Anderson’s confidence, and when he crumbled they threw Quinn to the Wolves.
It didn’t help that both were also victims to one of the worst offensive lines in 2008 (and especially 2009). Anderson’s lack of confidence showed, and Quinn never should have been on the field to begin with in 2008. He should have been holding onto a clipboard on Sundays and honing his skills and knowledge of the game. It was unfair of fans to expect as much from Quinn, and it was most definitely unfair of Crennel to oblige them.
Well, here we are in 2011. We have a young sophomore quarterback who is the current flavor of the month in Browns territory, and may possibly be the starter come next season. McCoy showed promise, and if he has time to learn a new offense who knows what could happen. I personally think McCoy has more confidence than Anderson and Quinn ever had, and has the potential for an even brighter future. But there is also the returning starting quarterback, Jake Delhomme, a former Super Bowl and Pro-Bowl veteran in his own right. He showed signs of excellent play at times, but continues with poor decisions leading to too many turnovers and stalled drives. Honestly, at his cost he shouldn’t be a back-up either, and it is unlikely he would restructure at this point in his career or accept a demotion.
Delhomme does have some chips to play, as current Brown’s head coach Pat Shurmur is likely not too keen on starting a young QB with one year’s experience and learning a new offense in what could be a shortened work-up period before the season. Now, I’ve heard plenty of arguments that he had no issues with Bradford starting in St. Louis as a rookie, but in St. Louis he was a good coordinator. Not the head coach. Perhaps he should look to 2008 as a model for “what not to do” this offseason.
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