Derek Anderson? Really?

[Troy SmiTH Xx]

So, I Heard we had Derek Anderson in the pre-season (i'm late on news), is this really true. and if so, why did we get rid of him?

He's leading the browns to the playoffs! :'(

[Drkraven]

Actually he was on in training camp last year and they tried to practice squad him and he never cleared waivers. Cleveland thought so much of him they traded the farm for Brady Quinn.

[noy]

Derek Anderson is good because he fits the system. If he fits a system with a collapsing o-line and terrible play calling, I'd be annoyed he slipped by us, but alas...I'm not.

[smashmouth]

People seem to forget that Anderson was the backup to Chalire Frye at the begining of the season, He ended up playing well.Also he is a pocket passer,Browns seem to be far better at pass protection then our O-line,so hes playing better there then he would have here.

[theFRANCHISE]

Derek Anderson is a product of that system in Cleveland, plain and simple. Hence why he was relegated to the practice squad with the Ravens after being the 3rd-string QB at one point.

He may not be the next Bernie Kosar, but at least he's gotten the job done for the Browns.

However, that's not to say he would've been a guaranteed success in Baltimore, even with all the supporting talent and coaching in the world. Some QB's were made to play in a certain system, others are just great enough to play, period.

Only time will tell if Anderson is a pure QB, through-and-through.

[Raven07]

yes...we drafted Derek a few years/seasons back and we seemingly never got around to see the full potential in which the guy actually had and he was able to go out there whenever that might have been and done his job well.....then when he went to cleveland......he seemed to fit in just perfectly and the time, practice and amount of effort he has shown to everyone is in fact what the fans and Team of cleveland needed to get a big boost in confidence.....he's since flurished since signing with the browns...

[BrownsFan]

Pretty much what everyone above me said.

I don't believe he is the next best thing since sliced bread but he is playing well overall. If you watch a full game with him at the helm you'll see he isn't the greatest in the world and has his horrible moments.. but overall, he is staying consistent and getting the job done and that starts with his incredible OL play. He's been barely touched this season and THAT is the main reason he has had so much success.

[smashmouth82]

i wouldn't say he is a strictly a product of that particular system....any QB with the combination of smarts and above average skill level can and should be able to grasp any system on any team. however, i do agree that the browns offense suits his style of play well. he has a wide reciever in braylon edwards who is finally showing what everyone thought he could do to begin with, kellen winslow who when healthy is a top 5 tight end in the league, and joe jurevicious is no slouch either. and i hate to say it but jamal lewis is playing exactly how they need him to play to keep the defenses guessing. i think he could also have suceeded in b-more with a little more fire power. but we can't go back in time. instead we should try and recognize the bright spots for the future( yes, there are many bright spots! )

[BrownsFan]

I agree in that he is not strictly a product but it has greatly benefitted his play. As I've said before his highs are very very high but his lows are very very low... there isn't really much middle ground with him. We'll see what happens when this year plays itself out IMO.

[krnraven]

Derek Anderson is not a product of his system. Derek Anderson for all you who dont remember was put on practice squad because we didn't want to carry 3 QBs on the active roster to make way for depth at another position. He had a great training camp and the Ravens were impressed. The Browns knew about Anderson and signed him. We missed out and the Browns caught us offguard. Yes Oline in CLeveland is good. But Dereck is no slouch. Just admit it we let one go. It sucks. Go Troy Smith!!

[smashmouth]

He may not be a slouch..But give him our O-line this year and watch him look worse then McNair or Boller, Becuase he is WAY slower then eaither one.

[ReED jucate]

Derek Anderson is not a product of his system. Derek Anderson for all you who dont remember was put on practice squad because we didn't want to carry 3 QBs on the active roster to make way for depth at another position. He had a great training camp and the Ravens were impressed. The Browns knew about Anderson and signed him. We missed out and the Browns caught us offguard. Yes Oline in CLeveland is good. But Dereck is no slouch. Just admit it we let one go. It sucks. Go Troy Smith!!

Read above, you will notice Derek was a unsung hero. He was a backup that got the chance to prove himself and since he is more accurate than Frye in the pocket he got the job. Cleveland never had any intention of keeping him as a starter which is why they traded everything they had to to get Brady Quinn.

[Raven07]

agreed and i would think that there are alot of "un-sung hero's" on not only this team but every team in the NFL right now and will continue to be in the Near and far future....just look at the kind of Player Bart Scott turned out to be once we decided to use him to his fullest ability.....he was mainly a Special Teams player for a few seasons and he really showed everyone the kind of player that we see today, right now......and that earned him the starting job on this team.

[BrownsFan]

He's really good at throwing flags too. =]

[Raven07]

haha you made a funny.... lol

[PIG 20]

I agree in that he is not strictly a product but it has greatly benefitted his play. As I've said before his highs are very very high but his lows are very very low... there isn't really much middle ground with him. We'll see what happens when this year plays itself out IMO.

What do you think Cleveland is going to do next year? Do you actually think they are going to keep all of that cap money sitting on the bench?

They just sold the farm to get Brady Quinn and have paid him a ton of money to get his butt in a Browns uniform.

It will be interesting to see how the business side of the NFL affects the Browns QB position next season.

[Raven07]

we'll just have to see but from a Fans stand point of it....i think the Browns are FINALLY somewhat of where they need to be at....and im guessing that with more time and practice, those players on the bench on be on the bench for too much longer.

[PIG 20]

The Browns still have a long way to go. Everyone thought they were turning things around when Kelly Holcomb took them to the playoffs a few years ago.

Since then they haven't even come close to getting back until this year.

Don't get me wrong, when the Browns get in the playoffs, I will be rooting for them whether they like it or not. The last thing I will do is root for the Steelers.

I just know that next year, there will be more pressue as to who is starting at QB.

[minford]

Yeah I'm torn. I'm enjoying watching the Browns newfound success with our former Ravens players but I've always had an irrational love for the Texans so I also hope they'll get in.

[BrownsFan]

What do you think Cleveland is going to do next year? Do you actually think they are going to keep all of that cap money sitting on the bench?

They just sold the farm to get Brady Quinn and have paid him a ton of money to get his butt in a Browns uniform.

It will be interesting to see how the business side of the NFL affects the Browns QB position next season.

The Browns still have a long way to go. Everyone thought they were turning things around when Kelly Holcomb took them to the playoffs a few years ago.

Since then they haven't even come close to getting back until this year.

Don't get me wrong, when the Browns get in the playoffs, I will be rooting for them whether they like it or not. The last thing I will do is root for the Steelers.

I just know that next year, there will be more pressue as to who is starting at QB.

I'll address both as best as I can.

As far as Quinn goes currently, Cleveland sits approx. $30 million under the cap and that is not including the salary cap rising approx. $8-$9 million next season.. so we will be fine in that regards. If Quinn never plays a single snap next season, we pay him $2 million. We can afford to keep him on the bench and worst case scenario, franchise Anderson for a year if we had to. The one thing that is known is that eventually, Quinn *will* start for Cleveland and Anderson will not be in Cleveland. When that happens, who knows? However currently, I'm enjoying the situation we're in 100% and we would be heavily compensated if anyone tries to sign Anderson away from us being that he is a restricted free agent.

As far as Holcomb, I believe most people thought that because we were a 9-7 team that made the playoffs. What most Browns fans failed to realize is it was entirely with old veterans and if that year didn't work, we would suck miserably because the team would be dismantled. The whole Couch/Holcomb scenario was a huge waste too and combine that with Botch Davis' inept ability to be a decent head coach and you get what we had.. an "ok" season (7-9 in '01), a good season (9-7, playoffs in '02) and disaster afterwards. I still again would rather have the situation we have now as opposed to Quinn being in the mix.. I did not want him to see the field this year and it looks like I will get my wish on that.

[PIG 20]

Good post! Thanks for the info!

Was most of Quinn's money in signing bonuses? Which as we all know, dont' count against the cap.

I guess the big "what if" will be if Anderson really gets in tune with the players on this team. We have to remember that the guy is essentially starting for the very first time in his career and he is doing incredibly well.

What sort of "chemistry" will be there between Anderson, Edwards, Winslow, and Lewis. Not to mention the offensive line finally getting consistency out of the QB position. And will you be able to eventually "break" that chemistry and hope that you can recover.

I guess it doesn't help that I'm not a fan of Brady Quinn at all. I think Charlie Weiss is a complete a**hole (to be polite) and talked this kid up for more than what he was worth. Quinn didn't show me anything special while playing at Notre Dame.

Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems like you already have a winner on your hands.

Regardless, good luck in the playoffs!

*BTW, I'm not being sarcastic, I truly wish you good luck in the playoffs"

[JonM229]

*BTW, I'm not being sarcastic, I truly wish you good luck in the playoffs"

I would also like to wish the Browns lots of luck in the playoffs...only I am being sarcastic.

[Raven07]

i think we would much rather see the Ravens in the Play-off's rather than the browns (at least i would think)...but seeing how that is not so, heck....why not...

[neepo13]

Actually he was on in training camp last year and they tried to practice squad him and he never cleared waivers. Cleveland thought so much of him they traded the farm for Brady Quinn.

The Browns got lucky, plain and simple. It irks me when the Browns try to rub in the fact that we had Anderson first and now he is doing well for them. Because the Browns didnt know what they had either because if they did they wouldnt have given up two first round picks for Quinn and Anderson would have been the starter going into the season. Remember, he came off the bench after Frye stunk up the field.

[neepo13]

Derek Anderson is a product of that system in Cleveland, plain and simple. Hence why he was relegated to the practice squad with the Ravens after being the 3rd-string QB at one point.

He may not be the next Bernie Kosar, but at least he's gotten the job done for the Browns.

However, that's not to say he would've been a guaranteed success in Baltimore, even with all the supporting talent and coaching in the world. Some QB's were made to play in a certain system, others are just great enough to play, period.

Only time will tell if Anderson is a pure QB, through-and-through.

And some systems just dont work.

[neepo13]

He's really good at throwing flags too. =]

Yeah we got a great boxer on our hands to. Bet your jealous.

[Raven07]

and in some systems...the players just need that added motivation, intensity, communication, cooperation...unity, teamwork....all those factors come into play because its a TEAM effort your trying to put forth and in doing so, you put your best foot forward. and its not a system to which plays itself on a "individual performance basis....no ALL players have to work together to get the job done and accomplish the goal.

[neepo13]

and in some systems...the players just need that added motivation, intensity, communication, cooperation...unity, teamwork....all those factors come into play because its a TEAM effort your trying to put forth and in doing so, you put your best foot forward. and its not a system to which plays itself on a "individual performance basis....no ALL players have to work together to get the job done and accomplish the goal.

Yeah and you can also have all of the above and a sorry system will hold you back.

[BrownsFan]

The Browns got lucky, plain and simple. It irks me when the Browns try to rub in the fact that we had Anderson first and now he is doing well for them. Because the Browns didnt know what they had either because if they did they wouldnt have given up two first round picks for Quinn and Anderson would have been the starter going into the season. Remember, he came off the bench after Frye stunk up the field.

I agree with you on that. That is the main reason I am not 100% completely sold on Anderson. At one point he *did* back up Charlie Frye. He was brought in mainly to keep the fort in check to a degree for Quinn to take control and well, we know what happened.

The big test IMO will be if we can make the playoffs. We still have to win games and essentially this Sunday's game. If we win this Sunday we are almost assured of a spot. If we win and Tennessee loses we'll definitely be a lock. The other test will come next year if he remains our starting QB. While we have a great record this year, the caliber of teams we've played overall has not been very good and because of this success this season, we'll have tougher matchups next year.

Our offense the way it's playing now can hang with just about any offense in the NFL when we're on. It's the defense that still needs work and while they've done better the past couple of weeks, they still have awful moments on the field and positions and depth badly need to be addressed.

[Tiz]

Derek Anderson is a product of that system in Cleveland, plain and simple. Hence why he was relegated to the practice squad with the Ravens after being the 3rd-string QB at one point.

He may not be the next Bernie Kosar, but at least he's gotten the job done for the Browns.

However, that's not to say he would've been a guaranteed success in Baltimore, even with all the supporting talent and coaching in the world. Some QB's were made to play in a certain system, others are just great enough to play, period.

Only time will tell if Anderson is a pure QB, through-and-through.

I give credit to the system but I also acknowledge our teams lack of developing QBs as part of the reaso for his failure in Baltimore. Him being relegated to 3rd and to PS with baltimore doesn't fully tell me he's a product of the system any more than it tells other teams that Baltimore made another mistake with it's offensive moves.