Browns Bench Derek Anderson
After posting a 10-6 record last season, Derek Anderson seemed like the logical choice to continue starting at QB for the Browns during the 2008 campaign despite having a formidable backup in Brady Quinn. After a rocky 3-5 start, Head Coach Romeo Crennell needed to jumpstart his team and, despite a W over Superbowl Champion New York Giants, he decided to bench Anderson in favor of Brady Quinn.
About Brady Quinn
A member of the 2007 draft, this former Notre Dame QB was doing endorsements before his first NFL start. Like others from the class of 2007, fans anxiously awaited when Quinn would see his first NFL start.
Brady Quinn’s First NFL Start
In Quinn’s first NFL start, he completed 23 pass attempts out of 35 for 239 yards and threw for two touchdowns without committing a single turnover. The conservative approach has also been successful for other quarterback’s from the 2007 NFL Draft, including Buffalo Bills quarterback Trent Edwards. Entering the fourth quarter, the Broncos trailed the Browns by 10 points, but managed to mount a powerful enough offense to finish the game 34-30 when the clock ran out. This stunning comeback left Cleveland fans to wonder where their team went awry.
Denver Broncos Worst Defense in NFL
Though Quinn showed considerable poise and a knack for helping his offence march down the field, he was also competing against the NFL’s 29th ranked defense. Some Browns faithful might feel more comfortable with their new starting quarterback once he has been tested by the NFL’s upper echelon.
Cleveland Browns Defense Stalled
When one considers that a football game is played by three units, one might be hesitant to lay blame on Brady Quinn for the loss. The Browns defense gave up 564 total yards and allowed Cutler to throw for 447 yards. Currently, their defense is ranked 15th in the league, well ahead of Denver’s defense, but it was unable to hold up against Jay Cutler and the Broncos offense.
Quinn’s Future with the Browns
In the immediate future, the Browns next matchup will be a Monday Night Football road game against the 5-3 Buffalo Bills, who will be raring to make a comeback after two straight losses. With a win over the NFL’s 12th ranked defense, Quinn will have an opportunity to prove himself to Browns brass and to Cleveland fans. If he can lead the Browns to the playoffs despite considerable odds, he will have proven much more.
