Bleacher Report - Brady Quinn

Charlie Weis: Cleveland Browns' New Offensive Coordinator?

Erin McLaughlin — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 02:33:36 -0500

When Brady Quinn met with media on Wednesday, the highlight wasn't him talking about his breakout performance on Sunday. It also wasn't about how he is preparing for the Cincinnati Bengals. Instead he spent a lot of the time defending his college coach, Charlie Weis.

A couple of comments that stood out were where Quinn flat out said that Notre Dame firing Weis would be a mistake.

The comment that would be of more interest to Browns fans is when Quinn said that he would love to work with Weis again someday, if the situation presented itself.

What was Quinn's motivation for making these comments? That we will never know for sure, but it will lead to speculation. Some may feel that he is just fighting for the coach who really took his college career to new heights when he took over for Tyrone Willingham.

Others may think that Quinn is actually trying to send a message to Randy Lerner and whomever is hired to the executive position. Quinn knows that Weis will be out no matter what he said. Of course Quinn wasn't going to say anything after the Monday Night game. A couple days after his breakout performance was good timing.

Can you really blame Quinn though for making the comments when he did? Why wouldn't he want to work with Weis again? Weis was the coach that best knew how to utilize Quinn's talents and get the most of them. It has become apparent to Browns fans that Brian Daboll is not the guy to get the most out of Quinn.

It appears that deep down, Quinn knows that, too. However, he just can't say that to the media. Quinn also knows that if there is anybody who can save his NFL career, Weis is probably his best bet. For that reason, Weis to Cleveland makes all the sense in the world.

Weis shouldn't be hired as head coach. After failing at that position at Notre Dame, there is serious doubt that he is head coaching material. However, nobody denies that he is a really good offensive coordinator. In fact, Tom Brady still gives a lot of credit to Weis for his success in New England.

There is the old saying that one man's trash is another man's treasure. That clearly looks like the case with Notre Dame, Cleveland Browns, and Charlie Weis. For that reason, the Browns should be talking with Weis the minute Notre Dame fires him.

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Stafford and Lions, Young and Titans: What We Learned from NFL Week 11

The Sportmeisters — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:16:36 -0500

By Ryan of The Sportmeisters

The home stretch is near! Who’s gunning for the playoffs, and who’s gunning for a good draft spot?

The Best Game No One Watched

It was a “family and friends” game, meaning, only family and friends would watch Cleveland face off against Detroit in the race for the No. 1 pick. Well, it became a game full of energy, comebacks, and a game-winning drive, as the Lions edged the Browns 38-37.

Cleveland took a huge 24-3 lead to start the game, showing an offensive firepower sorely missed the first 10 weeks of the season. Detroit, led by rookie QB Matt Stafford, climbed back, until Cleveland QB Brady Quinn led a scoring drive to make it 37-31 with under five minutes to go.

Enter Stafford, who got the team to midfield before launching a Hail Mary with less than 10 seconds to go, which was intercepted and ended the game.

BUT WAIT!

A pass interference call let Detroit have one final untimed play, where a now-injured Stafford found fellow rookie TE Brandon Pettigrew for the 38-37 win.

They say it takes one play in one game to turn a team around. For Detroit, that might have been the turning point, even with Stafford unlikely to play this week against Green Bay. The Browns can take some positive in the offense that showed up, but are miles away from any signs of competitiveness.

A Bucked Bronco

A month ago, the Denver Broncos, despite all their offseason turmoil, were 6-0 and kings of the AFC West. They held a 3-and-a-half game lead over the Sand Diego Chargers. Now, as we move to Week 12, the San Diego Chargers hold a one-game lead over Denver, thanks to a five-game winning streak that culminated in a 32-3 drubbing of the Broncos on Sunday.

It was just another case of two teams changing since Denver won the first matchup.

San Diego seems to be on all cylinders, with QB Philip Rivers managing the offense, and even RB LaDainian Tomlinson having a solid performance (20 carries, 73 yards, touchdown).

Denver is falling apart at the wrong time, and three turnovers and nine penalties don’t make it any easier. The Broncos have an early game this week against the NY Giants, and have to get back on track now, or risk watching the season end before their very eyes.

Remember The Titans

I usually write this on a Monday, but due to scheduling conflicts, I got to take in the Monday night game and add it to my recaps. I picked a good week to have a scheduling conflict, as behind 151 rushing yards from Chris Johnson and 189 all-purpose yards from Vince Young, the Titans squeaked out a 20-17 victory over the Houston Texans.

The Titans, who were the source of ridicule a year removed from 13-3, have now won four straight, and while they are still a ways away from any playoff talk, now seem like they are on the right track.

Using the same method that worked last year (punishing running game, dominant defense), they no longer seem in over their heads. Against Houston, they had 228 rushing yards, and the defense had four sacks, and held Houston to 57 rushing yards.

Tennessee is clawing back, slowly but surely.

Contenders and Pretenders

The playoff picture is getting clearer, so who is in the snapshot?

The New Orleans Saints, after a few weeks of questionable football, quieted the critics with a complete performance in a 38-7 drubbing of Tampa Bay. The Saints take their perfect record against New England on Monday Night Football this coming week.

What does a 4-2 record over the last six weeks get you? For the Miami Dolphins, it’s some playoff chatter, as last years AFC East Champions beat the Carolina Panthers to get back to .500. RB Ricky Williams had three touchdowns in place of injured RB Ronnie Brown.

The Indianapolis Colts are making it happen, squeaking out another close victory, this time against the Baltimore Ravens 17-15. The Colts ran their record to 10-0, their eighth straight 10-win season, and have won 19 regular season games in a row, second only to the New England Patriots (21 wins from 2006-2008).

Pretenders come in all shapes and sizes:

Bills coach Dick Jauron was given the boot, hoping to spark something in Buffalo. Despite Terrell Owens showing up for the first time all season, the Bills still lose, 18-15 to Jacksonville. The Bills are now 3-7.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are defending Super Bowl champions, but they’re not playing like it. They lost their second straight game, this time to the Kansas City Chiefs, 27-24 in overtime. They are fighting injuries, which is a contributing factor, but they need to get their act together if a repeat Super Bowl appearance is in the cards.

After starting 4-1, the Atlanta Falcons have taken a nosedive, with their latest, a 34-31 overtime loss to the New York Giants, running their record to 5-5.

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Quinn For HOF, Daboll The Next Air Coryell, Stuckey The Next Rice

Steve Tater — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:44:15 -0500

Brady Quinn is the second coming of Tom Brady after his 300 yard, four touchdown performance against the Lions.

Brian Daboll is being favorably compared to Don Coryell after the Cleveland Browns offense scored a whopping 35 points in the game (24 points in less than 12 minutes in the first quarter).

Chansi Stuckey is the perfect second option, playmaking wide receiver the Browns franchise has been looking for.

Let’s be real honest here. None of the aforementioned sentences are true.

What we saw was a mirage that would be a mistake for anyone to take as reality.

The Detroit Lions have allowed more points than any team in football and they showed why on Sunday. Blown coverages, bad tackling, and overall confusion from defensive backs have been a staple of the Lions’ defense for years.

It would be wise to take a step back and analyze exactly how the Browns managed to score 37 points in a game before we start building a bust for Brady Quinn in Canton—and we start calling Brian Daboll the next hot head coaching candidate.

After all, we have seen those same big numbers out of Derek Anderson and we all know how that turned out.

Quinn threw touchdown strikes of 59 and 40 yards to Mohamed Massaquoi and Chansi Stuckey early in the game.

On both, Massaquoi and Stuckey broke completely free when the Lions defensive backfield bit on play action fakes. Good defenses do not let that happen twice in a season, let alone twice in a game.

The third touchdown was set up by an interception return by Eric Wright which gave the Browns first and goal field position at the six yard line.

The fourth touchdown pass was a two-yarder to Michael Gaines, who forced his way into the endzone by the shear force of his weight. That touchdown was set up by a series of short runs, short passes, and a Detroit offsides penalty which kept the drive alive.

Granted, it was nice to see some life from an offense that was non-existent for nine games. At least it made the game ‘watchable’ (which is something I could not have predicted when two dreadfully woeful football teams lined up for kick-off).

But before we start getting too comfortable with the play-calling of Daboll and the passing of Quinn, we should keep a mindful eye on the fact that the Lions defense is atrocious.

The Lions surrendered 10 plays of 20 or more yards the week earlier. The fact that the Browns managed two is not cause for a ticker tape parade.

All this game did is set up a future date with the Oakland Raiders in what I will less-than-affectionately dub as "The Draft Bowl."

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Brady Quinn Shuts Up His Critics, But There's Still More to Prove

Daniel Wolf — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:30:10 -0500

Cleveland Browns quarterback Brady Quinn has to have one of the biggest media filters of any NFL player. He can just shut out all the bad talk about him to continue to play football despite the extreme amounts of pressure that are put on him.

Just look at the photo...Quinn looks like he is having fun.

Fun is a word that has not been said too often regarding the Browns over the past season and a half of football, but versus the Lions, there was nothing but fun on the field.

Easily one of the most (if not the most) entertaining game the Browns have played since 2007, SI.com's Peter King even called this game "...the worst game of the year" going into Sunday, but after the game King said it could have very well been "the game of the year."

Indeed it could be 2009's NFL game of the year.

Both teams are and have been struggling for many years, and the futility of both franchises were put aside in a shootout that may be remembered for many years in the NFL.

No one could have thought the Browns-Lions would be a shootout, most thought these two teams would barely even be able to score a touchdown at all.

Four quarters later and 75 points in the books, the Lions pull out a win with :00 left on the clock.

The Browns are probably kicking themselves for giving up a 24-3 first quarter lead this Monday, since they were in complete control of the Lions both on offense and defense. But proper adjustments by Lions coach Jim Schwartz proved to be too much for Eric Mangini and his staff to be able to handle.

Regardless, of the outcome, there was one player whose possible future star power shined brightly despite all the negativity that is in the press and media, and that player was Quinn who threw for over 300 yards and four touchdowns.

What is most surprising about Quinn's performance is his resilience and poise against all the pressure that has been building up on him both inside and outside of football.

The media has been viscous toward Quinn, saying everything from he's too much of a pretty boy, to he's too muscular to play quarterback, and his arm is not strong enough to be a NFL starter.

These are only a few of the things that have been said about Quinn, but on Sunday he shut up his critics by showing he can throw a deep pass, not once, but many times in a single game.

The key to Quinn's success was the protection the Browns' offensive line gave him.

Like most NFL quarterbacks, good protection in the pocket will equate to better accuracy and more production.

So maybe there are some Browns' fans that are crowning Quinn as the savior already, but please remember this was the Lions, and Quinn still needs to show some consistency before he can get crowned.

Still, Quinn's ability to shoulder all of the pressures of the media and fans shows he can really be the face of the franchise for years to come, because one of the most important characteristics a NFL starting quarterback needs to have is to be able to take extreme amounts of pressure.

Quinn has passed this test, but let's see if he plays at this level for several more game this season and if he can play at a higher level, then maybe the Browns can focus on other positions in the offseason instead of at quarterback.

(Article also posted on Dawg Scooper)

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Get 'em or Don't Sweat 'em: Week 11

Ryan Lester — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:15:46 -0500

There were some unusual heroes on Sunday. There always are. Let’s take a look at them and see if they are worthy of your fantasy rosters.

Brady Quinn, QB, Clevlenad Browns
Quinn had over 300 yards and 4 TDs, but Detroit isn’t on his schedule anymore. He has some use in 2-QB leagues, but that’s about it.
Ruling: Don’t Sweat ‘em.

Matthew Stafford, QB, Detroit Lions
Stafford threw for over 400 yards and 5 TDs. Like Quinn, he won’t be facing this opponent again. He has more value because he actually has some weapons, but is only useful in 2-QB leagues. He got nicked up, and with a short week it’s not likely that the Lions will trot their franchise QB out there.
Ruling: Don’t Sweat ‘em.

Matt Leinart, QB, Arizona Cardinals
Leinart replaced Kurt Warner, who left with a head injury. Teams have played it safe, and rightfully so, in these situations, so Leinart could find himself in the starting lineup next week. It would be tough on the WRs, but he has enough weapons to make him useful should he start.
Ruling: Get ‘em.

Justin Forsett, RB, Seattle Seahawks
If you passed on Justin Forsett because he faced the Vikings this week, go ahead and snatch them up. Forsett struggled with 9 yards on 9 carries, but he added a rushing TD and 80 receiving yards. Plus, he faces St. Louis next week.
Ruling: Get ‘em.

Rock Cartwright, RB, Washington Redskins
Rock filled in for Betts who filled in for Portis. He had 140 total yards in a 7-6 game, which is pretty impressive. I don’t know that I could use him, but I’d probably pick him up so nobody else could. Betts is done for the year, and Portis has already been ruled out this week.
Ruling: Get ‘em

Mike Bell, RB, New Orleans Saints
Bell closed out the game for the Saint with a pair of short TDs. He’s worth owning for RB depth, though I would have a hard time rolling with him unless I was hurting at RB.
Ruling: Get ‘em.

Mike Tolbert, RB, San Diego Chargers
Tolbert scored a late TD in the Chargers win over the Raiders, but by no means is a threat to LT’s fantasy value.
Ruling: Don’t Sweat ‘em.

Robert Meachem, WR, New Orleans Saints
Meachem scored a pair of TDs, but had just ten receiving yards. He’s worth owning, but too risky to use in your fantasy lineup.
Ruling: Get ‘em.

Chansi Stuckey/Mohamed Massaquoi, WRs, Cleveland Browns
They both scored this week, but let’s face it, you can’t trust a Brown this season.
Ruling: Don’t Sweat ‘em.

Chris Chambers, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Chambers continued his revival in Kansas City. With Bowe out three more games, Chambers has a good chance to be a fantasy force down the home stretch.
Ruling: Get ‘em.

Originally published at LestersLegends.com .

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Daily Haze: Early Week 12 Waiver Wire Thoughts

Michael McNeil — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:06:55 -0500

A few names on the waiver wire this week for those in dynasty and/or deep keepers leagues with an eye on next season: Chris Jennings and Brandon Gibson.

I mentioned Gibson last week after his breakthrough game against the depleted New Orleans Saints' secondary. He went out yesterday and proved that last week's results were not necessarily the result of playing against second- and third-stringers.

Against the Cardinals as the No. 2 wide receiver, Gibson chipped in five catches for 61 yards. On third-and-four from inside the 10-yard line, Marc Bulger floated a pass to Gibson in the endzone which could have sent the game to overtime but Gibson dropped the ball. That he was trusted with such a route in a crucial spot is a good sign for the future.

Consider adding Gibson this week off the waiver wire or adding him onto a blockbuster deal if your trade deadline is this week.

Jennings, meanwhile, rushed for 36 yards in spelling outgoing Browns' running back Jamal Lewis. He also contributed in the passing game with five catches for 38 yards.

The Browns will have James Davis in camp next summer and could bring in another running back or two via free agency or the draft to compete for the starting job. But Jennings is getting some valuable playing time right now that could go a long way toward his standing on the team next season.

Early week 12 waiver wire thoughts for the rest of us:

Davone Bess, WR, Dolphins [6-63]
Rock Cartwright, RB, Redskins [67; 7-73]
Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Lions [6-72-1]
Kevin Boss, TE, Giants [5-76-2]
Matthew Stafford, QB, Lions [422-5]
Brady Quinn, QB, Browns [304-4]
Mohamed Massaquoi, WR, Browns [5-115-1]
Fred Jackson, RB, Bills [35; 4-20]

Here are today's great reads:

There is almost no way Mark Sanchez should be owned in redraft leagues at this point. He and Matt Stafford appear to be heading in opposite directions at the moment. [Bruno Boys]

Looking for a fun league prize this season? Consider one of these Fantasy+Ethos%29" target="_blank">fantasy football t-shirts . [Fantasy Ethos]

It was a good thing Dallas Clark caught that early touchdown for fantasy owners, because that is all he did yesterday. [Pancake Blocks]

Welcome back to fantasy relevance, Terrell Owens . Not sure what to expect of TO going forward, but those of us who started him this weekend were happy for the one-week revival. [CBSSports.com]

I had to watch the Lions and Browns yesterday afternoon and I have to say it was one of the more entertaining football games I have seen this season. [Shutdown Corner]

More on the revival of Terrell Owens and the coincidental decline of the Dallas Cowboys' passing game the same Sunday as Owens' big day. [FanHouse]

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Lions-Browns: Matthew Stafford, Brady Quinn Show Potential in Detroit Win

Evan Higgins — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:30:15 -0500

The Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns have a lot in common.

Both are struggling to win, and both have young, developing quarterbacks who labored to find consistency all season.

But on Sunday, both young quarterbacks displayed their potential.

Though Cleveland and Detroit have two of the worst defenses in the league, these quarterbacks gave their coaches exactly what they needed to see: leadership.

With eight seconds left in the game and the Lions down by six, Matthew Stafford stepped on the field and stepped up his performance. The former SEC quarterback ran around the field, dodging many Cleveland defenders, and threw the ball deep into the end zone.

The pass was intercepted.

However, Cleveland was flagged for pass interference, and the Lions took the ball at the one-yard line with no time left on the clock. Stafford had one play to redeem himself.

Stafford gets knocked on the turf, staying down with a hurt shoulder. Daunte Culpepper comes in, but Browns coach Eric Mangini calls a time out.

Matthew Stafford wants back in.

Then, with a hurt shoulder on his left arm, Stafford hiked the ball and threw a one-yard pass to a fellow rookie, tight end Brandon Pettigrew, to win the game.

Stafford finished the day 26-for-43 for 422 yards passing and five touchdowns. He came into the game with six touchdowns on the season. He showed the potential and leadership to be an NFL great one day.

But Stafford wasn't the only young quarterback to impress.

Despite the loss, Brady Quinn came up big for the Cleveland Browns, throwing for 304 yards and four touchdowns.

Both of these quarterbacks have the potential to be the next superstar.

Of course, they must first play like they did today against top defenses like Pittsburgh and Baltimore.

Today's game was a loss for Quinn and a win for Stafford, but, regardless of outcome, it gave each player confidence and hope for themselves, as well as their teams.

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Refs, Matthew Stafford Deal Browns Tough 38-37 Loss

Dawgfather — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:29:55 -0500

Browns fans. The one word that defines what happened today against the Lions is absurd. It was absurd, completely illogical.

Absurd.

That is the word of the moment and the official battle cry from Browns backers everywhere after seeing the most unbelievable loss in the NFL. And in true fashion, Cleveland had to be on the short end.

I've been watching football since I was three years old. My uncle got me into the Browns during the "Kardiac Kids" era and I grew up idolizing Bernie Kosar.

But in all my years of watching NFL football, it always seemed that Cleveland would get screwed, or that some absurd, fluke moment, would somehow haunt the Browns.

Sunday's game against Detroit is clear evidence that the NFL is out to screw Cleveland any and every chance it gets, and if the NFL headquarters doesn't get a barrage of faxes and e-mails from angry and livid Browns fans, I will be very disappointed.

I was actually supposed to be at the game in Detroit with the Southeast Michigan Browns Backers. I even had the pleasure of making some great new friends in both Jeff and Susan Oller and the President, Stan Gage.

I feel for them, as they, along with Dawgs everywhere are upset at the questionable pass interference call on a Hail Mary that dropped the Browns to 1-9.

Now, if you would have told me that the Browns, as in the offensively-challenged Cleveland Browns, would score 37 points in a NFL game, I would have mistaken you for a Jacob-obsessed, Twilight-enthralled tween.

If you would have told me that the Browns would score a franchise-record 24 points in the first quarter and that the long-ball challenged, noodle-armed QB Brady Quinn would open up two long strikes of 59 yards and 40 yards to Mohammed Massaqoui and Chansi Stuckey, I would have called you crazy.

And if you would have told me that Brady Quinn would throw for a career-best 303 yards and four touchdowns after looking awful against the Baltimore Ravens, I would have thought you were trying to con me.

For once, and I mean ONCE, the Browns offensive line protected Quinn, giving him time to find his receivers, who actually caught the balls thrown at them.

I can see that Brian Daboll finally found his owner's manual and unleashed Quinn to throw the ball down field.

And for once, I have to give Quinn some love for actually being aggressive in attacking a defense.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the defense, who let Stafford play like Bobby Lane and shredded the Cleveland defense for a rookie record five touchdowns and a career-best 422 passing yards.

If I were Stafford, I would send Terry McNaulty and his officiating crew a Thanksgiving turkey, because they clearly stuffed the Browns with the their own family style of yellow-flag dressing.

One can only imagine how much money Vegas made on the over/under as this game had the look and feel of a AFL shootout.

And it is really sad and completely unacceptable for a game to end on a bogus and completely flaky call like this one did.

Much like Ireland losing to France on a Thierry Henry handball, the Browns got screwed in the end.

At least one Ohio team won in Michigan.

Dawgfather.

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Now That Is The Brady Quinn I Know

Erin McLaughlin — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:20:32 -0500

Last night I was at home with a bunch of mixed emotions. On one hand I was happy and nothing could bring me down because of the birth of my second son on Friday. At the same time, this Notre Dame fan was sulking over a third straight defeat by the Fighting Irish.

After that team got off to a 6-2 start, they have just fallen apart. It was last night when I realized something. I don't need Brady Quinn to be a great or even a good NFL quarterback. The reason is that he was simply outstanding in South Bend and his NFL accomplishments and struggles won't change that.

The reason why it was important to me before for him to do well in the Pros is because there are way too many Quinn haters (who are really just Notre Dame haters in disguise) who always try to diminish his accomplishments in South Bend. I decided last night that is not my problem anymore. I know the player he was at Notre Dame.

Anybody who denies it now after what has happened since he left needs to get over their hate. Sure Jimmy Clausen has been good and may very well be a better NFL quarterback than Quinn. However comparing Notre Dame accomplishments, it isn't even close.

Therefore, I decided to just let Brady Quinn determine his own fate and be okay with the outcome no matter what.

And wouldn't you know it, he has a career day. Overall, he was 21 of 33 for 304 yards and 4 touchdowns. The most important stat is no interceptions. The best part of the touchdowns was that two of them were long bombs. The last one showcased the scrambling ability that Eric Murtaugh and I came to know at Notre Dame.

Now I don't mean to get overly excited. After all it was against the Detroit Lions whose team is almost as bad as the Browns. However, it does show a couple of things. One, Quinn can throw the ball deep. Two, if you give him a chance out there he can produce.

In his earlier games, he went against three of the toughest defenses in the league with arguably the worst offense in the league. He had no chance. With games against Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and San Diego still on the plate, expect him and the rest of the offense to struggle more.

However, the schedule also includes games against Oakland, Kansas City, and Jacksonville. That is a good mix of tough games and not as tough of games. That is a chance for Quinn and the rest of the offense to grow.

Unfortunately for the Browns, Matthew Stafford had a career day too and he led the Lions to a last second victory. The loss drops the Browns to 1-9, but seriously who cares? At this point, the most important thing for the Browns is the development of their young quarterback. That took a huge step in the right direction today.

Now recently I rubbed a few Browns fans the wrong way by calling them garbage. I was just trying to make a point about how they are not patient and run too many talented players out of town without letting them develop. "Garbage" was probably a little over the top and I apologize to whomever was offended.

However, my point remains. Browns fans need to understand that their best bet is to let Quinn develop and understand he will struggle in spots.

There are people like myself that are not Browns fans but Quinn fans. However, I think there is something that both Browns fans and Quinn fans need to understand. This song says it all and pay more attention to the words than the title.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZ5qU8Atxjk

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