Quinn Takes First Step To Claiming The Crown

Based on opinion via Thomas George, who Blogs for NFL.com, Brady Quinn made better decisions and kept his cool in today's scrimmage.  He did throw a pick, but the ball hit receiver Lance Leggett in the hands and was deflected.  Here is Mr. George's assessment:

Training Camp

Browns scrimmage">Highlights from Browns scrimmage

Posted: August 9th, 2009 | NFL.com Staff | Tags: Brady Quinn, Cleveland Browns, Derek Anderson, Thomas George

Some running observations from the Cleveland Browns scrimmage held in Cleveland Browns Stadium:

• The scrimmage features Cleveland in split teams, one team wearing brown uniforms, the other white.
• It is a Browns family and fun day, and most of the lower bowl is scattered with a few thousand fans.
• No tackling. No hitting. Officials monitor and blow the whistle where a tackle would have likely occurred.
• Derek Anderson struggled in the first half. On his opening possession, he had difficulty completing a screen pass. It got worse from there. Off in his timing and simply looked uncomfortable.
• Brady Quinn early had no such problems. His first snap was a long bomb for a touchdown to receiver Lance Leggett.
• Quinn showed one clear edge he has on Anderson: Quinn is much more mobile and more effective on bootleg passes. In fact, his passing score came on one.
• Anderson continues to struggle. Drives team to the Red Zone and is picked off in the end zone by linebacker D’Qwell Jackson. Jackson returns it near midfield. Poor pass. Forced pass.
• In the second half, Noah Herron breaks through the middle for a long TD run. This fifth-year back from Northwestern shows a nice burst.
• David Patten just scored on a long bomb from quarterback Brett Ratliff, the former Jet. Even Ratliff is outplaying Anderson.
• Later, Anderson finally has a breakthrough. Not with his arm. With his feet. He scrambles up the middle for a short scoring run in the fourth quarter. The coaches have to wonder if that was because he could not find open receivers or because he simply made something out of nothing. That will be a meticulous review by the coaches.
• Uh-oh. Quinn just picked with 7:05 left. Anderson has a further chance for redemption. It’s 14-14. Stay tuned.
• Anderson drives the Browns to the 10. It is third-and-7. His quick-slant pass to receiver Braylon Edwards is two yards behind Edwards. Field goal. Anderson’s team up 17-14. There is 3:45 left in the scrimmage. Now, Quinn’s turn.
• Quinn drives his team inside the 40 and sets up a long field goal for the tie. It bounces off the left upright. Anderson wins. Brown team wins. So what? Quinn had the better game. Right now, Quinn is the better quarterback.