Cleveland Browns Vs. Detroit Lions: Observations On Browns Quarterbacks
Saturday marked the third preseason game of the 2010 season for the Cleveland Browns as they visited the Detroit Lions. The third preseason game, of course, is the "dress rehearsal" for teams as the starters play a large portion of the game for most teams in the NFL. It is the best chance for the coaching staff to get a look at the team before the start of the regular season as the final preseason game is usually used to sort out the bottom of the depth chart.
It was a night of mixed results for the Cleveland Browns, who went on to lose to Detroit by a final score of 35-27. Turnovers were again a problem as Cleveland fumbled away the ball three different times which led to 21 of the Lions' points.
While the game showed that there are still issues that need addressed prior to the start of the regular season, it also showed that the offense for the Browns is significantly different than the 2009 version. The improvement at the quarterback position was on full display, and the play at quarterback has been night and day from that of last season.
The following is a list of observations on the quarterback position for Cleveland following Saturday's game.
The Signing Of Jake Delhomme Is Looking Like a Smart Move
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While the Cleveland Browns are only three preseason games into 2010, new quarterback Jake Delhomme has done almost everything right to silence concerns that he can lead the Browns offense in 2010.
Delhomme was again sharp on the field as he went 20 of 25 for 152 yards and a touchdown in one half of action against Detroit's starting defense. Delhomme did miss a pass in he back of the endzone and had a couple of tipped passes, but most of his throws were smart, accurate and on target. More importantly, he has proven that he has the ability to control the tempo of the game and protect the football, both against the Lions and throughout the preseason.
So far this preseason, Delhomme is 38 of 48 for 345 yards and two touchdowns and boasts an impressive 79.2 completion percentage. He has also thrown no interceptions, which was an area of concern after he threw 18 picks in 11 games for the Carolina Panthers in 2009.
Delhomme also showed his veteran experience against Detroit, often sensing and avoiding pressure and delivering perfectly placed balls to his receivers
Thus far in 2010, Delhomme appears to be the perfect choice to run offensive coordinator Brian Daboll's precision passing, ball control offense.
Cleveland Quarterbacks Will Have Targets In 2010
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Many in the national media have criticized Cleveland's receiving corps heading into the 2010 season. the group was among the worst in the league in 2009 and not much has been done to improve the wide receiver position. It has been thought that the addition of Jake Delhome and Seneca Wallace would have little impact for the Browns because there would be no playmakers on the offense to deliver the football to.
Make no mistake, Cleveland's quarterbacks will have plenty of guys to throw to in 2010. 14 different players caught passes against the Lions and ten of them caught multiple balls. Expect improved quarterback play to make the receivers better in 2010.
Projected starting wide receivers Mohamed Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie are beginning to have the look of a solid duo and the two combined for 66 yards on five receptions. The king of Cleveland, Joshua Cribbs, really shined at receiver on Saturday. Cribbs caught three passes for 47 yards and is really starting to look like a true wideout. His route running has improved since last season and he has shown great awareness in finding the football.
The tight end position also looks to be a viable weapon with Benjamin Watson and Evan Moore providing a downfield threat and another dimension to the passing attack. Watson and Moore combine for five receptions and 50 yards against Detroit.
The Quarterbacks Have Receiving Weapons In The Backfield Too
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One big advantage that Cleveland quarterbacks will have in 2010 is the ability to utilize the backfield in the passing game.
Delivering the football to the running back is often a safe option for the quarterback. Members of Cleveland's backfield have consistently shown the ability to make plays on short passes and screens throughout the preseason and that trend continued against the Lions. Cleveland's backfield accounted for 15 receptions and 110 receiving yards. Peyton Hillis and James Davis were especially impressive as they turned short passes into 25 and 26 yard gains, respectively.
Fullback Lawrence Vickers also showed that he can be called upon when it counts. Just when the Lions were used to being pounded by Vickers as a lead blocker, he broke free for an easy touchdown grab.
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Jake Delhomme Keeps On Ticking
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Jake Delhomme showed both poise and toughness against Detroit in the face of a strong pass rush and a couple of bad quarterback/center exchanges.
Delhomme was hit several times and found himself on the receiving end of two rough personal fouls. In the second quarter, he was facemasked and then thrown to the ground by Lions' rookie Ndamukong Suh. Then on the next play, the exchange with center Alex Mack was botched. Delhomme responded by beating the blitz and calmly tossing a touchdown pass to fullback Lawrence Vickers.
Again in the second quarter, Delhomme was rushed and took a blow to the head from Kyle Vanden Bosch, after which he was visibly upset. Again Delhomme responded with poise and professionalism, engineering a two minute, 78 yard touchdown drive.
Delhomme showed the mark of an experienced veteran against the Lions. He never let the pressure force him into making mistakes, a problem that plagued the quarterback position for Cleveland in 2009.
Seneca Wallace Is a Capable Backup
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There will be no quarterback controversy in Cleveland in 2010 as Jake Delhomme is the clear cut starter. However Seneca Wallace is proving to be a capable backup and a smart addition to the team.
Wallace's numbers weren't great against Detroit, but he did show that he is capable of managing the offense in 2010 should he be called upon due to an injury to Delhomme. Wallace was only 4 of 9, but did make several smart plays by throwing the ball away to avoid the sack. He also showed off his cannon of an arm by netting 91 yards on his four completions and flashed his speed when he scrambled out of trouble and turned upfield for a 15 yard gain.
While the offense has a different look under Wallace, it still appears to be productive. Wallace engineered a 12 play drive that started on the Cleveland 6 yard line and ended with a Phil Dawson field goal in his first series. On his second series, Wallace was able to move the ball to the Detroit 30 before tight end Evan Moore was stripped of the football, ending the drive.
Wallace's speed on the ground, power and accuracy throwing the ball, and ability to move the ball downfield will come in handy this season, both in a backup role and in the fabled Cyclone package.
Colt McCoy Needs Work, But Is Showing Improvement
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Rookie third-round pick Colt McCoy has been heralded as the future for Cleveland at the quarterback position, but struggled mightily in his first two preseason appearances, going 5 of 12 for 25 yards and two interceptions.
On Saturday, McCoy was given extended playing time and looked much better. He completed mostly short passes but was a respectable 10 of 14 for 76 yards. McCoy looked much more comfortable standing in the pocket and quickly progressing through his reads to find open receivers.
McCoy still needs to work on ball security. While he didn't throw an interception against the Lions, he did leave his ball arm hanging, allowing the ball to be stripped and recovered by Detroit when the pocket collapsed around him. Detroit turned the fumble into a touchdown drive, giving the Lions an eight point lead late in the game, all but sealing the victory.
McCoy has a long way to go before being ready to start for the Cleveland Browns, but he probably won't be called upon to do so for at least a year or two. As long as he continues to show improvement in transitioning to the pro game, there is reason for optimism around the winningest quarterback in NCAA history.
Cleveland Quarterbacks Can Control The Tempo
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One of the strategies employed by head coach Eric Mangini is to control the tempo of the game offensively. Mangini wants his quarterbacks to be able to put together slow, methodical drives to wear down the defense and then quickly switch to no huddle or quick huddle schemes to keep the defense off balance.
Both Delhomme and Wallace have shown the ability to control the pace of the game, a quality which is largely underrated in the game of football and a concept that was lost on Cleveland quarterbacks in 2009. Delhomme, in particular, ran the quick huddle offense to near perfection.
The Browns failed miserably in the time of possession battle last season, giving up nearly three and a half minutes of offensive time to opponents on a per game average. The team looks to reverse that trend this year and held the ball for nearly nine minutes longer than the Lions despite turning the ball over three times.
Brett Ratliff Is Likely On His Way Out
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Quarterback Brett Ratliff was acquired in the draft day trade that gave the New York Jets the fifth overall pick in the 2009 draft from Cleveland. He was a "Mangini guy" and made the roster as the third QB in 2009 over Richard Bartel, even though he was outplayed by Bartel and did nothing to win the job that preseason.
Ratliff has been given another chance to show some potential this preseason. but has struggled once again. Ratliff entered Saturday's game with eight completions on 19 attempts and an interception. Ratliff had been getting playing time in the fourth quarter in the first two preseason games, but those snaps were given to Colt McCoy against the Lions and Ratliff did not play.
The depth chart appears to be set at quarterback for the Browns, and barring injury, Ratliff will be the odd man out. His absence in Saturday's game likely means the end of the road for Ratliff in Cleveland.
Veteran Quarterback Play Is Helping Brian Daboll Improve As Coordinator
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Brian Daboll was in his first year as an offensive coordinator in 2009 and for most of the season looked uprepared for the job. His play calling appeared questionable at best and the offense often seemed to go backward. It wasn't until the Browns leaned heavily on the running game that the offense stared to show signs of life.
It was often thought that Daboll's simple play calling limited the quarterback play for Cleveland, but it may actually have been the other way around. This preseason, smart veteran play at quarterback has allowed Daboll to open up the playbook and more importantly, the offense is scoring points. The same short passes that seemed to go nowhere last season have been gaining yards and moving the chains under the direction of Delhomme and Wallace.
Team president Mike Holmgren brought in former Seahawks offensive coordinator Gil Haskell as an advisor to Daboll. With his tutelage and improved play from the quarterback position, expect Daboll to make huge strides in his second year as offensive coordinator.
The Quarterback Position Is Set For 2010
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For the first time in years, everything appears to be set and ready to go at quarterback for the Cleveland Browns. There will be no quarterback competition, everyone knows his role and from top to bottom on the depth chart, everything is as it should be.
Jake Delhomme has been very sharp in preseason and has all but erased any concerns about him being the starter for 2010. Seneca Wallace is a savvy and athletic veteran who will provide a strong backup presence as well as an added offensive element in the Cyclone package. Colt McCoy is the young rookie who will hold a clipboard and learn from the sideline for the next season or two.
The offense has been productive with both Delhomme and Wallace under center and with several promising running backs on the roster should feature a very balanced and potent attack in 2010. The first team offense has also had a full off-season to develop chemistry with one quarterback, something that didn't happen last year.
Things are truly starting to turn around in Cleveland. While the Browns still have questions heading into the start of the regular season, the quarterback position is not one of them.
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