Jake Delhomme To Start For Cleveland Browns: 5 Things To Think About

In the 2010 NFL season, the Cleveland Browns have seen not one, not two, but all three of their quarterbacks go down with a high ankle injury at some point this season.

Jake Delhomme was the first to go down in the first game of the season, followed by Seneca Wallace and most recently Colt McCoy in Week 11 versus the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Head coach Eric Mangini has officially made the announcement that Delhomme will be the starter in Week 12 against his former team, the Carolina Panthers.

Here are several things to think about now that Delhomme have been officially named.

1. Delhomme Is Not That Mobile

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CLEVELAND - OCTOBER 10: Quarterback Jake Delhomme #17 of the Cleveland Browns throws to a receiver as he is pressured by outside tackle Kroy Biermann #71 of the Atlanta Falcons at Cleveland Browns Stadium on October 10, 2010 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo b

Unlike both Wallace and McCoy, Delhomme is not a mobile quarterback and he cannot buy extra time rolling out of the pocket to avoid the pass rush.

This is what injured Delhomme is Week 1 since he was unable to get away from the pressure and a Tampa Bay Buccaneers defender grabbed his ankle causing the sprain.

Hopefully, the Browns coaches have some plays that allow for an extra blocker to stay inside and help out on passing downs.

2. Delhomme Is a Very Smart Veteran

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DETROIT - AUGUST 28: Colt McCoy #12 of the Cleveland Browns talks with Jake Delhomme #17 while playing the Detroit Lions in a preseason game on August 28, 2010 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

At 35 years old, Delhomme is a smart player who has a ton of experience and has been to a Super Bowl too.

He may not be as good as he was, but he should be able to change plays at the line and make adjustments for oncoming blitzes to better protect himself, and the ball, since he is not mobile.

If Delhomme wasn't football smart, then they wouldn't have told him to mentor the younger and inexperienced McCoy prior to McCoy taking the field as a starter.

3. Delhomme Has a Rapport With Mohamed Massaquoi

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CINCINNATI - NOVEMBER 29: Mohamed Massaquoi #11 of the Cleveland Browns runs during the NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on November 29, 2009 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

The Browns need their receivers to step up their game, especially Massaquoi, who is in the middle of a sophomore slump.

What better cure for this slump then to reunite him back with Delhomme.

Both developed timing during training camp and in preseason since Delhomme saw most of the first team reps while Massaquoi was starting on the outside.

Do not forget that Delhomme and Massaquoi hooked up for a 40-yard plus touchdown in Week 1 before Delhomme was injured.

4. Delhomme Has a Solid Running Game Behind Him Now

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CLEVELAND - NOVEMBER 07: Running back Peyton Hillis #40 of the Cleveland Browns runs the ball against the New England Patriots at Cleveland Browns Stadium on November 7, 2010 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)

Going back to training camp and preseason, the Browns were not too sure of themselves when it came to the running back position.

They had high hopes for rookie Montario Hardesty, they knew they had a bruiser in Peyton Hillis, and they knew what Jerome Harrison was capable of.

After a freak injury in the last preseason game took Hardesty out for the year, the Browns were still trying to find their identity in the running game in Week 1 and that caused the Buccaneers defense to really tee-off on the Browns' offense.

Now Delhome returns and he has one of the hottest running backs in the NFL lining up behind him and that will ease the pressure to shoulder the offense on his throwing arm.

5. Do Not Forget Delhomme's Terrific Preseason

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TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 12: Quarterback Jake Delhomme #17 of the Cleveland Browns lines up against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the NFL season opener game at Raymond James Stadium on September 12, 2010 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images

Granted it is just the preseason, but Delhomme had a quarterback rating over 100 in those games and, prior to sustaining his ankle injury in the first half of the season opener, Delhomme looked great up until that point too.

Delhomme has shown that he still has enough left in the tank to finish out these remaining games of the 2010 season if McCoy cannot play again.

McCoy is the future in Cleveland and that has now been well documented after he led the team to a highly competitive and entertaining 2-3 record, but Delhomme is back once again and he could be on the hot seat, so he needs to reach back into his past and show the Browns that he deserves to stay on the roster after this season too.

(Also posted on Dawg Scooper: A Cleveland Browns Source)