CLEVELAND — The last time the Browns made a dramatic quarterback switch — from Charlie Frye to Derek Anderson in Week 2 last year — they scored 51 points, won 10 of the next 15 games and nearly made the playoffs.
This time, Anderson heads to the bench in favor of Brady Quinn, but the goal remains the same. Save the season and make an improbable run at the postseason.
“It’s not over until it’s over,” linebacker Andra Davis said. “We still have those same playoff hopes, but we can’t think about the playoffs until we start winning and winning consistently.”
The 2008 season has been sabotaged by inconsistent play, starting with Anderson and carrying through the entire team. It paved the way for the move to Quinn, who’s being counted on to energize an underachieving offense.
How Quinn will play is an unknown. What’s certain is the excitement he’ll bring tonight to Cleveland Browns Stadium and NFL Network’s first telecast of the season.
The fickle fans have been chanting his name and buying his jersey since he was drafted in 2007. His first career start adds buzz to a season dangerously close to being irrelevant at the midway point with a 3-5 record.
“The crowd will definitely be for him,” coach Romeo Crennel said. “That should lift him up a little bit.”
“Anytime we play at home it’s big for us,” Quinn said. “I think a lot of times our fans don’t realize how big of a help they are giving us energy.
“It’s going to be fun to get back out there. Obviously I’m excited now and I will be once game time comes. The biggest thing for me is remaining calm.”
Quinn has thrown just eight passes in his career, so he’s had plenty of time to study film, think about the big day and get nervous.
“I’ve got a strong faith and I believe things happen for a reason and God has a plan for us,” he said. “He wouldn’t have presented this opportunity for me if I wasn’t ready.
“There’s nothing that I feel I can’t handle.”
Quinn, the No. 22 pick in the 2007 draft, left Notre Dame as the all-time passing leader and with a sparkling letter of recommendation from Charlie Weis. Decision-making and composure are supposed to be his greatest assets.
“He commands the huddle,” Crennel said. “It’s part of the job. You’re the leader of the offense. If you have command of your huddle and show leadership, guys around you feel more confident about what you can do and probably more confident in working for you.”
Quinn will be facing a Denver defense that ranks 29th in total yardage (387.9), 28th in scoring (27.6 points) and will be without three injured starters: All-Pro cornerback Champ Bailey, linebacker and NFL tackle leader D.J. Williams and safety Marlon McCree.
Crennel said he made the switch to add a “different dynamic” to the offense. In layman’s terms, that means provide a spark to a unit 27th in scoring (17.7) and 28th in yardage (266.8).
“It depends on how we play. If he comes out and plays great, then, yeah, everybody says it’s a spark,” linebacker Willie McGinest said. “If he doesn’t, then …”
Throughout Anderson’s 29-touchdown, Pro Bowl season last year, general manager Phil Savage said he was sitting in an “enviable cockpit.” Anderson was supported by a strong offensive line, good running back and Pro Bowlers at tight end and receiver.
This year, the flight has been much bumpier.
The line took a month to jell. Jamal Lewis doesn’t have a 100-yard game. Kellen Winslow missed two games and his numbers are down. And Braylon Edwards has a league-high 13 drops and nowhere near the production of last season.
“Romeo felt there was a need to make a decision like that, whatever, change things up,” Edwards said. “All we can do is go out there and help Brady out, help him along and just make plays for him.”
Quinn will be the fourth starting quarterback in Crennel’s four years and the 11th since the team returned in 1999.
He won’t have to be great to surpass the likes of Spergon Wynn, Ty Detmer, Luke McCown, Doug Pederson, Jeff Garcia, Charlie Frye, Kelly Holcomb, Trent Dilfer and Tim Couch. But he will have to be good to reverse the fortunes of a season that can only be judged as a flop.
“We’ve still got eight games to go, we’re still in the hunt,” McGinest said. “Nobody’s quitters around here. It’s not throwing in the towel.”
Injury report
Left guard Eric Steinbach (ribs) and fullback Lawrence Vickers (ankle) were listed as doubtful on the official injury report. Defensive linemen Shaun Rogers (ribs) and Corey Williams were questionable, and receiver Donte Stallworth (quadriceps) probable.
Contact Scott Petrak at 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com.

QUARTERBACK DEBUTS

Brady Quinn will make his first NFL start tonight against Denver. Here’s a look at how other quarterbacks fared recently in their starting debuts:

Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh

DEBUT: Sept. 26, 2004, 13-3 win over Dolphins
STATS: 12-for-22, 163 yards, TD, INT

Jay Cutler, Denver

DEBUT: Dec. 3, 2006, 23-20 loss to Seattle
STATS: 10-for-21, 143 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs

Trent Edwards, Buffalo

DEBUT: Sept. 30, 2007, 17-14 win over Jets
STATS: 22-for-28, 234 yards, TD, INT

Joe Flacco, Baltimore

DEBUT: Sept. 7, 17-10 win over Bengals
STATS: 15-for-29, 129 yards, TD run

Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay

DEBUT: Sept. 8, 24-19 win over Vikings
STATS: 18-for-22, 178 yards, TD, TD run

• Rodgers may be the best comparison to Quinn, because he was the No. 24 pick then spent three years on the bench behind Brett Favre.
 

 

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