Cincy could again be key to Anderson’s fate as Browns QB
Scott Petrak | The Chronicle-Telegram
CINCINNATI — Derek Anderson has been the starting quarterback for a little more than a year, but his career has already turned twice versus the Bengals.
If it doesn’t turn again today in the Battle of Bumbling Ohio, Anderson will likely find himself back on the bench.
Coach Romeo Crennel debated making a switch to Brady Quinn following an 0-3 start, but decided to give Anderson one more chance versus the Bengals. Anderson, whose 43.5 rating ranks 31st in the NFL, is on a short leash, as Crennel directed Quinn to be ready at a moment’s notice.
“Derek is our guy. Just because we had a bad three games, we can’t turn away from him or abandon him,” receiver Braylon Edwards said.
Crennel’s decision to stick with Anderson was supported in the locker room but ripped in the media and by team adviser Jim Brown.
“You have reasons for making your decisions, then you decide and you go forward with it,” Crennel said. “If you start looking back over your shoulder — did I do the right thing? — then you’re lost.”
Anderson has looked lost since his last trip to the Queen City, in Week 16 last year, ended with four interceptions in a windblown defeat that cost the Browns a spot in the postseason. In the four games since, he has six interceptions, three touchdowns and just one win.
Those numbers are a far cry from the 10-game stretch that earned him a three-year, $24 million contract. The period of prosperity started with a 51-45 Week 2 win over Cincinnati, as Anderson tied a franchise record with five touchdown passes, cemented his place as starter and sparked a surprising run that nearly led to the playoffs.
Will the good vibes carry over to today?
“They’ve got a new defensive coordinator so they’re doing different things,” said Anderson, who faces a Bengals defense that has one sack and no interceptions. “I’ve got plenty of stuff to study.”
Anderson’s 29 touchdowns and 3,787 yards in 2007 have been forgotten by many. So has his 10-11 career record (.476), which is easily the best mark by a quarterback since the franchise returned in 1999. (Tim Couch is second at 22-37, .373.)
Quinn’s been the fans’ choice since the day he was drafted in the first round in 2007, and that popularity has only grown with Anderson’s struggles. The people may get their wish today if Anderson falters again.
“I don’t think there’s a lot of difference,” Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said of facing Anderson or Quinn, “other than the fact when a guy hasn’t played as much, he’s more apt to pull the ball down and run with it. He comes into this element for the first time, he’s apt not to want to have a bad, bad play. …
“Every play means a great deal to that backup player.”
After 0-3 starts for both Ohio teams, every play means a great deal to each team. They are already in huge holes, but only one team since 1990 — the ’92 San Diego Chargers led by quarterback Stan Humphries — has recovered from an 0-4 start to make the playoffs. Fifty-nine teams have tried and failed.
“We didn’t start like we wanted to start, but we’ve got to start somewhere,” linebacker Andra Davis said. “If we get this win, we’ve got a beginning.
“We need a win, period.”
The sense of urgency has grown steadily in the first month of the season, but the panic evident at pubs across Northeast Ohio is absent inside the locker room.
“We’re fine. You can’t panic. That’s the last thing you want to do,” center Hank Fraley said. “We’re not going to let anybody hang their heads this season. We’ve got to get back in this thing one game at a time and we’re going to do it.”
The Bengals have won six of seven in the series and four straight in Cincinnati. They played better last week in an overtime loss to the Giants and are counting on today to jump-start their season.
“It’s the Battle of Ohio and unfortunately right now we’re not 3-0, we’re both 0-3,” Lewis said. “I thought maybe we’d both be 3-0 at this point but we’re not and so we’re going to go out there and we’re going to go battle this weekend.”
The Browns’ luck after 0-3 starts isn’t good. They’ve started 0-3 four other times, and the best record they could manage was 5-11 in 1984.
That’s a bad omen. But fans desperate for a positive sign have a counter. Anderson’s Oregon State Beavers beat Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer’s top-ranked USC Trojans on Thursday night in a huge upset.
Perhaps Anderson can parlay the good karma into a strong performance and a season-saving win.
“A lot of things can change with a win,” tackle Kevin Shaffer said. “That’s what we’re hoping for.”
Contact Scott Petrak at 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com.
TODAY
WHO: Cleveland at Cincinnati
TIME: 1 p.m.
WHERE: Paul Brown Stadium
TV/RADIO: Channel 19; WMMS 100.7-FM
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Filed by Scott Petrak | The Chronicle-Telegram September 28th, 2008 in Sports. Popularity: 3% |
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