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Quinn & Anderson put finishing touches on Offense |
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Written by Steve Doerschuk; Canton Repository
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Thursday, 29 May 2008 |
 (BEREA) By August, the Browns intend to paint the finishing touches on a state-of-the-art offense.
As spring practice winds toward June, the brush is leaving splatters.
"C'mon, back in the huddle! Let's go!" Offensive Coordinator Rob Chudzinski barked after quarterback Derek Anderson dropped a snap from center Hank Fraley.
Anderson seemed choppy in this week's practice that was open to the media. He is running the first-string offense, such as it is with key players missing.
In one sequence, he misfired to tight end Darnell Dinkins on the left sideline, sailed another sideline throw way over wideout Travis Wilson's head, then underthrew wideout Donté Stallworth, almost getting intercepted by safety Mike Adams.
After those three turkeys, though, Anderson fired a majestic strike to Wilson deep over the middle. It was one of those "wow" plays, which, if nothing else, reminded you Wilson's stock is rising.
Quinn seemed relatively sharp. He is quicker in his dropbacks than Anderson. On one play, he let fire a strike to wideout Efrem Hill the split second he planted his feet.
But there were glitches, too.
On one play, Quinn held the ball too long for Chudzinski's taste.
"C'mon, Brady, let's go!" Chudzinski barked.
On another, Quinn was intercepted in the end zone by Damon Jenkins, an undrafted rookie out of Fresno State.
That Quinn is throwing to guys who won't make the team makes it hard to gauge his progress.
Anderson, on the other hand, is practicing this week without Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow Jr. and Joe Jurevicius, his top three receivers last year. So, he faces streamlining issues, too.
One thing everyone notices is how much taller Anderson is than Quinn.
Using a 6-foot-6 body to his advantage has become second nature to Anderson. On one practice play Wednesday, Anderson was crouched a bit with a pile in front of him. He straightened up, craned his neck, spotted Dinkins over the middle and flicked a strike.
There are zero indications at this point that Quinn has a chance to play his way past Anderson with a torrid training camp.
Asked to appraise his No. 1 quarterback, Anderson, after a practice, Head Coach Romeo Crennel said:
"I think he's really confident. He knows the system better. He knows the personnel better.
"There's no real competition he has to worry about, so he can focus on trying to get better and trying to run the offense more efficiently."
Spring practice continues today and next week, building toward a June 10-12 minicamp. |
