limaguy
12-18-2007, 06:18 AM
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
By Todd Porter
REPOSITORY SPORTS WR
http://www.cantonrep.com/photos/2007/12/m_18m04_rosAnderson875.jpg
CLEVELAND
One year ago, no one knew Derek Anderson, including Anderson. No one knew what the Browns benchwarmer could do. Sure, there was a glimpse or two, but that could’ve been blind luck.
Now, Anderson is taking the Tony Romo approach to NFL stardom — minus, of course, the pop star girlfriends and tabloid headlines.
So there was Anderson on Sunday night, still thawing out from 3 1/2 hours of arctic football, trying to take it all in. What makes Anderson different than Charlie Frye and Tim Couch is, he doesn’t bother to wrap his mind around it. There’s no first-pick hype to live up to, no local-boy-makes-good storyline to force.
Anderson is having a Pro Bowl-caliber season. Now let’s be serious, when the voting is announced today, don’t expect to see Anderson close to Tom Brady or Peyton Manning.
Brady is having a historic season. Anderson is having a Manning-like season.
Manning has thrown for about 200 more yards and two more touchdowns than Anderson this season. They’ve each thrown 14 interceptions. The biggest difference between the two is passer rating, where Manning has 10 points on Anderson’s 85.8, which is nothing to sneeze at.
Anderson, though, seems to have the heady stats under control. What would he have said if someone told him four months ago he could make the Pro Bowl and lead the Browns to the playoffs?
“I’d have said, ‘No,’ ” Anderson said, and then he laughed the kind of belly laugh that indicated fiction becoming reality in his life.
While it is unfair to peg one player as the reason for Cleveland’s rags-to-riches transformation, much of it can be credited to Anderson. The Browns are tied with the Steelers for the division lead, are on the cusp of a playoff berth and turning heads all over the league.
“Obviously, I didn’t know what was going to happen,” Anderson said. “I’m really proud of the way the guys bounced back and come in and work hard and want to get better. Hopefully, we can hit a peak and finish it off.”
There is no doubt Anderson is the beneficiary of an improved offensive line and growth of Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow Jr. Yes, Offensive Coordinator Rob Chudzinski has breathed life into a previously dormant, dying offense, but someone has to execute it.
Anderson is having a better season than Carson Palmer, Eli Manning, Phillip Rivers and Vince Young. If someone had told you a Browns QB would be playing better football than aforementioned throwers, you’d have said, “Who, Brady Quinn?”
Head Coach Romeo Crennel is guarded — at best — in his praise of Anderson. Maybe he is the lucky one who happened to be the guy under center when the offensive line solidified, the receivers grew up and a coordinator came up with a plan. Would any of that have happened with Frye? Couch?
No.
Teammates have made Anderson a better player, but he’s returning the favor.
In the snow and cold on a wind-blown Sunday, Anderson laughed in the huddle and joked about the conditions. When it was over, the shadow setting on his career season, he sounded like a kid playing the position and the role.
“I felt like a kid out there,” he said. “I was having fun with it.”
He was talking about the snow. He could’ve been talking about the season, too.
Reach Repository sports writer Todd Porter at (330) 580-8340 or e-mail: todd.porter@cantonrep.com
By Todd Porter
REPOSITORY SPORTS WR
http://www.cantonrep.com/photos/2007/12/m_18m04_rosAnderson875.jpg
CLEVELAND
One year ago, no one knew Derek Anderson, including Anderson. No one knew what the Browns benchwarmer could do. Sure, there was a glimpse or two, but that could’ve been blind luck.
Now, Anderson is taking the Tony Romo approach to NFL stardom — minus, of course, the pop star girlfriends and tabloid headlines.
So there was Anderson on Sunday night, still thawing out from 3 1/2 hours of arctic football, trying to take it all in. What makes Anderson different than Charlie Frye and Tim Couch is, he doesn’t bother to wrap his mind around it. There’s no first-pick hype to live up to, no local-boy-makes-good storyline to force.
Anderson is having a Pro Bowl-caliber season. Now let’s be serious, when the voting is announced today, don’t expect to see Anderson close to Tom Brady or Peyton Manning.
Brady is having a historic season. Anderson is having a Manning-like season.
Manning has thrown for about 200 more yards and two more touchdowns than Anderson this season. They’ve each thrown 14 interceptions. The biggest difference between the two is passer rating, where Manning has 10 points on Anderson’s 85.8, which is nothing to sneeze at.
Anderson, though, seems to have the heady stats under control. What would he have said if someone told him four months ago he could make the Pro Bowl and lead the Browns to the playoffs?
“I’d have said, ‘No,’ ” Anderson said, and then he laughed the kind of belly laugh that indicated fiction becoming reality in his life.
While it is unfair to peg one player as the reason for Cleveland’s rags-to-riches transformation, much of it can be credited to Anderson. The Browns are tied with the Steelers for the division lead, are on the cusp of a playoff berth and turning heads all over the league.
“Obviously, I didn’t know what was going to happen,” Anderson said. “I’m really proud of the way the guys bounced back and come in and work hard and want to get better. Hopefully, we can hit a peak and finish it off.”
There is no doubt Anderson is the beneficiary of an improved offensive line and growth of Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow Jr. Yes, Offensive Coordinator Rob Chudzinski has breathed life into a previously dormant, dying offense, but someone has to execute it.
Anderson is having a better season than Carson Palmer, Eli Manning, Phillip Rivers and Vince Young. If someone had told you a Browns QB would be playing better football than aforementioned throwers, you’d have said, “Who, Brady Quinn?”
Head Coach Romeo Crennel is guarded — at best — in his praise of Anderson. Maybe he is the lucky one who happened to be the guy under center when the offensive line solidified, the receivers grew up and a coordinator came up with a plan. Would any of that have happened with Frye? Couch?
No.
Teammates have made Anderson a better player, but he’s returning the favor.
In the snow and cold on a wind-blown Sunday, Anderson laughed in the huddle and joked about the conditions. When it was over, the shadow setting on his career season, he sounded like a kid playing the position and the role.
“I felt like a kid out there,” he said. “I was having fun with it.”
He was talking about the snow. He could’ve been talking about the season, too.
Reach Repository sports writer Todd Porter at (330) 580-8340 or e-mail: todd.porter@cantonrep.com