Sports columnist Bud Shaw says Saturday for the Browns against Green Bay was just what the quarterback doctor, Mike Holmgren, ordered.
Jake Delhomme's strong series against the Packers may not totally quiet the summertime tradition of QB alarmists around Browns camp, but the murmuring should be a bit softer after Delhomme and Seneca Wallace looked like legitimate NFL signal-callers, says Bud Shaw.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- After the unveiling of the quarterback makeover, you'd have to say things could not have gone better.
The public chorus for Colt McCoy is silenced by hosannas for Jake Delhomme and praise for Seneca Wallace today. Yes, it's only one meaningless exhibition game. But since bringing McCoy along slowly is the plan, this was just what the quarterback doctor, Mike Holmgren, ordered.
Once August comes around, any Cleveland weekend that passes without a grassroots movement calling for a change at quarterback is a welcome development.
Delhomme was sharp, decisive and effective in his one drive against Green Bay. Wallace showed with his legs and his arm why Holmgren brought him here from Seattle. Brett Ratliff at least got the Browns in position for a game-winning Phil Dawson field goal, thus saving everyone involved the torture that is overtime preseason football.
Two interceptions and a sprained thumb for McCoy was a reminder that young quarterbacks here and elsewhere have too often been force-fed the NFL game to their great detriment.
We need to see more of Delhomme to be convinced this was the beginning of the exorcism to drive away the demons that chased him from Carolina. How last season ended made this start important, both for him and for the fans' faith in Holmgren.
Did Holmgren know what he was doing in dispatching Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn and replacing them with Delhomme and Wallace? That's a two-part question.
"Absolutely" is the first answer.
Just imagine that Saturday was the first game in another quarterback challenge starring Anderson and Quinn. It not only would've been depressing for the people digging deep for Browns tickets but it would've cast a pall over the locker room where the sentiment would be, "We're going to try to win with these two, again?"
Since Eric Mangini clearly wasn't excited by either quarterback, change, in this case, was good enough all by itself.
Starting over at QB was never the wrong move, despite the protestations of the pro-Quinn faction. The rest of the equation dealt with whether Delhomme has anything left and -- worse-case scenario -- whether Wallace could step in if necessary to allow the organization time to groom McCoy.
That can't be resolved in one exhibition game. Let's just say we see no reason to bet against Holmgren getting it right.
What's the definition of "getting it right?" It's not making the playoffs. It's getting the kind of quarterback play that allows the offense to grow.
I'm not talking the infantry offense on display in the last four games a year ago. You can't win in the NFL digging tunnels on offense. Delhomme's work against Green Bay was good enough to offer hope of an honest-to-goodness NFL caliber air attack behind a line that just might be strong enough to keep him breathing.
His work against Green Bay was also over too soon, lasting just 11 plays. Last year, neither quarterback was ready for the regular season. But Saturday's rotation was more method than Mangini madness.
Mangini wanted Wallace to get time with the first-team offense since he figures into the Wildcat the Browns will run in the regular season. The length of Delhomme's first drive made it possible for him to get work and finish on a high note.
Overall, no penalties, no turnovers. Two good quarterback performances.
It's one game. But everyone needed this kind of start, from the top man to the 12th man.