Seneca Wallace likely gives way to Jake Delhomme now, but he proved his value in Delhomme's absence, sports columnist Bud Shaw writes.
View full sizeSeneca Wallace's mobility and his resourcefulness helped keep the Browns offense viable during Jake Delhomme's ankle injury, says Bud Shaw. Wallace also earned the right to take the reins back should Delhomme stumble in his return.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- As a parting gift when Jake Delhomme returns, Seneca Wallace should move up a spot or two on Eric Mangini's speed dial.
Wallace has played better as a backup than many starting quarterbacks have around here since 1999. Sure, the flaws that have relegated him to spot duty during his career showed themselves. His deep throws down the sidelines call to mind Harry Doyle's "Juuust, a bit outside."
While nobody is clamoring for Wallace's tenure to become an era, he still acquitted himself well enough under the circumstances.
First, he faced two good defenses (Baltimore and Cincinnati) and a third under new management (Romeo Crennel's Chiefs). He did so with limited weapons, with Brian Robiskie sidelined and Mohamed Massaquoi the subject of an APB.
Wallace had Peyton Hillis as a battering ram, which is one way to storm a castle. As we were reminded again while watching Cincinnati's Carson Palmer playing a game of deep catch with Terrell Owens in the Browns' 23-20 win Sunday, though, strategic use of the catapult can save a lot of sweat and blood.
In the Browns' short-range version, Wallace found Evan Moore on a perfect post route for a 24-yard touchdown Sunday. His other long-ish completion went for 21 yards to Ben Watson.
The tight end is comfort food for a quarterback in Wallace's situation. While Hillis came out of the locker room and told coaches, "Feed me," Wallace did enough good things to sate the offensive appetite for momentum when Hillis didn't get the ball.
Hillis rushed for 102 yards. Until the final drive when he rambled over a worn-out Bengals' defense to preserve the victory, he had 64 yards. The Bengals game-planned for Hillis, not for Wallace, who got enough done that the offense didn't just hit the wall when Hillis did.
Eric Mangini said Delhomme was "really close" to playing and expects him to face Atlanta next week. Against a fast Bengals' defense, Mangini thought Wallace would give the Browns a better chance Sunday by sidestepping the rush and extending some plays. He did just that, using his mobility to get first downs with completions to Cribbs and Chansi Stuckey on separate scoring drives.
"As a receiver you like knowing Seneca can keep a play alive," said Stuckey. "He's a quarterback who keeps his eyes downfield and looks to throw before running."
The knock on Wallace is that he doesn't see all the field. Delhomme makes surer decisions, gets the ball away more quickly against the blitz. Of course, scrambling isn't an alternative.
The intriguing aspect of Delhomme's return is the possibility that he can utilize the outside passing game more effectively than what we've seen in his absence. Wallace completed as many passes to tight ends (eight) as he did wideouts.
In Delhomme's absence the Browns have found an identity. It was Hillis, though. Directing a successful offense requires much more diversity. The NFL in 2010 is a passing league.
Will that become clear under Delhomme? At least the Browns know Wallace can step back in and minimize errors. They've already seen him fare well enough with limited options.
Both Delhomme and Wallace carried Mike Holmgren's stamp of approval into the season. Now we get to see if Delhomme grows the offense or sabotages the progress with bad decisions. Are the problems bigger than him? Will he help or hurt?
As for Wallace, he did some good work as caretaker after years when similar situations left the Browns in complete disrepair.