With veteran Jake Delhomme, you'll see some of the plays that the Browns would eventually like to run with Colt McCoy -- especially the no-huddle offense.
View full sizeJake Delhomme's comfort with working a no-huddle offense is one of the reasons the Browns will start him over backup Seneca Wallace today in Miami.MIAMI -- Scribbles before the Browns take on the Dolphins today ...
1. With veteran Jake Delhomme at quarterback, you'll see some of the plays that the Browns would eventually like to run with Colt McCoy -- especially the no-huddle offense. The coaches became sold on it last season when Brady Quinn took over after the bye week. It didn't help Quinn's passing because of his accuracy issues, but the Browns believe it was an aid to the running game. The quick tempo made it difficult for the defense to substitute, and it also helped the Browns linemen develop a nice blocking rhythm.
2. The plan was to use mostly the no-huddle by the second or third game, as Delhomme was very comfortable with it. Having played in the West Coast offense in Seattle, Seneca Wallace was challenged enough learning the system here -- so they did not use it with him. The same basic approach was true with McCoy. They believed the rookie from Texas had enough to deal with simply adapting to the NFL.
3. But McCoy proved so capable of learning game plans that the no-huddle was soon to be employed. Then, McCoy sprained his ankle at Jacksonville, his fifth start.
4. So now it's back to Delhomme, and the hope is McCoy can play the final two home games against Pittsburgh and Baltimore. He keeps telling the coaches that he may be ready as soon as next week at Buffalo. But McCoy has never had a high ankle sprain before. Fans know from watching Delhomme and Wallace that they don't heal in a few weeks.
5. Just a thought: The biggest fear with Delhomme is the costly interception. He is throwing one every 15 pass attempts this season. McCoy had only three in five games. The coaches were very impressed with his accuracy (64 percent) and ability to keep plays alive by escaping the rush and throwing on the move. They do think he held the ball a few times too long at Jacksonville, part of the reason he was sacked six times.
6. The Browns won't say it, but the coaches are sold on McCoy being the quarterback of the present and near future. He has shown them the mental toughness and football intelligence needed to start.
7. It's a shame McCoy was injured because you could see the fans grabbing on to him and Peyton Hillis -- joining Joshua Cribbs -- as players who are easy to like and whose jerseys are worth wearing.
8. Several times this season, Eric Mangini has said the best play for a quarterback is to throw the ball away. Delhomme must keep that in mind today, who play a confusing 3-4 defense. The Browns compare Miami's tactics to Baltimore's 3-4, which means lots of pressure. Not only do the Dolphins think they can force him into interceptions, but they believe his tendency to hold the ball too long can lead to fumbles.
9. No one told me this, but if Delhomme has a turnover-prone first half, the Browns may go to Wallace. Every Browns' fan has heard Mangini's lectures about "self-inflicted wounds." The coach also said Miami is a very physical team, but disciplined as it ranks fourth in fewest turnovers. The Browns are No. 7.
10. You can be sure defensive coordinator Rob Ryan challenges his players after Sunday's passive effort in what was a very fortunate 24-23 victory over Carolina. I love how Ryan said Friday that this game would prove "the death of our defense has been greatly exaggerated."
11. Ryan defended his defense by stating they are 13th in points allowed, fourth in interceptions and fifth in forcing turnovers. He raved about the tackling of Joe Haden, something that you don't notice unless you recall how often Eric Wright, Brandon McDonald and some other cornerbacks miss tackles.
12. Ryan seemed very uncertain about Shaun Rogers, who "never has been full speed. We have to get out of him what we can and hope he doesn't have any more setbacks." The Browns refuse to confirm it, but Rogers put on extra weight when he was out with his leg injury during the summer. He then had ankle and other problems. In limited action, he has been effective. Teams still have to use two guys to block him. So even if he only plays 25 percent of the snaps, it is a benefit.