Cleveland Browns' best choice at QB is Seneca Wallace or Colt McCoy, but not Jake Delhomme

[BernietheKid]

Cleveland Browns' best choice at QB is Seneca Wallace or Colt McCoy, but not Jake Delhomme

Published: Monday, December 13, 2010, 6:41 PM Updated: Monday, December 13, 2010, 7:02 PM

Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer


Joshua Gunter / The Plain Dealer
Whether it was by coaching design or physical limitation, Jake Delhomme looks like an old NFL quarterback with little left to offer a team, says Terry Pluto. Which means either Seneca Wallace or Colt McCoy would be a better choice this week against the Bengals.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Let's hope that rookie Colt McCoy's sprained ankle has healed enough for him to start on Sunday in Cincinnati.

Otherwise, Eric Mangini said he'll start Jake Delhomme once again.

One question ... why?

It makes sense that the Browns coach would want to watch McCoy practice on Wednesday, the next day the team is on the field. You can't trust the players to be candid about their injuries.

Twice this season, Delhomme has insisted he could play on a sprained ankle -- and the Browns allowed him to do just that in the second halves of games against Tampa Bay and Atlanta.

Both times, he looked like a shaky, 36-year-old quarterback operating on a bad leg. He wasn't the only reason the Browns lost those games, but he failed to help. The same was true in Sunday's disturbing 13-6 loss at Buffalo.

As Mangini said Monday, "It wasn't all on Jake by any stretch."

But it is a stretch to believe Delhomme has much left in his quarterback tank. He has started four games, played in five. He's thrown the ball 149 times, the results being seven interceptions, two touchdowns and an average of 5.9 yards per attempt.

Compare that to four touchdowns, two interceptions and a 6.9-yard average in 100 passes. Those are not McCoy's numbers. They belong to Seneca Wallace, an experienced backup with a history of doing a decent job as a spot starter.

Chuck Crow / The Plain Dealer
Seneca Wallace is more mobile, better at throwing on the run and has better stats than Jake Delhomme. If Colt McCoy isn't available, Wallace is the best choice for the Browns, says Terry Pluto.

Not sure why the coaches are picking Delhomme over Wallace at this critical juncture of the season, as they are being evaluated by team president Mike Holmgren for a possible return in 2011.

Yes, signing Delhomme for $7 million was Holmgren's wildly optimistic plan, especially after Carolina cut him. That was despite the Panthers having to give Delhomme a $12 million check as he left.

But Wallace played for Holmgren in Seattle. Holmgren was the driving force behind drafting McCoy in the third round. So all of the quarterbacks are his idea.

But it's Mangini job on the line.

It's impossible to speak for the coach, but I wouldn't trust my coaching future to Delhomme. Yes, he is an outstanding leader. Yes, he can grasp a variety of offenses and set up the players for the no-huddle better than the other two quarterbacks. Yes, he is a no-excuse guy.

But when it comes time to make a play when it matters, Delhomme looks slow. Slow in the pocket. Slow with his throws. Slow to react.

It happens at some point to every quarterback, and Delhomme was a good one for a long time.

One of the key components of a successful quarterback in this era is mobility. Buffalo's Ryan Fitzpatrick has it. Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger and nearly every good quarterback can throw reasonably well off the run and has a knack of avoiding the pass rush.

In his five starts, McCoy displayed some very promising attributes: He is an accurate passer and can throw accurately with his feet moving. He also has the poise of a coach's son who played in Texas, where quarterbacks are constantly under public scrutiny.

Wallace also is a sharp passer with lively legs who simply seems to give the Browns a better shot to win on Sunday than Delhomme.

After seeing some very creative plays against New England, New Orleans and the New York Jets with McCoy at quarterback, the offense has crawled back into a cave. Forget using complicated formations diagramed with Xs and Os, these plays were barely stickmen on a wall.

No matter what they say, the plays revealed they were afraid Delhomme would make a turnover.

You can't play the game that way, especially when Wallace (29 touchdown passes, 16 interceptions) has shown in his career that he rarely makes terrible throws. He also beat the Bengals, 23-20, earlier this season.

It's very possible the coaches believe McCoy is healthy, and the rest of this is the usual pre-game quarterback smoke screen. But if someone else besides McCoy has to come out of the fog on Sunday to start, it should be Wallace.

Cleveland Browns' best choice at QB is Seneca Wallace or Colt McCoy, but not Jake Delhomme: Terry Pluto | cleveland.com

[Masters]

Pluto is just out to get EM and the staff

[Enigmatic Evil]

I think it boils down purely to the professionalism that both QB's have shown while they were on the team. Jake has been nothing but a team player. His performance on the field aside, he's been a conssumate professional who has said and done the right things. Not being stupid with the media and being glued to rookie Colt McCoy.

I truly believe when Seneca came out around what, was it week 4 or 5 and made his statements in the media, questioning Mangini and asserting that he should be the starting QB have you ever noticed that we haven't heard, or seen much from Mr. Wallace since that point and time? I am convinced he ended up on Mangini's shit list because of those comments and that's why Mangini has been sticking with Delhomme.

I am not trying to say Delhomme should be the starter. I'm sick of Delhomme, and he's played very poorly this season but I think that Seneca's burned his bridge or at least, earned the ire of the head coach and we've seen it before with players like Jerome Harrison where Mangini will sit a guy on the bench just to prove his point.

Lets be honest. Mangini isn't showing 'loyalty' to Delhomme. How many times did he name a different starter last season, seemed like every other week. Mangini isn't afraid to shake it up or then again maybe he learned from last season and is trying to get some stability behind center. Either way, Delhomme isn't working and we ought to let Wallace have a start because the numbers aren't lying and he's probably a much more potent option for us.

When push comes to shove, Delhomme has not made the plays when we need him to. If we want a hope in hell of winning any of the next 3 games. We are going to need a QB behind center who WILL make some plays for us and I believe Wallace is the better option of the two at this point and time.

[hiwaygal]

Originally Posted by Masters

Pluto is just out to get EM and the staff

LOL!!

You may be being sarcastic, but I'm not sure the sentiment really is. I think Pluto has had it out for Mangini for a LOOOOOOOOOONG time. At least it seems that way to me.

While in general I agree with him, I keep thinking back to last year. And we kept thinking Brady was the better option than DA. Hell, by season end we were looking at what's his name (Ratliff?). In truth, there wasn't a better option on the team.

This time, we DO have a better option in McCoy. But he's injured and I would rather he get all the time he needs to heal than get in and play too early and end up hurting himself more or worse.

Yeah, we all want to see wins. But we also all knew that we weren't going to be contenders this year either. Maybe the coaching staff decides to keep Colt on the bench and getting healthy and let whoever they believe gives the best chance to win (apparently it's Delhomme) play. Whatever happens happens.

And maybe, just maybe, this is a plan Holmgren has already bought into.

[Sez.EJ]

Sorry to burst your bubble. Mangini knows what most of us know. Delhomme is better than Wallace. (not that that is saying much)..they are both mediocre at best). Last weeks game was not on Wallace. Daboll called a HORRIBLE game.. double reverse? Are you kidding me.. I think all the players on the offense glared at Daboll on the sideline after that one blew up..Pass blocking sucked, Delhomme was hit and harassed all game. Recievers could not get open( normal situation)..even Watson only got one pass. Can anyone name a worse receiving corps??? Case closed.

Pluto is a Mangini hater..so I take his negative posts with an enourmous grain of salt.

Read it and weep all ye haters.

[/quote]

Dec. 13, 2010 4:14 p.m. - Forget about Seneca Wallace replacing Jake Delhomme at QB. Coach Eric Mangini said the struggling Delhomme will start Sunday in Cincinnati if Colt McCoy (ankle) isn't ready to return. Browns RapidReports

On the positive side. I would guess colt will play this week..IHOPE IHOPE IHOPE IHOPE

[YtownBacker]

Since Pluto isn't HC, I think Wallace is out of the question as he should be.

Funny, this is coming from a guy who rarely attends practices or is a fixture in the locker room. I actually like Pluto's writings he really doesn't know the heartbeat of this team or really seen Wallace at practice. His post is a knee jerk reaction after measuring fan reaction.

[nickers]

Youre all high on Bong water especially Sez...If you honestly believe Jake gives us a better shot to win than Wallace. Im convinced your all victims of brain damage or you have your noses so far up Manginis buns youre brain cells have evaporated..If Mamgini starts Delhomme on sunday then hes a bigger moron than I tried to give him credit for. Fuck Jake and his 7 million $...If we start Jake then we deserve to lose and Mangini deserves to get run out of town for being a total dickwad dipshit he is.

[TheBestPlayersPlay]

Hey nickers, how well did Wallace do with Holmgren as a coach and a more talented offense?

One thing you can say about him is he doesn't throw many picks.

Another thing you can say about him is he doesn't throw many completions.

4 wins in an entire season of starting with a better team, under what most of you would say is a better coach in Mike Holmgren.

You guys make a ton of sense.

Hope to God McCoy is back next week and looks better than ever.

[Masters]

Wallace has never started an entire season. The most games he started in any season was 8, which was in 2008. With him starting for that team (which I wouldn't call a more talented offense as a whole) they went 3-5. Wallace threw 11 TDs and 3 INTs in those 8 games. In those 8 games he completed 58% of his passes. This year in 4 starts each, both he and Jake have completed 63% of their passes.

McCoy is the answer when ready to go. If the choice is only Jake or Wallace, the Y/A and TD:INT favor Wallace. I don't see how it makes no sense that people would think Wallace gives a better chance to win than Jake.

[Legendary]

Think Jake will play one more game on Sunday then it is Colt McCoy show.

[YtownBacker]

Originally Posted by Masters

Wallace has never started an entire season. The most games he started in any season was 8, which was in 2008. With him starting for that team (which I wouldn't call a more talented offense as a whole) they went 3-5. Wallace threw 11 TDs and 3 INTs in those 8 games. In those 8 games he completed 58% of his passes. This year in 4 starts each, both he and Jake have completed 63% of their passes.

McCoy is the answer when ready to go. If the choice is only Jake or Wallace, the Y/A and TD:INT favor Wallace. I don't see how it makes no sense that people would think Wallace gives a better chance to win than Jake.

You forgot to mention Wallace was 1 win in those 4 starts and he was in for Jake when we were leading in week one and we lost. Maybe not all him but sometimes stats don't tell the whole picture.

Wallace is a career backup because he still has problems reading defenses. He has good legs but that is part of his problem also. He gets nervous feet and leaves the pocket as soon as he sees that his primary target isn't open. Bottom line is Wallace doesn't do a good job of managing a game plan. If he was the best option he would be playing. Everybody loves the backup QB, but usually there is a reason that the guy is the backup.

[Masters]

Originally Posted by YtownBacker

You forgot to mention Wallace was 1 win in those 4 starts and he was in for Jake when we were leading in week one and we lost. Maybe not all him but sometimes stats don't tell the whole picture.

Wallace is a career backup because he still has problems reading defenses. He has good legs but that is part of his problem also. He gets nervous feet and leaves the pocket as soon as he sees that his primary target isn't open. Bottom line is Wallace doesn't do a good job of managing a game plan. If he was the best option he would be playing. Everybody loves the backup QB, but usually there is a reason that the guy is the backup.

True, the Browns only did win one game in those 4 starts (he only finished 3 and the 4th is when they brought in a hobbled Jake who threw the game away). The stats don't tell the whole story, but that stats aren't exactly lying either.

Wallace is a career back up. While Jake has looked like the guy CAR benched and cut. So it's pick your poison. Jake isn't doing a good job of managing the game either, so it's not like that is an upper hand he has on Wallace. Self inflicted woulds are not part of the game plan.

This isn't about love the back up for me. This is about picking the lesser of two evils until Colt is ready. To me, based on what I have seen from Jake and Seneca, Seneca is the lesser of those two evils. Neither is likely to win you the game on their arm, but one of them has shown over and over he's gonna risk you losing it.