Ohio.com - Browns' QB plan is 2-track
Frye to start tonight in Denver; Quinn to be brought along slowly
The Browns will use the preseason game tonight in Denver to try to get quarterback Charlie Frye ready to start the regular season.
Rookie quarterback Brady Quinn (probably) won't play until the second half.
The Browns fear that rushing Quinn will hurt him, and they also think that given his 11-day holdout, he's not ready.
So the Browns will have a two-track quarterback system as the regular season approaches.
The first will emphasize trying to boost Frye's confidence so that he can start the regular season. If Frye falters, Derek Anderson would get the chance in the opener. It would not be Quinn.
That's because Quinn is on the second track, which will emphasize getting him ready to play period.
Few people in Berea think that the entire season will go by without Quinn stepping into the lineup. The front office and coaching staff wants that to happen in a careful, deliberate way a way that will allow him to grow without ruining his confidence.
The Browns were more than pleased with Quinn's success last weekend against the Detroit Lions. They also were quick to point out that it shouldn't be taken without perspective.
Quinn was given four or five plays to run, and he ran them time and again. Too, the Lions were playing the softest possible defense, giving everything underneath and protecting deep.
The Browns think that continuing to bring Quinn along in a more deliberate way will best protect his long-term future.
Matt Leinart and Vince Young had decent rookie seasons in 2006. Each took over a few games into the season.