Browns pleased with QBs

By Mary Kay Cabot

The Cleveland Plain Dealer

BEREA

The Browns’ quarterback situation is working out as they hoped, with Jake Delhomme as the starter and Seneca Wallace coming in off the bench to provide an effective 1-2 punch.

“I think Jake’s done a good job,” said coach Eric Mangini. “It’s been two weeks in a row where he’s been pretty efficient throwing the ball, and he runs the offense well and he’s engaged the whole game.

“He’s working on the sideline whether he’s in or out, to try to either help the guys that are in, or try to figure out answers. A lot of the answers he knows and the ones he doesn’t know, he’s going to get. I think both of those guys have done a really nice job.”

Through two preseason games, Delhomme is completing 78.3 percent of his passes, with a 116.1 rating. Delhomme has completed 18 of 23 attempts for 193 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. He’s been sacked once for 6 yards.

Wallace, who relieved Delhomme in the first quarter in Green Bay and the third quarter against the Rams, has completed 9 of 17 attempts (52.9 percent) for 139 yards, but three of those nine completions have gone for touchdowns, including a 15-yarder to Josh Cribbs in Saturday night’s 19-17 loss to the Rams.

Wallace has thrown one interception and been sacked twice, earning a 95.3 rating.

“In terms of exactly how Seneca’s role will be defined, there’s a lot of things we can do with him,” said Mangini. “And he’s very comfortable coming in at any point. Over time, Seneca has been that guy, so he’s comfortable going in whenever we need him, and that’s a good thing because it allows you some flexibility.”

In each preseason game, Wallace threw touchdown passes on his first possession — a 13-yarder to Brian Robiskie in Green Bay and the 15-yarder to Cribbs against the Rams. But even though he’s thrown three TDs to Delhomme’s one, he’s comfortable with his role.

Mangini was reluctant to name Delhomme as his starter coming out of minicamp, in part because the Browns weren’t sure how he’d look when the lights came on. But the team is optimistic midway through the preseason.

Largely because of Delhomme’s leadership and huddle presence, the Browns were able to overcome a disastrous first quarter against the Rams — including two fumbled snaps by Delhomme, two fumbles by Jerome Harrison and a fumbled punt by Josh Cribbs. By the time it was over, the Browns were trailing, 13-0.

But instead of going into the tank, Delhomme pulled them out of the tailspin with an 11-play, 77-yard drive that ended with Ben Watson’s one-handed grab as he was falling out of the end zone.

“There wasn’t a sense of panic in the least,” said Delhomme. “It was just ‘Hey, let’s go out and play.’ That’s what you have to do.”

“I just always try to go out and do what I’ve been doing,” said Wallace. “I don’t worry about the starting job or whatever’s going on. I’ve just got to worry about what I can control and let everything else fall into place.”

“The team needed someone like Jake to come in here and play the position, someone who’s been there, who brings leadership,” said Browns president Mike Holmgren. “Then, to have him perform the way he did [in Green Bay], it’s even better.”