After watching Jake since 2003 with the Panthers it has become apparent when he struggles. Like most QBs in the NFL, Jake struggles when he doesn't get good enough protection from his OL. The Panthers have never been good at pass protection while Jake was their QB, they're good at run blocking, but not good at pass blocking. Jake was hammered too many times while playing QB for the Panthers, but when they did manage to protect him somewhat and give him ample time, he excelled. When the Panther's OL failed to give him time to make his reads or even time to complete a slant pass, Jake struggled. This first came apparent in the NFCCG with the Panthers playing the Seahawks in 2005, Jake was rushed and hammered the whole game, the Panthers were down to their 3rd or 4th string RB leaving them with Steve Smith as their only offensive weapon. The Seahawks tripled covered Smith taking him out of the game and then pressured Jake and in return shut down the Panther offense. After this game opposing teams learned how to shut down Jake and the Panthers.

If the Brown's OL manages to protect Jake reasonably well and give him time, there's no doubt in my mind Jake will have a good season. Another thing that actually made things difficult for Jake was Steve Smith. Smith would pressure Jake to get him the ball and with opposing defenses keying on Smith (Smitty) this lead to many of Jake's interceptions. Jake's best season was the 2004 season when Smitty missed the season after the first game against GB with a broken leg. Also, in the 2008 season Jake won the first two games of the season when Smitty was out with a suspension, the Panthers lost the 3rd game when Smitty came back and played. The added pressure of getting Smitty the ball didn't help Jake's game. Now that he's a Brown, he won't have to worry about Smitty crying about not getting the ball thrown to him every time.

@hoorta said:

One thing- if Clayton's going by last year to predict this year, there's no way in hell you can rank Andersuck- qb rating 42, 3TD, 10 ints ahead of Jake.

Actually his article was more about ranking the qb's that have a chance to be elite. I think Jake's age was the biggest factor in him being ranked 33rd. I get the low ranking based on this criteria, but not him being 33rd. We have qb's on that list that may end up being backyups very soon.

@hoorta said:

One thing- if Clayton's going by last year to predict this year, there's no way in hell you can rank Andersuck- qb rating 42, 3TD, 10 ints ahead of Jake.

He was bad before last year. Who knows maybe there will be a resurgence but he's certainly on the backside of his career and when the Browns went out looking for a QB the pickings were slim. It's not like Holmgren had a ton to choose from when he went to the wire.

Homotron said:

We'll see. Holmgren's betting last year was an aberration for Jake.

One thing- if Clayton's going by last year to predict this year, there's no way in hell you can rank Andersuck- qb rating 42, 3TD, 10 ints ahead of Jake.

I think that the football establishment in general and John Clayton in particular are missing some important arguments here.

1) Jake is now two years post Tommy John surgery which, by all accounts, takes 18 months to recover from. His arm strength should be better this year.

2) Even if his arm strength isn't great, he knows how to play the position from the neck up better than at least one third of the QBs in this league.

3) He has a ground attack around him that was the hottest in the league to end last year and that crew just got better (see Hillis, Peyton and Davis, James and Hardesty, Montario). Ground attack=honest pass defense

4) His offensive line will prove to be one of the most under-rated front fives in the league. If you believe Lauvao and Pashos will be upgrades then you have to feel confident.

5) The only thing I feel comfortable commenting on in preseason is timing. Jake has shown good, if not great, timing and chemistry with his receiving corps

Now, what you're telling me is that based on this he's dead last?

Yet another reason I don't watch ESPN.

@samoth said:

Wait, national media can't compliment Mangini.

He'll credit it to our improving WRs and RBs.

Oops, forgot this team has no talent.

I've got it, it'll be because Jake hasa chip on his shoulder and something to prove.

No, that would be admitting a mistake as well.

Let's face it, if Jake has an awesome comeback it'll be written up as the Browns playing weak opposition!!!

Funny stuff! But don't we have like the tenth or eleventh toughest strength of schedule?

I guess it will have to be because He finds out his team in Carolina really did quit on him.

Formerly Stone said:

What? I'd wager my entire Steeler message board that I post on regularly would rather have Leftwich. Seriously.

@browns57 said:

In that circumstance, he'd write it but credit Delhomme's turnaround to quality coaching from Mangini.

Wait, national media can't compliment Mangini.

He'll credit it to our improving WRs and RBs.

Oops, forgot this team has no talent.

I've got it, it'll be because Jake hasa chip on his shoulder and something to prove.

No, that would be admitting a mistake as well.

Let's face it, if Jake has an awesome comeback it'll be written up as the Browns playing weak opposition!!!

@samoth said:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/preview10/co...&id=5489176

33. Jake Delhomme, Cleveland Browns

Analysis: Interceptions in the playoff loss to Arizona in 2008 led to a downward spiral for a quarterback who won a lot of games for John Fox and the Panthers. At 35, Delhomme has no chance of being a starter anywhere else if he doesn't cut it in Cleveland.

Chance of being elite: 0 percent

He is going to feel really stupid by the fourth week of the season when Delhomme has a qb rating around 100! So no big deal to me. I will just wait for the updated article which states that he was dead wrong on Delhomme. Oh wait no I won't because he will never write it!

@samoth said:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/preview10/co...&id=5489176

33. Jake Delhomme, Cleveland Browns

Analysis: Interceptions in the playoff loss to Arizona in 2008 led to a downward spiral for a quarterback who won a lot of games for John Fox and the Panthers. At 35, Delhomme has no chance of being a starter anywhere else if he doesn't cut it in Cleveland.

Chance of being elite: 0 percent

OK, to show you my prognosticating skill, I took the the ESPN poll. Nailed the first four- Manning-Brees- Brady-Rodgers- and only had Favre and Rivers flipped. BTW, to show you the fans are more accurate than Clayton we ranked Jake #28, DA #31, Leftwich #33, and bringing up the rear- Leinart @ #34. No arguments there

@clevelandfanforlife said:

Actually, I always thought he looked....and sounded a little, like Tweetie Bird.

@speedyd900rr said:

Wow, really? Anderson!!! LOL!!! WTF has Anderson done in his career other than one winning season, and still no playoffs???

Let's rank the pock marks on his face

@gips said:

Theres no doubt jake will throw some questionable picks and take some chances but at the end of the day holmgren brought in exactly what our young offense needed in jake delhomme and i still say he is the best QB we have fielded since 1993...

Last year it really looked like Jake was not having fun, and that's been the key to his playing. He'll make questionable throws, but when he's not all pinned up with complete aggravation, he plays better.

Hopefully this season shakes out well for him. He's really looking better right now, though it is pre-season, than what I thought he had left in him. No doubt it's been his competitive nature that has carried him further than many of us Cajun fans had imagined when he was just trying to get on a practice squad back in 2000!

And as for the writer placing Big Gay and Leftwich above Jake to appease steelers fans was futile, doesn't he know that 90% of all Stoolers fans are illiterate.