It must be acknowledged that, whatever his virtues, Derek Anderson is not a top-notch intellect. Not that it’s required for success as an NFL quarterback (right, Marino and Bradshaw?), but it is a factor to consider.
Intelligence being such an elusive concept, comprising a variety of skills and aptitudes, I hesitate to open the topic at all, but it’s germane at this time. Here we have a 25-year-old gunslinger, having tasted success, now needing to establish himself much further than he’s shown in recent games.
Clock management snafus and all too many fruitless possessions indicate that DA has yet to find his comfort zone in ’08. He certainly has not taken the proverbial next step in his development.
Just how far and how fast can he climb the learning curve? That would depend greatly on two factors: his raw mental ability and his diligence toward improving the mental aspects of this most pivotal position in a highly strategic sport.
The measures I have at hand are, unfortunately, rather gross ones: his Wonderlic scores and his academic record.
The Wonderlic test, now administered to virtually all pro prospects, is designed to measure the ability to learn and solve problems. Anderson’s score was 19, significantly below the average for a quarterback, or in society at large, for that matter. It happens to be the same as just-benched Tarvaris Jackson, but lower than Michael Vick (20), Tim Couch (22), Jamarcus Russell (24), and Ben Roethlisberger (25), none of them known for their smarts.
Scrolling through the list, I noticed only two current starters (Garrard and McNabb) with lower Wonderlic scores than Anderson’s. By contrast, Brady Quinn scored 29 and Ken Dorsey 25.
As for diligence, let your perceptions guide you as to the degree that DA has immersed himself in the mission to become a better quarterback. I’m not close enough to the situation to speak authoritatively, but my sense from various reportage is that Anderson, while no slacker, is somewhat laid-back by nature. It’s no knock on him. It’s just that he hasn’t stood out as an especially determined student of the game, doggedly digging into the nuances of the craft.
This is in line with the fact that Anderson, despite attending four years at Oregon State, did not graduate. Again, this isn’t unusual and isn’t necessarily a criticism, but it is evidence that speaks to diligence.
I’m not for a second doubting that Anderson is a hard worker or that he possesses adequate intelligence. And I’m definitely not arguing that his greater strengths — the bazooka arm, the 6-foot-6 frame — are outweighed by these less tangible factors.
But the fact is, the Browns need to decide on DA based on this year’s performance. Will he remain a somewhat streaky talent who might light it up when all systems are in sync? Or will he grow into a consistent leader who adjusts to adversity and takes command by confusing defenses rather than vice versa?
If Anderson ultimately succeeds as a Browns quarterback, he’ll do so in with a far different style than Graham, Sipe, Kosar, and Ryan. If anything, he’ll resemble Vinny Testaverde, another big, physical talent with a low Wonderlic (17). It took him most of a decade to reach his pro potential. We can’t wait that long for DA.
