Dorsey prepared for task ahead

When Ken Dorsey gets the start at quarterback on Sunday for the Browns against the host Tennessee, he'll be ready. But he will face some challenges.

This will be the 11th start of his six-year career, but just his first over the last three seasons. The last one came as a member of the San Francisco 49ers on Nov. 27, 2005 against, interestingly enough, the host Titans, when he completed 23-of-43 passes, both career highs, for 192 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in a 33-22 loss.

Before he relieved the injured Derek Anderson on the Browns' final possession on Sunday in the 10-6 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, he had played in only one game since then - two years ago as a member of the Browns.

But now, injuries to Anderson (torn MCL) and Brady Quinn (finger) have thrust him back into the lineup.

"It's been a little while since I've started a game. It really has," Dorsey said Monday. "But I'm expecting a lot out of myself and I'm going to put everything I've got into this thing.

"I've been a starter in this league. It's something I'm accustomed to. I prepare myself the same way every week. Now I'm playing. It's fun to be out there playing.

"Any time you get an opportunity to go out and play, you look forward to it. I just like playing. I like being out there. It's exciting for me and for us as a team to go out there Sunday and have another opportunity to play.

That's something he did all the time in college at the University of Miami, when he guided the Hurricanes to a 38-2 record in three years as a starter, a national championship and another national title game appearance.

"When you're not on the field, it's tough," Dorsey said. "I don't think there's anybody in this league who doesn't want to play. You do whatever it takes to keep yourself ready, and when your opportunity arises, you go out and play and do the best you can."

Also, Dorsey will taking a 4-8 club, which has lost two straight - both at home - and scored just six points each in those games, to face the Titans, who are tied for the NFL's best record at 11-1, have given up the second-fewest points in the league with 175 and are closing in on their first division title since 2002, the AFC South's first year.

"The Titans are a tremendous team," he said. "They have a great defense and all kinds of weapons, so we're going to have to be ready to play. It's going to be a great challenge for us, but one I'm looking forward to."

With all that having been said, Dorsey does have something - a significant something, at that - working in his favor. It's the fact that despite Dorsey's lack of playing time with the Browns, the team's offensive coordinator, Rob Chudzinski, knows him well. Chudzinski was an assistant at Miami for all of Dorsey's career there, first serving as tight ends coach only and then as offensive coordinator and tight ends coach for Dorsey's final two seasons.

Thus, he knows full well what Dorsey can - and can't - do and will structure the game plan and play-calling accordingly.

"I've known Chud a long time," Dorsey said. "We've got a good feel for each other. I feel like I know what he's thinking and why he's calling certain plays.

"Knowing somebody is a real plus, but at the same time, you've still got to go out and execute against a great defense."

Dorsey's strengths?

"He's a very smart quarterback, and he's a competitor," Browns head coach Romeo Crennel said.

Dorsey agrees with that assessment.

"I feel like that," he said. "I've seen a lot of football. I've been in a lot of offenses and around a lot of offensive coordinators. I've been through a lot in this league, and I think that's helped me to this point.

"I just try to go out there and do what I'm supposed to do and make good decisions out there."