Newly acquired Paul McQuistan is impressed with the Browns' coaching, scheme and attitude
Paul McQuistan didn't need a whole lot of convincing to join the Cleveland Browns.
Beyond seeing the right numbers on the Browns' contract proposal, the free-agent offensive guard from the Seattle Seahawks saw an appealing combination of coaching, scheme, and attitude during a visit to Berea last week.
The 6-foot-6, 315-pound McQuistan came away from a meeting with Andy Moeller, the Browns' offensive line coach, impressed with the plan to guide him and his fellow linemen. It was then that he learned the Browns would be using "little bit of the zone-blocking scheme" in which he played as a member of the Seahawks.
"And just knowing that the team's hungry to win," McQuistan said Monday, after agreeing to a contract with the Browns.
This will be McQuistan's second stint with the Browns. He spent part of the 2010 season with them.
But now he returns as a champion, having helped the Seahawks, for whom he started 14 games last season, win Super Bowl XLVIII last month against the Denver Broncos.
"I think it was a great experience and you'll always keep that," McQuistan said. "But it's kind of turning the pages in a book and writing a new chapter and seeing what this holds."
McQuistan, 30 and entering his ninth NFL season, was a third-round pick of the Oakland Raiders from Weber State in 2006.
In 83 career games, he has started 52 times, working at left tackle, left guard, and right guard. McQuistan was with the Raiders from 2006 to '09. He was on the active rosters of the Jacksonville Jaguars in '09 and the Browns in 2010, but did not play in a game.
McQuistan joined the Seahawks in 2011 and, in three seasons, appeared in all 48 regular-season games, making 40 starts. He also appeared in all five postseason games Seattle has played the last three years, with two starts.
Last season, McQuistan started eight regular-season games at left tackle and six at left guard. He rotated at left guard in the postseason.
McQuistan is confident he would be able to make a contribution to a Browns turnaround.
"You always feel like you can do your part," he said. "Otherwise, you won't be playing long."
>>Be sure to tune in Monday through Friday, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET, for "Cleveland Browns Daily, Driven by Liberty Ford" on ESPN 850 WKNR or catch the live stream right here on ClevelandBrowns.com. >>Have a question for "Cleveland Browns Daily, Driven by Liberty Ford"? Ask me at Twitter.com/viccarucci or by e-mail at daily@clevelandbrowns.com or by calling 855-363-2459.
