Weeden sealed starting job quickly
Posted by on August 7, 2012 – 2:06 amBy Vic Carucci, Senior Editor
It was always going to go this way.
Not simply because the Browns made Brandon Weeden the 22nd overall pick of the draft, although that figured to be a factor.
Not simply because Weeden is an almost-29-year-old rookie, although that had to be a consideration as well.
Not simply because he has taken the lion’s share of training-camp practice reps with the starters, although that was a pretty good clue, too.
It was always going to end up with Weeden becoming the Browns’ starting quarterback from the very beginning of the preseason – something coach Pat Shurmur made official on Monday – because of the swiftness with which he erased any doubt that that was the right decision.
Go back to May, to the first time Weeden threw a pass during an offseason drill. Back to when everyone watching – coaches, player-personnel people, and media – could see the obvious: The big-time passer that the Browns desperately needed to make a woefully anemic offense more explosive.
No other veterans were around then, not Colt McCoy or Seneca Wallace. Weeden had the stage virtually to himself, and he took it over with ease. He threw with velocity and accuracy. He stood tall in the pocket and showed an unmistakable commanding presence.
When McCoy and Wallace joined the workouts, nothing really changed. Weeden still consistently delivered laser-like throws on long, short, and intermediate routes. He was, without question, the best quarterback on the field.
And that was still the case through the first week-plus of training camp.
“Brandon, as you know, has been getting most of the work with the ones, so this isn’t like we’re just starting a development,” Shurmur said. “We’re just ramping it up now.”
There’s no disputing that throwing exceptionally well in practices is far different than doing the same in games. There’s no arguing that Weeden’s long and winding journey as a professional athlete – from professional baseball pitcher to star quarterback at Oklahoma State to starter in the NFL – is far from over. If anything, it is just beginning.
He will likely have an eye-opening experience when he faces the highly aggressive defensive line of the Detroit Lions in Friday night’s preseason-opener. But Weeden seems to have everything necessary to successfully meet the challenges he will face. That’s evident through each day of practice.
He has quickly developed strong chemistry with his receivers. Incumbents such as Greg Little and Mohamed Massaquoi are just as comfortable with him as rookies such as Josh Gordon and Travis Benjamin. It is easy to see the offense taking off and soaring to impressive heights with Weeden at the controls.
How soon it will happen is hard to pinpoint. He is still a rookie and is still vulnerable to the blunders that rookies typically make.
Yet, Weeden is going to make those throws that he has been making from that very first offseason workout – the throws that removed all doubt that he should be the starter.
>>Be sure to tune in Monday through Friday, 6 p.m. to 7 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
Posted in Carucci's Call | 3 Comments »
By brwns_fan on Aug 7, 2012 | Reply
Most of what you say Vic, MIGHT be true. The fact remains, it was poorly done in light of Coach Pat’s lie that it would be a “competition”. It was never a competition other than the first week of OTA’s when everyone still had the off-season rust in their bones. Receiver’s dropped balls, missed routes, were slow coming off the line, and overall stunk.
By the time the Receiver’s could find their BUTT in their pants without some coaching, Colt was stuck working with only the 2′s. If he walks because of this, it will be Coach Pat’s fault. Poorly done coach, poorly done.
Vic, why haven’t you reported on Coach’s poor handling of the competition or are you in love, blinded, with Brandon still? Can’t you see how Pat lied to a good QB with a heart of Gold. He would have done anything, be #2, to help the Browns before the Coach lied to him. Vic, how do you suppose the rest of the team feels about the coach lying to them? Why isn’t that news worthy? It’s a catastrophic meltdown waiting to happen.
Even I can see that. If I can see that, I’m sure Jimmy can see it too. I wish Pat Good Luck on the only season Jimmy’s doing to give him. Oh yeah, something else Coach. You’ve seen enough to declare Weeds #1, but not enough to see who is #2? Are you trying to chase him away? Maybe you’re that insensitive, blind, or just stupid? Because of that, I think this is your last season here. Welcome to your own one sided competition.
As ever, Vic, I welcome your comments.
By Jeff_Indy on Aug 8, 2012 | Reply
I think Shurmur has played out the QB situation the same as any NFL head coach would have, including veteran coaches. When you bring in a rookie QB that’s head-and-shoulders above anybody else on the team, it certainly is the correct choice to eventually name him the starter. But if you name him the starter on day one maybe things don’t go so well. Maybe Weeden develops an ego, instead of developing as a QB in the Browns offense. Maybe the other 3 QBs develop a bad attitude and ruin the chemistry in the locker room.
All 3 of the backup QBs would have to be blind not to see that Weeden is clearly the best QB on the team. If they want to go pout in the corner somewhere then the Browns would clearly be better off without them, and they clearly have no future in the NFL, even as a backup.
Colt McCoy and Seneca Wallace have had their opportunities to be starting QBs in the NFL, and they both floundered. Now it’s Weeden’s opportunity. He may make some rookie mistakes, but I doubt that any of them will be worse than the mistakes that McCoy and Wallace have made, including the ones they made last season.
Weeden gives the Browns the best chance to win. He’s a big, solid, smart, mature guy with a big and accurate NFL QB arm. You can’t say that about those other guys.
By Doug Pattison on Aug 8, 2012 | Reply
I’m mostly a Weeden guy but as Heath Evans said on NFL Network, “I’d pick the Browns’ as having the most intriguing QB competition in camp if I actually thought that Colt McCoy had half a chance of getting a fair shot.” I’m paraphrasing ofcourse. So I do understand the frustration of both Colt & his backers, or as somebody else once said, “I sympathize with the fox, but I understand the hound’s point of view, as well.” I think the Chris Gocong injury should be a bigger story, or certainly bigger than it has been. I know it’s early & there is still time to put Plan B (whatever that may be) into action, I do think this situation needs to be handled with a bit more alacrity (regards to Star Trek) than has been shown so far.