Brandon Weeden Report Card- Week 4
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http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2012/09/brandon_weeden_report_card_wee_1.html#incart_river
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Quarterback is arguably the most important position in pro football. Of the quarterback's many responsibilities, throwing the ball is by far the most important -- especially in today's NFL. The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com will track the Cleveland Browns' passing plays this season using a series of categories. The objective is to search for clues/patterns/tendencies that can help explain why rookie Brandon Weeden -- or, if the need arises, a sub -- performed the way he did.
Any analysis of Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden's performance at Baltimore on Thursday should begin with two harsh realities.
• The Browns lost to the Ravens, 23-16. Quarterbacks are paid to win games, and Weeden's team has opened the season 0-4 with him as quarterback. The Browns have lost 10 in a row dating to last season, the longest such streak in the NFL right now.
• Weeden threw a pick-6 that was the point difference in the game. His third-quarter pass, intended for Travis Benjamin near the left sideline, ended up in the hands of corner Cary Williams, who returned it 63 yards to give the Ravens a 23-10 lead. Weeden seemed to guide the pass instead of zipping it, throwing a changeup instead of a fastball, and the result was game-altering. Quarterbacks cannot afford to make those mistakes.
Even factoring in the loss and the interception, though, Weeden's performance provided plenty of positive signs. His base stat line -- 25-of-52 for 320 yards, one interception, one sack -- is not indicative of how well he played. Nor is his passer rating (59.8) and Total Quarterback Rating (10.1).
The passer rating and Total QBR are good barometers, but they cannot take everything into account. The passer rating, in particular, does not reflect quality of throws and quality of opponent. Just because a quarterback completes a high percentage, throws a couple of touchdowns and is not intercepted does not automatically mean he played at a high level.
Weeden faced a superb opponent in a hostile environment in prime time and put his team in position to win. Yes, the veteran Ravens were playing their fourth game in 18 days and seemed a tad sluggish. And yes, their pass defense is far from impressive through four games. But they are the Ravens, they have Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, and they were on home turf. The intimidation factor alone typically is good for any combination of sacks, turnovers and points.
After a dvr review of every Browns pass play against the Ravens, it is easy to see that this was Weeden's best game to date given the circumstances, which included rain and no Mohamed Massaquoi. Even though Weeden had impressive stats and ratings in Week 2 at Cincinnati, he was better at Baltimore. He certainly was better than in Week 3 against the Buffalo Bills in Cleveland.
If Weeden had played against Buffalo the way he played Thursday night, the Browns likely would have won. But he didn't, and they didn't.
Some nuggets from the Baltimore game:
1. Browns receivers let down their quarterback. What appeared to be problematic in real time was that much worse in review -- by far the most glaring in the four games. Of the 27 incompletions, 10 hit receivers' hands/gloves before hitting the ground. All 10 were not pinpoint-accurate throws -- most were high -- and the ball was wet, but upper-tier receivers would be disappointed not to catch them. The most painful for the Browns and their fans was Greg Little's failure to secure a high ball from 34 yards as he fell into the end zone in the fourth quarter. The Browns settled for a field goal to pull within 23-16.
Stat: The 10 incompletions that hit receivers' hands/gloves totaled 148 yards in the air. If the receivers made just half of those plays for half of the yards, and not adding any yards after catch, Weeden would have been 30-of-52 for 394 yards and one touchdown and one pick.
2. Weeden protected the football. On the majority of Cleveland's pass plays, the Ravens brought moderate to heavy pressure using anywhere from three to seven rushers. Weeden was hit before, during and after throws. But, save for a few minutes in the first quarter, he exhibited a veteran's calm. Several times Weeden stepped up to find a throwing lane and threw strikes downfield. If a quarterback not blessed with speed and quickness is going to succeed in the NFL, he needs to make the pocket his friend. Weeden did so, as much as that is possible.
Stat: Weeden was sacked once, for minus-6 yards, in 53 drop-backs.
3. Weeden did not force the issue. As bad as the interception was, it was not a force. Weeden makes that pass in his sleep; he simply did not execute. Throughout the game, the Ravens attempted to bait him into some throws and panic him into others using a variety of amoeba blitzes and coverage schemes. He did not give them the satisfaction.
Stat: Weeden threw one interception, which did not result from Baltimore's pass rush, in 52 attempts.
4. Weeden responded to adversity. He did not let the pick-6 unnerve him.
Stat: In his first four passes after the interception, Weeden went 4-of-4 for 49 yards.
5. Weeden made high-caliber throws. On a scale of 1 (lousy) to 3 (expected from NFL quarterback) to 5 (superb), he averaged 3.14 on 44 graded passes. (Spikes, throwaways and passes altered by hits are not graded). He was at 2.8 against the Bills, who are not nearly as daunting as the Ravens and were playing in Cleveland in largely favorable weather.
Stat: Weeden had 20 passes graded 4 or 5.
6. Weeden finally connected on a legitimate long ball. Through three games, he and his big arm had completed one pass that traveled 21 or more yards in the air -- a 22-yard touchdown to Travis Benjamin against Buffalo. In the second quarter at Baltimore, Weeden threw on target while under pressure and connected with Greg Little deep down the left side. Credit the embattled Little with an excellent play, as well.
Stat: On second-and-10, Weeden connected with Little on a 43-yard pass to the Baltimore 39.
7. Weeden recognized mismatches, which he had not been doing in the previous three weeks. One in particular stands out. It came against the Browns' nemesis, Ravens safety Ed Reed, in the third quarter. Weeden saw that Reed was in man-coverage against tight end Jordan Cameron, and made sure to get him the ball.
Stat: On second-and-10, Cameron overpowered Reed and came open for a 15-yard completion on second-and-10.
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He's going to be fine, rookies throwing interceptions is inevitable, especially when they are throwing to similarilly experienced players most of the time.
He has a great throwing motion, throws a very nice pass. guys have to start catching them.
He is on pace for just under 4,000 yards which would be the second most in Cleveland Browns history.
He finally have a real QB, he needs experience and guys to start making catches that are hitting their hands.
Zombo
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Agreed, if we build the rest of the team, Weeden will look a lot better as a result too. Threw for 320 against the ravens at their stadium, not to mention in the rain.
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im loving this play calling for one simple reason. They are limiting the abuse trich is taking, and getting weeden ready for his second season by throwing everything at him.
its really gonna benefit the new owners and the coaching staff they bring in. thanks SHURMUR. now start packing your shit.....
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He's going to be fine, rookies throwing interceptions is inevitable, especially when they are throwing to similarilly experienced players most of the time.
He has a great throwing motion, throws a very nice pass. guys have to start catching them.
He is on pace for just under 4,000 yards which would be the second most in Cleveland Browns history.
He finally have a real QB, he needs experience and guys to start making catches that are hitting their hands.
Zombo
Zombo said:
He's going to be fine, rookies throwing interceptions is inevitable, especially when they are throwing to similarilly experienced players most of the time.
He has a great throwing motion, throws a very nice pass. guys have to start catching them.
He is on pace for just under 4,000 yards which would be the second most in Cleveland Browns history.
He finally have a real QB, he needs experience and guys to start making catches that are hitting their hands.
Zombo
LOL. I never heard that kind of support last year while our receivers led the NFL in drops. I hope Weeden wins a game as he goes on to break 4,000 yards.
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Zombo said:
He's going to be fine, rookies throwing interceptions is inevitable, especially when they are throwing to similarilly experienced players most of the time.
He has a great throwing motion, throws a very nice pass. guys have to start catching them.
He is on pace for just under 4,000 yards which would be the second most in Cleveland Browns history.
He finally have a real QB, he needs experience and guys to start making catches that are hitting their hands.
Zombo
LOL. I never heard that kind of support last year while our receivers led the NFL in drops. I hope Weeden wins a game as he goes on to break 4,000 yards.
LOL. I never heard that kind of support last year while our receivers led the NFL in drops. I hope Weeden wins a game as he goes on to break 4,000 yards.
because mccoy sucks. he doesnt have an nfl arm, gets more scared than a kitty in a dog pound at any sign of pressure. he throws late, he struggles with 20 yard passes that weeden can make from his knees......
I really dont get what everyones obsession with the runt is....
and as for wins.... we are 0-4. yes, lets do exactly what we did last year. lets win a few meaningless games, and screw ourselves again. those wins over miami and the colts were EPIC last year.
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The guy above makes a good point and one I believe as well: Weeden throwing 40-50 times a game is great! He needs as much practice as he can get and Trent saves his bum knee for next year when we need him 100%. Trent is learning, too, but doesn't need 25+ carries to gain that experience. He's learning, otho, to block well and get out into the flat and catch screens. His all-purpose yards are just as valuable as his rushing.
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The guy above makes a good point and one I believe as well: Weeden throwing 40-50 times a game is great! He needs as much practice as he can get and Trent saves his bum knee for next year when we need him 100%. Trent is learning, too, but doesn't need 25+ carries to gain that experience. He's learning, otho, to block well and get out into the flat and catch screens. His all-purpose yards are just as valuable as his rushing.
The guy above makes a good point and one I believe as well: Weeden throwing 40-50 times a game is great! He needs as much practice as he can get and Trent saves his bum knee for next year when we need him 100%. Trent is learning, too, but doesn't need 25+ carries to gain that experience. He's learning, otho, to block well and get out into the flat and catch screens. His all-purpose yards are just as valuable as his rushing.
perfectly put. i have wondered where the hell the screens are. Man, every time you get trich in the open field. its not only entertaining as hell, he GETS YARDS. no sense in blasting him up the middle over and over and over...
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Zombo said:
He's going to be fine, rookies throwing interceptions is inevitable, especially when they are throwing to similarilly experienced players most of the time.
He has a great throwing motion, throws a very nice pass. guys have to start catching them.
He is on pace for just under 4,000 yards which would be the second most in Cleveland Browns history.
He finally have a real QB, he needs experience and guys to start making catches that are hitting their hands.
Zombo
LOL. I never heard that kind of support last year while our receivers led the NFL in drops. I hope Weeden wins a game as he goes on to break 4,000 yards.
LOL. I never heard that kind of support last year while our receivers led the NFL in drops. I hope Weeden wins a game as he goes on to break 4,000 yards.
Last year we a QB with a minor league arm that threw everything behind the receivers. It was painful.
Colt threw for 250 yards once all of last year. Weeden has thrown for over 320 yards twice already this year against tough AFC North defenses.
Same guy is calling the plays. We're just moving the football a lot better. Just imagine when theys guys mature, we may have a real NFL high-powered offense ... that was never going to happen with Colt.
Zombo
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LOL. I never heard that kind of support last year while our receivers led the NFL in drops. I hope Weeden wins a game as he goes on to break 4,000 yards.
Last year we a QB with a minor league arm that threw everything behind the receivers. It was painful.
Colt threw for 250 yards once all of last year. Weeden has thrown for over 320 yards twice already this year against tough AFC North defenses.
Same guy is calling the plays. We're just moving the football a lot better. Just imagine when theys guys mature, we may have a real NFL high-powered offense ... that was never going to happen with Colt.
Zombo
Zombo said:
Last year we a QB with a minor league arm that threw everything behind the receivers. It was painful.
Colt threw for 250 yards once all of last year. Weeden has thrown for over 320 yards twice already this year against tough AFC North defenses.
Same guy is calling the plays. We're just moving the football a lot better. Just imagine when theys guys mature, we may have a real NFL ofhigh-powered offense ... that was never going to happen with Colt.
Zombo
Weeden has some makings of being Very good, but until he manages to get himself up into mid level on the following Stats,
Comp % 26th, Int 32nd , Avg Yds/Att 29th, QB Rating 30th
throwing for 4000yds wont make a single bit of difference. He came into the league with a supposed very good accuracy and completions, few maybe can be put down to our WR drops again, but the majority of his passes that arent completed are still bad throws from BW.
Like Roach says will you be praising him throwing for 4000+ yds if he has thrown 12td and 28Int and we are 0-16 of course you wont, which is what at the moment he is on course to do.
I do hope he sorts out Int's and gets better with completing more passes, just something about BW I dont like personally as a QB think he could be good with few improvements. Just things like after the defeat against Buffalo with him coming out and saying he played Solid, then couple days later changing his mind to appease the flak he was getting just grinds on me a lot. He is too self absorbed for my liking being honest. But in the end if he comes through for us and wins us games next year when he has had chance to learn and smooth off the rough edges I'm all in with Weeden, just time will tell.
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These Colt supporters all sound like scorned ex-girlfriends
"I could love you so much better than she does"
Grow some nuts, you pussies. Make legitimate arguments other that "We would have been 4-0 under Colt McCoy".
The guy had a whole season to prove his worth, and he came up lacking. It's over. It's done. Move on.
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We could have the best running back in the league. Instead, D's are stacking the line because they know Weeden sucks. Great, 4000yds and 40-50 passes a game. Enjoy the 2-14 record. Idiots
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Zombo said:
Last year we a QB with a minor league arm that threw everything behind the receivers. It was painful.
Colt threw for 250 yards once all of last year. Weeden has thrown for over 320 yards twice already this year against tough AFC North defenses.
Same guy is calling the plays. We're just moving the football a lot better. Just imagine when theys guys mature, we may have a real NFL ofhigh-powered offense ... that was never going to happen with Colt.
Zombo
Weeden has some makings of being Very good, but until he manages to get himself up into mid level on the following Stats,
Comp % 26th, Int 32nd , Avg Yds/Att 29th, QB Rating 30th
throwing for 4000yds wont make a single bit of difference. He came into the league with a supposed very good accuracy and completions, few maybe can be put down to our WR drops again, but the majority of his passes that arent completed are still bad throws from BW.
Like Roach says will you be praising him throwing for 4000+ yds if he has thrown 12td and 28Int and we are 0-16 of course you wont, which is what at the moment he is on course to do.
I do hope he sorts out Int's and gets better with completing more passes, just something about BW I dont like personally as a QB think he could be good with few improvements. Just things like after the defeat against Buffalo with him coming out and saying he played Solid, then couple days later changing his mind to appease the flak he was getting just grinds on me a lot. He is too self absorbed for my liking being honest. But in the end if he comes through for us and wins us games next year when he has had chance to learn and smooth off the rough edges I'm all in with Weeden, just time will tell.
Weeden has some makings of being Very good, but until he manages to get himself up into mid level on the following Stats,
Comp % 26th, Int 32nd , Avg Yds/Att 29th, QB Rating 30th
throwing for 4000yds wont make a single bit of difference. He came into the league with a supposed very good accuracy and completions, few maybe can be put down to our WR drops again, but the majority of his passes that arent completed are still bad throws from BW.
Like Roach says will you be praising him throwing for 4000+ yds if he has thrown 12td and 28Int and we are 0-16 of course you wont, which is what at the moment he is on course to do.
I do hope he sorts out Int's and gets better with completing more passes, just something about BW I dont like personally as a QB think he could be good with few improvements. Just things like after the defeat against Buffalo with him coming out and saying he played Solid, then couple days later changing his mind to appease the flak he was getting just grinds on me a lot. He is too self absorbed for my liking being honest. But in the end if he comes through for us and wins us games next year when he has had chance to learn and smooth off the rough edges I'm all in with Weeden, just time will tell.
As I said ... Interceptions are to be excpected when you have a rookie QB in his first four games throwing to inexperienced receivers for the most part. Peyton Manning threw a ton of INTs his first year, most of them do.
What I would expect is for the interceptions to decrease as experience sets in, and for accuracy numbers go up if receivers start making better plays.
He can put the ball wherever you need it, and he is only going to get better.
Colt does not have that kind of upside. Colt can not pass a football like Weeden.
Yes, he's making mistakes, yes, we're losing. But if you are not encouraged by the way he throws that ball around the field, as opposed to what we were stuck with that past two years, I don't know what to tell you.
Zombo
--Here's what we had on the field Thursday against Ravens
Weeden ROOKIE
Richardson ROOKIE
Little 2nd YEAR
Benjamin ROOKIE
Gordon ROOKIE
Watson VETERAN
Cameron 2nd YEAR
There will be mistakes, you have to be patient. But the talent level on this team is increasing ... and they will get better I promise you that.
Colt McCoy is what he is ... these guys can be really, really good.
Zombo
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whatever dude.
can we call it a man crush like you would do if someone was giving a rim job like you do to weeden every week?
yeah he's our qb and i'll support him BUT PLEEZ ....you never gave the same support to our qb last year as you do a guy that looks like howdie doodie and at times has the hollowed out head brains of the dummy too.
right or wrong he's our starter but don't start flaming on some guy that shows more character, leadership, ball control and fire when he's in the game than some retread of DA.
splitting hairs on players' talent and upside is great cannon fodder for fans of the same team who choose to disagree with others but how do you really know that our record would be the same with the other guy in there? yeah weeden has an arm, so does lou ferrigno. betcha weeden sounds as dumb as that half deaf dolt in the huddle. yeah he threw for 320 last week and threw 52 times. his completion % is just over 50 and he has 3 tds compared to 7 ints. that's what probowlers are made of huh?
watch any college football lately? how's that big 12 doing? yeah, they got some tough defenses over there........ NOT!. 70 points in a win? HA! and this is the pool of qbs we've picked from in the last 3 years? these guys wouldn't know how to read a defense if it was taped inside their eyelids.
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The only thing I'm afraid of with Weeden is by the time we get it together and ready to make the playoffs in 14' or 15' he's going to be too old or give us one or two good playoff pushes (that'll take us to 17') and then we are having to look at blowing up the QB position again.
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Agreed, if we build the rest of the team, Weeden will look a lot better as a result too. Threw for 320 against the ravens at their stadium, not to mention in the rain.
Agreed, if we build the rest of the team, Weeden will look a lot better as a result too. Threw for 320 against the ravens at their stadium, not to mention in the rain.
yeah. welcome to the party pal. we've been saying that about every qb since kosar. sorry you were just a thigh wipe and didn't get to actually see a decent browns squad.
good luck to ever seeing one.
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whatever dude.
can we call it a man crush like you would do if someone was giving a rim job like you do to weeden every week?
yeah he's our qb and i'll support him BUT PLEEZ ....you never gave the same support to our qb last year as you do a guy that looks like howdie doodie and at times has the hollowed out head brains of the dummy too.
right or wrong he's our starter but don't start flaming on some guy that shows more character, leadership, ball control and fire when he's in the game than some retread of DA.
splitting hairs on players' talent and upside is great cannon fodder for fans of the same team who choose to disagree with others but how do you really know that our record would be the same with the other guy in there? yeah weeden has an arm, so does lou ferrigno. betcha weeden sounds as dumb as that half deaf dolt in the huddle. yeah he threw for 320 last week and threw 52 times. his completion % is just over 50 and he has 3 tds compared to 7 ints. that's what probowlers are made of huh?
watch any college football lately? how's that big 12 doing? yeah, they got some tough defenses over there........ NOT!. 70 points in a win? HA! and this is the pool of qbs we've picked from in the last 3 years? these guys wouldn't know how to read a defense if it was taped inside their eyelids.
whatever dude.
....you never gave the same support to our qb last year
That's because I don't think he's very good, nor is he a good long term fit at the position.
He is small, and small-armed, and consistently throws behind receivers. With his arm, he needs to be extremely accurate to make it as a starter in the NFL, and he's not.
Zombo
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whatever dude.
can we call it a man crush like you would do if someone was giving a rim job like you do to weeden every week?
yeah he's our qb and i'll support him BUT PLEEZ ....you never gave the same support to our qb last year as you do a guy that looks like howdie doodie and at times has the hollowed out head brains of the dummy too.
right or wrong he's our starter but don't start flaming on some guy that shows more character, leadership, ball control and fire when he's in the game than some retread of DA.
splitting hairs on players' talent and upside is great cannon fodder for fans of the same team who choose to disagree with others but how do you really know that our record would be the same with the other guy in there? yeah weeden has an arm, so does lou ferrigno. betcha weeden sounds as dumb as that half deaf dolt in the huddle. yeah he threw for 320 last week and threw 52 times. his completion % is just over 50 and he has 3 tds compared to 7 ints. that's what probowlers are made of huh?
watch any college football lately? how's that big 12 doing? yeah, they got some tough defenses over there........ NOT!. 70 points in a win? HA! and this is the pool of qbs we've picked from in the last 3 years? these guys wouldn't know how to read a defense if it was taped inside their eyelids.
whatever dude.
can we call it a man crush like you would do if someone was giving a rim job like you do to weeden every week?
yeah he's our qb and i'll support him BUT PLEEZ ....you never gave the same support to our qb last year as you do a guy that looks like howdie doodie and at times has the hollowed out head brains of the dummy too.
right or wrong he's our starter but don't start flaming on some guy that shows more character, leadership, ball control and fire when he's in the game than some retread of DA.
splitting hairs on players' talent and upside is great cannon fodder for fans of the same team who choose to disagree with others but how do you really know that our record would be the same with the other guy in there? yeah weeden has an arm, so does lou ferrigno. betcha weeden sounds as dumb as that half deaf dolt in the huddle. yeah he threw for 320 last week and threw 52 times. his completion % is just over 50 and he has 3 tds compared to 7 ints. that's what probowlers are made of huh?
watch any college football lately? how's that big 12 doing? yeah, they got some tough defenses over there........ NOT!. 70 points in a win? HA! and this is the pool of qbs we've picked from in the last 3 years? these guys wouldn't know how to read a defense if it was taped inside their eyelids.
Didn't RG3 play in the same conference?
I don't hear people complaining about RG3 putting up good numbers against the Big 12.
Didn't Colt also play in the Big 12?
What point were you trying to make?
I'm awesome, and I fuck dolphins. Ghoolie 12/2/2012: I have absolutely no skills, training or pride -
We could have the best running back in the league. Instead, D's are stacking the line because they know Weeden sucks. Great, 4000yds and 40-50 passes a game. Enjoy the 2-14 record. Idiots
Chickenwang said:
We could have the best running back in the league. Instead, D's are stacking the line because they know Weeden sucks. Great, 4000yds and 40-50 passes a game. Enjoy the 2-14 record. Idiots
yeah, because the receivers arent KILLING the team. its all weeden. Thats why in his press conference last week, shurmur was saying that if weeden didnt start throwing better balls he was going to bench little.
Do you even THINK before you type or is it all finger fuck then think later.
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