Brandon Wheedon

Any thoughts?

 

I think they can win with him, but he'll probably need more help. Gordon and Little are very inconsistent and they don't have any potential studs beyond Trent Richardson.

The Browns, as a whole, seem to have some good young talent. Holmgren and Heckert actually did an ok job there. Pat Shurmer has been a disaster, but I already think Haslem is going to be an awesome owner and he'll get them on the right track.

 

Brandon Weeden – 6'4” 221 1st round, 22nd overall, Cleveland Browns
Ability: Brandon Weeden being 28 years old isn't the problem it's made out to be given that quarterbacks peak later than any other position. He looks the part, possessing ideal height and well-developed musculature that allows him to deal with the hits every passer takes. Brandon throws a nice ball with velocity and spiral, but his accuracy is average at best which can force receivers to stop and adjust. He is much better on vertical routes than ones coming across the field, as on those he tends to be behind his receiver (STAN 3Q 5:33 3rd&G). At OSU he had a tendency to force the ball in Justin Blackmon's direction, resulting in deflections and interceptions (STAN 1Q 10:59 1st&10).


Situation: Becoming the starting quarterback for the Browns is a foregone conclusion given that he has the durability and arm strength that Colt McCoy lacks. Greg Little is somewhat similar to Blackmon as a physical receiver, although he's one of the worst when it comes to drops, but Cleveland will need to find other receiving options for Weeden to utilize.


Present: Brandon didn't have help on blitzes in college, so he learned to stand tall in the pocket and get the ball out quickly even with a man in his face. That kind of poise will serve him well as a rookie starter, but he doesn't always make the best decisions with the football and has a tendency to stare down receivers, so he could easily lead the league in interceptions.


Future: It's actually not out of the question for Weeden to get better over time despite his age, since his physical skills currently outstrip his feel for the position. If Brandon gets better at reading defenses and looking off coverage, then he could eventually become a league average starter. Until then, he is starter-worthy, but below average overall.