Here’s a look at Brandon Weeden’s stats as Browns quarterback through 13 games in 2012 next to Colt McCoy’s in the same job through 13 games in 2011 (click images to enlarge).
Note that Colt had just one fewer completion in the exact same number of attempts (!!!), for a total of 304 fewer yards than Weeden, but one more touchdown and four fewer interceptions, with a slightly higher passer rating, and more importantly, nearly double the Total QBR.
Colt did have eight emergency starts (six against playoff teams) as a third-string third-round rookie in 2010, but he’ll be the first one to tell you that his coaches hardly even spoke to him that season, so call those a wash even though Colt’s stats in those eight were still comparable if not all around better than Weeden’s in his first eight. And while it might be argued that Weeden has faced a slightly better set of opponents so far in 2012 than Colt did through 13 in 2011, he’s also enjoyed the benefits of being 29-years-old instead of 24, as well as a new plug-and-play first-round-quality right tackle in Mitchell Schwartz to replace Tony Pashos, Trent Richardson and a healthy Montario Hardesty to replace whatever the Browns were doing at running back last year, and the addition to the receiving corps of Josh Gordon, a receiver whom some say would be the first drafted at the position in 2012 if the draft was to be done over again, along with Travis Benjamin, who’s faster than anyone Colt ever had to work with. Which is to say nothing of the continued development of Greg Little and other members of the Browns offense.
Of course, Weeden also had the benefit of a full non-lockout-stunted off-season, including a full training camp and pre-season slate, a coaching staff in its second year as opposed to its first, an extra offensive coordinator, etc.
None of which is to say that either McCoy or Weeden is any good, but mostly just to wonder whether the perceived upside of a quarterback with a stronger arm could possibly justify or even mostly explain the consensus that Weeden qualifies as a candidate to be the Browns’ “quarterback of the future” while McCoy certainly doesn’t.
h/t Dan Whalen
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In other news, Pro Football Weekly is keeping at it with the Mike Lombardi rumors. According to an “NFL scout, coach, or front-office person, speaking on the condition of anonymity”:
“(Browns president Joe) Banner does not give a (expletive) about what the press says. He didn’t when he hired Andy Reid. Mike Lombardi made some mistakes when he was young (and) Bill Belichick was right there with him. He has been able to survive. I’m surprised by the character assassination (of Lombardi).”
