Reevaluating Weeden

[reddyuta]

If I were the Falcons I would blitz Weeden on every 3rd down.

 

[windjc]

If I were the Falcons I would blitz Weeden on every 3rd down.

Eagles blitzed on TD.

 

[Doomsday101]

He's definitely going to have to do that at times because defenses are going to give him different coverage looks that will take away his primary. If he doesn't panic and force it, he can be successful. Mix that coverage with pressure, though, and I think we'll be in trouble.

I think a big part is being comfortable in the offense, as it has been mentioned he has not had the same OC 2 years in a row through out his career. I'm not trying to make excuses for him but that is not a great situation to be in to start your NFL career and a big reason why most of the Cleveland QB have suffered.

 

[gimmesix]

One positive note is Weeden is only 4 years in this league and this is the first year with the same offense. Add to that that Wilson is on record saying Weeden is much improved from last year and there is reason for optimism.

If you look at Weedens Cleveland days he was either feast or famine. If we can get some consistency in a positive direction that is all we need.

I don't discount that a second year in the same offense could make some difference for him in at least understanding where he needs to go with the ball. I don't think it's going to turn him into a QB who can digest a lot of information quickly, but if it might can help him to not have to do that as much. The one thing we don't need from him is for his head to be swimming out there. That's when bad Weeden shows up.

If I'm opposing defenses, I would try to confuse him with blitzes until he proves that he can burn them. Hopefully, though, our line can make teams pay if they choose to do that.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

Weeden looked good in the Washington game last year and then was awful when Arizona could gameplan him. This week is his true test.

 

[gimmesix]

Eagles blitzed on TD.

That's part of what gives me hope. There was no indecisiveness from him on where he was going with the ball. Of course, it helped that Maxwell was playing so far off Williams, but I also think Maxwell didn't expect the pass to get there that quickly.

 

[CATCH17]

But if you think about what your asking him not to do, it's pretty simple fix. Don't throw in traffic, throw ball away. That's within the realm of conceivability. Lol

Minus the one botched snap and swipe at ball attempt in preseason, Weeden has an almost perfect passer rating so far in limited action this year.

He looks sharp and then all of a sudden he just has a brain crash or something.

When he throws the ball he's got velocity that you only see from guys like Favre and Mike Vick. He can probably throw a baseball a 100 mph.

He just needs to protect the ball.

 

[gimmesix]

I think a big part is being comfortable in the offense, as it has been mentioned he has not had the same OC 2 years in a row through out his career. I'm not trying to make excuses for him but that is not a great situation to be in to start your NFL career and a big reason why most of the Cleveland QB have suffered.

I'd feel better about that if he hadn't shown the same tendencies he's had in the past this preseason. When he's feeling the pressure, he just does not handle it well. We need to establish the running game enough and protect him well for Weeden to have success. (Again, you can say that for a lot of middle-of-the-road QBs and to some extent, for all of them.)

 

[gimmesix]

Weeden looked good in the Washington game last year and then was awful when Arizona could gameplan him. This week is his true test.

Arizona did a good job of limiting our running game and harassing Weeden. I don't expect us to win if those things happen.

How we do with Weeden at QB is going to come down to offensive line play IMO.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

Arizona did a good job of limiting our running game and harassing Weeden. I don't expect us to win if those things happen.

How we do with Weeden at QB is going to come down to offensive line play IMO.

That's probably what every team is going to try to do. They're going to want to see if Weeden can beat them. If he makes the throws then we will be in good shape.

 

[gimmesix]

That's probably what every team is going to try to do. They're going to want to see if Weeden can beat them. If he makes the throws then we will be in good shape.

Well, not every team's defense is as good as Arizona's. If the line can keep the defenders off him, Weeden can make the throws (if he doesn't prematurely panic).

 

[Doomsday101]

Arizona did a good job of limiting our running game and harassing Weeden. I don't expect us to win if those things happen.

How we do with Weeden at QB is going to come down to offensive line play IMO.

really did not play much in pre season. he went 6 of 10 and did not play the last 2 pre season games. I do agree the OL play will determine a lot. I think being able to keep a balanced attack is key but then that same offensive system also was a big help to Romo. Clearly Weeden is not going to improvise as Romo does but if we can keep the offense in favorable down and distance I think Weeden will be just fine.

 

[Sydla]

Let me be the first to say I was hoping Dallas would find a better backup than Weeden based on his performances in both preseasons and in the Arizona game last year. He has some issues that I just don't think can be fixed.

However, I went back and watched his performance Sunday against a pretty good defense with the game still within reach and what I saw was a decisive and accurate quarterback. If we can get that guy while Romo is out, then we can win some games.

The reason for Weeden's success appeared to be fairly simple. He did not have to progress through a lot of reads and the line protected him. I think that second part is especially important. Pressure is all QBs' enemy, but Weeden seems to handle it especially poorly. If Dallas gives him time to throw and keeps where he is throwing simple, he has the arm strength and accuracy to get it there.

We just have to hope his head doesn't get in the way of his physical ability.

Arizona came after him and he flinched. Quinn and the Falcons will do the same thing. They will come after Weeden.

All I ask is that the offensive staff not go totally conservative here. I mean I don't mean open up the entire playbook for him but let him make some down the field throws instead of 2 runs followed by a 3 yard out type offense for him either.

 

[gimmesix]

really did not play much in pre season. he went 6 of 10 and did not play the last 2 pre season games. I do agree the OL play will determine a lot. I think being able to keep a balanced attack is key but then that same offensive system also was a big help to Romo. Clearly Weeden is not going to improvise as Romo does but if we can keep the offense in favorable down and distance I think Weeden will be just fine.

Yes, but he was 4 of 5 against San Diego in the first game and then only 2 of 5 against San Francisco, which was much like the previous year. The difference in those games was the pressure he was under. Under pressure, his mind turns to mush.

 

[Sydla]

Eagles blitzed on TD.

The Eagles DC is an idiot though. He blitzed and his CB was playing 20 yards off with no safety at all in the middle of the field. Quinn isn't that dumb.

 

[gimmesix]

Arizona came after him and he flinched. Quinn and the Falcons will do the same thing. They will come after Weeden.

All I ask is that the offensive staff not go totally conservative here. I mean I don't mean open up the entire playbook for him but let him make some down the field throws instead of 2 runs followed by a 3 yard out type offense for him either.

I agree that we've got to take some shots, but we do not need to constantly be looking downfield. Establish a rhythm for Weeden with quick passes. As you said, we should expect the Falcons to bring pressure and try to rattle him. The line has to handle that pressure and we have to have a plan to get the ball out of his hands quickly.

 

[Doomsday101]

Yes, but he was 4 of 5 against San Diego in the first game and then only 2 of 5 against San Francisco, which was much like the previous year. The difference in those games was the pressure he was under. Under pressure, his mind turns to mush.

Yeah with some starters on the OL out of the lineup and he suffered a concussion. If you get down to it, there is not a QB out there who will do much if the defense is all over them. I would say the positive there was no ints he did not just throw it up for grabs despite being under heavy pressure. These upcoming games that will be critical, take the sack throw the ball away but do not turn it over. Opportunities will come in the game that he will need to capitalize on but main thing do not put the team in the hole by turning the ball over 1st and foremost

 

[Sydla]

I agree that we've got to take some shots, but we do not need to constantly be looking downfield. Establish a rhythm for Weeden with quick passes. As you said, we should expect the Falcons to bring pressure and try to rattle him. The line has to handle that pressure and we have to have a plan to get the ball out of his hands quickly.

Dunbar/Randle could be huge again in this game.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Most of his plays were short predetermined passes. The one to TWILL was a case of a wide open 1st read. I worry about a quality defense like Arizona last year.

Let me be the first to say I was hoping Dallas would find a better backup than Weeden based on his performances in both preseasons and in the Arizona game last year. He has some issues that I just don't think can be fixed.

However, I went back and watched his performance Sunday against a pretty good defense with the game still within reach and what I saw was a decisive and accurate quarterback. If we can get that guy while Romo is out, then we can win some games.

The reason for Weeden's success appeared to be fairly simple. He did not have to progress through a lot of reads and the line protected him. I think that second part is especially important. Pressure is all QBs' enemy, but Weeden seems to handle it especially poorly. If Dallas gives him time to throw and keeps where he is throwing simple, he has the arm strength and accuracy to get it there.

We just have to hope his head doesn't get in the way of his physical ability.

I loved the TD to Terrance..... Hope it continues.

I hope weeden got better but he benefited from a gassed defense. Next game defense will be fresh.

 

[RunDMC]

Let me be the first to say I was hoping Dallas would find a better backup than Weeden based on his performances in both preseasons and in the Arizona game last year. He has some issues that I just don't think can be fixed.

However, I went back and watched his performance Sunday against a pretty good defense with the game still within reach and what I saw was a decisive and accurate quarterback. If we can get that guy while Romo is out, then we can win some games.

The reason for Weeden's success appeared to be fairly simple. He did not have to progress through a lot of reads and the line protected him. I think that second part is especially important. Pressure is all QBs' enemy, but Weeden seems to handle it especially poorly. If Dallas gives him time to throw and keeps where he is throwing simple, he has the arm strength and accuracy to get it there.

We just have to hope his head doesn't get in the way of his physical ability.

I saw the same thing which is why it's imperative we run the football. Something we couldn't do against Arizona even with DeMarco. That why we don't put him in situations where he has to throw the ball 40 times like he did against Cardinals and have to make a lot of decisions within the pocket. I'd like to see us start off by throwing some quick early passes and get him some easy completions to allow Weeden to establish a rhythm early.