DawgTalkers.net Forums The Archives 2013 NFL Season NFL Draft (2013) PFW: Browns Targeting Weeden

I don't know why the Akron Beacon Journal would trigger that stupid "disallowed site" crap ....... but here's the article from the Akron Beacon Journal:

Ah, now I see why, because the story has the writer's t--w-i-t-t-e-r account listed with his email address.

http://www.ohio.com/news/top-stories/201...weeden-1.294409

Although the Browns’ decision makers have said they’re willing to surround Colt McCoy with offensive weapons and give him another chance as a starter, they haven’t ruled out the possibility of using an early draft pick on a quarterback.

Stanford’s Andrew Luck and Baylor’s Robert Griffin III are expected to be picked first and second overall on April 26, so some draft gurus believe the Browns will consider taking the third-best quarterback, Texas A&M’s Ryan Tannehill, at No. 4.

However, Pro Football Weekly analyst Nolan Nawrocki isn’t buying it.

Instead, Nawrocki believes the Browns are interested in nabbing Oklahoma State’s Brandon Weeden with either their second pick of the first round (No. 22) or their early second-round selection (No. 37).

“I do think Weeden is a guy they are targeting, and whether they select him with the 22nd or the 37th pick, I think he would definitely bring more size to that position,” Nawrocki said Wednesday during a conference call. “He ran a similar style offense at Oklahoma State. I think he’s flown under the radar a little bit.

“Whether he goes in the back of the first round or the early second, I think there’s a good chance he’ll be a top-40 pick and he can definitely bring more of a downfield threat than Colt McCoy currently brings. I think that’s what they’d like to do with that offense.”

The 6-foot-4, 221-pound Weeden got a late start on his football career because he first chased his baseball dream, spending five seasons as a minor-league pitcher. He’ll turn 29 in October.

During a separate conference call Wednesday, former NFL coach and ESPN analyst Jon Gruden praised Weeden. Still, Gruden playfully acknowledged Weeden’s age diminishes his value because he has a smaller window for an NFL career than a typical prospect.

“If you counted the top 20 throws that Andrew Luck made, the top 20 throws that Robert Griffin made, the top 20 throws that Tannehill made, Weeden, [Boise State’s] Kellen Moore, you walk away and you say, ‘Brandon Weeden makes the most difficult throws in college football,’” Gruden said. “He’s got a tremendous arm, great anticipation.

“It’s a pleasure watching Weeden throw the football. The only downside of Weeden right now is his age. I think he’s the same age I am — 48 years old.”

Gruden, though, does not share Nawrocki’s view about how the Browns will handle their quarterback situation. Gruden, a close friend and former assistant of President Mike Holmgren, thinks the Browns are more likely to spend their first three picks on players who can support McCoy instead of using one of those early choices on another quarterback.

“I like Colt McCoy,” Gruden said. “I think he’s done some really good things in pro football. Obviously, he’s got to continue to get better, and I think a proven supporting cast would help any quarterback, let alone Colt McCoy. If I was a guessing man, that would be the way I would guess Cleveland would go — add a couple dynamic skilled players to Colt McCoy and see what happens.”

Front-runner at No. 4?

Gruden and Nawrocki both said Alabama running back Trent Richardson is the playmaker who makes the most sense for the Browns to take at No. 4. Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon doesn’t trump Richardson in their eyes.

“The easiest thing to do is to turn around and hand the ball to somebody 300 times a year,” Gruden said. “Everybody says, ‘Don’t take a running back. We can get those guys in the fifth and sixth and seventh round.’ You [won’t] find Trent Richardson in the fifth or sixth or seventh round. He’s a beast.

“No disrespect to Blackmon, but [Minnesota Vikings star running back] Adrian Peterson [and] Trent Richardson as prospects, they kind of remind me of each other. Maybe A.P. had a little bit more home-run speed, but these are punishing, difference-maker backs. And I think Richardson with Jim Brown and Leroy Kelly, the history of great backs they’ve had in Cleveland, that would be pretty neat.”

Nawrocki thinks Richardson is the type of workhorse the Browns need to compete in the AFC North.

“Richardson really fits that division well,” Nawrocki said. “He’s a bruiser. He can handle a full workload. He’s exceptionally gifted. To me, he makes all the sense in the world [for the Browns], and I think he grades out considerably higher than Justin Blackmon.”

Tracking workouts

Midwestern State offensive tackle Amini Silatolu conducted a private workout for the Browns, a league source confirmed for the Beacon Journal.

Silatolu has not visited the team.

NFLDraftScout.com projects the 6-4, 311-pound Silatolu as a second-round pick. He played left tackle for Division II Midwestern State, though NFLDraftScout.com and Pro Football Weekly project him as an NFL guard.

The Browns are in the market for a starting right tackle. If they believe Silatolu could fill that role, it would make sense for them to target him early in the second round (No. 37).

Silatolu was a starting offensive lineman for San Joaquin Delta College from 2007-08. He then signed with Nevada, but he didn’t qualify academically and missed the 2009 season. At Midwestern State, he started nine games at left tackle in 2010 and 10 games in the same spot last season.

The Browns also held a private workout with Georgia offensive tackle Cordy Glenn, the Plain Dealer reported.

NFLDraftScout.com projects the 6-6, 345-pound Glenn as a first-round pick. He’s a logical right tackle candidate who might still be available when the Browns are put on the clock with the 22nd selection.

He would be a wasted pick

I don't think that he would be.

If he gives us 8 or 9 years, then that also gives us that many drafts to find his replacement.

If we pick TR, then I think that the chance of us using either the 22nd pick or the 37th pick on a QB [Weeden] are pretty slim, because we need a WR and RT.

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He would be a wasted pick

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Amen.....We can get someone else just like him at a lower pick or FA, After RG3 & Luck, the talent level is about the same, at that stage it all comes down to what do we like compared to what he does good and what he does bad,

Drafting a QB before the 5th round is a waste.....THIS YEAR...

Think about it, even if we draft a QB this year to be our 3rd QB is the FO really going to let this person play in a real NFL game, Even if Colt & Seneca go down with injuries this QB is not going to see the field, we will go out and sign a FA veteran for the remainder of the year, to start.. so why waste a pick...

uhm...because THIS draft isn't about THIS upcoming season? Just a hunch though, lol

2012 is already punted if you havent noticed yet...so you wouldn't invest a top 4 round pick on a QB because he wouldn't play in 2012? Did I get that right? You realize there are dozens of prospects at other positions who won't sniff the field drafted in the 60-130 range

also, with your logic we should never draft a QB since he won't help day 1

and I'll keep repeating it till someone replies to it: Weeden beat Luck, RG3 and Tannehill last season...and no, he didn't have a better D, in fact Okl St.'s D ranked 107th...Stanford's 28th, TexA&M's 59th...Baylor's was equally bad at 116th

Yeah, a wasted pick

He IS a risk like every QB is, but it isn't because of his age....he has as much or even less football experience than the other top QBs...I would understand taking a flyer on him early, esp. if we can get an extra Top 75 pick somehow...what's the alternative? Another season of Colt? THAT would be a waste...we would just delay the inevitable...picking Weeden at least is trying to make something happen...not swinging, not even trying is guaranteed failure though

Do you think people on this board do not already understand/know what you keep saying?

Here's the difference:

Taking Weeden before the 4th Rd makes no sense for THIS team THIS year. He is a 28 year old project who will need two years (minimum) to be a contributor.

We cannot use a top 100 pick on a 28 year old guy who needs two years to develop. We need talent that will help immediately...even if only as depth...through our 3rd Rd pick.

However,if he's there at our 4b...I'm sprinting to the podium with his name on my card.

I make the same argument about Tannehill...except I might be convinced to use our 3rd Rd pick on him.

We simply cannot spend a top 100 pick on a guy who needs time to develop....not this year anyway.

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Taking Weeden before the 4th Rd makes no sense for THIS team THIS year. He is a 28 year old project who will need two years (minimum) to be a contributor.

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I'm not that high on Weeden (mostly because of his age), but why do you think he's a project?

You think that he will need 2 years minimum to be a contributor.

Why you think that I don't know.

He is every bit as polished as Colt McCoy, has a higher talent level, and besides, McCoy didn't show any great grasp of the offense last year so what difference does it make if we take Weeden and he needs part or all of the year to learn the offense anyway? Weeden has so many attributes that McCoy does not have. The only things I can think of that McCoy has that Weeden doesn't are a year head start in the offense, and McCoy is a better runner.

I don't know much about Weeden but how does he compare to Andy Dalton as far as being a project. I think it is safe to say Dalton was a contributor in the Bengals offense in year one, so why wouldn't Weeden be able to do the same. Was Dalton that much better of a prospect coming out last year?

Well, if you believe our coach and president, it takes 2 years to learn the west coast offense, and Weedon has taken fewer snaps from center than Griffin. Now people are talking about him at 22?

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“He ran a similar style offense at Oklahoma State. I think he’s flown under the radar a little bit.

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Yea same style offense lol I am sorry but the writer loses all credibility with that statement.

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“It’s a pleasure watching Weeden throw the football. The only downside of Weeden right now is his age. I think he’s the same age I am — 48 years old.”

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Sorry Gruden you lost your QB card by selling Colt to Holmgren. As a matter of fact why does anyone listen to Gruden's opinion on QBs. He had a new one ever year and they all sucked.

I like Weeden but I wouldnt touch him before the latter 3rd. He loses all accuracy when you can make him move off the spot. Senior bowl he looked completely lost working from under center.

I would probably just wait until next year.

I don't understand your fetish for this guy.

Who gives a damn about who he beats in college? Winning in college means nothing.

Plus Dalton had to learn to work from under Center and all of the other things that it is "impossible" for a rookie QB (or 2nd year QB) to do ........

Dalton had to work through more than a single read, run progressions, and read the defense pre-snap.The coaching staff helped him with familiar types of terminology, but he didn't need a ton of hand holding.

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Well, if you believe our coach and president, it takes 2 years to learn the west coast offense,

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I don't believe them. If it takes that long for a player to understand and perform well, it's a bad system.

well, there's that.

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“No disrespect to Blackmon, but [Minnesota Vikings star running back] Adrian Peterson [and] Trent Richardson as prospects, they kind of remind me of each other. Maybe A.P. had a little bit more home-run speed, but these are punishing, difference-maker backs. And I think Richardson with Jim Brown and Leroy Kelly, the history of great backs they’ve had in Cleveland, that would be pretty neat.”

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He's right on with this statement. TR is the kind of back you don't pass up if you have a glaring need at RB (which we do). Who on this thread would not take an Adrian Peterson at #4, considering what he has accomplished so far in his career? Richardson is not a reach if winning games are the end result of his involvement on offense.

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I don't understand your fetish for this guy.

Who gives a damn about who he beats in college? Winning in college means nothing.

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Being a QB thread, I will comment that we have one of the top winningest college QBs on our roster (guess who); which means nothing right now.

Having said that, if we were able to pull Weeden with our 3rd round pick, sure take him. However, that is just dreaming. I believe we will be pulling for a QB next year regardless of McCoy's performance to either replace McCoy or Wallace.

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also, with your logic we should never draft a QB since he won't help day 1

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I was hopping THIS YEAR would be somewhat understood as THIS YEAR..2012....I was pretty much saying, when it comes to drafting a QB THIS YEAR (2012 Draft ) it would be a waste, because next year if Colt dosent live up to expectations were gonna be looking at drafting a Barkley or another QB, So to me drafting a QB who is not rated as high as Luck or RG# would be a waste, becuase we'd be right back in the same spot next year, looking to draft a QB,

Now if the only postion we had a hole at was 3rd back-up QB...I'd be all for it, but as we all know we have many holes to fill and addressing 3rd string QB early in the draft dosent make since to me, since we all know as Browns fans, were gonna hear the yelling next year about drafting a QB again....unless Colt has a excellent season, which we all pray for...

I can believe that it might take 2 years for a QB to learn each and every tiny nuance of the WCO ...... to know every minor variation and every potential call possible at the line.

That doesn't mean that the QB can come in and be miserably ineffective and blame it on the offense. He may not know it all, but he should be able to get enough down to be effective when he steps foot on the field.

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I was hopping THIS YEAR would be somewhat understood as THIS YEAR..2012....I was pretty much saying, when it comes to drafting a QB THIS YEAR (2012 Draft ) it would be a waste, because next year if Colt dosent live up to expectations were gonna be looking at drafting a Barkley or another QB, So to me drafting a QB who is not rated as high as Luck or RG# would be a waste, becuase we'd be right back in the same spot next year, looking to draft a QB,

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See 2 posts above yours and turn to chapter : "why you don't draft middling QB prospects who tease you into wasting time on them"

I heard the same "argument" exactly 1 year ago when I was pushing for Gabbert (yeah, I know...he still has more upside left than Colt can dream of and I would have taken th ATL deal too before that craps starts again)...."let's wait and see how Colt does", "he's in a tailor made WCO for his dump off crap"...."we now have 2 1st, if Colt plays poorly we pick high enough and can trade up for Luck" (how did that "plan" turn out huh? So much for "playing" the "next draft" card)...then he totally craps his pants and I'm here reading the same stuff AGAIN?

He's not even a "tease-QB" anymore...what are we waiting for this time again? A miraculous wonder? Better talent around him covering up his deficiencies? Are we in "faith" and "believe"-land already?

Even if we take him at 37, I will be angry . . .

My skin might turn green . . .

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Nawrocki said Wednesday during a conference call. “He ran a similar style offense at Oklahoma State.

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During a separate conference call Wednesday, former NFL coach and ESPN analyst Jon Gruden praised Weeden.

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There's never been a QB in the history of the game that Gruden hasn't absolutely LOVED....until he's the head coach, then he hates all his QB's and yanks them faster than starting pitcher.

Gruden knows football, but his opinions given to the public aren't worth the time spent reading or listening to them.

As noted in another thread, I could see the sense in taking Weeden with our 2nd rounder, but only because of how badly overvalued the QB position is. I wouldn't do it and really wouldn't like it, but I'd understand it.

I'd rather draft our guy at #4 and then try to trade up in front of Miami to get Tannehill than draft Weeden at 3 . . . It'll take some picks, but I just DON'T . . . WANT . . . WEEDEN.

Lets think about the draft and swaps in another way.. Who's the BEST backup out their right now that might be available on another teams roster ?

I love these.. .Nawrocki, who writes for PFW and doesn't even say he has a source, he just says he "believes" this is going on, writes a piece... the ABJ picks it up and writes it's own piece then brings in some quotes by people like Gruden to give it some credibility... because Gruden thinks Weeden is good (has ever NOT thought a QB was good?)

No where in this entire article does it say WHY he believes the Browns are targeting him other than.. The Browns need better QB play and Weeden is the next QB on the list to hype since the Tannehill thing has run it's course...

I have no problem debating a Weeden pick at 22, 37 or later... but this article is sort of humerous in its total lack of anything substantive relating the Browns to Weeden.

Just did a quick look at who might fit what you are asking. Took all QBs. filtered out starters and back ups that have recently signed with new teams. Also deleted obvious third stringers/ guys I never heard of.This is what was left.

The only name that really stands out is Hasselbeck.

Skelton, John QB Arizona Cardinals
Redman, Chris QB Atlanta Falcons
Thigpen, Tyler QB Buffalo Bills
Clausen, Jimmy QB Carolina Panthers
Hanie, Caleb QB Denver Broncos
Hill, Shaun QB Detroit Lions
Rosenfels, Sage QB Minnesota Vikings
Webb, Joe QB Minnesota Vikings
Hoyer, Brian QB New England Patriots
Carr, David QB New York Giants
McElroy, Greg QB New York Jets
Pryor, Terrelle QB Oakland Raiders
Edwards, Trent QB Philadelphia Eagles
Kafka, Mike QB Philadelphia Eagles
Whitehurst, Charlie QB San Diego Chargers
Jackson, Tarvaris QB Seattle Seahawks
Hasselbeck, Matt QB Tennessee Titans
Beck, John QB Washington Redskins
Grossman, Rex QB Washington Redskins

Oh, and deleted anyone who had played for the Browns in the past.

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Oh, and deleted anyone who had played for the Browns in the past.

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Lol good call

if we ran a different system maybe Joe Webb too.

but hey, Vince Young is still on the market

I have always been a fan of Tyler Thigpen. He looked pretty good when he got some regular playing time in KC. I think he only played one game in Miami. He did throw a couple touchdowns and a couple interceptions but I will cut him a little slack seeing as it had been so long since he had been in a game.

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but hey, Vince Young is still on the market

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or we could trade our # 22 pick to the Raiders for Terrell Pryer....LOL....Just kidding....No way would I ever do this...Just Kidding.....

2008 was a long time ago though. and he did go 1-13 in games he played in that year. and he's 0-2 since then in games that he was the main QB.

How does any or all of this end up with the Browns getting Melvin Ingram?

Any trade up or trade down scenarios where that happens?