CLEVELAND — Thanks to three interceptions, Cameron Wake and no Josh Gordon, Brandon Weeden’s second year under center for the Cleveland Browns, got off to a less than stellar start.
Weeden, the 29-year-old second-year draft pick out of Oklahoma State, threw three interceptions in a 23-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins, would be sacked six times—three by Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake, had unfortunate deflections and tips into the hands of Miami defenders. Former Browns defensive back, Dmitri Patterson would come back to haunt his former team in picking off Weeden twice and one-time free-agent target Brent Grimes in the first half, Yet, only lead 6-0 on two field-goals from rookie kicker Caleb Strugis.
Weeden gave the Browns a 7-6 lead before halftime on a seven-yard touchdown pass to up-and-coming tight end Jordan Cameron, would finish the game by going 26-of-53 for 289 yards and a paltry QB rating of 48.4
Cameron would finish the game with nine catches for 108 yards and one touchdown.
The newly-revamped Cleveland defense did it’s job in keeping the Browns close, thanks to constant pressure on Ryan Tannehill, Cleveland sacked the second-year former Aggies quarterback four times. Too bad, in the case of the Browns, that it didn’t prove to be enough as Tannehill found wideout Brian Hartline on a 34-yard touchdown pass and a one-yard touchdown run by Daniel Thomas to help the visiting Dolphins salt the game away.
While many will try to pin the loss on Weeden, one must at the shaky play on the offensive line—most notably Oniel Cousins–the lack of separation and ability to go up and challenge for balls by Browns wide receivers, the loss of Gordon, suspended for the first two games due to taking codeine, was made more evident, thanks to the lack of Weeden’s home-run threat.
Abandoning the run early, was also a mistake by the Browns, but one must also give credit to a stout and very underrated Dolphins defensive front that all but shut down Richardson, who finished with 47 yards rushing on 13 carries, and to Wake, who managed to make Weeden very uncomfortable throughout the game.
Highly touted as both a possible breakout player with upside, Weeden’s three-interception performance didn’t help silence the many critics, who feel that he is not the quarterback that the Browns need right now.
If today’s loss to the Dolphins is any indication, Weeden and the Browns have some serious work to do.
Robert D. Cobb is the Founder/CEO/Senior Editor-In-Chief Of The Inscriber : Digital Magazine, for questions, comments and concerns email me at robcobb@theinscriber.com and follow the Inscriber : Digital Magazine on Twitter at @TheInscriber