The Browns passing offense got off to a rough start on Sunday as Brandon Weeden threw three picks and completed less than half his passes in a 23-10 loss to the Dolphins.
Given the way coach Rob Chudzinski refused to name Weeden the starter until late in training camp because of a “close” competition with Jason Campbell that saw Campbell barely take any snaps with the first team, some wondered if Weeden’s rough start to the season might cause Chudzinski to revisit his decision. Chudzinski said Monday that it wouldn’t and that Weeden isn’t on a short leash with the coaching staff.
“I don’t look at it as a leash,’' Chudzinski said, via Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “These guys are developing players and they’re learning how to play in this system and I expect us to keep getting better and improving.”
One place the Browns need to improve is pass protection. Weeden was sacked six times and hit 16 times by Miami in the opener and his numbers while throwing under pressure were particularly dreadful. Chudzinski pointed to those issues and a drop by Travis Benjamin as things that could also have gone better, but the focus is always going to return to the quarterback when he has a line like Weeden put up on Sunday.
The Ravens are up next for the Browns off a poor defensive effort against the Broncos in their opening game. You’d expect a better outing for them this time around unless Weeden’s performance is light years better than it was against the Dolphins.