At this point of his career, why does anyone have confidence in Campbell? I understand Weeden is borderline and all, but really, Jason Campbell?
I think it's more lack of confidence in Campbell than confidence in Weeden. Weeden didn't have to win a QB competition last year and the new regime brought in Campbell. If it's truly a level playing field in camp, I can't say for sure that Weeden will win.
You have to factor in extenuating circumstances.
Ponder - the second best performance in NFL history with his running back Adrian Peterson
That is a pretty significant positive extenuating circumstance for any quarterback but then factor in; Percy Harvin who is a weapon for any offense. Add the Vikings drafted a true franchise offensive left tackle in Matt Kahlil and it can't be stated enough but Ponder wasn't a rookie.
Never in the entire history of the National Football League had a rookie quarterback started his career with:
- a rookie RB
The rookie RB was talented but he missed training camp and preseason and hadn't had any contact due to surgery on his knee.
- a rookie RT
Granted Schwartz would finish the season as one of the best right tackles in the league but in that first game he struggled against Philly's wide-nine D-Line and got beat badly on a couple of sacks.
Weeden will be entering his second season he should improve but factor in that the offensive system will suit his best physical feature, his big arm, and that, running back Trent Richardson won't be coming off knee surgery or be playing with broken ribs and he will be in training camp and get work in preseason games and he won't be a rookie.
Add right tackle Mitchell Schwartz is already one of the better ORTs in the league and won't be a rookie so he should improve.
Add WR Josh Gordon was selected soo late in the supplemental draft that he fell far behind. Josh hadn't played college football in over a year before falling behind in camp and sitting on the bench the first three games before being pushed into the starting lineup due to injuries. Josh was limited in his routes last year but on the few routes he ran he was a weapon. He's had a full offseason, he will be available for a full training camp and preseason. Add the new offense is tailor-made for his talents.
The best part about Gordon's addition last year was his pressence took pressure off of second year WR Greg Little who quietly turned his game around and at the end of last year G-Little was catching the ball and looked like a legitimate #2 NFL WR.
Ponder - still has AdP and Matt Kahlil but lost Harvin although he added Jennings and rookie Cordarrelle Patterson
Christian in the same circumatances he was in last year.
Weeden's circumstances have improved. Personnel-wise RB Trent Richardson, RT Mitchell Schwartz, WRs Josh Gordon and Greg Little are young healthy and are no longer rookies or second year guys. They all look like players on the rise. Offensive system and coaching of Offensive Coordinator Norv Turner is a really good fit for, Weeden, Richardson, Gordon.
The guys who are making the decisions will factor in extenuating circumstances and they know a veteran NFL QB should look better in camp or in preseason over an guy without that experience.
The Vikings made the playoffs so they won't make a change unless they are positive Cassell is better and would take them further.
The Browns current front office didn't select Weeden but they know that the team they inherited has young talent that is on the rise. Since they didn't take Weeden they have to be sold. They don't know if Weeden is thee guy but I think they will give the benefit of doubt and project upside. I don't see them making any changes in camp or stirring up a QB controversy. I think they won't have a short hook because I don't envision them thinking that Jason Cambell is thee guy that they want to lay their jobs on the line to build the team around.
I think Weeden gets a wide-birth to keep the starting gig and the front office signed Cambell as a veteran back-up who fit the system whereas Colt McCoy didn't and was traded away.
I can see Weeden starting and benefiting from the new system and how the supporting cast around him will improve. I can see Ponder starting but I don't see the system change or how the absence of Percy Harvin benefits him and I can't imagine Adrian Peterson will have a better season than he did last year.
The question is between Christian Ponder and Brandon Weeden, who has the better fantasy numbers at the end of the year?
Ponder had 9 games where he didn't throw for 200 yards and only 1 game where he threw for over 300 yards. He can run but only ran for 263 yards and 2 TDs so the coaching staff isn't running any versions of the read-option or Pistol. That offense is built around Adrian Peterson.
Weeden had 4 games where he didn't throw for 200 yards but the last game he got injured before halftime and 3 games where he threw for over 300 yards. Norv Turner will attack on offense with vertical deep passes which drops the safety so Trent should benefit but the upside is there for Weeden.
I don't see as much fantasy upside for Ponder.