Cowboys See Great Improvement in Brandon Weeden

It’s only June, but the Dallas Cowboys seem to believe they’ve improved at the quarterback position behind Tony Romo this offseason.

Head coach Jason Garrett has said third string quarterback Dustin Vaughan is like a different player he’s improved so much in the last year and, last week, quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson called second stringer Brandon Weeden perhaps the most improved player at Valley Ranch. Weeden is entering his second season with the Cowboys and his fourth in the league.

“I think he’s probably the most improved player,” Wilson said, per ESPN Dallas. “He just has a great understanding of the concepts, of the protections, calling the plays, all those things. He’s made a big jump this year.”

In Weeden’s lone start since coming to the Cowboys last offseason, against the Cardinals in Week 9 last year, he went 18 of 33 passing for 183 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Dallas lost to Arizona 28-17.

“I didn’t play as well as I would’ve liked against Arizona, but I tell everybody that’s the best defense I ever played against,” Weeden said. “Since I’ve been in the league, that’s the best defense I played against. Their scheme was good. They’ve got really good corners on the outside, and they have just really good players. I’d like to have that one over ... I just didn’t play well enough to give us a chance to win.”

Like Wilson, offensive coordinator Scott Linehan has liked what he’s seen out of Romo’s backup this offseason.

“I think he’s had a great offseason,” Linehan said. “We’re in the process so we’ll see, but I think everybody gets more comfortable the more they’re in a system. This is really a little bit similar to what he’s had his last year in Cleveland, but it was his third system in three years. That’s not easy for guys. Now it’s the same system two years in a row. That’s a benefit for him, and you see that on the practice field.”