Andrew Luck was successful in his preseason debut. Brandon Weeden decidedly less so. But both rookie quarterbacks firmly remain in the learning stage
"I think you just try and get better," Luck said Tuesday. "Obviously, it was nice to go out and play a game and do some good things, do some bad things."
There wasn't much bad for Luck, who went 10-of-16 passing for 188 yards and two touchdowns in the Indianapolis Colts' 38-3 victory over the St. Louis Rams. Weeden operated on the opposite end of the spectrum, finishing 3-of-9 passing for 62 yards with a fumble and an interception in the Cleveland Browns' 19-17 victory over the Detroit Lions.
"Numbers are deceiving," Weeden said, via The Associated Press. "I'm excited to get back out there and correct the mistakes I made last week."
Luck and Weeden will join the Washington Redskins' Robert Griffin III as rookie quarterbacks thrown directly into the fire. Ryan Tannehill is trying to join that group right now with the Miami Dolphins.
Luck hardly viewed his performance as perfect.
"I think I could have avoided getting hit a couple times, just seeing the pressure and throwing a lot, or changing the protection," he said. "So that's something hopefully we will get better at. And just completing more balls, you can always get better."
Weeden's confidence remains intact.
"I am not scared to throw the ball in the end zone," he said. "There is just a fine line. You have to know the situation. Three points is not the end of the world. I want to score every time we touch the football, but sometimes the defense wins (and you settle for a field goal). You guys have seen me enough in practice, I am not scared to throw the ball to the back of the end zone."
