Redskins Saturday Spotlight: Finding the next developmental quarterback
By Ian Cummings
Brian Lewerke – Michigan State
Recency bias will have even the most well-renowned experts prematurely giving up on Brian Lewerke. His outing against the Michigan Wolverines was admittedly a disaster. But look past the box score, and a number of underlying problems reveal themselves.
Lewerke was playing without his top four receivers. His offensive coordinator, Dave Warner, has lacked imagination all season, and his offensive line isn’t giving him any favors, in terms of pass protection. Lewerke is in a funk, and his confidence is shot. But make no mistake; he has the traits to succeed, if he lands in the right place.
It’s likely that Lewerke stays in school for his senior year if his junior season does not improve. But if he enters the NFL Draft this year, he’d be a good developmental option for the Redskins in the middle rounds. Lewerke has true starting potential, and he’s shown the necessary traits on a number of occasions in college.
Comparing Lewerke to Michigan State quarterbacks of old, such as Connor Cook and Kirk Cousins, Lewerke easily has the best mobility, arm talent, and athleticism of the bunch. In 2017, and in the early weeks of 2018, before things went south, he showed glimpses of stellar anticipation, something that NFL starters need to have when making their progressions.
Consistency is a big issue with Lewerke, as is decision making, and this season, his play has steadily declined, a shocking development after his first season as Michigan State’s starter went rather swimmingly. However, to be blunt, Lewerke’s in a terrible situation.
The talent has been drained from his weaponry core in the blink of an eye, and his coaching limits him, as well as the entire offense, to no end. The context will allow Lewerke to be had for a very affordable price. Put a player with his talent on a team where he can sit and learn from Alex Smith, while getting the scheme under wraps, and it could be exactly what he needs to burst onto the scene.
It would be in Lewerke’s best interest to return to school and hope his senior season is better, a sentiment The Draft Network’s Jon Ledyard echoes. But if he decides to come out early, teams will be scared away. There is talent there to mold. The Redskins would be wise to take a chance on it, and give him the resources he needs.