Johnny Manziel can’t pronounce “playoff” in funny new commercial
October 29, 2014Amy Schumer, Artie Lange and more talk LeBron, Cleveland: Chad Zumock
October 29, 2014Much like an Ohio State quarterback who dispatches Michigan and forever basks in the forthcoming glory, Brian Hoyer and the Cleveland Browns dismantling of a wildly inconsistent Pittsburgh Steelers team has suddenly made the city’s own has immovable as the Free Stamp that sits just outside of FirstEnergy Stadium.
The Browns have had an odd season. They’ve beaten the New Orleans Saints, which, despite a slow start, have pulled themselves together to once again resemble the powerhouse they’ve been for much of the past decade. There was a close loss in Week 1, and another to the Baltimore Ravens. Then there was the aforementioned Steeler smash. But they’ve also gotten down 28-3 to an atrocious Titans team (before storming back to win), scored six points against a winless Jacksonville Jaguars team and narrowly escaped with a victory against a downtrodden Oakland Raiders squad, one of those wins where you feel like you need a cold shower afterwards because it feels so dirty.
Brian Hoyer hasn’t been bad, but calling his play “good,” or any other synonym you can find in the thesaurus, is a stretch.
At times, however, he’s been pretty bad. Hoyer was 16-of-41 passing in that monstrosity of a game against the Jaguars. His completion percentage on the year sits at a 57.3 percent, below the likes of Blake Bortles (63.5 percent), Derek Carr (61 percent) and Mike Glennon (58.8 percent). His inability to lead receivers on countless deep balls has taken sure touchdowns off the board, and eight weeks in to the NFL season it appears he still doesn’t trust his repaired ACL, eliminating any running threat he might possess. His 4-1 touchdown to interception ratio would be flipped on its head if defensive players’ hands weren’t constantly smothered in butter or not for the fortune of a questionable penalty flag.
Hoyer hasn’t been bad, but calling his play “good,” or any other synonym you can find in the thesaurus, is a stretch. Mike Pettine, as well as much of the Browns fan base, has adapted the “a win is a win” mantra, and any recent criticism of Hoyer garners you a one way ticket to the nearest mental institution. The faithful apologists of #BrownsTwitter have stormed to the St. Ignatius grad’s defense with fervor, attempting to eliminate anything that resembles a quarterback controversy. The Browns have lacked a competent dude under center for 15 years now, so the celebration of Hoyer is understandable. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t want better.
It seems that many are turning a blind eye to the fact that Hoyer has a very clear ceiling, and if there was nary a hair on his head, he would be scraping it. So while any mention of the one they call Johnny Football is met with a mob holding flaming pitchforks, the fact remains that Brian “Hometown” Hoyer will only take the Browns as far as his somewhat flimsily arm will take them. That iPhone 4s you’ve got may not load Angry Birds Stars Wars Edition as fast as you’d like, but it gets the job done. Still, you can’t help but stare at that golden iPhone 6 Plus. And that’s OK.
This is not a call for Johnny Manziel to take the field. I have no crystal ball in front of me, and no semblance of an idea if he will be successful or not. The loss of Alex Mack and the resulting disappearance of the run game will hurt any quarterback, and Josh Gordon’s return will change things immensely. What I do know that wanting more from a franchise and quarterback that has been wading in a pool of mediocrity for my entire existence on Earth is not something that should be swept under the boots of Browns fans looking to quickly grab hold of anything resembling a real football team.
106 Comments
I agree, “Bob Wainner” (if that is indeed your REAL name, and you aren’t actually a Manziel cousin), there is no comparison between Hoyer and Manziel’s college stats, largely due in no small part to the significant differences in the style of offense each played in. And no one here has ever tried to claim Hoyer as the superior athlete. What they (myself included) have said is that Hoyer’s time in the league has given him a chance to see what it takes to truly prepare to play at this level, particularly the cerebral side of the process. It is his ability to digest the playbook (something it must be admitted that Manziel has never been asked to do) and minimize mistakes that separated him from the rookie. Hoyer was able to navigate a tough first month of the schedule not by freelancing but by playing controlled, steady football. That may not be as sexy as Manziel scrambling around and improvising (which in the NFL greatly increases the risk of injury, especially if you’re an undersized QB), but it’s the sort of play that, when combined with competent (not even exceptional) performance from the supporting cast, can win you games at this level. So yes, I am more than content to let Hoyer lead this team this season.
Manziel was most certainly a phenom at QB. In college. I don’t know if you follow teams besides the ones Manziel plays for, but the list of phenomenal college QBs to flame out at the pro level is long and distinguished. Drafted or not drafted, first rounder (Akili Smith) or sixth (Tom Brady), college stud or bench warmer–how ones gets to the league means little. Hell, I watched Antonio Gates play basketball at Kent State, only to become one of the best TEs the NFL has ever seen. Pedigree only gets a player so far before the realities of the pro game ultimately dictate whether they belong there or not. Manziel may, one day, show that he is worthy of playing QB at the highest level. If so, it would be nice if it happened in Cleveland. But he had a legit chance to seize the job in August, and he wasn’t ready or able to do so. Maybe injury or a losing streak will give him a chance this season, maybe not. I want the team I’ve rooted for all my life to win games, and I care very little if they do it with an Undrafted guy while a Heisman winner picks splinters from his ass every week. The team believes Hoyer gives them the best chance to win this season. I agree, and I will continue to support him. He’s hoping Manziel is using his time to prepare for a level of competition he’s never seen. His time could come at any moment.
Go Browns
Coach Pettine hasn’t played Manziel in any meaningful way yet because Manziel hasn’t earned the opportunities yet. The job was there for the taking, and yet the Heisman winner couldn’t win the spot. Jim Brown says many, many things. Hopefully he is ultimately right about this issue. But until injury or losses or Manziel seizing the job in practice, we won’t know. Not even someone who has watched him since high school can predict that.
That’s great that Manziel was able to excel in a conference where defenses, while full of talented individuals, are notorious for surrendering loads of points to the very talented offenses they face. And a big comeback against traditional powerhouse Duke in bowl game deserves credit as well. I haven’t heard any of the criticisms of Mariota that you cite here, but I have watched him play, and what I’ve seen, coupled with his size and poise, makes me think he will be a more impactful player in the NFL than Manziel will be. But hey, I’m no professional scout. I assume you aren’t either. And honestly, pro scouts thought Ryan Leaf and Brady Quinn would make quality pro QBs, so what the hell do any of us know until any of these guys starts competing at the pro level. Ball don’t lie, as they say. Manziel will eventually get his chance, as will Mariota. My bet would be on Mariota, but that’s me. You disagree, and that’s cool.
As for what the team will do, I couldn’t even begin to guess. If we remain competitive until season’s end and Hoyer continues to manage the game well, I’m partial to tagging him for one more year and seeing if he’s more than a one-year guy. That would give Manziel a chance to develop one more season, which I think would be valuable. Or maybe Manziel seizes the job next offseason. If Hoyer falls apart this year and we have another 5-11 or 6-10 record, then maybe we move on and hand the reins to your guy. Personally if Hoyer does come back, I’m fully in favor of shopping Manziel for a first rounder in the 2015 draft, which might give him the starting chance you so strongly believe he is entitled to. There’s a long season to go, and we will see together just what happens. My hope is that, as a new fan, you are more concerned with the success of the team and not just your preferred player. But that’s your call.
Go Browns!
Yes, B-bo…..this is my real name. I’m a 1977 graduate of Texas A&M. And, of course I’m bias towards Johnny Manziel. But, let me tell you…since my days as a student at A&M, myself & many thousands of other Aggies kept saying year after year….”wait til next year”. Oh, we had some pretty good teams and some great players along the way…..BUT, it wasn’t until Manziel became the A&M starting QB in 2012, that I said to myself….DAM, it’s about friggn time!!! No, A&M didn’t win the SEC or a National Title, but, A&M won all but (2) games Manziel’s 1st yr. (lost to Florida & LSU by a total of 8 points)…2 top 10 teams. Lost 4 games the next yr…as A&M’s defense was ranked 106th in the Nation. Still great Bowl wins over OU and a win over Duke (the biggest come-back win in A&M’s school history…over 130 yrs. If you haven’t seen Manziel’s 2012 & 2013 game highlights….you should take a look…their amazing. I’ve been following college & NFL ball since about 1960…can’t remember seeing a QB play like JM…he’s lightening in a bottle. But, as talented as Manziel is, another QB named Kyler Murray (from the Dallas area)…has won 2 (6A State of Texas Championships) and is well on his way to winning a 3rd this year…he’s heading to A&M next Spring. This kid’s Dad was one of the best QBs to play for A&M. Kyler Murray is faster than Manziel & is a better passer…plays the same style as JM. FYI, Manziel has never missed a game due to an injury. And, he played with that scrambling style in the SEC for 2 yrs…but, he also had the best “pocket passing percentage of all NCAA QBs in 2013…75.3%.
NOW, look at Texas A&M….3 straight losses, including a 59-0 blow out by Alabama and today, barely winning over Louisiana Monroe team (small school). A&M has 2 very talented QBs…..but, they don’t have Johnny Manziel….HUGE difference.
JM has succeeded at every level….no reason to believe he won’t also succeed in the NFL. Even last week in a radio interview, the Great Jim Brown was asked about Johnny Manziel…and said that when Manziel gets his opportunities, he will become a Star in the NFL. Quite and endorsement.
I do think college stats count – at least to a degree…and comparing game highlights, you can SEE the difference in the passing & running abilities of Hoyer and Manziel. Manziel NEVER had a chance to be the Starting QB for the Browns…not with Mike Pettine as the Head Coach. No way he will start a Rookie QB (unless he absolutely HAS too)…he admits that too. So, Brian Hoyer HAD to be the Starting QB. And, the first 6 games of this season from what I can tell, is the SOFT part. Both the Steelers & Saints are much improved over the past couple of weeks…and wins over the Titans & Raiders were close wins and they shouldn’t have been…losing to Jacksonville? IF the Browns barely get past Tampa Bay, that won’t look good (as bad as they are)…and then, games 8 thru 16 will be next to impossible. I’ve looked, don’t see any wins in those 8 weeks.
Maybe Manziel’s ready, maybe he’s not. But, there’s just no way Hoyer is leading this Browns team to the playoffs this season…or any other season…just my opinion. Pettine needs to consider this season as a “re-building” year…there are too many key injuries, player needs, question marks, and Pettine needs to see Manziel play a few games to be able to do an assessment of how well he can adjust to the NFL game. With an O-line that’s hurting…a running game that has become pretty ineffective, no Josh or Cameron….having a mobile QB, who can scramble, make accurate throws on the run…and even run if he has too would IMO be a more effective QB….Hoyer is slow, pretty much a pure pocket passer. Hoyer’s passing average for the season (to date) is 57.3%, which ranks him as the 32nd ranked starting NFL QB.
Well, we all have our opinions on WHO the Browns should have as their QB…but, the Browns’ offense has looked seriously weak the past few weeks….and after Tampa Bay, that schedule gets very tough! Sure, I’d like to see the Browns win ALL of their remaining games….but, it’s not going to happen. I see a 6-10 season, at best.
B-bo……….the mere fact that you think there’s even a CHANCE this Browns team could lose to the Tampa Bay Bucs…is very telling. I mean, Tampa is one of the worst 3 teams in the NFL right now.
Back to WHY Johnny Manziel has not gotten opportunities to start for the Browns. It has nothing to do with (did he earn the chance)…Mike Pettine has had bad previous situations (at other NFL teams he coached for – as Defensive Coordinator)…when Rookie QBs got the starting QB spot. Like Mark Sanchez at the Jets. So, Pettine is convinced, ZERO Rookie QBs should start in the NFL.
Do you realize that Russell Wilson started every game his Rookie year at Seattle…after his 2nd yr., he led the Seahawks to a convincing win over Peyton Manning & the Broncos in the Super Bowl. Peyton Manning & Troy Aikman both started every game of their Rookie years. Well, Dallas lost every game of Aikman’s Rookie year, but, he got invaluable playing time as the team went thru the re-building process…adding Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin, Moose Johnston…a solid defense…and they went on to win (3) Super Bowls with Aikman. And, Aikman was sitting on the bench learning from a veteran QB…he learned (on the job).
Now, look at Dallas. QB Tony Romo has been the starting QB for the past 8 seasons. All he has to show for all that time is (1) single playoff win……just ONE. That’s 8 seasons as a starting QB….over 130 starts. Romo is 6′ – 3″ ht. & 225 lbs. He owns just about every Dallas Cowboy QB record…..so what. Where are the playoff wins? Where are the Super Bowl wins? And, I think Romo is a much better QB than Brian Hoyer…..so, where does that leave the Browns? If Tony Romo (in 8 yrs.) can only accomplish what he did….how many YEARS would it take until the BROWNS see a Playoff game? If ever?
IMO, Mike Pettine has been literally bending over backwards to give Hoyer “opportunities”…and he’s under-performing. If the Browns are going to be competitive again, they need to look at ALL of their options……which means, Pettine needs to get over his FEAR of playing Rookie QBs. Of course, I want to see the Browns win…I’d love nothing more than to see them in the Super Bowl….but, IMO, Browns fans are kidding themselves if they really believe Brian Hoyer is a potential Super Bowl QB….he’s not.
I’ve been on the Johnny train since the night they drafted the kid. That said, Pettine made a decision. Ultimately, it has been the right one for this year. Browns are possibly playoff bound for the first time in a very long time, and Johnny has been able to watch how the game is played at the professional level, without getting busted in half. Chances are the Browns and Hoyer have already reached their ceiling. I suspect the Browns will let him walk quietly into that good night at the end of the year. You probably won’t win a championship tossing one touchdown (or less) a game, against quarterbacks who throw 3 or four in a half. Browns will open with a younger, mobile quarterback and a their three-headed monster running game next year should only get better with experience. Having an additional threat to run at quarterback will also help.I can see this team making a run next year. For now, enjoy this ride…
Finally!!!! The voice of reason.