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September 17, 2015Hold the money phone: Josh McCown may suit up after all
September 17, 2015The Cleveland Browns’ season opener in New Jersey did not go well, the team losing 31-10 to the Jets. The game was tossed on its head early for the Browns when starting quarterback Josh McCown helicoptered his way out of the game, forcing the Browns to play Johnny Manziel the rest of the way. In the game, Manziel completed 13 of 24 passes for 182 yards, one touchdown and one interception, along with rushing for 35 yards and fumbling twice. The three turnovers are one of the biggest issues he had in the game, but Manziel had some other good and not so good moments on Sunday
Let’s take a look at what Johnny Manziel did versus the New York Jets in this week’s Cleveland Browns film room.
The Good
Accuracy and ball placement
Manziel showed some glimpses of good accuracy and ball placement during his performance on Sunday. When he had proper footwork and firm decision-making, Manziel was able to place the pass right in the stride of the receiver. Here is an example of the accuracy and ball placement the young quarterback showcased in different parts of the game.
4th Quarter- 10:38
Manziel zips a 20-yard pass to receiver Travis Benjamin. The pass is accurate and allows Benjamin to catch it in stride to gain more yards after the catch. He had multiple throws on Sunday where he allowed the receiver to catch a pass in the good position to gain yards after the catch. His accuracy is something to build on going forward.
Reading the defense pre-snap
Manziel also looked a lot more confortable in leading the team and diagnosing the defense pre-snap. Last season, Manziel looked completely lost in this area of the game. But, in the season opener he was able to do some good work in terms of taking what the defense gives him. Here is an example of his pre-snap read that allowed him to beat the defense.
2nd Quarter- 13:32
In this play, the Jets are sending six players on the blitz with all four players on the right side of the line going after the quarterback. Tight end Jim Dray is Manziel’s hot route option, running a quick 5-yard curl.
As you can see, Manziel recognizes the blitz well and immediately checks down to Dray. Dray is left wide open, allowing him to run for 13-yard gain. This example shows the improvement that Manziel has shown in understanding the NFL game. He looks more comfortable and understanding of NFL defenses than he ever did last season.
Not So Good
Footwork
One of the more glaring deficiencies of Johnny Manziel’s game versus the New York Jets was his inconsistent footwork. On numerous occasions, he would throw off his back foot or not follow through on his throws, using just his upper body to pass. Here is an example of his footwork struggles.
2nd Quarter- 5:54
As you can see in this video, Manziel’s footwork was not good. On this play, he rushed his throw, negating any use of his lower body into the throw. He used his only upper body to throw the ball to receiver Andrew Hawkins, who is running a slant on the play. The rusher initial causes him to hesitate, which in turn causes him to lose his fundamentals. He doesn’t even move his legs on the throw. The lack of lower body in the throw causes him to be inaccurate to the open Hawkins.
Missed opportunities, staring down one receiver
Johnny Manziel looked better than last season, but he still was not perfect. One of the more frequent trends I noticed from Manziel on Sunday was his tendency to look at just one option without going through more reads. He missed a couple opportunities because of this. Here is an example of this tendency.
4th Quarter- 15:00
On this play, the Browns offensive line gives Manziel a lot of time to find an open receiver. But as you can see, the young quarterback does not pull the trigger, forcing him to throw the ball away. Were there any options open?
Well, yes. Manziel was focused on the middle of the field and did not turn his focus towards any of the options on the sideline. He would have seen that Gary Barnidge was left open with a lot of space to most likely get a first down. This is another area where Manziel must improve on. He needs to focus on going through his reads if the first option or two are covered well.
Pocket Presence
This is Johnny Manziel’s biggest weakness. He relies too heavily on his legs and can leave the pocket way too early. He must be more confident to stay in the pocket and keep eyes downfield to find passing options. The previous play showed an example of this where he had no reason to leave the pocket so early. Here is another example of his lack of pocket presence.
4th Quarter- 13:05
In this play, Manziel leaves the pocket too early and right into the pass rusher, who was pushing the pocket. He could have stayed tall in the pocket for a little longer and noticed the running back slipping out of the backfield. He saw a running lane to run through so instead of staying in the pocket, he chose to run to daylight, which was actually covered by the pushing pass rusher. Manziel must learn that he cannot trust his legs more than his arm.
Highlight of the Game
Travis Benjamin was one of a few highlights in the game versus the New York Jets. Benjamin caught the team’s only touchdown, catching three passes for 89 yards and that touchdown. He was the only real playmaker the Browns showcased on Sunday. His speed is tough to guard against as you saw in the deep bomb he caught against the Jets, where he ran right past the secondary. Benjamin was the only receiver that seemed to show up in the season opener.
Lowlight of the Game
Joe Haden was one of many lowlights of the game on Sunday. He was beaten on multiple occasions, especially by Jets receiver Brandon Marshall. According to Pro Football Focus, Marshall caught all five passes thrown to him when Haden was covering him. These five catches totaled 56 yards and one touchdown. The Browns defense can not be the top defense many expect if Haden continues to play at this lower level of performance.
22 Comments
Hate to say this, but looking at the evidence, receivers were getting open, despite the fact that they were “nobodys” in terms of NFL reputation. The Browns WRs were not the reason for the lack of production. It is QB play. If Manziel can learn exactly what you said, do all the reads, acquire some patience, and not fumble, this team will be able to move the football. The WRs are not the problem. The Browns need the right starting QB to move forward as a team and organization. Period.
Lets see how manziel does with a week of practice. He already looks much better this year, and with a full week of practice and film, I bet he continues to improve.
Fantastic breakdown. I meant to ping you to mention I saw that the Jets were giving the right-handed Manziel the left flat (an often ignored portion of the field for a young QB is the opposite flat) and you nailed it (as should be expected from your excellent breakdowns).
Really good stuff, Joe.
In your “pocket presence” example you can see that his fullback or whoever lined up in the backfield ran a perfect safety valve route to the left but Johnny takes off to the right. I suspect here, like in the example of him staring down receivers, his lack of height makes it difficult for him to spot receivers on the side where 2 linemen are locked up close to him. The solution is for him to figure out how and where within the pocket he can slide to buy another second of vision and decision making. But easier said than learned as that’s graduate level QB stuff that less mobile guys are forced to figure out when they’re younger.
And you know Dick LeBeau, the Titans’ new DC, is all over this. He’s already the master at taking away parts of the field from rookie QBs. Kinda hope McCown can go just to keep LeBeau from crushing what little confidence Johnny may have given himself so far. Guessing the game plan is for a whole lot of Duke Johnson and Crowell this week.
Get to see Flip’s chops this week too though. If LeBeau sees it and “gives” what the Jets gave, then Flip should have a “forced” read play.
Flip: Okay Johnny, same play as last week. Look first read until the break. If it’s not open, swing your head around and the left flat should be a gimmee.
Dead man walking!
Great comment all around, and I worry about his size too.
I also have to add it is refreshing to read some intelligent football analysis and fan comments vs. Pluto’s usual column of ‘the Browns just need to win” malarky. And he is one of the better ones. Thanks Joe and co…..
Noticed that as well; his success in college were taking the open lane like a tailback and beating the slower LB’s for big gains. Not going to happen in the NFL.
The correct move on the play in question is to slide his feet to the left moving away from the action of the pocket. That buys him his time and opens the throwing lane to the safety valve out of the backfield.
But I disagree with that QB intelligence coming as graduate level stuff. Plenty of NCAA QB’s are making that read/move and executing it because they are taught it.
JT is as mobile as they come and moves the pocket with him very well. Cardale on the other hand just MOVES THE POCKET.
I wonder if it truly is Johnny’s size that pushes him to see an open hole and hit it because he knows he physically cant move through the pocket and get the correct line of sight?
Awesome breakdown of the pre-snap read that led to a 13 yard gain for Dray. Well done, Joe.
There were probably other examples to use, but I thought the example of bad footwork didn’t really apply to that play above. I think that is actually an example of how Johnny didn’t diagnose the defense well enough pre-snap. Number 98 is completely unblocked on that play, and Manziel needs to see this and either adjust his protection or call a timeout because the play is about to get blown up. He ends up just throwing the ball at Hawkins’ feet just to get rid of it, and Hawkins doesn’t even look at Manziel on this play. It’s been a while since Sunday, but I seem to remember Hawkins coming over to talk to Johnny right after the play with a “what the heck?” expression and Johnny looked like he was apologizing for something. Here’s my thought on what happened: I think Hawkins’ route was supposed to be much later in the progression for that particular play, but once Johnny snapped the ball and realized that #98 was right in his grill, he did a quick throw to the feet of a receiver so he wouldn’t take a sack.
Browns said today that they will start McCown if he returns symptom free Friday. Doesn’t make much sense, since Manziel will be taking first team reps all week. Really shows that the Browns want to do anything they can to avoid starting Manziel.
Didn’t choose my words carefully. I think QBs knowing how to move up or inside the pocket depends on the college system they played in and whether they ever needed it. Johnny didn’t know a playbook, Weeden didn’t know how to read a defense or be under center. None of them know how to “throw guys open,” being so accustomed to their college receivers being open by 3 yards all the time. Unless daddy is a former great NFL QB who runs a nationally known QB camp, guys will generally learn as much as they need to excel where they are until it’s time to hire George Whitfield to get them ready for the predraft combine.
Or maybe it just means McCown can miss all week and be no worse then dropping a deuce on Tennessee with Manziel!
Agreed all around.
Teaching the cerebral aspect of Quarterbacking by the time you hit the NFL is a little late son.
Which is the Browns all around problem in selecting QB’s.
They love selecting “good” college QB’s ; Quinn, McCoy, Manziel and not great NFL QB’s; McNabb, Roethlisberger, Rodgers come to mind on who they’ve passed on although I’m sure the list is bigger than that.
Flip must be a tad nervous himself. The Browns have to establish the run, not try to match wits with one of the NFL’s all-time great blitz schemers with these QBs.
I’d like to think it’s because, for the first time in 16 years, they want to give a young quarterback a chance to develop properly. Not just developing his technique, but also his confidence.
Oh, who am I kidding…
I think that’s exactly it. No one talks about it but this is a kinda big game for Pettine, since last week was maybe his worst loss as HC. The quality of opponent will increase dramatically soon and if the team gets sloppy again with turnovers and penalties again he’ll start feeling heat. If I’m him I’d prefer stupid but experienced McCown over twitchy little Johnny.
I absolutely agree.
i can’t completely agree.
Under the “Footwork” tab, there is a play that is seen as a bad play by Manziel because he threw off of his back foot.
But that was only because the defensive end was unblocked and in his face immediately. Manziel was actually able to check down to Hawkins, who wasn’t looking back for the ball.
I definitely see what you are saying. But, it does show how pressure causes him to lose his footwork fundamentals.
good stuff Joe … well done.
skittish