Video: Johnny Manziel facemask penalty will earn Arthur Moats a hefty fine
November 16, 2015Thad Matta earns 300th win at Ohio State
November 16, 2015While the naysayers want to point out that the Pittsburgh Steelers defense was Charmin soft thanks to having a substantial lead, the folks at Pro Football Focus say that Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel played the best game of his young career despite the 30-9 loss.
From PFF:
Although Johnny Manziel (+3.3) was sacked six times according to the official gamebook, Cleveland’s offensive line actually played really well and limited the pass rush of the Steelers’ defensive line. Of the six sacks, only one was really due to poor offensive line play—when Cameron Erving let Stephon Tuitt go by him. As a matter of fact, the only player on the Browns’ offensive line who graded out below +1.0 was Erving (-2.0), who started the first game of his NFL career. Consequently, Browns fans do not have to panic about the state of their offensive line, but rather about the performance of the other players who take part in avoiding sacks.
Despite his fumble and interception, Johnny Manziel played the best game of his career. The fact that Manziel attempted 13 passes outside the right numbers compared to nine outside the left numbers shows the amount of times Cleveland rolled him out of the pocket, providing him easier reads; however, he was able to take advantage of the situation and find open receivers constantly. While Manziel still held onto the ball too long and struggled a bit under pressure, where he graded out at -0.2 compared to +2.4 from a clean pocket, he made a significant step forward in this game.
As with each PFF-based post, we do have to offer the caveat that we have no idea what goes into each grade. Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger graded out a +1.9 despite throwing for more yards and touchdowns. According to the post, Roethlisberger was punished for his yard-per-attempt which dropped to less than one yard when blitzed. It could also be said that a good chunk of Big Ben’s yardage was tallied after the catch thanks to his litany of weapons at the play-making positions.
Starting with two incomplete passes, however, Manziel would go on to complete 31 of his next 33 attempts, each of which averaged more than eight yards. Though the Browns tacked on a few more three-and-outs (a stat in which they lead the NFL), Manziel showed improved decision making in the pocket, passing to seven different receivers on the afternoon. His maneuvering during blitzes looked Cotton Bowl-esque. He even showed some frustration when the rest of the offense forced him to take a timeout in the second half.
Like Manziel or not, it’s tough to argue with what he did on Saturday—at least not without looking like a cynic.
36 Comments
i didn’t see a Charmin D from Pittsburgh. They blitzed til the end. That’s not Charmin.
I was actually watching the game, and I don’t agree with the OL grade. I still see way too many plays where the defensive line is in the backfield when the RB takes the handoff. That’s terrible line play, and it showed with the final run numbers.
Talking about the umbrella zone played behind those blitzes. They did not care about our run game (can we call it a run game?) to the point they back-tracked their defensive backs, gave up the short completions and put big hits on the WRs.
It wasn’t quite a classic prevent (due to the blitzing and the aggressiveness after the throw), but it was a hybrid prevent.
I do not think the OL is as bad as I have seen people portray it nor do I think they are to blame for the horrific numbers. But, I also don’t believe they are the elite unit PFF keeps grading them as.
The more I see/read from this PFF the more I’m glad I pay zero attention to it. It’s insane. I saw almost all of the game my question is did they or did they just go by the numbers?
Save the statistical breakdowns for baseball if it gets a foothold in football that sport will begin to suffer as well.
“Manziel would go on to complete 31 of his next 33 attempts, each of which averaged more than eight yards.”
HOW DID WE ONLY SCORE 9 POINTS? It boggles the mind.
https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/4268657/camno.0.gif
Cameron Erving gets blown straight up the gut and note the Joe Thomas hold and the guy beating him to the outside in the gif above while both guards just wander downfield off the line of scrimmage?
That was probably reflected in Crowell’s numbers because he had the ball. So when you look at the statistics or game break down and don’t actually watch the play it probably looks like Crowell had just as much of a part in the play as the OL. Truth is it was entirely the OLs fault.
PFF’s ratings make no sense. Actually watching the game shows me that our O-Line was abused and couldn’t generate any type of push. Likewise, those things tell me Ben played better than Manziel.
Johnny’s 3.3 looks ridiculous compared to Rodgers’ -0.8 grade for a 333 yd, 5 TD game.
Seriously, go away PFF. You need to get your life back together.
Maybe these are the types of things both Pettine and Farmer use to justify staying the course or whatever they are saying. Something has to right? It just doesn’t make sense. I watched other games yesterday particularly the Arizona-Seattle game and it looked like a different sport. The athleticism, the play calling, the execution even the mistakes by both team were better mistakes then what I see in a Browns game.
Lol. Yeah. If Cameron doesn’t get blown up, it’s nice to know that Thomas’s guy or #95 could have made the TFL.
False start, Hold, Sack, repeat
Oh, and get the screw job on a TD
This is a really great write up Scott and I completely concur.
Take the perspective of his 5th start in the NFL and you have to see the progress.
Seriously? It’s the Browns. Has to be some kind of new record.
I agree completely. Last year they looked like an NFL team. This year, it barely resembles football.
Manziel deserves to start the rest of the season and potentially next season.
We CANNOT waste another top pick on a QB. Too many holes on this team to keep throwing away picks. Take a big-play WR first, then focus on the defense. If Gordon can get his act together I think we could have a pretty solid offense next year. That is IF he can return and IF we can get a legit #2 to compliment.
Gordon, (Michael Thomas or Laquon Treadwell), Benjamin, Hawkins, Garbriel, Hartline
Duke Johnson and Crowell
Barnidge
Solid O-Line
That’s enough weapons for Manziel to succeed.
What Joe Thomas did was basically what the Pittsburgh team was doing EVERY single play.
Wait, Mack is shoving his guy into Erving. Erving wasn’t able to get his guy as a result, leaving Thomas to block two defenders… Mack like chipped his assignment into Erving
I think they give the QB like 1.8 seconds to read and release.
hi AK … he does deserve it , but you just know mccown will be the starter in 2 weeks.
3 seconds I believe is what they have stated. Rollouts are more a judgement call though, which makes Manziel starts tricky.
Yep, Erving got straight up beat on that play and had a rather poor outing on the whole. No one is going to argue there.
i no longer have my pff subscription but i would be curious on the pff rush blocking stats. my eyes told me the left side was getting caved in with impunity. -2 rush yds by RBs tells that story too.
i am also unimpressed with analysis that doesn’t take into account that only 3 of 45 pass attempts were beyond 15 yds downfield. this undoubtedly made it harder to run, ie steelers box stuffing with DBs.
it would be interesting to know how many yards and completions were allowed when the browns were losing by two or three TDs. this too changes the complexion of the defense.
i saw a boat-load of quick tosses to the flat. the statistic of ‘average’ yds/pass gets skewed mightily by one 60 yd pass; more useful would be the ‘median’ yds/pass.
i saw a guy unable to operate from the pocket, unable to see over the line. also, it seems to me there were more than one dropped INT.
finally to say johnny is improving is the definition of damning with faint praise considering the base line.
Man I missed the boat- I should have started PFF myself. Maybe several of us commentators could recruit Burgermiester and whoever did the Xs and Os for the Bros breakdowns on frowns (anyone else really miss those?), get together at a bar with a laptop and come up with grading rubrics per position, watch the all 22, and bam. Our product would be no more or less precise, valid, or objective than theirs.
It’s just a bad team whether it’s the front office in choosing personnel or the coaching staff who can’t coach the personnel. I believe it’s both not one or the other.
What offensive line did they watch?
Yeah, I mean, JFF DID score a TD. The refs just missed it (on the crazy scramble play). And then Rabbit dropped that one right in his breadbasket.
Very Brownsie.
Not to mention, Benjamin’s drop in the End zone, and the team never kicked a field goal. Coons may have missed anyways, so good call, have Manziel learn to play behind a bad offense, to learn in the NFL…
Hello again. It may appear, that while the Jury is still out on Irving and Shelton (though I am not impressed with their rookie years), and Gilbert is a joke, maybe Manziel can be a decent starter. Lets face it, the Browns may have the first pick in the draft, and unfortunately, Farmer has not drafted well, the team is visibly worse than last year. I want someone competent (maybe the Ravens will fire Newsome and we will get lucky). Doubt it. But still…
My point is, whether we use the No.1 pick, or trade it for multiple picks we need someone competent drafting. And yes folks, if the season ended today, the Browns would have the number one pick in the draft.
Therefore, find out if Manziel can continue this improvement. I don’t want to see another Tim Couch (I know, he is the best browns expansion era QB, but obviously not a great NFL QB). The teams needs to get the next draft right, and we have been saying this for years…
hi BOB … then you will be happy to know that farmer WILL get it right this year.
You really think so? I am unsure if he got anyone right. I think Gilbert is done, Bowe in style. I think the jury is still out on his 3-4 round picks, and Irving and Shelton, and Manziel. I was down on Manziel after the Bengay’s game, but now, seeing his improvement, I am hopeful he can keep getting better. Give the kid a shot. McCown, you are a CLASS ACT, and have played great, but 3 years from now you will be Manning’s (Peyton’s) age. You impressed Mr. McCown, but are not the future of the Browns.
Number One pick here we come, and hopefully Mr. Farmer will not draft Jamarcus Russel…
if he does nothing but pick buckeyes , we will be fine …
It was the guys 3rd start this year and fourth game with playing time that means anything. 5th start ever in the league and he came out as a redshirt sophomore.
I’ve never been a fan of his, and certainly hated the pick, but you have to be objective and acknowledge the guy is progressing on the field and the numbers were excellent. AND he plays for the Browns, which is about as big a handicap as a QB can face in the NFL.
Gotta have perspective. When he stops progressing / growing / developing, there will be plenty of time to pull the plug. In the Titans game you saw the guy make a game winning play with his feet.
In the Cinci game I saw all 22 play breakdowns of a guy who continually missed his first and second reads from the pocket and took off too soon. In the PB game, by the second quarter I saw a guy making his reads and taking them from the pocket, repeatedly. We are talking one week here, not a season, not a half season, one week.
You can talk about last year being the baseline, but 31 of 33 averaging 8 yards a catch is progress for any Browns QB of the last 20 years. I’m not ready to anoint him by any stretch, but you HAVE to play this guy to see what he becomes.
I’m excited to see Manziel the rest of the year. If he is able to replicate the success he had against the Steelers, I don’t think that QB needs to be a priority in the draft. However, I was thinking that, if someone like JT decided to come out, or if the Browns are able to get someone in a similar mold (i.e. someone who has to make a transition from a run heavy QB to an NFL QB), it may be worthwhile to draft a QB after the first few rounds. I think Manziel thrives off of competition, and it may be worthwhile to bring in another talented QB, who needs to make a similar transition, and is looking to be a long term solution at QB for an NFL team.