Johnny Manziel makes football exciting. He made a mockery out of almost every defense the Texas A&M Aggies faced during his two years of tenure at College Station. His otherworldly improvisation powered him to an eye-popping 9,989 total yards.
But is Johnny Football ready to win in this level of his career? Can he become the franchise quarterback the Browns are waiting to transform their team into one of the best in the NFL? Below, we dig into five questions that could determine whether Manziel will succeed in his first year in the pros.
For more on a Browns team that has some intriguing upside this season, check out our 2014 team preview and prediction for Manziel and company here.
[sc:”Football Articles” ]Can Johnny Manziel Win in 2014?
Too Small?
[sc:NFL240banner ]If Johnny Manziel were a 6-foot-5, 250-pound quarterback, there would be a lot fewer people questioning his future in the NFL. The most highlighted knock on Manziel is his size, or lack thereof. Standing only 5-foot-11 and 207 pounds, the former Heisman Trophy winner can’t be mentioned in the same sentence as Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, or even fellow dual threat QB Robert Griffin III when the discussion shifts to physique.
Manziel’s stature was met with the same negativity when he entered the college ranks as a highly-touted high school QB. And then he became the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy. The door is still very wide open for Manziel to become the antithesis to the traditionally accepted concept in the NFL: that size matters.
A Sub-Par Pocket Passer?
Manziel likes to get out of the pocket, finding cracks either by using his legs or by slinging the ball mid-scramble. For Manziel to be an MVP in the NFL, it’s either by continuing to have his way offensively or by developing into a constant threat as a pocket passer.
As noted above, Manziel doesn’t exactly have the ideal size for a would-be successful quarterback in the NFL. Manning, Brady, Andrew Luck, and others are big dudes. These QBs are all traditional signal-callers that call the pocket their office and they are all considered MVP contenders. Smaller QBs like Drew Brees and Russell Wilson are the best players to compare to Manziel size-wise.
However, Brees excels mainly because he’s a great pocket orchestrator. He doesn’t run as much. Wilson, on the other hand, can rush the ball just like Manziel, but it he wasn’t as large of a reason why the Seattle Seahawks won the Super Bowl last season as the team’s defense and organized rushing game. Take note that the Seahawks finished just 26th in passing yards per game (202.3) in 2013, but are fourth in rushing yards (136.8 yards) and first in opposing teams’ total yards (273.6). Wilson’s passing is not the center of the team’s success.
That’s also the same reason why Wilson isn’t even the most valuable player on the team’s offense, a title that belongs to running back Marshawn Lynch instead.
Manziel has a shot to become an MVP even if he does not develop into an effective pocket operator right in his very first season in the NFL, but it certainly would tremendously help him win it if he becomes one.
Does He Have the Right Targets?
Manziel’s No. 1 weapon by his side right now is the Cleveland Browns’ new offensive coordinator, Kyle Shanahan. Shanahan has the experience of working with a big-name rookie QB, having supervised the Washington Redskins’ offense back in 2012 when Robert Griffin III was still getting his feet wet in the pros.
Shanahan specializes in the zone running scheme, which is even made more effective when an athletic, mobile quarterback factors into the equation. With Manziel in the fold, Shanahan will have almost the same piece he had in Griffin before.
On the field, Manziel will not see wide receiver Josh Gordon down the field for at least a few weeks because of suspension. Manziel is used to having an elite receiver waiting to catch his throws, just as he had in College Station when he often connected with Mike Evans, who was picked seventh overall by Tampa Bay in the recent draft.
Minus Gordon, Manziel will be left with Miles Austin, Andrew Hawkins, and Nate Burleson as his top options. These receivers have health issues of their own, and if Manziel is to succeed this season, his targets must stay healthy.
Is the Browns’ Offensive Line Good Enough?
With the receiving staff looking unstable, it’s likely that the Browns will be more of a rushing team next season. If so, then Shanahan and offensive line coach Andy Moeller should be busy right now planning how their men will protect and provide rushing routes for Manziel and the backfield. Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas and center Alex Mack are a good start to the O-line for Cleveland, but the talent overall is not enough to pose serious threat to opposing teams.
Last season, the Browns’ offensive line was ranked 17th in pass protection and 18th in run blocking. They’ll come into next season, though, as a marginally better crew, particularly because the Browns drafted former University of Nevada offensive tackle Joel Bitonio in the second round of this year’s draft. Bitonio is a described by scouts as a versatile piece in the O-line, who can play any position within the group.
It remains to be seen whether Manziel’s improvisation and scrambling skills will translate to the NFL and compensate for his O-line’s likely shortcomings.
Off-Field Distractions?
Manziel’s offseason lifestyle has, if only because of the amount of attention it’s getting in the media, become a storyline. If coach Mike Pettine chooses him to start over Brian Hoyer, that effect with only grow. Others argue that Manziel is merely a kid doing what other 20-year-olds out there are also doing. It’s a polarizing topic, but Pettine appears to be okay with it, since he sees no issues with Manziel when he’s practicing with the team. The key obviously is for Manziel to not let his partying affect his game.
Prediction
Manziel will make an immediate impact with the Browns, whom he will lead to a slightly improved 7-9 SU record. Cleveland is priced +135 to go over 6.5 wins next season, and if you want to bet on whether the Browns will clear that line or not, then create a betting account with Top Bet now.
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