DawgTalkers.net Forums The Archives 2015 NFL Season Looking Back: Browns 28 Titans 14 Manziel to start

Chuck Berry just rolled...

That's no joke. It's gonna happen. We never lose less than 3 QBs in a year. Could be a lot more this year. Next man up....

Browns notebook: QB Austin Davis hasn’t had much time to prep with new team but knows ‘it has to be enough’ if he’s summoned

http://www.ohio.com/sports/browns/browns...mmoned-1.625400

It's the players job and obligation to play hard and support any qb who is in there whether they like him or not no and's if's or but's. Their job is to play to win period. Iv'e worked for a few people I didn't like but still did what I was required to do. Their primary concern every game should be to win and bring a winner to Cleveland no matter who they are playing with.

Damn, independant NFL neurologists!... oh, and Farmer.

Well said...

Thank you bBrowns32 I appreciate your comment and input. GO BROWNS let's start somethin g positive on Sunday.

Exactly. All the nonsense about holding McCown out so Manziel can start is silly. From what I gather concussion protocol is out of the teams hands and if the NFL says you can't play you don't play. Am I not understanding this correctly?

McCown is a quarterback AND a doctor. Impressive.

maybe he stayed at a holiday inn express

He should have done that before he flew head first into the "endzone." Then maybe he'd still be playing.

J/C

This "no concussion" thing reminds me of the whole McCoy fiasco with Shurmur and Holmgren.



Maybe we need to ask Pat if McCown seriously did suffer from a concussion.

McCown thinking he didn't have a concussion is exactly why there is a concussion protocol. Dude took a shot straight to the head and then landed on his head.

j/c

ATN Film Room: Can Manziel lead Browns?

By Marc Sessler
Around the NFL Writer
Published: Sept. 17, 2015 at 09:54 a.m. Updated: Sept. 18, 2015 at 11:49 a.m.
Cleveland's season didn't start according to plan.



After putting Josh McCown under center all offseason, the Browns saw their veteran starter knocked out with a head injury 13 minutes into the new campaign.

Thrusting Johnny Manziel onto the field, Cleveland's coaching staff was forced to attack a stingy Jets defense with an inexperienced quarterback who missed the last half of the preseason with elbow soreness.

With McCown still mired in the league's concussion protocol, Manziel will get his first start of the year this Sunday at home against the Tennessee Titans.

What can we expect based on how he performed against the Jets?

The Good

Even his first pass suggested changes to Manziel's preparation and execution.

On second-and-13, out of the gun, Johnny stood in the pocket despite linebacker Trevor Reilly coursing in off the edge. With an instant to react, Manziel works to set his feet and uncork the ball to an open Jim Dray:


He needs to step into more of his throws, but the footwork is cleaner than what we saw last season against the Panthers:


Against New York, he used his feet three plays later on third-and-4, escaping a diving Demario Davis behind a crumbling Browns line to scamper for 22 yards to the Jets' 17. Manziel showed good vision in open space, leaving Antonio Cromartie in the dust and wisely sliding before taking a hit. Coaches Film shows all four Cleveland targets well-covered. Under pressure, Manziel made a wise decision, although a flag wiped out the play:


One snap later, Manziel -- sore elbow and all -- showed solid arm strength with this on-the-money toss to Travis Benjamin. It was a quick-decision throw to a wideout who had Cromartie easily beat in coverage with the safety out of place:


Let's look at one more play where Manziel stays home in the pocket. All four targets are covered out of the chute, but Johnny waits patiently for his tight end to break free. Gary Barnidge drops the ball, but this marks progress from a young quarterback who danced around a year ago:


Where the team essentially balanced two playbooks in 2014 -- one for Manziel and another for Brian Hoyer -- Browns play-caller John DeFilippo said Thursday that he "didn't change the game plan one bit" once Johnny took the field, adding: "That's a credit to him."

"If you didn't notice a change in Johnny Manziel, then I don't know," said DeFilippo. "Did he run when the lane was there? Yeah. Did we get down and was he trying to do a little bit too much at times? Probably. I think that just comes with the maturation of understanding situational football. You can't get two scores back on one drive, and I think the more he plays and the more he learns those things, the better he'll get."

More work to do

Manziel didn't have the preseason reps to get into rhythm with his targets. Browns pass-catchers dropped three balls against the Jets, while Cleveland committed an outrageous 12 penalties and struggled to block New York's intense front line.

Johnny walked into a tough situation, but he also left points on the board. He could have put the Browns up by a touchdown with more finesse on this high-pitched ball to an open Andrew Hawkins in the end zone:


His lone interception came off a poor decision. With Marcus Williams blanketing Brian Hartline along the sideline, Manziel puts the ball where Hartline has no shot at it -- but Williams does:


An equal concern: Manziel's ball-control issues in open space. He lost a pair of fumbles, the first on a scramble and the second on a sack. These giveaways sealed the game for New York. No NFL starter can hand away possessions like this and keep his job.

What's Next?

At just under 6-feet, Manziel's size is a concern. He looks faster to me than he did last season. He also comes across as a completely different player. There was less freelancing and more of a commitment to stay home in the pocket and make a throw.

Johnny's mobility also hurt the Jets and will remain a nightmare for defenses if he wisely uses his feet. The question is whether he has the build, the durability and the arm strength to last multiple NFL seasons.


"Coach Landry taught me something when I was a very young coach trying to make my way. He said, 'If you start taking exceptions, pretty soon you're going to have a team full of exceptions,'" Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells told Colin Cowherd of FOX Sports on Wednesday.

"Johnny Manziel is an exception. Now, he's a fan favorite, he's like a mascot player. You know, the fans root for him, he creates excitement and there have been, in a couple of cases, guys like (Fran) Tarkenton and even Russell Wilson to an extent that have been very successful in doing this. But they're a very, very minute percentage group."


By all accounts, Manziel has committed himself to growing as an NFL passer. It shows. It's up to him whether he wants to be remembered as a "mascot" or one of the rare exceptions to the rule.


NFL.com

Good read, still baffles me how they judge a drop in the NFL. There were atleast 4 clear passes dropped that I can think of without even trying. Gabriels end of the game drop and the TE's had at least 4. 9 targets and 4 drops from that group on Bibbs sitting, umm yea.

Anyway, I agree with Flip those that didnt see progress from Johnny, just dont want to see it. He made mistakes as everyone will especially young players but I want to see him not repeat those same mistakes. The throw to Hartline is why Weeden was a bust. He kept repeating that mistake.

I think with Johny he needs to learn when he has time, take your time and he did a much better job of that on Sunday. The game is slowing down for him. He isnt completely there and that showed especially on the fumbles. This is a huge test with this Titans D for Johnny's mental game.

Just wanted to add, if johnny flops in this one, I dont know how many if any more shots he will receive in Browns uniform. Play like your career depends upon it cause it probably does lol.

Don't see where we have much choice at least for this year.

If the mighty midget flops we'll just give McCown a lobotomy to remove his tendency to assume the superman pose while playing real football.

Pblack, He has to show something. Flat lines and there is no decision, the browns go back to McCown then you open the door for Austin Davis as well. He could find himself 3rd on the depth chart in a hurry or he could secure the starting gig. Its his ball, he has gotta run with it lol. he is a bad game away from being another Tebow/Pryor.

I agree Mourg. If Manziel doesn't play well and McCown can stay healthy the rest of the season, this week could be the last time Manziel takes snaps in a Browns uni.

Lot of pressure on the kid.

No time like the present to find out if he is our future @ QB ... JMHO

With only one eye on the past, to be the man of the future, he must perform in the present.

Well said texas!

Good. Pressure creates diamonds, or dust. QB is the highest pressure job there is in the NFL ..... probably with even more pressure than head coach. Manziel appears to have his head together, and this is his 2nd year in this offense, so let's find out whether he shines, or shatters. It is important for the team to know either way.

At least as a starter yes. Personal opinion, I just don't think Manziel will ever be more than a overly hyped up backup. After this year, he will be bounced around the league getting spot starts here and there on bad teams just like McCoy is now. Hope to hell I'm wrong, I just don't think I am.

I would hope that wouldn't be so. I mean if McCown come back healthy and can stay healthy while playing well the rest of the season, we may never know what goes on behind closed doors.

But we have seen progress from JFF from last year. Quite a bit in some essential ways. I would hope that if his progress continues, the coaching staff will give him the rest of the season and assess that progress at seasons end.

I'm honestly not high on JFF. But I do see progress from last year and certainly hope he grows into the QB the FO thought he was when they drafted him.

I think that would be crazy..

I agree. I can hardly think that the team figures, ok, this is your first year in DeFlippo's offense. You played in the season opener with no prior first team reps. Now that you've had a week of first team reps you'd better have all your issues solved or you're out.

I just wish him well, hope being prepped helps, hope it is not flag football at the NFL again, and maybe a wee bit of luck.

Just win, baby.

I'm not saying I would agree with it, but let's say he performs below average, and McCown returns to being the starter. If McCown stay healthy the rest of the season, who knows what will happen in the offseason.

I think the number one think to look for is turnovers.

Interceptions and Fumbles. He has to clean that part of the game up. The rest will come with time and experience, but he wont get experience if he is not careful with the ball.

It goes back to Marty and Bernie, then Marty and Brees. A QB that turns the ball over can't win.

everyone acts like mccown doesnt turn the ball over.

be like Lou Holtz, son you are not gonna throw 8 interceptions this year. QB replied thanks coach for the vote of confidence. Lou replied no son you misunderstood after 7 interceptions this year, you are going to the bench and not coming back.

My mind is blown that anyone could ever understand anything Lou Holtz said.

Manziel: 'Hoge needs to worry about his big neck ties'

Link


Manziel: 'Hoge needs to worry about his big neck ties'
145

By Marc Sessler
Around the NFL Writer
Published: Sept. 18, 2015 at 05:02 p.m.
Updated: Sept. 18, 2015 at 07:33 p.m.

Former Steelers running back Merril Hoge has made a cottage industry out of flaming Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel.

On Friday, Manziel -- set to start Sunday against the Titans -- playfully threw it back at the ESPN analyst.

"I think Merril Hoge needs to worry about his big neck ties," Manziel said, per Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer. "Talking about Merril, he's been that way since I decided to come out for the draft, so I guess that's part of it, but no extra motivation or extra bump for me or anything like that. It's just go out and play and quiet him with the way we go out and win on Sunday. That's what we want to do."

Manziel's fashion advice for Hoge came after a reporter asked him to respond to the commentator's scathing criticism of Johnny's work against the New York Jets.

"He's so sloppy fundamentally," Hoge said Monday on SportsCenter, per Cabot. "He was reckless at A&M, he's reckless in the NFL. He doesn't play in structure. He doesn't understand concepts and it was very evident in this game. Missed a lot of hots."

Picking apart Manziel's film, Hoge concluded: "It's very elementary: He's not gotten better in two years."

Hoge, of course, made waves before last year's draft when he said of Manziel, per ESPN: "I see bust written all over him. Especially if he's drafted in the first round."

After it became known that Manziel texted then-Browns quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains during the draft to declare that "we'll wreck this league," Hoge labeled the former Texas A&M star a "juvenile punk," saying: "He was like that, and he's still like that."

Mary Kay Cabot
✔
@MaryKayCabot

Hoge says AFC North foes love #Browns starting Manziel: "All you do is set your org back 1 more year by babysitting this guy as starting QB'
3:04 PM - 18 Sep 2015

We get it, sir. You're just not into Johnny.

Still, it's hard to dismiss the growth that Manziel displayed on a smattering of strong throws against Gang Green. A comprehensive disaster last season, burning toward rehab, Manziel took the field for a concussed Josh McCown despite missing the back half of the preseason with a sore elbow.

"If you didn't notice a change in Johnny Manziel, then I don't know," Browns play-caller John DeFilippo said Thursday. "Did he run when the lane was there? Yeah. Did we get down and was he trying to do a little bit too much at times? Probably. I think that just comes with the maturation of understanding situational football. You can't get two scores back on one drive, and I think the more he plays and the more he learns those things, the better he'll get."

Former Redskins and Texans general manager Charley Casserly told NFL Network's Around the NFL on Friday that Manziel "showed better this year than last year."

"What did he do better? Better poise in the pocket ... his accuracy was good. I thought his decision-making was good in the preseason. He can move outside the pocket and make plays," Casserly said. "Last week, the turnovers were not good, but there were some things that you saw on the positive."

NFL Media's Brian Billick, though, noted that Manziel was outplayed by Titans rookie passer Marcus Mariota, "who on Sunday anticipated some of his throws, threw them into a hole, threw them where he knew the receiver would get to it. We have not seen that from Johnny Manziel."

Hoge is welcome to his opinion, but it's packed into a climate where young passers are asked to succeed immediately. Manziel is about to make his third start -- that's too early to sell any player down the river.

Johnny's career has been a disappointment to date for a team that can hardly afford another ugly footnote under center. Turning that narrative around begins with his own play -- and it begins Sunday.

Johnny needs to worry about the Titans defense.

A true pro would stay silent and let his play on the field do the talking.

At least he didn't do this...

I liked DA in that moment. Good for him. A lot of media are close to the scum of the earth.