DawgTalkers.net Forums The Archives 2014 NFL Season NFL Draft 2014 John Paul Football

Figured this could get its own thread since he may be a target of ours.

I was only able to catch the second half tonight. Here are my thoughts.

--Whatever "it" is, this guy has it in spades. He just gets the job done in spectacular fashion. Real fun to watch.

--I love his fire and attitude. When's the last time we've had a guy like that on the sidelines? Get fired up, man! I love that. He inspired his team with his play and his attitude, competitive spirit, and fire. I'm sick of duds like Campbell and Weeden and McCoy. Be excited to compete and play the damn game. That stuff is contagious.

--How will his game translate to the NFL? Man, he seems to want to break the pocket too early. That's not going to get it done. Russell Wilson did that a lot his rookie year, but learned to tone it down this year. Wilson is also extremely cerebral. Not sure if Manziel has that same aptitude.

--I did like how he recognized single coverage and threw a beautiful tear drop on that last touchdown. Showed smarts, accuracy, and touch. Beautiful pass.

--I only saw him operate out of the shotgun. And he had all day to throw and held the ball a really long time it seemed. Plus, their running game was also getting yards, and he seemed to always be in a manageable position. Would have liked to see some third and longs and how he handled those.

--IMO, more than adequate arm strength. Really unorthodox delivery points at times, but he gets the job done. I thought he was really accurate most of the time. Too many bubble screens though. No idea how you can evaluate a QB with that many bubble screens. Half this board could probably make those throws.

--Really exciting player. I guess my takeaway from just this one half is that he is truly a 50/50 prospect. I LOVE his attitude and fire and competitive spirit. But will his physical skills translate? Tough call. I think I'd be willing to take a gamble on him.

--I was also pretty impressed with the Duke QB until those last 5 or so minutes. He struck me as more of prototypical pro QB. Hung in the pocket. Good arm. Nice accuracy. Seemed to know where he was going with the football. Went through his progressions. But those last two picks were killers.

I think the kid was born to play the game. I had Manziel and Bridgewater as the 2 of my top 3 at QB but in the first wave that should go about mid first, I think their performances has solidified them as top 10 picks. I think Houston may look to trade down and take him. I could see a repeat of the Eli Manning/Phillip Rivers swap in this years draft.

I like Johnny Football and have been saying for a while.

I don't care if he isn't tall enough, is cocky, or pisses you off....you draft him.

That's about where I'm at.

I also like his swagger and physical abilities. He has that kind of mentality that we've seemed to be lacking around here for a long time. I WANT IT! And what better position to have that at than the quarterback. I want someone who exudes confidence, knows he can get the job done, and seems not to be afraid of anything. I am way too tired of these guys who have this overwhelming "woe is me" attitude and cower when the situation gets to be a little too tough. Weeden and Campbell are prime examples of this attitude and body language.

I hate everything about the kid and would struggle to continue supporting the Browns if they selected him.

I could care less about his height or that he acts like a douche. I only get concerned about how he'll hold up physically. But I gotta agree with everyone talking about the "IT" factor. It has me more than intrigued & I wouldn't complain at all if we picked him.

I don't know what happened to all the posts we had in the Pure Football forum about Johnny Football and McDaniels, but they are gone. Finally, some good discussion and they disappear, but they leave up The Three Stooges posts.

I want Teddy, but if Houston takes him, I have to say that Manziel is the guy to grab. Especially if we hire McDaniels. We start Hoyer for a year or two and work on Manziel's mechanics.

The thing about Manziel is that he actually passes the ball and isn't just a runner. His abilities to make big plays are amazing. He is a great leader and I wonder how anyone can dispute that after watching him on the sidelines in this past game.

And like the ESPN guys were saying after the game...........did you see him high fiving the fans and then signing his picture? All NFL owners would want that. This guy would help sell tickets. Like they said, he is like a LeBron James. He's bigger than the average player. He brings recognition.

M and M for 2014, as in McDaniels and Manziel.

He was exciting to watch, that's for sure. Kid has moxie, in spades.

That said, he also seems almost reckless at times, and gets away with some things that will get him killed in the pro game.

It will be interesting to see how he translates to the pros.

He is a winner. We should draft him if Teddy isn't available.

I am not a pro scout and never was. I scouted for a collegiate service, but that was awhile ago.

I don't think we have to trade up to get Manziel. There's Teddy, Bortles, and Johnny Football. The Rams will probably take Matthews, the OT from A & M.

Things are looking better.

McShay was saying Bortles may move ahead of Teddy. Not sure I buy that, but we will have a shot at either Teddy, Bortles, or Manziel at number 4.

Evans is a physical freak, but I'm not sure about him. His tirade last night was weird.

We could draft a guy like Beckham Jr. w/out having to move up. He is a more polished route runner and is a great return man.

Tate fumbles a bit too much, but he is a possibility. It's early and my head hurts, but who is Brown? We could also draft a RB. These guys fall in the draft nowadays.

Manziel did everything you would want a qb to do last night. He bought time. He was accurate. He made plays. He led his team on the sidelines. He was a media star. Owners would have to love that aspect. The most impressive throw may have been that last TD pass. He dropped that thing in there perfectly w/out having the WR break stride. That was a thing of beauty.

I like the fact we can get one of the three without trading.

What are the odds someone jumps to #2 and QBs go with the first 3 picks??

I guess the positive in that is someone would want to move up for the OT or Clowney.

I think he is more Russell Wilson than RGIII.

I was one who thought Manziel was a bit undisciplined in some of the Alabama games I thought he just flinged the ball up numerous times on a wind and a prayer. But, I saw some things last night I really liked.

He knows how to beat a blitz. He reads where the blitz is coming from and attacks it. That last touchdown throw he read the safety blitz and knew the defense did not have over the top help and threw a perfect down field throw allowing his wide reciever to beat the corner on the bomb.

Everytime he sees his #1 target in man to man coverage he throws him open. That is an indication of his smarts on the field. He first reads the defense to know Evans is being defensed man to man and then throws him open. He understands man to man coverage means he is open.

He is a leader. He confronted Evans who is a monster of a man after his 2 15 yard penalties. He kept is star players head in the game after he lost it mentally. He continued to rally the team time and time again on the field and encouraged his struggling defense telling them to take it. And they did.

He has "it". He makes plays that other QB's can't. Heck he makes plays other players cannot make.

Before last night I thought he was a great college player but I had major concerns about how he would transition to the the NFL. I think if he proves to a coach that he is willing to put in the work he will be a solid pick in the draft.

Question for anybody old enough to remember Fran Tarkenton ... could he play in the modern NFL? I'm not sure - I think he might get killed. I feel the same about Manziel.

RG3 took more hits in one game than Manziel probably takes in 5 and that is against the SEC speed. The kid is flying around all over the place but he doesnt get hit as often as most think. He has an incredibly quick release and escapes the big hits.

The kid isnt just adlibing. The scary thing he will make his his initial read, anticipate who is going to be open spin to avoid the sack, and sail it to the open man. This is Steve Young, Fran Tarkenton stuff.

I think he is a gold mine to the owner that drafts him.

BTW Colt McCoy was a very good QB until that shoulder/nerve damage occurred. He was just never the same after that. he got that one on what a QB sneak? It was really a freak type injury.

I have been very anti Manziel, but what I saw last night is exactly what I want to see from a leader and QB of this team. Fire, passion, poise, and leadership ability to bring a whole team back from the brink of disaster and lead them to victory.

He's got that fire that Hoyer had, and we all saw how the team responded to that. Johnny does some things incorrectly, and he does some things dangerously, but damn if it doesn't work nearly every time.

I wouldn't be upset if we took him at 4, and feel comfortable with any of the 3 QBs.

j/c

I have always supported every QB that has been drafted. I've been wrong about my share of them. So I won't get into a peeing match about who I want or who I think is "the answer" we've all been looking for.

As long as the people who are supposed to be building this franchise get it right, I'm fine with anyone they select.

My only concern with Johnny Football is that if he comes in here with that cockiness and doesn't light things up, that "it factor" could become more of a cancer than an asset.

But if he can produce, I don't think anyone will care. He looks good in spurts. I've also seen him look not so good. So I'll leave any final evaluations to those who are supposed to make the big bucks to figure it out and hope they earn their paychecks in doing so.

Manziel is what many believed Colt McCoy to be: a smart, tough QB that has some "it". Colt was never football smart, was never really tough and didn't have much "it".

That said, I don't want him. He's a mix between RG3 and Tebow. No thanks.

What everyone seems to forget is that it doesn't matter what any of you think about any of those guys. It only matters what LomBanner thinks. And they love Hoyer. That's why he's here and part of the reason Chud got fired (he didn't play him soon enough for their liking).

Honestly, I'm not convinced that they'll draft a QB in the first round for that very reason. I believe they think Hoyer can lead the team and that they'll use those picks on other needs. Like maybe a safety to replace Ward, who I believe they will let walk. Or maybe a Center to replace Mack who I'm even more positive they'll let go.

It would not surprise me a bit to see them wait until the 3rd round or even later to pick up a new QB.

I just wonder that after James Harrison or someone like him hits Manziel in the knees a couple of times he will turn into Colt McCoy or worse yet Ken Dorsey.


Bridgewater seems a much safer bet. I did notice the ball seems to come out next to his right ear. Not sure how that translates to the Pros.

I'm waiting to see Bortles tonight. He is the only one I haven't seen this year.

I don't get the Colt comparison. Not even close. I also don't get the Tebow and RGIII comparison. Tebow can't throw a football. RGIII struggles making reads. Manziel can do both of those things.

The best comparisons for Johnny Football are Wilson and Fran Tarkenton.

I want to clear something up about his character. He is immature off the field. His parents are millionaires, but his teammates love the guy. He is not a locker room problem. In fact, he is an excellent leader.

This kid is going to make an owner very happy, because he will sell tickets and merchandise and bring lots of exposure to the team.

He might even move up in the draft. A lot will depend on what Bortles does tonight. Any way you slice it, we should get a good qb, unless the Rams trade their pick and the first three picks are the three QBs. That would suck!

If that happens I'm cool having to take clowny....

Love JM's his leadership on field and on the sidelines!

Want to see Bortles tonight as I like his big, strong build for the NFL.

Johnny Manziel is a football hero.

I really don't agree with either set of comparisons.

One thing I've learned about watching QB's, you can look at them in college and see a skill set. What I find hard to do is know how that skill set will translate. He has a good arm. seems to read D's and blitzes well. He looks the part.

Yet that doesn't mean when he come to the NFL that he will be like RG3, Colt McCoy or Wilson. I have seen so many comparisons to those coming out that have simply gone wrong, I wouldn't even attempt to say what he will or won't become.

I agree he will sell tickets and merchandise. But if he doesn't end up being a winner, it won't last for long. I just hope whoever decides on the QB selected, that the marketing strategy is not the top priority.

In Cleveland, it's always been win, and the marketing will take care of itself.

And I agree with you about his character. Maybe I should have explained it better. We saw him get in his WR's face a bit to get him back in the game after the penalties. He did a great job there. But I believe one must consider he is a winner in the NCAA and has earned the right to lead that team.

My concern is, if he doesn't produce quickly here, and uses that same tactic, it could become a cancer. I believe he would have to earn the right to do that first.

And I do agree we should get a good QB in this draft. At this juncture, I don't believe they have a lot of choice in getting both the coach and the QB right, or what we have seen from this fan base so far, will just be a drop in the bucket.

I'm coming around on him because I think there are only two things that can happen. There will not be any happy medium....

1. He becomes everything we think he does. He extends plays, he runs for first downs, he ignites a fan base that has needed a spark for 7 years. He's the next big thing. He's Russell Wilson but with more flare. Johnny Dawg Pound.

2. He's not just ad, but he's so bad that he gets everyone fired, and we can maybe bring in people willing to wait things out instead of panicking.

Win-win, under your scenario. Hope you're right.

Jc

I like him. he's entertaining.

That said I think he would be killed in the NFL and the Cleveland fans/media would crush him when doesn't perform perfectly and makes stupid rookie mistakes.

I wish him well and that he winds up with a different team with a more supportive fan base.