Who will start at quarterback for the Cleveland Browns in 2015? It’s an ever-evolving story in which Johnny Manziel is starting to take center stage more and more, and things got even more interesting on Tuesday.
According to Steve Doerschuk, who covers the Browns for the Canton Repository, Manziel received some snaps with the Browns first-team offense on Tuesday. Doerschuk also noted the team is experimenting with Terrelle Pryor trickery, which brings to mind intriguing possibilities.
QB story bubbling, w/Manziel getting some snaps w/ones, Pryor throwing a gadget pass. Manziel might address media after practice.
— Steve Doerschuk (@sdoerschukREP) August 4, 2015
After suffering through a miserable first day of practice to open training camp, Manziel has been gaining positive momentum on a daily basis. He operated mostly from under center on that opening day, but things turned around quickly when the team had him switch into a shotgun offense.
I'll say this about Johnny Manziel: He looks so comfortable out of the shotgun formation. Let's him see the field more. Hes made plays today
— Kevin Jones (@Mr_KevinJones) August 2, 2015
Since that time, Manziel has continued improving to the point where the Browns are actually tinkering with him taking snaps with the starters. Accuracy is a huge reason why. Last year, Manziel was atrocious even during camp in this regard, as Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland pointed out.
However, things are much different this summer. Per Grossi’s report, Manziel is completing 69 percent of his passes to this point, which head coach Mike Pettine called “not insignificant” (gotta love those double-negatives).
Coach speak aside, Manziel is clearly giving Cleveland’s decision-makers reason for optimism.
Preseason games will be the determining factor. Performing well in practice is one thing, but it’s quite another to play at a high level when there’s no safety net—no coaches in your ear after every throw to point out what you did or didn’t do right.
This is going to be a fascinating story to track the next few weeks. Josh McCown is certainly still in control of the quarterback competition. He’s much more established, understands what to do when the pressure is on and is more likely to take care of the football than Manziel.
That said, if Johnny Football blows up during the preseason, the Browns would be potentially inciting a fan revolt to let him sit on the bench in Week 1.
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