After watching Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel display some positive signs of production back in Week 13, I expected much more out of the rookie on Sunday during his first pro start against the Cincinnati Bengals.
This was an opportunity for Manziel to take the lead for a struggling offense, execute the game plan and showcase his natural playmaking ability at the position.
However, Manziel disappointed in all areas of the game from his footwork, release point and decision-making in a brutal 30-0 loss at home that essentially eliminated the Browns from any playoff talk moving forward.
Early in the ballgame, Browns’ offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan didn’t do the rookie any favors when he got a little too creative in his play-calling on a 3rd-and-short situation by utilizing a wide, four-man bunch paired with an open-side slant.
You want to throw the ball there? Then run a route combination. Think of an inside "Hi-Lo" concept or a quick, two-level read off play action to give Manziel multiple options within the scheme.
Plus, I’m not buying the read option with the former Texas A&M star. That’s not his game, and it almost feels forced when I watch him ride the running back through the mesh point to read the edge defender.
Manziel is a natural playmaker. Let him create in the pocket. That’s what he brings to the field.But that’s minor stuff when focusing on the issues surrounding Manziel’s lack of production (10-of-18 passing, 80 yards) and the turnovers (two interceptions).
The game was too fast for the rookie at times, and that was reflected by his lack of technique. This impacted Manziel’s throws to the middle of the field on the deep dig (square-in), slant, etc. as the ball often sailed or lacked the proper placement.
And he was often late with his reads to identify the open target.
Go back to the "dig" route to Josh Gordon earlier in the game, with the wide receiver separating at the break point versus man coverage. That’s an opportunity for Manziel to set his feet and deliver a throw to the upfield shoulder.
Instead, the rookie signal-caller was late getting the throw out and left the ball to the back shoulder. That allowed the cornerback to recover, drive to the receiver and make a play.
What about Manziel’s first interception on the deep "over" route?This is called a “Yankee” combination (reduced splits from receivers is a pre-snap alert), with Gordon clearing out the top of the defense versus Cover 1 (occupy both the cornerback and free safety).
That creates an opportunity for the Browns to bring Andrew Hawkins back across the formation, with the play action forcing the linebackers to attack the line of scrimmage (removes second-level defenders).
Manziel has the time (eight-man protection) to read the free safety in the deep middle of the field and target the over route with the receiver creating separation (away from the defender’s leverage) on an inside breaking cut.Look at the space Hawkins has to work with here as cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick is stuck in a trail position with Gordon clearing out a nice window for Manziel to identify his target and deliver the throw.
In this situation, Kirkpatrick isn’t going to make the play if the ball is thrown on time and to the outside shoulder of the receiverHowever, this is more about the technique issues for the rookie quarterback.
Regardless of the score—or the game situation—these reps are graded based on the ability to execute within the scheme. That means the proper footwork, ball placement and decision-making to keep the team out of adverse situations.
Run the game plan and make the throws to move the ball.
Manziel can learn from this tape, but it will be tough to watch given the mistakes and the plays he left out on the field. He showed his inexperience, and there were moments of panic for the rookie in that game.
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