Chaos in Cleveland : Hoyer v Manziel

Eat or be eaten. The NFL is a warzone, even when in the offseason. The months of July and August are a pivotal time for the lives of NFL players. So much is dependent upon what transpires in training camp. It’s survival of the fittest. Once training camp embarks, there is no turning back. Coaching staffs examine and critique every player to see which ones will add value to the team. If there are any weak links, they will be casted aside without remorse. A 90 man roster must dwindle down to 53 by the end of August. Training camp also presents players a unique opportunity to separate themselves from the rest of the pack. Only 11 players’ cleats can touch the field at a time, so the athletes engage in grinding position battles in order to be named the starter. They fight tooth and nail in order to show their coaches that they are fit for battle on Sunday afternoons. The greatest position in the sport, the quarterback, is usually fought for during the duration of training camp. Typically, the brawl is between a rookie and a veteran. This is the case with the Cleveland Browns. On May 8, the Browns selected Johnny Manziel with the 23rd overall pick. The 2013 Heisman winner is a different breed. He operates the position in a way that has never been seen before. Even though Manziel was extremely successful in college, man y analysts feel he will be a bust in the NFL. Two of the main reasons are his style of play, and his off-the-field antics. Either way, Manziel and Brian Hoyer are drenched in an epic battle to see who will start Week 1 against the Steelers. There are great arguments on both sides to determine the starter.

Football logic suggests that the more experienced players should start. Rookies tend to be nervous and frazzled in the heat of competition, which often leads to major mistakes. In the National Football League, there is no time for errors. Many people feel that veterans offer the team the best chance to win. Brian Hoyer earned the starting role last year. The Browns organization is historically known for inconsistency with starting quarterbacks. In 2013, Cleveland started Brandon Weeden and Jason Campbell before Hoyer. During the final stretch of the season, Hoyer showed exceptional promise. Throughout this year’s, training camp, and every aspect of Hoyer’s game surpasses Manziel’s. He exhibits great accuracy and decision making, along with a compelling command of the huddle. When Hoyer has the reins of the first team offense, everything seems to function properly and efficiently.

The same cannot be said with Manziel. He has made some “rookie mistakes” and the coaching staff has definitely noticed them. The offense has Manziel operating under center, which is in complete contrast to Texas A&M’s spread offense. During his repetitions, Manziel has shown a lack of leadership and poise, along with inconsistency in his throws.

Even though Hoyer seems to be the favorite, Manziel offers the Browns some unique qualities in his style of play. His ability to improvise and make a play out of nothing is awe-inspiring. On top of his lethal scrambling abilities, Johnny Football can make almost any throw on the football field. His arm strength is exceptional. The only knock on his passing game is his decision making, but that will come with experience and growth. He has the intangibles that Hoyer does not. He has things a coach cannot teach. Manziel’s athleticism alone gives the Browns incredibly more opportunities to win.

In my opinion, I believe Brandon Hoyer should start Week 1. For the past two years, I was an Aggie fan, and admired Manziel’s work on the gridiron. Even though my heart would love to see Manziel named the starter, I think Hoyer gives the Browns a better chance to win right out the gate. The first three games of the season, the Browns will play the Steelers, Saints, and Ravens. The Steelers and Ravens are division rivals, but all three of these opponents are playoff caliber teams with great defenses. If the Browns started Manziel for these games, they would be throwing him in a lion’s den. Hoyer has felt the pressure of an NFL game; he knows what it takes to win. He will be able to dissect the defense and make the right throw more effectively than Manziel. I also feel that Manziel’s time on the bench will give him an opportunity to mature. Manziel’s nightlife and partying have been well documented by the media throughout his career. Maybe his role as a backup will spark a fire in him to solely focus on football. He could eventually surpass Hoyer and earn the starting spot. The NFL season is a long grind. It is so unpredictable. Anything can happen. As for right now, I believe that the Browns’ starting quarterback spot is Brian Hoyer’s to lose.

Emmanuel Morgan