After watching these first two preseason games, it's clear he should of been in the playbook instead of in Vegas. The middle finger, isn't so bad per se, but it does show he's letting people into his head. He has enough to worry about.
He's 14/27 for 128 yards. These numbers are horrible, especially when it's against 1's, 2's, and 3's. Especially horrible when these numbers are vastly inflated by some great YAC. He's literally playing like Captain Checkdown, and his average pass completion is really like 4-5 yards.
His running plays aren't good. When the defense vacated he runs like Peyton Manning can run. So he can get those 15 yard scrambles any QB can get.
When he tries to run, he is about successful as Peyton Manning would be if he tried to run around. He even chooses to run when there are wide open guys. He takes unnecessary hits, and with his frame he isn't going to last long.
What's worse is that other then that one possession at the 1, he's generally been aided by some great momentum and field position throughout preseason. Returns out to midfield and great defensive turnovers for great field position. Yet that's all he's done. When he's in the game they've also been aided by some nice runs. Manziel has been put in a situation to succeed, big time, and that's what he's done with it.
He doesn't have a strong arm, and the speed of the NFL is too fast for him so far, thus he can't throw downfield effectively or on time on a regular basis and has yet to do so at all.
Defenses are going to notice this and start scheming him for shorter throws and daring him to go deep on them, and that's when the defensive fun begins. Even yesterday they were jumping his routes, and he almost threw a couple of picks.
His 1 TD pass is really more like a glorified run.
He hasn't been able to beat out Brian Hoyer. We know Brian Hoyer. He isn't a good QB. He's a serviceable backup, not really anything more. He comes prepared, and is well schooled, but he's basically at his ceiling. He too doesn't have the tools, but he plays like a QB, and can run an offense. He beats out Johnny based on these factors because Johnny has no clue about them.
Shaw was their best QB last night, and he should be given some reps higher in the depth chart. He at least showed he can throw downfield. Right now he's their only hope at QB, and that's not good. Especially since it could turn out he can't play against the 1's either.
Last night was like watching a Cardinals game from a couple of seasons ago. Defense kept coming up with stops and great field position, and Hoyer and Manziel couldn't do anything with them.
Manziel is a project QB without great tools. He's not big, he's not fast, he isn't a natural QB, he doesn't have a strong arm, and has a propensity to make bad decisions. The flip off adds his head into the mix. Pettine should be more concerned about all the other deficiencies Manziel has shown.
Without a QB, this could get ugly in Cleveland. We'll see if any of this slightly upticks, but I don't see much more then that as a possibility. I'm sure at some point in the preseason he'll have a great play, but a single great play here or there isn't going to win in the NFL, especially if that's all there is.
