2014 Preseason Game #1 -|- Browns @ Lions -|- August 9th.

[FiveThous]

old school rep for whoever makes that OBI hit a gif.

 

[MoGottiFor3]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Donte Whitner is so happy to be a Brown. It's a northeast Ohio thing. &quot;I get LeBron,'' he told me. &quot;When you grow up there, it's so in you.&quot;</p>&mdash; Peter King (@SI_PeterKing) <a href="https://twitter.com/SI_PeterKing/statuses/498334103264296961">August 10, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[chrisrich91]

I just got a chance to watch the game. Everyone I talked to told me that Johnny looked solid. After watching it for myself, I was very unimpressed. And what was unimpressive to me had nothing to do with him playing with the 2nd team. I'll watch it again in the morning, but I rate both QBs a "meh".

 

[blivv]

McFadden had three blatant holding penalties. I wonder if he actually has any brain cells

 

[Real Deal]

I just got a chance to watch the game. Everyone I talked to told me that Johnny looked solid. After watching it for myself, I was very unimpressed. And what was unimpressive to me had nothing to do with him playing with the 2nd team. I'll watch it again in the morning, but I rate both QBs a "meh".

He had one errant throw out of 11. He could of been 10-11 with like a 100 yards if players like Krause or whatever would catch the football.

His scramble up the middle was impressive for about 15 yards.

His bootleg was interesting which was a 1st down.

 

[Tornicade]

way to be a downer chrisrich on one of the most epic qb battles of all time !

 

[Randolphkeys]

He had one errant throw out of 11. He could of been 10-11 with like a 100 yards if players like Krause or whatever would catch the football.

His scramble up the middle was impressive for about 15 yards.

His bootleg was interesting which was a 1st down.

Success can be subjective I suppose. I thought Manziel showed that his arm strength and elusiveness are as advertised. When he took a three step drop and got the ball out quickly he looked like the future franchise QB everyone wants.

He also made the wrong call on his third down read option, missed an easy pass to the fullback for a first down to run it, and struggled at times to get the play off on time. I had the feeling Manziel was comfortable in the pistol but uncomfortable with formations new to him. When Detroit threw an all out blitz at Manziel's pistol and blew up West as soon as he touched the ball, I thought "This is what any defense should do when you know the play starts with a handoff read 95% of the time."

Give the kid plenty of playing time in the preseason games, please... but when Hoyer starts the first regular season game don't be too surprised.

 

[dirtywax]

I know it was only preseason, and I know we had our 4/5 stringers out there. Our losing culture still heavily hangs over this franchise. Ugly, ugly game to watch.

 

[MoGottiFor3]

[video=youtube;kRgHMnXwLwU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRgHMnXwLwU[/video]

 

[Chris]

way to be a downer chrisrich on one of the most epic qb battles of all time !

Lots of people have invested much into the Johnny hate train, it will take more than a solid preseason game to get them to admit their errors.

 

[MGMT]

I disliked him strongly as a prospect but he looked rock solid last night all things considered.

I would love to be wrong.

 

[Pick6]

He also made the wrong call on his third down read option, missed an easy pass to the fullback for a first down to run it, and struggled at times to get the play off on time. I had the feeling Manziel was comfortable in the pistol but uncomfortable with formations new to him. When Detroit threw an all out blitz at Manziel's pistol and blew up West as soon as he touched the ball, I thought "This is what any defense should do when you know the play starts with a handoff read 95% of the time."

I think you're being too over critical Keys. Did he make the wrong read, or would the read have been fine if the TE didn't whiff his block? He might have missed the FB, but the fact still remains he ran for the first down and got it. I only noticed one time where he struggled to get the play off (ended up calling a TO), but that was because the play clock didn't reset like it should have. Are we really expecting perfection out of the kid in his first ever preseason game? Who calls the plays? I don't see how it's Manziel's fault 95% of the plays start with a read option.

I think his critics should be able to admit he looked a lot better initially than many thought. I'll be honest, I'm a supporter and I even thought he looked better than what I initially thought. None of that really means anything going against a second stringers. But then again, he will have much more talented people blocking for him and catching balls when he is with the first team.

He needs to be held to fair and realistic expectations. If those are the biggest problems he had during his first professional action, I like the chances of him developing into a solid starter at the least.

 

[Chris]

Man, people are being really tough on this guy. With our past rookie QBs I remember fans trying to talk themselves into the guy's play. Polar opposite now.

 

[CavsRules]

Man, people are being really tough on this guy. With our past rookie QBs I remember fans trying to talk themselves into the guy's play. Polar opposite now.

Maybe it's all apart of the plan.

Talk up a rookie QB: Bust.
Talk down a rookie QB: Pro Bowler.

I'm still sticking with he'll be dominate, though. Kid just has that "it" factor. As if he puts his mind to it, he will become special.

Can't wait till next week Monday.