Can Johnny Manziel Heat Up Steelers And Browns Rivalry?

[Shawn]

I don't care if he fails or is successful other than if he's successful that isn't good for the Steelers. I'm not a fan of the "check me out" gang whether they're Steelers or other. Wasn't a fan of Santonio even when he was scoring TDs for the Steelers, I was thankful that he did, but not a fan of the self promotion. That's where I'm at with Manziel, he's done nothing in the NFL and you'd think he's an established veteran based on media outlets love for him. One thing is for sure, come September we'll all get to find out, because I don't think it will be too long before he's playing regardless of what the coaching staff says about his place on the depth chart.

Pappy

I agree. And I don't disagree about the hype and the ego. I doubt he starts day 1. But, I do believe the first time their starter struggles...and he will...they will hear the chants for money phone and will put him in. We will get to find out if he can hang.

[Sugar]

Colt McCoy showed promise, IMO. Weeden looked decent, too. Not sure what they are hoping for.

They're just screwed.

Heck, Hoyer looked good for them before he got hurt. While it's a good chance he'll start the year, one sub-par game will have the dawgs clamoring for the newbie.

[birtikidis]

Heck, Hoyer looked good for them before he got hurt. While it's a good chance he'll start the year, one sub-par game will have the dawgs clamoring for the newbie.

Losing your #1 wideout is a heck of a blow though (no pun intended)

[NorthCoast]

I agree with Merril Hoge's take on Manziel" He has absolutely no instinct or feel for pocket awareness. He has an instinct to run. That's a bad instinct if you're going to have that in the National Football League. You have to play in the pocket with traffic around you and throw it. When traffic comes around him, he runs, and that's dangerous in the National Football League. His skill set does not transition to the National Football League, and it is a big, big risk. In fact, I see bust written all over him, especially if he's drafted in the first round."

Manziel is a classic boom or bust player. else why would it have taken the Cleveland Browns to finally nab him at 1.22? Enough teams had serious questions (teams that had need at QB) that they didn't bother to take a chance.

[K Train]

Heck, Hoyer looked good for them before he got hurt. While it's a good chance he'll start the year, one sub-par game will have the dawgs clamoring for the newbie.

Hoyer looked OK...not quite the hero he was billed up to be

It was also Norvs/Chuds offense that he was a good fit to run

[feltdizz]

Hoyer looked OK...not quite the hero he was billed up to be

It was also Norvs/Chuds offense that he was a good fit to run

Chuds offense always looks good in the first year or 2...

[RuthlessBurgher]

Chuds offense always looks good in the first year or 2...

I'd much rather face a team with Kyle Shanahan as its O.C. and Jim O'Neil as its D.C. (Browns 2014 coordinators) than a team with Norv Turner as its O.C. and Ray Horton as its D.C. (Browns 2013 coordinators).

Yet another thing Cleveland has screwed up.

Plus their owner just paid out $92 million to avoid prosecution in the Pilot Flying J defraud scheme. Thank God he's no longer a minority owner of the Steelers.

[hawaiiansteel]

Dick LeBeau feels Johnny Manziel 'may be what Browns need to get to the top' of the AFC North

By Neal Coolong on Jul 18 2014



Lavish praise to be paid for a rookie quarterback, considering LeBeau's defenses rarely surrender much to rookie quarterbacks. Still, LeBeau is saying the right things in advance of speaking at a charity function in Dayton.

He didn't get to his position by insulting the home crowd.

Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau will speak to a Dayton, Ohio, area crowd at Mitchell Hills Golf Club in a fundraiser for the club and for Second Harvest Food Bank.

He's already giving them the soundbyte they'll likely want.

He spoke with Greg Billing of the Dayton Daily News in advance of the event.

"...Cleveland is getting better and better every year. I think this quarterback may be exactly what they need to get right at the top of the division," LeBeau said Browns first-round draft pick Johnny Manziel. "All four teams are going to be pretty good football teams. It’s going to be a real competitive year. I think Manziel, he was so exciting in college I don’t know why he wouldn’t be equally exciting in the pros. He’s going to be a weapon with the unusual skills he has."

Manziel and ex-Steelers QB Brian Hoyer are expected to compete for the Browns' starting job. Their season kicks off at Pittsburgh in Week 1.

The amount of weaponry available for either quarterback is up in the air. Wide receiver Josh Gordon is facing a suspension for a violation of the league's substance abuse program and possibly another from an arrest for DUI over the Fourth of July weekend in Raleigh, N.C.

Still, LeBeau's fears are valid for a coach who's seen it all and knows overlooking opponents is the surest way to prepare a team to lose an otherwise winnable game. But LeBeau is 16-2 against rookie quarterbacks, including any of them who have the amount of hype Manziel is bringing with him.

[URL]http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/nfl-pittsburgh-steelers-news/2014/7/18/5916941/johnny-manziel-news-dick-lebeau-steelers-browns-nfl-week-1[/URL]

[Mr.wizard]

The problems isn't necessary Manziel. It's the team. It's a train wreck. They get something going and then it's a race to see how they can mess it up. I do think Gilbert and Haden are going to be a rough tandem to throw on, but I don't see them scoring points.

Is it? I don't think they are a train wreck, losing Gordon hurt but I don't think they are in bad shape.

[birtikidis]

Is it? I don't think they are a train wreck, losing Gordon hurt but I don't think they are in bad shape.

A train wreck is more than just a player getting in trouble. It's spending #1 and #2 picks on the same position year in and year out and dropping them almost right away. It's drafting a guy and then trading him. They're personnel department is full of idiots.

[feltdizz]

A train wreck is more than just a player getting in trouble. It's spending #1 and #2 picks on the same position year in and year out and dropping them almost right away. It's drafting a guy and then trading him. They're personnel department is full of idiots.

I think they finally made the right call on trading the RB from Alabama...

[birtikidis]

I think they finally made the right call on trading the RB from Alabama...

Time will tell. Thing is, they never give these guys a chance to become a team.

[Iron City Inc.]

And what did he do the rest of his career including against Alabama? So, what we know is Manziel needs improvement in the area of being a pocket passer, that he struggles when a D keeps him from freelancing. All stuff everyone on the planet knew coming into the draft.

This is an excellent post for a few reasons. First sometimes in doing evaluations of college players you have to toss the film for a game or two out the window. Manzeil is not a finished product. How well he steps up his game at the next level is all from his neck up. How quick will he be able to adjust to mostly being a pocket passer? As RG3 learned running around, holding the ball to long and taking big hits at this level is a formula for trouble. One thing JM is not is big. He has a unique skill set and as a few others pointed out doesn't lack for confidence.
Looking forward to beating the Browns with this rookie in the lineup. Bring it on!

[Shawn]

This is an excellent post for a few reasons. First sometimes in doing evaluations of college players you have to toss the film for a game or two out the window. Manzeil is not a finished product. How well he steps up his game at the next level is all from his neck up. How quick will he be able to adjust to mostly being a pocket passer? As RG3 learned running around, holding the ball to long and taking big hits at this level is a formula for trouble. One thing JM is not is big. He has a unique skill set and as a few others pointed out doesn't lack for confidence.
Looking forward to beating the Browns with this rookie in the lineup. Bring it on!

He is far from a finished product as you said. He has never had to stand in a pocket and throw a ball. That will take a couple seasons. But, there is no reason he can't do so. He has the arm. He has the accuracy. He plays without fear. The guy is a winner.

[hawaiiansteel]

Browns Cornerback Joe Haden denies young Steelers fan autograph

By Nick Kelly on Jul 22 2014



While the Steelers and Browns have a rivalry on the field, Haden maintains the rivalry off the field as well.

The Steelers, Browns rivalry is serious business to Browns cornerback Joe Haden.

At the Good Games Athletics' Camp Haden in northeast Ohio, a young Steelers fan approached Haden with a black sharpie pen and asked Haden to sign the jersey of former Steeler Hines Ward. Haden's response? "No way!" and the camper and his dad then wished Haden good luck in the 14 games that the Browns don't play the Steelers.

Haden, who made his first Pro Bowl in 2013, was one of the few bright spots for the Browns last season.

However, even with the season he had, Steelers' wide receiver Antonio Brown still seemed to get the best of Haden in both of the matchups. In the two games in which Haden followed Brown around the field, Brown had 15 receptions for 179 yards and one touchdown.

Judging by his actions at his football camp at Brush high school, the success Brown achieved left a bad taste in Haden's mouth. Unfortunately (or fortunately) for the kid, Haden's seriousness with the rivalry he has with Browns and the Steelers translated to the young camper who now doesn't have a Joe Haden autograph on a Hines Ward jersey.

[URL]http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/nfl-pittsburgh-steelers-news/2014/7/22/5927559/browns-cornerback-joe-haden-denies-young-steelers-fan-autograph[/URL]