Why you should feel great after the Browns first preseason game
Aug 13, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) and quarterback Josh McCown (13) on the sidelines during the fourth quarter of preseason NFL football game against the Washington Redskins at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
This league is centered around the quarterback position. It’s no coincidence that consistent division winners, garner elite quarterback names like Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and so on.
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If there’s one thing you can take away from the Cleveland Browns first preseason game, it’s their quarterback play. What they did last night is exactly what needs to be done if this team wants to compete for a playoff spot.
Related: Quick hits: Observations from Browns vs Skins’
Combined, Johnny Manziel and Josh McCown completed 75% of their 16 passes, and successfully demonstrated a short-passing offense that is the key to their success in the upcoming season. This offense isn’t designed for big plays. It’s designed to limit turnovers, prolong drives, and run the football effectively.
We all know that at this point.
Now, how much of this had to do with a weak Washington Redskins defense? Definitely a little bit. At the same time, there seemed to be rhythm in the passing game to get the football out fast. Both McCown and Manziel had a couple of plays were they scrambled and bought time, but for the most part there seemed to be a flow in the passing game.
Both quarterbacks could’ve had an even better night if the running game had any life. Left tackle Joe Thomas was out of the starting lineup, resulting in rookie first-round pick Cameron Erving taking his spot. If Thomas plays, there’s no doubt the run game gets a huge boost over the 2.4 yards per carry they averaged last night.
Unfortunately, after last night’s poor performance on the ground, the Ray Rice rumors will continue to swirl. It just goes to show how vital Thomas is to this Browns offense, and how well both quarterbacks played even without an effective run game.
Above all, what stood out to me the most was the body language of Johnny Manziel. After his 12-yard rushing touchdown, there seemed to be no “showing-up the opponent” like we’ve seen in the past. It was a simple team gathering in the end zone, and the old saying of “act like you’ve been there before” seems to have finally resonated with the young quarterback.
He just seemed humble. Something you never thought you would say about Manziel.
Related: Why Johnny Manziel should start week 1
It wasn’t a perfect game by any means. The defense surrendered 153 yards on the ground, which unquestionably needs to improve. But it’s tough to take much away from that stat when starters play a limited amount of snaps.
The final score also didn’t favor the Browns, but that’s not really the point of these exhibition games. Preseason is about growth, and seeing who deserves to get playing time during the regular season.
At the end of the day, the quarterback position is the biggest question mark on this team. Period. If what we saw last night is any indicator of what we’ll see in the regular season, this team could be an interesting watch for 16 games.