maize-blue

January 8th, 2014 at 2:39 PM ^

It will be interesting to see how he fairs in the NFL. If I remember right, last year the general consensus on him was that his game does not translate to the NFL, he wouldn't make it. However, recently I haven't heard as much negative opinions on him.

pasadenablue

January 8th, 2014 at 2:39 PM ^

dude really grew up over the past year.  it felt like watching the fab five their second time around, once they figured out it was a business.

 

plus he's a great athlete who can make just about any throw, and has great instincts.

 

ill be shocked if he drops out of the top 20...

The Crootin' Crouton

January 8th, 2014 at 3:45 PM ^

So you'd be a "grown up" as a 19 year old who couldn't walk to class without panties being thrown in your face and getting texts/calls from celebrities who think you're cooler than they are?  Wow, you must be more humble than Uriah Heep.

teamgreg8

January 8th, 2014 at 2:40 PM ^

Pretty crazy how high his draft stock is climbing (#3 QB last I saw). I'll be interested to see what teams think of him after the combine. I don't think he will do well in the NFL. Also, I am not an expert.

cadmus2166

January 8th, 2014 at 4:57 PM ^

There's a big difference between having a huge ego and having confidence in your ability.  I'll offer up the difference between Dez Bryant, who thinks he is basically God's gift to QB's, and Calvin Johnson who is a confident, but humble player.  Calvin is obviously a bit more talented, but even if the talent level were the same, I'd rather have a guy like Johnson who just goes and does his job without needing to proclaim how great he is all the time.

mgoviking5

January 8th, 2014 at 2:45 PM ^

Hopefully the Browns don't screw this one up and draft him if he is available.  This guy has an NFL arm and great athletic ability.  I guess the one uncertainty is if he can understand NFL defenses, but that is a question mark for almost all QB prospects.  I think if he is successful in the NFL he will look a lot like Russell Wilson.

FatGuyLittleCoat

January 8th, 2014 at 3:14 PM ^

As a lifelong and tortured Browns fan, I've come to accept that the Browns will never have an exciting team. I'd love to see to Manziel on the team. I say just let the boy play and see what happens. Its truly come to a point where we simply have nothing to lose.

On a side note, I saw a mock draft for the Browns that said they would select Manziel, Carlos Hyde, Allen Robinson, and some  other bigger names from bigger schools. Included in this list was an LB from Montana. Yes, Montana. I quickly thought of how the Browns will select none of the big names or proven players listed in this mock draft and will select only the LB from Montana. Because that's how we roll in Cleveland.

Victor Hale II

January 8th, 2014 at 3:23 PM ^

A colleague and I were just talking about the multiple Browns QB busts/failures over the years, whether it was the draft or otherwise.  We came up with the following:

 

-Couch

-Weeden

-McCoy

-Quinn

 

Sorry if it's painful, but who else did they get and proceed to run into the ground?  Haven't they picked up a lot of guys who proceeded to immediately tank?

 

WoodleyIsBeast

January 8th, 2014 at 2:56 PM ^

Always elevated his game when it mattered. I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up in a similar light as Russell Wilson, and this is coming from a guy that thinks Johnny Football is a tool.

Don

January 8th, 2014 at 3:07 PM ^

If he goes in with the right attitude, I don't see why he can't be a good NFL QB.

If he goes in with the attitude of Ryan Leaf, he won't last past his first contract.

I dumped the Dope

January 8th, 2014 at 3:09 PM ^

I didn't watch him much at all except ESPN highlights until the Chicken Filet Bowl. (This is a joke to me because Southerners get MAD when Chick-Fil-A is called the Chicken Filet...I've tried it many times LOL)

Anyhhoo. He made a lot of throws way down the field with a lot of accuracy.  And his ability to scramble is pretty impressive too.  Not sure what the beastly men playing D in the NFL would do on a square hit, but if he can stay healthy I would absolutely want him on my team.

The trash talking (etc) is sort of a personality quirk but could probably be coached down a bit if someone had his full attention.

Bocheezu

January 8th, 2014 at 3:14 PM ^

he'll stop being mentioned in completely unrelated college football games?  My friends and I would do over/under on first mention of Manziel each football Saturday and it was rare to make it past the first half of the noon games.  So tired of one player being Tebow-ized every year.

Blarvey

January 8th, 2014 at 3:18 PM ^

Did anyone else get the feeling that all of the sideline stuff at the CFA bowl was for the scouts and cameras? I don't remember seeing him act like that prior to that game and while it may have been genuine, I don't understand where it was earlier in the season.

gwkrlghl

January 8th, 2014 at 3:26 PM ^

Im not an expert but it just doesnt seem like he'll be too successful as an NFL QB. He's small but doesn't seem to have the raw arm strength to overcome it (as I recall Flutie having). His quick, but that won't help him much in the NFL. I think he'll be a nice media story until he ends up as a back-up somewhere.

I just can't imagine him being a full time starter successfully

hoota122

January 8th, 2014 at 4:06 PM ^

I have a feeling that's he's gonna be a stud in the NFL. This kid is a baller, and his performance in his bowl game was amazing. Hopefully he goes to the browns and adds some excitement to that organization.

bronxblue

January 8th, 2014 at 5:01 PM ^

He'll be okay in the pros, but his game relies on (a) lots of improvisation, (b) a REALLY good offensive line that can keep him clean and buy him time, and (c) having a lot of skill around him.  He seems to have a decent arm and speed to make the transition to the pros, but 6' 1" and 210lbs means he's going to have to be super-accurate in order to survive, and I'm not sure if that will happen.  And for all his greatness against Alabama, he struggled against teams like LSU and Florida who could keep him in the pocket for the most part.  Figure he'll get drafted a bit higher than you'd like, but this might be a bit of a Tebow situation in that fans will be calling for him to push out an incumbent even though he might not be ready.

BrownJuggernaut

January 8th, 2014 at 6:23 PM ^

I think Manziel will do okay in the pros as long as he can avoid the big hits. He's instrinctually a great football player, but I doubt he'll get away with throwing it up to receivers like he sometimes did with Mike Evans. He's illusive and he can extend plays. 

I think the Dez Bryant comparison is good, though I think it's good for different reasons. I don't think Dez is an angel, but I do think he cares a lot about winning and is demonstrative about winning. Unfortunately, that body language is often misconstrued and he is portrayed like a miscreant. I think Mr. Football is also misunderstood and people think he's selfish or this or that. I'm not saying he isn't that. But I do think he cares deeply about winning and about football and perhaps some of that is a lack of maturity. I thought he showed some great leadership during the Chick-Fil-A Bowl. 

For me, his success is contingent on the situation he walks into. 

Summoner10

January 8th, 2014 at 7:43 PM ^

I think his flameout will be Ryan Leaf or Jamarcus Russell-esque.  He hasn't shown in any way that he has the work ethic or the leadership abilities to be a QB in the NFL.  It's a lot easier to extend plays and turn and twist from pressure in college then it is in the NFL and he doesn't have the size to be a guy who can extend time while in the pocket he HAS to roll out.  he'll also need to teach himself to NOT rollout then just toss it up like he does so often in college.  He does benefit this year from a not so strong QB class and a lot of teams going int othe draft with QB questions or openings.  He'll likely go higher then his career output would justify.

treetown

January 8th, 2014 at 8:21 PM ^

I always have to wonder if Tate Forcier could have been like this if he had kept his focus. It certainly looked like it afer the victory of the Charlie Weiss ND.