Can Kyle Shanahan Make Johnny Manziel into a Star QB like RGIII?
I read a quote the other day regarding Cleveland Browns Offensive Coordinator Kyle Shanahan. It was attributed to Rex Grossman who played for him as backup QB for the Washington Redskins. It got me thinking about how well Johnny Manziel will fit into new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan’s world.
The Quote
Grossman said, “During the course of a regular game, Kyle Shanahan wants you to run the offense exactly how he wants it, down to the amount of hitches you take to go through your progressions,” former Shanahan pupil Rex Grossman said back in 2011.”
Bang your head
I read that a few times and everytime I did, I had a sudden disconnect if I was Johnny Manziel. Manziel loves to create as a QB. He plays like a more refined version of Tim Tebow but slower than Colin Kaepernick. Will Cleveland Browns Offensive Coordinator Kyle Shanahan and Johnny Manziel bang heads? Without Josh Gordon and the Browns most likely having a tough season ahead, will a few losses get Manziel under Center and Brian Hoyer riding the bench? If so, does a huge battle of willpower take place between Manziel and Shanahan both being new to the Cleveland Browns?
Kyle Shanahan and RGIII
Kyle did a great job with RGII but Manziel is a different story altogether. RGIII was drafted to start from day 1. Manziel has been drafted to ride the bench. How does that sit with Manziel and this is the “x factor” to worry about. Will Manziel freelance to the point where a schism will occur? Will it get bigger and bigger until one of them falls into the pit? Only the future can tell this story.
Fans want Johnny
There hasn’t been a bigger Johnny in the media since Johnny Carson and Johnny Unitas. Fans have flocked to buy season tickets for the Cleveland Browns and his jersey. Fans will want him on the field and not on the bench. How long till owner Jimmy Haslam forces the issue? It is a business and if Josh Gordon gets suspended, they really don’t have a competitive leg to stand on.
Is Herm Edwards right?
Former player and New York Jets coach Herm Edwards has been very vocal about the Cleveland Browns announcing that Johnny Football is the backup and Hoyer is the starter.
Here is what Herm Edwards said, “We don’t know he’s a backup. Who said he has to be the backup? If you draft a player to be a backup, why did you draft him?” Edwards asked. “You’re drafting a guy because you think he’s worthy of being drafted at that spot, but you’re also drafting him because you think he can compete.”
I personally think he is right and I believe that the coach owes it to the team and the fans to make it a competition and announce who the starter is once one has proven they are better.
Football is Capitalism
Both players should get an equal right to compete. Both players should be judged by their ability. As they say, “May the best man win.” Cleveland Browns Offensive Coordinator Kyle Shanahan needs to be a little less robotic and more of a laid back coach. It will benefit everyone on the team.
JibbJabber 