Browns coach: Hoyer
Cleveland Browns quarterbacks Johnny Manziel (2) and Brian Hoyer could decide who gets the starting nod during their Monday night football exhibition against the Washington Redskins / Ken Blaze, USA TODAY Sports 
BEREA, Ohio â?? What Cleveland Browns coach Mike Pettine calls 'a tough decision'' on whether to name Brian Hoyer or Johnny Manziel his regular-season quarterback will play itself out during the first half of Monday night's preseason game against the Washington Redskins.
Pettine told USA TODAY Sports Wednesday that Manziel, 'Really has made a jump -- he truly wants this. And his actions certainly match his words.''
What does the Browns coach want to see from the entertaining rookie getting his initial preseason audition with the first string conducting offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan's scheme?
'Just stay in structure and don't feel the need to do anything spectacular â?? just execute the offense,'' Pettine said. 'I'm sure Kyle will tailor what he's calling for each guy to match their skill set.
'We might see a little more zone-read out of Johnny, just like we did against Detroit.
''We want our quarterbacks to lead touchdown drives. Or at the very worst, scoring drives.
'Just don't press. Go out and play.''
How advanced is the free-wheeling Manziel in his proficiency at setting requisite pass protections and checking off against exotic defenses?
'I certainly wouldn't say he knows everything he needs to know to be a starter,'' Pettine said. 'But he's well on his way with that progression.
'He really has made a jump. He's gotten his nose into the playbook. He's asked to write questions. He's been here early. He's stayed late.
'This is important to him.
'It's not just, 'Hey, I'll figure it out at the line of scrimmage, call the play.' ''
Manziel showed improved pocket presence in completing 7 of 11 for 63 yards in that 13-12 preseason-opening defeat.
He also ran six times for 27 yards, taking one hard hit early that had the training staff checking on him.
Is Manziel's default mechanism still to bolt the pocket at the first sign of serious heat?
'It is. And that's something that will come over time,'' Pettine said. 'And part of that might have been the product of the supporting cast. He was out there with the second offensive line. The pocket might have collapsed a little bit quicker.
'It wasn't quite as clean as it was when Brian was out there with the ones.
'And that's why we want to get close to equal time Monday with them with the ones so we can go ahead and judge it that way.''
Pettine refuted talk radio speculation that Tuesday's signing of journeyman Rex Grossman to replace third stringer Tyler Thigpen is a sign the Browns will trade Hoyer.
Ten months removed from right knee surgery, Hoyer was polished Wednesday running the no-huddle offense.
'Brian's been poised, confident and can make all the throws, and when there's a mistake he can correct it,'' Pettine said. 'He's really picked up where he left off last year in a different system.
'We feel both those guys are ahead mentally of where we thought.''
Pettine debunks the maxim that insists, 'When you have two quarterbacks, you don't have any.''
'I totally don't agree with that,'' Pettine said. 'We have two guys who are great competitors who both have NFL skill sets. They're very different. But Brian and Johnny have shown the ability to play.
'Look at the Browns the last 10-12 seasons, you can count on one hand where one quarterback played the whole season. This age where defenders are bigger, faster, stronger, how hard they hit, it's difficult for a quarterback to make it through.''
Pettine paused, adding,
'It's a luxury to have two you feel good about. I consider (Hoyer and Manziel) a good problem.''
For preparation sake, Pettine wants his starting quarterback named ideally by next Wednesday so he gets all first-team reps before Cleveland's Aug. 23 exhibition against the St. Louis Rams.
'I'm not going to commit myself to something by saying it will be by Wednesday,'' Pettine said. 'I still want to stick to having a starter named for that game.''
Follow Jim Corbett on Twitter @ByJimCorbett
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