With or without Johnny Manziel, the Browns offense looks bad
AKRON, Ohio - The Cleveland Browns fans who trekked to Akron for the team's first scrimmage saw Johnny Manziel run and they saw Brian Hoyer throw, but they didn't see any touchdowns from the first- or second-team offense.
Perhaps that should be the biggest takeaway from the Browns' annual Family Day at the University Akron's InfoCision Stadium: No matter who winds up winning the Browns' quarterback job, the Browns offense hardly looks sharp.
It could be a credit to new head coach Mike Pettine's defense, or it could be that the offense just lacks firepower without No. 1 wide receiver Josh Gordon, and the entire unit adapting more slowly to new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan's playbook. Regardless, the offense better hope it can catch up quickly.
Hoyer, the veteran who started three games last year (all wins) before tearing his ACL in October, took all of the first-team snaps in the scrimmage, just like he has since training camp began a week ago, and just like he will in the Browns' preseason opener at Detroit on Aug. 9.
Manziel remained with the second-team, though Browns coaches and players continue to downplay the first-team vs. second-team reps.
For Manziel, he says it's less about who is lined up with, but what he does once he's in the huddle.
On Saturday, in the closest thing he's experienced to live action since the Browns' drafted him with a first-round pick in May, Manziel showed glimpses of that exciting player who lit up college football. He had two nine-yard, zone-read running plays, and looked consistently comfortable on bootleg plays that required him to throw on the move.
But there were enough mistakes that it seems unlikely he did much to close the gap on Hoyer.
Manziel's first series of the scrimmage included a pass that was thrown away under pressure, a false start and a missed throw to the right sideline. His next drive, against the Browns' second-team defense, lasted 16 plays, but ended without points after a pass on fourth-and-goal lost yardage.
Manziel's best throw of the day came earlier on that drive, with a pretty fade to tight end Gary Barnidge on the right side of the end zone, but the officials said Barnidge did not come down in bounds.
Unofficially, Manziel completed 4-of-12 passes for 25 yards. He rushed three times for 23 yards.
'The thing for me is to get better. I know I keep saying that and it sounds old,' Manziel said. 'But That's the story of my life right now, I have to get better. ... Days like this help.'
Hoyer's start was better, but his finish was worse. Hoyer's best drive came at the start of the scrimmage, as he completed 4-of-5 passes for 40 yards before the drive stalled just past midfield after an incomplete pass to tight end Jordan Cameron.
Hoyer's final pass of the scrimmage was intercepted by linebacker Barkevious Mingo, who corralled a pass that had been tipped at the line of scrimmage and returned it about 40 yards before being tackled.
'We have to remember how good our defense is,' Hoyer said. 'It can be frustrating at times, but it's good to have them on our side.'
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