Pictured are Cleveland Urban News.Com Sportswriter Karl Kimbrough (wearing maroon sweatsuit) and Cleveland Browns starting quarterback Johnny Manziel, a 2014 draft pick and a former Heisman Trophy winner. The twenty-two-year-old Manziel was tagged by Browns head coach Mike Pettine on Tuesday to start as quarterback for the remaining six games of the 2015 regular season for the Browns.
By Karl Kimbrough, Cleveland Urban News.Com sportswriter (kimbrough@clevelandurbannews.com). Cleveland Urban News. Com and The Cleveland Urban News.Com Blog, Ohio's Leaders In Black Digital News . Tel: 216-659-0473. Email: editor@clevelandurbannews.com
CLEVELANDURBANNEWS.COM-CLEVELAND,Ohio-Prior to the beginning of this 2015 season, Cleveland Browns general manager Ray Farmer and head coach Mike Pettine said they would rely on a strong defense and a solid running game to win NLF football games. It hasn't worked, and the Browns have a 2-8 win -loss record with only six regular season games remaining. (Editor's note: The last regular season game was against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Nov 15, which the Browns lost 30-9. The Browns will host the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio on Nov. 30)
At that time when Farmer and Pettine made such aforementioned predictions, the quarterback position had not yet been solidified, even though journeyman Josh McCown had been named the starter. The rushing attack was suppose to garner the attention of the opposing defenses so that passing lanes could be found in a balanced offensive attack.
Second string quarterback Johnny Manziel, a popular 2014 draft pick and Heisman Trophy winner, was a distant thought in their formula for success this season.
But now Manziel's passing game is one of the few things going right for the Browns, an NFL team that makes its home in an impoverished majority Black major American city where LeBron James is taking the Cleveland Cavaliers to new heights, and where the Cleveland Indians can also be counted upon to make a respectable finish.
Manziel, 22, was officially named starting quarterback by Pettine on Tuesday, and for the remaining six games, a dream come true by some standards.
Backing up McCown as quarterback, and more so after McCown got injured in the Sept 13 game against the New York Jets, and having started just two games this season, Manziel entered the game on Sunday, Nov 15 against the Pittsburgh Steelers as a temporary starting quarterback with more critics than supporters, even among the Browns coaching staff.
After starting the Browns previous game with the Cincinnati Bengals on Nov 5, a Thursday night game in fact, Pettine did not make many favorable comments about Manziel's performance. But after the loss to the Steelers on Sunday Pettine was almost glowing when talking about Manziel, even though Manziel was unable to snap a four game losing streak for his team, and though the Browns lost 30-9.
“He [Manziel] improved greatly from the Thursday night game, knowing where he had to be to make throws, not looking to get out of the pocket too soon and we made some good plays,” said Pettine.
Pettine also said that Manziel took a big step forward in trusting his reads during Sunday's game, which highlighted the Heisman Trophy winner's passing ability.
Manziel completed 33 of 45 passes for 372 yards against the Steelers, coupled with one touchdown, and a pick.
Sunday's embarrassing loss to the Steelers, and of which gave the Browns its 2-8 win- loss record for the regular season thus far, was not particularly surprising. In Pittsburgh the Browns defense, which has been a disaster in stopping the run for much of this season, showed that it's pass defense is now on the same level.
The Steelers didn't need a running game to blow the Browns out of Heinz Field on Nov. 5 because the pass defense was just that bad. The Steelers regular starting quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, took apart their defensive secondary, and only needed one good foot to do so.
Roethlistberger didn't need to worry about Cleveland's passive pass rush, which recorded only one sack against him even though he was like a statue standing in the pocket. Roethlisberger shredded the Browns defense for 377 yards, connecting on 22 out of 33 passes for three touchdowns and one interception. As if that were not bad enough, the pass defense gave up 144 yards in pass interference penalties. Speaking of penalties, the Browns committed 12 of them in this game for 188 yards.
Cleveland has now been called for ten or more penalties in six of the ten games played this season.
The Browns continue to plummet to the bottom of the NFL in almost every category. The team's rushing offense is now second to last (31st) in the NFL. Their rushing defense continues to be last in the league even with Pittsburgh rushing for just 60 yards on Sunday.
To make matters worse, their passing defense has dropped to 29th in the league, and their total defense is ranked 30th.
Ironically, the passing offense, the one area of their attack that was not expected to flourish this season, has been and continues to be one of the best in the NFL. The Cleveland Browns have the sixth most passing yards in the NFL 10 games into the season.
Even with McCown being out for his second straight game due to injury, and the rushing attack only producing 15 total yards, the Browns were able to pass for 372 yards in Sunday's game against the Steelers, and with Manziel at the helm.
A large part of the Browns passing success this season is due to the emergence of veteran tight end Gary Barnidge, who averages 66.7 yards per game, and because of wide receiver Travis Benjamin, who averages 73.6 yards per game. They are rated 20th and 12th respectively in receiving yards in the NFL.
This season has not turned out the way that the Browns staff envisioned. Actually, the strengths and weaknesses of the team are totally the opposite of what they thought they would be. What a kick in the head that must be for the GM and the coaches.
A this point Farmer, a GM who is Black, and Coach Pettine, must be praying that they can at least salvage a starting quarterback for the future i n Manziel. Only time will tell. (www.clevelandurbannews.com) / (www.kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com)
