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Johnny Manziel, Terrelle Pryor Impressing in Cleveland Browns Training Camp

By Zac Wassink

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The defense of the Cleveland Browns is ahead of where the offense is three days into training camp. As it should be.

This current Browns defensive unit is currently preparing for its second National Football League regular season under head coach Mike Pettine, while the offense is learning a new scheme and working with different staff that includes a new offensive coordinator. It also has to be noted that the defense, simply stated, has more overall talent than what is currently found on the first- and second-team offenses of the Browns. The Cleveland offense was always going to have plenty of catching up to do as July turned into August.

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Those truths did not prevent the predictable barrage of hot takes to flood social media and sports websites when second-year quarterback Johnny Manziel had a rough go of things on his first day of camp. Manziel’s worst sequence of the day included four consecutive awful plays that had some seemingly taking joy in the fact that the 22-year old looked as bad if not worse than he did at any point during the summer of 2014. Veteran Josh McCown also struggled a bit on his first day of camp, but that does not make for a sexy headline and thus you possibly did not hear about it.

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You may, in-between enjoying a couple of summer days off of work and seeking out highlights of Ultimate Fighting Championship sensation Ronda Rousey destroying yet another victim, have noticed that the Manziel criticisms have since largely disappeared from Twitter. Did detractors decide to spend some time with family instead of take in some Browns training camp over the weekend? Has hitting out at Manziel already become so boring that doing so is considered passe even before the first preseason game arrives?

Nah. Manziel has merely had a few solid practice sessions.

Manziel was nearly flawless on Friday, completing 10 of 11 pass attempts or 12 of 13 passes depending on who you want to believe among those calculating what was an unofficial tally. He followed that day of work up with additional impressive performances over the weekend. Along with wowing observers and coaches with his control of the offense from the shotgun formation, Manziel flashed zip on his passes, he went through progressions in a manner that none saw from him during his rookie camp, and he reminded all of his athleticism on certain plays.

“Nearly flawless” is not perfect, of course, and there were also instances in which Manziel still looked like a project and a work in progress. Throws off of the back foot, one of which resulted in Manziel connecting for a big play, will need to be addressed during film study. Manziel has taken a fair share of “simulated” sacks, but it should be mentioned that he has been playing with a second-team offense that is over-matched by a better second-team defense, and also that now is the time for Manziel to work on remaining in the pocket until the last millisecond during plays.

So everything is great and it is time for Manziel to start getting reps with the first-team Browns offense, right? Absolutely not. As humorous as were the digs at Manziel after his first day of camp, it is equally silly for anybody to suggest that Manziel is currently ahead of McCown in some non-existent quarterback competition. McCown is smoothly running the first-team offense, while Manziel is showing signs of improving, working as a backup behind a true mentor. It is almost as if the plan installed by Pettine and his staff may actually be working.

With that said, it has to be a relief for Browns fans to see the way that McCown and Manziel interacted during the first four days of camp. McCown has been Manziel’s loudest on-the-field supporter whenever the Texas A&M product would pull off a Johnny Football moment, and the veteran put his arm around his understudy as the two shared a laugh in the closing moments of Sunday’s practice. The quarterback room of the Browns sure seems to be better off than a year ago when journeyman Brian Hoyer was holding onto the starting gig like grim death.

As good as Manziel was from Friday through Sunday — and he was — the previously-mentioned Pryor was even better.

The career quarterback being converted into a wide receiver for the first time, like Manziel, stumbled a bit on Thursday, most notably mishandling one catchable pass. Outside of that misstep, however, Pryor has very much so looked like a legitimate NFL wide receiver. He dazzled onlookers by gobbling up passes with a single hand. Pryor’s remarkable athletic gifts that include blinding speed are still there as anyone should expect. The former Ohio State quarterback even worked with the first-team offense of the Browns for a bit on Sunday; at the WR position, of course.

As encouraging as it has been to see the chemistry had by McCown and Manziel, Pryor has proven his dedication to the cause by putting in some extra work with the likes of cornerback Joe Haden in-between snaps. Haden, an All-Pro and the ultimate team-player who has taken youngsters Manziel and fellow defensive back Justin Gilbert under his wing, has the experience and the talent to offer lessons that the 26-year old cannot get inside of a classroom or while reviewing a play via his iPad.

Pryor is, at 6-4/6-5 per his latest measurement, the biggest would-be receiver working with the Browns in training camp. He is likely the best athlete that the team has at the position, he has good hands from taking snap after snap after snap under center for years, and he has out-performed others, rookie Vince Mayle for one example, who are attempting to obtain a roster spot. The Browns giving Pryor a place on the depth chart is an inevitability in the eyes of (biased) members of the Cleveland media.

Pump the breaks, everybody.

Pryor has a long ways to go before anybody should envision seeing him wearing brown and orange on a Sunday in September. He has not yet run a route against an opposing defensive back while at the same time having to position his body to be able to reel in a football. He hasn’t taken a crushing hit while in stride down the field, a sensation that is different than being sacked by an oncoming pass-rusher in the backfield. Pryor, like Manziel, has upside and is also a project.

You have to admit, though, that watching Manziel connect with Pryor for a touchdown pass in camp provided daydreaming hopeful fans glimpses of what could be for the Browns down the road.

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