What to do about Johnny?

Manziel (2)

NOTE: On NNR Samantha Bunten of NBC Sports and I discussed the news of the day, injuries from the previous week, previewed all week 9 games and discussed the Browns/Bengals game.

Now that Johnny Manziel has played 2 games this season the question is what should we do about Johnny? Should the Browns go back and play veteran Josh McCown or let Manziel play the rest of the season?

To decide it is necessary to take a look at what has been learned about Manziel’s progress learning the NFL game.

What we saw in the Bengal game last night was a player that was more accurate throwing on the run. That was a good thing because he was harassed all evening because of a pathetic O line performance. He was also more able to keep his eyes down field under pressure. That allowed throws down field against the rush. That is a key ability.

He has adequate arm strength to be an NFL starter. And he is getting better at moving safeties away from his intended targets. While he does this on the move, he struggles to do it in the pocket.

All that is good. However, there … Read more at FryingPanSports

What I look for in a college QB.

What I look for in a college QB.

NOTE: Monday on NNR Samantha Bunten of NBC Sports and I looked at the teams that did not make the playoffs last year and what 5 things they had to do to get in this season.

1. Work ethic – It doesn’t matter how physically gifted a college QB might be. The NFL game for a QB is 70% mental and 30% athletic. There is no college QB that is mentally ready to play in the NFL. As good as Andrew Luck was at Stanford, he was not ready to read NFL defenses. It took a lot of film study to get him ready. When a QB has a reputation of being a party guy it is an indication that he does not take his game seriously enough.

2. Ability to convert film & playbook learning to the field – One of the reasons I was so high on Russell Wilson was his ability to step into Wisconsin and lead the team on the field. A QB has to totally internalize the playbook. He not only has to know what he is doing but what every other player on the field needs … Read more at FryingPanSports

What happened to the NFL ready rookie QB?

NOTE: Yesterday on NNR Samantha Bunten of NBC Sports and I looked at the teams that did not make the playoffs last year and what 5 things they had to do to get in this season.

There are a lot of teams looking for a franchise ready quarterback in the draft. But the league is not doing what they need to do to transform the college spread QB to an NFL drop back pocket guy.

Let me make 1 thing very clear. It is not the job of college coaches to get a QB ready to play at the next level. College coaches need to win games to stay employed. They have no incentive to get a QB ready for the NFL.

The spread offense defines the throw for most QB reads. Most college offenses use an either/or read on one defender. If the corner comes up to cover the short pattern, the throw goes to the long route. If he covers the deep route, the throw is to the short guy. If both are covered, most college QBs run.

In addition most pre-snap reads are done by the coaches then signaled in on picture boards. College QB prospects … Read more at FryingPanSports

Maybe the Browns should listen to the NNR Pod shows.

Maybe the Browns should listen to the NNR Pod shows.

NOTE: Today on NNR Samantha Bunten of NBC Sports and I projected a complete first round mock draft. It is up on fryingpansports.com/radio-show/. Friday we break down the Browns schedule.

In 2011 I recommended the Browns take Colin Kaepernick to solve their QB issue. He was available in the 2nd round. They didn’t listen and Colin took the 49ers to the Super Bowl and 3 NFC championship games.

In 2012 I was pounding the desk for the Browns to take Russell Wilson. He was available in the 3rd round. But they didn’t listen and all he did was set the record for the most wins by a rookie QB and win 1 Super Bowl and but for the worst play call in SB history almost win a 2nd straight.

In 2014 I was calling for the Browns to take Teddy Bridgewater. He was available at pick 22 but the Browns took Johnny Manziel. While he didn’t take a bad Vikings team to the Super Bowl (no one could have), he had a good season. Even late I recommended they take Zach Mettenberger. He had the … Read more at FryingPanSports

The NFL Channel is desperate for programming.

nfl

NOTE: No NNR show until Monday. Thanks

One trick that sports talk shows use to generate calls and controversy is making lists. Lists of teams, players or anything else cause calls and fills an otherwise slow period of late June and early July. Now the NFL Channel is doing the same thing.

The Top 100 player list is not only stupid, it is bad TV. I am convinced that it is impossible to rate players from different positions in an overall list. The NFL is a quarterback league. Any guard that is rated above a Super Bowl QB like Russell Wilson is unjust. If the NFL Channel needed to rank players, do it within each position. These overall ratings are nothing but a popularity/PR contest. No fan should pay attention to them.

It is June and the NFL is desperate for programming to broadcast. So watch it at your own risk. Those are hours of your life you will never get back. But don’t take it too seriously either.

That is what I think. Tell us what you think.

Bill Smith is a former coach of several semi-pro teams, has officiated both football and basketball, done color on radio for Read more at FryingPanSports

News, Notes & Rumors for week 9

nfl

NOTE:  Check out the live News, Notes and Rumors show on Monday and Friday at 6 PM Eastern on The Bill Smith Radio Show or the archive of the shows on https://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/.  On Monday Samantha Bunten of NBC Sports and I discuss the Browns game and the results of the weekend.  On Friday Tony Williams Giants beat writer for Metro New York joins Samantha and me to preview the upcoming games.

 

News:

By far the biggest news of the weekend was the Monday night injury to QB Aaron Rodgers.  The latest report indicates that he has a break in his collar bone.  Without Rodgers the Pack has little chance to make the playoffs.

 

Our thoughts go out to two NFL head coaches with health issues.  FPS staff wishes both John Fox and Gary Kubiak a fast complete recovery.  The job of an NFL coach is a 20 hour a day 52 week a year sentence.  Those that take the job understand the physical demands that come with it.  However, they do it for the love of the game.

 

Season ending injuries are way up this season.  If the trend continues this season will set an all … Read more at FryingPanSports