-
LISTEN LIVE
Click Here to Listen Live!
Archived Rants
- May 2020
- April 2020
- August 2018
- November 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- April 2017
- January 2017
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- March 2013
- November 2012
- October 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- February 2012
- July 2007
- August 2000
Categories
Tags
- Anderson Varejao
- Andrew Wiggins
- Anthony Bennett
- Brian Hoyer
- Browns
- Buckeyes
- Cavs
- Chicago Bulls
- Cleveland Browns
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Cleveland Indians
- Dan Gilbert
- David Blatt
- David Griffin
- dion waiters
- Golden State Warriors
- J.R. Smith
- J.T. Barrett
- Jabari Parker
- Jimmy Haslam
- Joel Embiid
- Johnny Manziel
- Josh Gordon
- Justin Gilbert
- Kenny Roda
- Kevin Love
- Kyrie Irving
- Lebron James
- Miami Heat
- Mike Brown
- Mike Pettine
- NBA
- NBA Draft
- NBA Finals
- NBA Playoffs
- NFL Draft
- Ohio State
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- OSU
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Ray Farmer
- Sam Amico
- Tribe
- Tristan Thompson
- Urban Meyer
Tag Archives: Johnny Football
CLEVELAND BROWNS 2014 NFL DRAFT PICKS – 6 PLAYERS
1st – 8th – Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State
Gilbert fills a need at cornerback opposite Joe Haden. He gives the Browns potentially the best cornerback tandem in the AFC North. A cover corner with long arms, a good vertical jump who always seems to be in good position and around the ball. Not a good tackler and needs some work on his technique and getting closer to receivers at the line of scrimmage for a better jam. BONUS- A great return man who can take it the distance as he did 6 times in college. – Should be a starter from day one.
1st – 22nd – Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M
Like “Johnny Football”, the Browns maneuvered their way around the first round to come back and get who they hope will be their franchise quarterback of the future. A mobile, accurate QB with big hands, who was highly successful against the toughest competition on a week-in, week-out basis in the country. Has great leadership and plays with a lot of heart, desire, passion and was a playmaker in college. The big question is will his short stature allow him to make those same plays at the NFL level and can his smaller frame withstand the physical punishment of faster, quicker, stronger, more violent defenders in the NFL? It would be best for him to not be thrown to the wolves, especially considering the first game of the regular season is on the road at Pittsburgh. Sitting and learning for AT LEAST a half a season would be extremely beneficial to him. – But I could see if the Browns start the season 0-3 and head into their bye week winless, you might see him start the 4th game of the season at Tennessee.
2nd – 35th – Joel Bitonio, OG, Nevada
Played left tackle in college but is probably better suited as an inside guy at guard, however his versatility is a major plus. When Mike Pettine was talking about getting tougher he had Bitonio in mind. Has a nasty steak in him which the Browns need. – Should be a starter from day one.
3rd – 71st – Christian Kirksey, OLB, Iowa
Not a very powerful linebacker but has good athleticism, is quick, agile and a motor that never stops. Also a good cover backer. Needs to separate from blockers better. – Should start on special teams, but is 2nd or 3rd on the depth chart at linebacker.
3rd – 94th – Terrance West, RB, Towson
A power back that will get you the tough yards in short yardage situations. Prefers to deliver the blow as opposed to taking it, but that was against smaller competition, we’ll see if he’s able to do the same in the NFL. Has a good stiff arm, catches the ball well and has good feet. Ball security must improve again against stronger competition and needs to work on his blocking. – Has a chance to be Ben Tate’s backup right away.
4th – 127th – Pierre Desir, CB, Lindenwood
Was the small college defensive player of the year at Lindenwood. 25 career interceptions. Has good size at 6’1, plus long arms at 33 inches and enjoys contact. But is raw and didn’t play against elite competition often and when he did in the East-West Shrine and Senior Bowl he was very inconsistent. – Should help on special teams and the Browns will try and develop him in to a starter down the road.
NFL DRAFT NEWS and NOTES – JOHNNY MANZIEL
After hearing from three very trusted NFL talent evaluators recently, I’ve come away with some info I didn’t have before, some info that changed my mind a little and some info that verified what I already knew about some players. So today I give you the Intel that was shared with me on JOHNNY MANZIEL.
One source told me last year he wasn’t buying into the hype on “Johnny Football” but now he is after seeing him do it for two straight seasons and studying him more. He loved how he led his teammates and how those teammates wanted to play for him. He was successful in the toughest conference in the country for two years. Because of all of that he is buying into “Manziel Mania”. However, there are some stipulations.
My source told me he thinks Manziel can definitely be a starting quarterback in the NFL but he’s not for all 32 teams. It has to be for the right team, with the right coaches, in the right division and either indoors, or in a warm weather climate. That’s a bunch of “if’s”, but, if the right situation presented itself, he thinks Manziel could succeed. A team would have to shape its offense around him the way that teams like Seattle and New Orleans have done with their QB’s.
Jacksonville could be one of those teams. Why? The Jags pick at #3. They need a QB. The weather is good and the division is not considered one of the most physical in the NFL. Another fit could be Tampa Bay at #7. Are they sold on Mike Glennon? The weather and division they play in are conducive for Manziel. The wild card could be St. Louis! Yes the Rams already have Sam Bradford, but might Jeff Fisher and his staff be willing to go in a different direction? Could the Rams, who pick 2nd and 13th in the first round, shock the football world and go with Manziel at #2 or #13 and then look to deal Bradford for more draft picks. Remember the Rams play at least 8 games each year in a dome. Just something to think about as we try and figure out what team would be the right fit for the only freshman to win the Heisman trophy.
Why won’t take teams take a chance on Manziel high? What are the major concerns? The biggest one is with Manziel’s durability. Yes he never missed a game due to injury at Texas AM, but he did get beat up from taking too many hits. Multiply the force of those collegiate hits time ten with NFL players and GM’s wonder if his body can withstand the punishment and can he change the way he plays the game to avoid those hits? His size is also a concern at less than 6 feet tall. How will that affect him as he learns to stay in the pocket to try and make plays? Will his size also affect his ability to make cleaner reads from the pocket, so he can make plays from inside the pocket? His arm strength is good, but it’s not a howitzer and could be affected by windy, rainy, snowy and cold weather.
The one talent evaluator that I talked with feels that Manziel and the Browns are not a good fit because of the physical defenses and confusing defenses he would face in the AFC North, along with the November and December weather conditions in Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Baltimore. Could he help the Browns get to 8-8 or maybe 9-7? Yes! But beyond that, probably not.
Again it goes back to finding the right fit for Manziel so he can succeed. But which team is that right fit for “Johnny Football” and is that team willing to go all in on a high risk, high reward player?
MY AFC NORTH 1ST ROUND ONLY 2014 MOCK DRAFT (Subject to Change)
1ST ROUND
4. CLEVELAND BROWNS Johnny Manziel QB Texas AM
15. PITTSBURGH STEELERS Darqueze Dennard CB Michigan State
17. BALTIMORE RAVENS Zack Martin OT Notre Dame
24. CINCINNATI BENGALS Kyle Fuller CB Virginia Tech
26. CLEVELAND BROWNS Marquise Lee WR USC
*Bonus Pick 2ND ROUND
35. CLEVELAND BROWNS Cyrus Kouandjio OT Bama (Gotta Protect Johnny Football)
THE PRO’S AND CON’S OF JOHNNY MANZIEL
PRO – He has that “IT” factor. He generates a buzz with everything he does on and off the field and that, to a point, will help you sell tickets and merchandise.
CON – Being such a free spirit off the field could get him in trouble and hurt his image and your team’s.
PRO – He’s a winner. He beat Alabama and took an average football school in Texas A&M and turned them into a contender in the vaunted SEC and became the first freshman ever to win the Heisman.
CON – While the Aggies contended, they didn’t win the SEC, let alone a national championship and he didn’t win the Heisman in his sophomore year.
PRO – His escapability allows him to turn bad plays into good plays and sometimes even great plays.
CON – His escapability creates extra opportunities for him to take unwanted hits from what will be bigger, faster and stronger NFL players.
PRO – Looks like he has the arm strength to make every throw that a QB needs to make in the NFL.
CON – His size could hurt him in trying to make those throws from inside the pocket especially with somewhat of a sidearm delivery.
PRO – He has very good leadership qualities.
CON – Tim Tebow had those same good leadership qualities and he’s working at ESPN already.
PRO – He throws well on the run and outside the pocket, he’s very accurate in those throws.
CON – He struggles the most from throwing inside the pocket where he will be asked to make most of his throws in the NFL.
PRO – Despite his size (5’11-207), he’s a very good athlete and makes that work for him on the field.
CON – His size and frame are average to below average in the NFL for a quarterback and teams are not sure his body could withstand the punishment it will take at the NFL level.
PRO – He has big hands which allows him to grip the ball well and helped him at the college level in making players miss on designed runs or broken plays.
CON – Because of those big hands he has the tendency to hold the ball out like a loaf of bread when runs and scrambles which could lead to fumbles at the NFL level.
PRO – He understands the game and is a pretty intelligent kid with a huge heart and a love for the game.
CON – Is he smart enough to know he’s going to have to change the way he plays if he wants to be successful at the NFL level and last longer than another running, scrambling type quarterback that is now a broadcaster after just 4 years in the NFL.