Is the NFL ready for Manziel?



Name: Johnny Manziel

School: Texas A&M

Position: QB

Height: 6-foot-1

Weight: 210

Projected draft position: First round

NFL comparison: Alex Smith

Stats: 69.9-percent completion rate, 4,114 passing yards, 37 passing touchdowns, 13 interceptions, 759 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns.

Why you want your team to draft him: Manziel is one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play college football.

Manziel took the nation by storm in 2012 and became the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy. In doing so, he put together one of the finest seasons in college football history. Manziel threw for 3,706 yards and ran for 1,410 more. He combined for 47 total touchdowns. He was an even better passer as a redshirt sophomore.

It’s more than production and acclaim for Manziel, though.

It starts with an innate ability to avoid pressure and make plays. Manziel continually created positive plays when everything was breaking down, sometimes in a miraculous fashion. Part of the reason he can do that is good overall athleticism.

Manziel is nightmare for opposing defenses when he decides to tuck the football and run. He regularly makes defenders miss in space. He led Texas A&M in rushing in 2012 by more than 600 yards. He also finished as the Aggies’ top rusher in 2013.

As a passer, Manziel clearly improved between his freshman and sophomore campaigns. He took to the tutelage of quarterback guru George Whitfield. His technique still breaks down at times, but Manziel did display improved footwork, which increased the velocity on his passes. When Manziel is able to check to his second or third option, he made some of his best throws.

Manziel’s arm strength is merely average, but he was able to regularly fit the ball into tight windows, particularly outside the numbers.

MORE: Reports: Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel to enter NFL draft

Why you want your team to avoid him: The bigger concern with Manziel is how his talent translates to the NFL level.

It starts with his ability as a passer. Despite improvement this past year, he wasn’t asked to consistently check to his second or third option. When he did, he made some great throws. But more often than not, he would simply run with the football if his top option wasn’t available. Manziel has been a one-read quarterback.

Furthermore, how does his athleticism translate to the next level? Manziel is not the same caliber athlete as Michael Vick, Cam Newton or Colin Kaepernick. NFL defenders close more quickly, thus negating a little bit of what Manziel can do in space.

The final two regular season games of Manziel’s college career were perfect examples of how NFL defenses will attempt to exploit his weaknesses. Both the LSU Tigers and the Missouri Tigers slow-played their pass rush, while jamming Manziel’s first read at the line of scrimmage. Manziel struggled against these teams because his initial read wasn’t available and he couldn’t find running lanes. Manziel was 40-of-76 passing for 419 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions in that two-game span.

It must be noted that Manziel was also dealing with a thumb injury at the time.

Manziel’s mental discipline also has to be called into question. The Aggies’ offense is a derivative of the “Air Raid” passing attack. The bulk of said offense is based on predetermined throws or making adjustments on the passing routes based on what the defense is showing after the snap. Manziel also was never under center.

Whatever team eventually selects Manziel will have to implement aspects of this offense, at least early in his career, for the quarterback to succeed. It will be difficult for Manziel coming into the NFL to make proper pre-snap reads, drop back from center while reading a defense and check past his first option. Manziel will have to learn how to read NFL defenses differently than he did at Texas A&M.

There is also the lingering question about Manziel’s true size. He’s listed at 6-1. The measurement is regularly questioned. Manziel also doesn’t have a thick frame. He does have big hands to grip the football with ease, but can his body hold up to the rigors of the NFL?

Finally, Manziel will have to win over an NFL locker room. He’ll likely be placed in a leadership role from the onset of his career due to his projected draft slotting and the position he plays. Many have questioned Manziel’s maturity over the past year. He’ll have to prove he’s more than college football superstar by coming in and out-working his teammates to earn their respect.

Overall: There is no one like Manziel in the NFL. It’s hard to assess what he did at Texas A&M and compare him to any other quarterback playing in the league. That’s what makes him such an interesting yet infuriating evaluation.

Manziel is a polarizing figure both inside and outside the NFL. He will certainly infuse interest and entertainment value into whatever franchise eventually selects him. But is his talent worth the extra attention? It wasn’t for Tim Tebow. Manziel is a much better quarterback prospect, though.

Whatever franchise eventually selects Manziel must have a plan in place for him to succeed. They’ll need to work around his weaknesses as a quarterback and play to his strengths. If a franchise builds around him properly, Manziel can develop into a superstar at the NFL level. There is plenty of room for error and an NFL team can only do so much.

MORE: Q mock draft: Which team wants to build around Manziel?

It will be up to Manziel to mature into an NFL quarterback. He will need to put in long hours. He will need to prove himself to those in the locker room and his contemporaries.

Manziel is most often compared to Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson. One of the primary reasons for Wilson’s immediate success is he almost instantly earned respect in the locker room. He became the team’s hardest worker the day he stepped foot in the Seahawks’ building. That is what separated Wilson. And that is the path Manziel must follow.

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