STORY LINES TAKING SHAPE
Preseason’s first full slate of games provides lessons
A few things we learned (and a few we didn’t) from Week 1 of the NFL preseason:
Johnny Football (and a little baseball): It didn’t take Johnny Manziel long to begin adjusting to the NFL. After unwisely lunging headfirst on the first two runs of his pro debut Saturday, the Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback used a nice baseball slide to cap a 16-yard scramble and also began looking for the sideline on other forays from the pocket against the Detroit Lions.
As expected, Manziel didn’t show a great deal of polish on pass plays — in fairness, he didn’t enjoy much time behind backup blockers, either — and mostly stuck to quick throws on short drops with a willingness to take off when his initial read didn’t pan out (no surprise there).
“It was good for me to just get out there and go through game speed,” said Manziel, who hopefully began understanding firsthand that much of the improv that worked so well for him at Texas A&M won’t usually fly at this level. “It’s a different look than in practice.
“For me, it’s all about getting better.”
Manziel’s athleticism distinguishes him from starting QB Brian Hoyer, who had an uneven showing himself in his return from knee surgery, though he clearly was more advanced in going through his progressions and more decisive with the ball.
But coach Mike Pettine’s choice under center is hardly clear-cut, and Manziel appears to be narrowing the gap.
Manziel deserves the chance to start developing while playing with a full deck and ought to start the next game against the Washington Redskins on Aug. 18 to see how he performs against a firststring defense.
New quarterback compe
titions? Manziel vs. Hoyer has clearly been the most scrutinized quarterback battle of training camp. But it’s suddenly worth wondering if more starters might be vulnerable.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars have anointed veterans Josh McCown and Chad Henne, respectively, as their opening-day guys. Yet both were clearly outplayed by their backups when the teams met Friday. In eight combined series, the only score McCown and Henne put on the board was one Jacksonville touchdown — courtesy of an ugly interception from McCown.
It makes all the sense in the world to let youngsters Mike Glennon (Bucs) and Blake Bortles (Jags) apprentice alongside their elders, even if neither McCown nor Henne has distinguished himself. But the early sample size suggests both Glennon and Bortles might make bids to start sooner than later.
Bortles in particular showed nice poise, command, mobility and mechanics in his first NFL showing and would have been even better had his receivers held on to the ball — not that Bortles was letting such problems faze him.
Elsewhere, Ryan Fitzpatrick was intercepted twice and didn’t lead a scoring drive for the punchless Houston Texans, though he was playing without WR Andre Johnson and RB Arian
Foster. Ex-Texan Matt Schaub didn’t look a whole lot better in his new Oakland Raiders threads, either. But neither vet is warding off a strong challenge from below. Not yet, anyway — though Schaub had better remain mindful of rookie Derek Carr.
The New York Jets’ Geno Smith did nothing to crack the door for Michael Vick (who showed off some signature sizzle plays anyway), and the Minnesota Vikings’ Matt Cassel still seems securely ahead of rookie Teddy Bridgewater.
Plan B QBs: It’s not just firststring quarterbacks who are trying to cement their roles; several others might be fighting to hold on to the clipboard. The New England Patriots’ Ryan Mallett and San Francisco 49ers’ Blaine Gabbert, who was horrific in relief of Colin Kaepernick, might have opened themselves up to depth-chart challenges.
Sam challenge: “I can play in this league,” said Michael Sam, the St. Louis Rams rookie defensive end, after becoming the first openly gay player to participate in an NFL game Friday.
Now that he has broken that barrier, it’s about overcoming his own.
Sam’s hustle was evident against the New Orleans Saints. He showed a nice spin move while registering a quarterback pressure, and he tracked down RB Khiry Robinson from behind for no gain on a run play.
A motor that never goes dead and a willingness to do dirty work on the left side of the D-line can be valuable traits at the pro level. And the Rams will certainly need a large supply of high-quality depth to compete in the brutal NFC West.
But Sam’s next hurdle will be flashing the ability to make plays against starting-level competition and showing the physical limitations that can easily erase him from relevance on a given play can be consistently overcome.
Going backward: What about that other freshman pass rusher, Houston’s Jadeveon Clowney? The top pick of the 2014 draft made one eye-popping hit after his rookie shrink wrap came off, cutting down Arizona Cardinals RB Stepfan Taylor for
a 5-yard loss.
But that might have been the only thing he (or the hapless Texans) did well Saturday. Clowney, who’s adjusting to new responsibilities as a linebacker, specifically got lost while going in reverse during coverage, allowed his upfield rush to leave a hole on one running play and had little effect on Cardinals QB Carson Palmer, who posted a perfect 158.3 passer rating in one breezy series.
It should only get better for Clowney as he learns to take advantage of the double teams commanded by DE J.J. Watt. And let’s not forget, either, that the rookie had hernia surgery just two months ago.
Charmed again city? After a sorry title defense in 2013 and, worse, an embarrassing offseason on the police blotter, the Baltimore Ravens provided good vibes for their fans Thursday.
RB Ray Rice looked lighter — perhaps figuratively, too, now that he’s picking up the pieces of a tattered reputation — while rushing for 17 yards on three carries.
QB Joe Flacco engineered a TD drive on his only series operating the team’s new offense.
Neither player performed well last year, but both seem to be building momentum for a team that needs some, especially as it continues to prepare for two opening games without suspended Rice.
Injury mysteries: Many preseason questions remain, especially when it comes to injured stars. Among the high-profile players coming back from surgery who have yet to play are Foster, Cincinnati Bengals DT Geno Atkins, Rams QB Sam Bradford and LT Jake Long, Texans ILB Brian Cushing, San Diego Chargers OLB Dwight Freeney, Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski, Atlanta Falcons WR Julio Jones, Cardinals S Tyrann Mathieu, Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton, Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo, Vikings RB Adrian Peterson (though he hasn’t played in the preseason since 2011) and Indianapolis Colts WR Reggie Wayne.
Expect some to start breaking back into their lineups this week.
Stat of the week: Philadelphia Eagles QB Nick Foles threw two interceptions all of last season (350 attempts, including the playoffs). But he was picked off twice in three series (nine pass attempts) against the Bears on Friday, one on an ill-advised throw over the middle under pressure.
Preseason cobwebs or early concern in a world without DeSean Jackson? Stay tuned.