Since Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel announced his decision to enter the NFL draft in April, I’ve been analyzing his play like a high schooler analyzes their SAT words.
Manziel already has quite the resume, as he’s the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy, plus he rushed for more than 2,000 yards and threw for more another 7,800 during his collegiate playing career.
The ability and tangibles Johnny Football showed at Texas A&M, shows that he might actually make it big – or he could fall incredibly flat.
He’s shown… Fortitude.
At Texas A&M, Manziel showed poise and composure no matter the situation. Whether it was dodging five pursuing Alabama defenders to make a throw down field or keeping a play alive against Duke, Manziel always showed the ability to make the best of difficult situation.
He’s been…Haughty.
Sure, I feel that Manziel’s off-the-field issues could raise a red flag or two for some NFL teams, but it is his excessive confidence that could lead to potential shortcomings. From engaging in shenanigans at a Texas frat party and not showing up for Manning’s camp, his life off the football field makes you wonder how long he could last until his ego gets the best of him.
He can sometimes be…Ostentatious.
Simply put, he makes big plays look easier than they actually are. The past two seasons, Manziel has finished with a quarterback rating of 164.1 and scored 180 total points. He compiled all of those through fluid passing mechanics and Houdini-like skills, which made the college football game look like a video game.
No matter if you like Manziel’s “gregarious” or sometimes “wanton” behavior, there’s little doubt that he has the potential to be a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback.
I could honestly care less where Manziel goes in the NFL Draft, but I would be lying if I said I’m not excited to see how he adapts to the professional game.
One has to worry about a running quarterback in the pros, as the game is much faster from the collegiate level. Again, the now former collegiate quarterback has gotten better at not staring down his first option, but he’s not going to be the next Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers.
@Lukeorourke
lr514812@ohiou.edu
