BEREA (92.3 The Fan) – The quarterback competition is on.
For the first time since training camp began on July 26, Johnny Manziel was under enter with the first team offense Monday.
And it likely won’t be the last time either.
Manziel took the first individual as well as team reps of the day in font of Brian Hoyer, who spent the day by working with the second team offense.
Head coach Mike Pettine tried to downplay the significance of the change, which isn’t guaranteed to last.
“It’s just part of our plan,” Pettine said following practice. “We said we were going to allow the quarterbacks to compete, at some point you’ve got to mix up the supporting cast a little bit. It’s all part of it.”
While there’s been a tremendous amount of conversation about the first team reps, Pettine said not to read anything into the change Monday.
Pettine is still leaning towards starting Hoyer in the preseason opener against the Lions but hasn’t made a final decision.
“I can’t say it’s 100 percent at this point,” Pettine said. “But I would still say there’s a more than reasonable chance he’ll be the starter against Detroit. That had been the plan.”
The receivers aren’t paying much attention to who’s throwing the ball. They’re too busy trying to run the correct routes and worrying about catching it.
“They’re both making plays. We don’t take notice,” receiver Nate Burleson said. “It’s not, ‘Hold on, wait, Johnny’s in here.’ It’s just listen to the play, go out and be where we’re supposed to be and make the play when the ball is coming to us.”
On his first play in 11 on 11, Manziel threw deep and connected with receiver Travis Benjamin, who was defended by Joe Haden. Benjamin did a nice job coming back and adjusting to Manziel’s under-throw to pick up 40 yards.
“I was wearing boxing gloves,” Haden said of his defense on the play. “Coach is making us wear boxing gloves because of the way they’re calling the game so tight now, they don’t want us to make sure we can’t grab or put our hands on receivers, so we’re wearing boxing gloves.”
Later Manziel tried to thread the needle to receiver Josh Gordon but was intercepted. Veteran safety Jim Leonhard, who was signed last week, tipped the ball in the air and fellow safety Donte Whitner picked it off.
During a 2-minute offensive drill, Manziel failed to move the offense and went 3 and out while Hoyer navigated the second unit to a 36-yard Billy Cundiff field goal.
Neither quarterback has distinguished himself eight practices into camp and the defense is partly to blame.
“I like both of them,” Haden said. “The defense isn’t really helping out too much. We’re trying to make it as tough as possible for them.”
Pettine isn’t disappointed that a clear-cut leader hasn’t emerged.
“No, because they’re both competing and they’re both doing what they’re supposed to be doing,” Pettine said. “It would be hard for there to be a clear-cut guy ahead anyway, when they’re both being efficient in their play when they’re in there.”
Unofficially Manziel completed 6 of 17 passes Monday while Hoyer was 11 of 22 during the team portion of practice.
Who will take the reps Tuesday morning remains to be seen.
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