Norv Turner On Johnny Manziel Pro Day: “Amazingly Accurate”

Dec 31, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) runs the ball past Duke Blue Devils defense during the third quarter in the 2013 Chick-fil-A Bowl at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Liles-USA TODAY Sports

The sideshow atmosphere may have turned off Mike Zimmer, but Johnny Manziel’s pro day seems to have been a success from a pure football point of view.

Manziel’s main mission was not to entertain George and Barbara Bush, it was to impress the assembled NFL personnel. And he apparently succeeded.

Norv Turner certainly liked what he saw from Manziel.

“He was amazingly accurate,” Turner told John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. “He showed all the things he needed to show. People who’ve watched a lot of tape on him are pretty familiar with what he can do. It’s good to see a guy in person, though.”

Manziel completed 61 of 64 passes at a variety of distances, capping off the proceedings with a deep bomb.

Working out with a helmet and shoulder pads, Manziel started each routine from behind center, either dropping straight back or rolling out, sometimes harassed by coach George Whitfield and his broom.

Some questions were raised about Manziel’s footwork on the NFL Network broadcast, but there can be little double about his pure arm strength. Manziel also showed good touch and a nice ability to vary ball angles, from ropes to high arcing rainbows.

Argue about the value of this all you want, but people like Norv Turner, who watch QBs for a living, believe that these work outs do help their evaluation process.

“I think coaches and scouts want to see a quarterback physically throw the ball,” Turner said via the Cleveland Plain-Dealer. “You get to watch game tape and see how he plays. This guy is an amazing player, and then you see his physical skills. It just helps to see a guy in person.”

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