2014 NFL Draft Profile: Johnny Manziel, QB Texas A&M
By Adam Carlson
Dec 31, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) reacts to a fourth-quarter interception against the Duke Blue Devils in the 2013 Chick-fil-A Bowl at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports
Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel is without a doubt the most polarizing and talked about player in this year’s NFL Draft. There is little doubting his electric play on the field during his college career, but many folks question his transition to the NFL. There are also folks who love his attitude while others find him to be arrogant.
“Johnny Football” entered his NCAA career with a very awkward start. He came in as a backup quarterback facing a suspension for a brawl, but ended up winning the starting job and avoiding the suspension. After that, he went on to make NCAA history. He performed well enough to win the Heisman Trophy voting as a freshman, the first player ever to accomplish that feat. He followed that up with another solid year where he ended up fifth in the Heisman voting.
Here are his statistics over two years at Texas A&M:
Dec 31, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) reacts to the sideline against the Duke Blue Devils during the second quarter in the 2013 Chick-fil-a Bowl at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
26 games played
595 pass completions
863 pass attempts
68.9% completion percentage
7820 passing yards
63 passing touchdowns
22 interceptions
345 rushing attempts
2169 rush yards
30 rushing touchdowns
To accumulate those kind of numbers over two seasons is astounding. He has shown himself to be a winner in come from behind situations and big games. Even then, his personality and skill set are question marks going into the NFL.
Strengths
- Accurate on the run
- Large hands
- Competitive nature
- Excellent awareness
- Quick on his feet
Weaknesses
- Physical Size
- Maturity
- Consistency in pass accuracy
Fit For The Vikings
Minnesota will be desperate to find a young quarterback to be the face of the franchise. Christian Ponder is the only quarterback on the roster and the team has already stated that they’re looking for a young quarterback this offseason.
My Take
If the Vikings are looking for a player to take over in Minnesota, they could do a lot worse than Manziel. His scrambling with his small size scares me a bit, but his maturity scares me even more. Despite all that, he is an electric playmaker that could help a team looking for a true dual threat quarterback. While I personally prefer a pocket passer, you wouldn’t hear me complaining too much if Manziel was the pick at #8.