If anybody doesn't know what I think of Brian Hoyer, just check back to any of about two thirds of my earlier blogs. Long before he had earned the starting gig, I was the voice in the wilderness telling the lynch-mob that he could be a whole lot more than a "bridge" guy to the great and awesome Johnny Manziel.
This had nothing to do with where he came from, or the fact that I root for underdogs. It had to do with his destruction of the Bengals and his unassisted comeback in his first Browns' start vs. the Vikings.
Now, just as earlier I pointed out how ignorant and lazy it is for alleged analysts to blame dropped passes and blown timing routes on him (or any quarterback), I have to point out that you can't ignore blown interceptions either.
I haven't been able to watch all the games, but of those I have, I've seen him throw at least six shoulda-been interceptions.
The most common of these are deep, vertical passes between the hash marks to Hawkins and the other microbes.
They've always had a step-for-step escort of two bigger, taller defensive backs who somehow managed not to reach up and pick the ball off.
I know this pattern, and it's design. Josh Gordon can outreach and outmuscle the defenders to grab that ball, or at least prevent a pick. It is utterly insane to try it with a microbe.
I KNOW that Kyle Shanahan and company have slapped him upside the head each time and said "What were you thinking?", and wonder why he keeps trying it.
Previously I asked the philosophical question: If a pass hits a recievers' hands and is not caught, was it a bad pass? Now I must ask: If a pass can be intercepted and is not, was it thrown?
It was thrown. Brian Hoyer has been the luckiest quarterback I have ever seen so far.
The good news is that these passes were indeed accurate, and the issue was one of judgement. It's likely that Hoyer was pressing; trying to make something happen. Tactically, he did need to threaten deep to free up the intermediate routes. I think his frustration got the best of him, and he just had to try it.
Brian Hoyer's judgement and intelligence are two of his best assets, so I know he can reign this in before it catches up with him. But if he doesn't, there will be a reckoning.
I'm glad to hear Manziel say the things he's said, including that riding the bench and watching is good for him.
I'm frustrated to hear some goobers say that Manziel still makes one read and runs, and can never succeed.
Some analysts will always see what they want and expect to see, no matter how long they have to wait for it. This includes waiting six or seven seconds for a guy to flee a collapsing pocket, calling a controlled roll-out a scamble, or waiting four or five pass plays for a scramble.
This knucklehead hasn't seen him running the scout team in practice against the number one defense, either, or paid attention to what members of the Browns secondary have said about him.
I believe that Hoyer will get it together and stop making dumb throws. BUT if he doesn't, well-prepared defenders will start picking him off, and it will be Johnny time.
I wonder if I'll be allowed to show up for Thanksgiving now. I'm all alone here. But you just can't let your heart have too strong a voice.
I'm glad Billy Winn is back. He's one of the two best defensive tackle/ends on this roster, and his position will be better this week than it was last week.
I'm also really glad that they got Jim Dray. He's not a Cameron, but he sure can help a quarterback move the chains in more ways than one. Barnidge, too. I wasn't all that surprised that they held him over from last season.
The loss of Alex Mack and disruption inside has caused some problems, but the main reason that the running game has faltered is how the defenses are playing. They're "downsizing" for more speed, playing closer to the line, and reading run first.
As Kyle Shanahan said this week, he'd been expecting that.
These are the times that will try Brian Hoyer's soul. Early in games, and before he has established that point deficit he likes so much, he'll have to complete some third and longs and yes, even occasionally pass on first down!
It's going to get tough now--even this week. The main reason that defenses can stack the box is that there's no Josh Gordon.
As it was, you saw how Cameron made them pay dearly. Defenses were so determined to stop the run (and play-action) that they were willing to risk Cameron hurting them that way to do it.
Now, Cameron is mia as well, and Hoyer and the backs will get the kitchen sink.
Until Cameron and Gordon are both back, this whole thing will be on Hoyer.
It's a lot to expect, even of some quarterbacks who are considered elite. It's a very high standard to meet.
My heart says our man can do it. My head isn't sure.
Sink or swim, Brian. Time to prove it. Go get 'em.
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