Venerable safety Troy Polalmalu, the captain of the Steelers defense, told reporters they’re ready for Brian Hoyer’s backup to enter the game in a sub-package.
“The thing about it, New York tried to do that with Tim Tebow a little bit,” Polamalu said. “But Tebow’s a guy you have to just play and play and grind out the entire game. I don’t think Johnny is that type of guy. I think if Johnny came into the game, he would make some splashes, he doesn’t need to get into a rhythm.”
A month ago, when Manziel started No. 2 on the Browns’ depth chart — where he would finish the preseason, too — Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau already had the mindset of preparing for Manziel to start.
So don’t expect the wily old schemer to get caught off guard if the athletic whipper snapper would indeed come in for a few plays Sunday.
The Browns have been putting in wrinkles for Manziel with offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan but have been coy about if and how they would use him in conjunction with Hoyer.
Unlike Tebow, however, there’s much more of a real dual threat with the more improvisational Manziel.
That’s good and all, but the Browns went with Hoyer as the opening day starter because for now, he gives them the best chance to win in hostile Pittsburgh. That’s not a great chance, given how the Steelers have owned the rivalry. To have any chance, they need to work on getting Hoyer into a rhythm and not “looking over his shoulder” with a Manziel cameo breaking that up.
Even if the Steelers rattle and rock Hoyer in an apparent blowout, it’s hard to see the Browns letting Manziel take a second-half beating in his NFL debut.
We still believe we’ll first see Manziel as the Browns’ starter in Week 5.
