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Steinberg’s MMQB: Still plenty of questions with Manziel

CFL

Will he or won’t he? That’s been the primary question surrounding 2012 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel for months and now we finally have our answer.

Manziel is officially a member of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and is saying all the right things in the early going. But while we have our first answer, the Manziel questions are just starting to roll in.

Fueled mainly by past history with big names coming north, I’ve been somewhat skeptical about Manziel’s long-rumoured jump to the CFL. Now that it’s actually happening and the speculation is behind us, the following questions can only answered by Manziel. In this case, actions truly will speak louder than words.

Is he truly a changed man?

Manziel’s past on and off the field has been the biggest flashpoint throughout the entire lead-up to his signing. Now it’s on him to prove he’s deserving of a second chance.

“I’ve learned a lot through the mistakes,” Manziel said over the weekend. “I feel I wouldn’t be where I am today on a personal level, on a football level, if I wouldn’t have gone through what I did go through.”

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Here’s the thing: Manziel is attempting to put some very serious things behind him for good. He has completed the terms of a plea agreement from a domestic violence charge in 2016. In that same year he was suspended four games for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. The gravity of these things can’t be ignored.

And yet, just like so many others who have made mistakes, Manziel deserves his second chance. He’s married now, has admitted to immaturity in the past, and has tackled mental health hurdles like depression and bipolar disorder head on. Manziel has put in the work and earned his second chance; now all that’s left is making the most of his new lease on life, on and off the field.

Can he accept a long-term backup role?

Sure, there’s a chance Manziel proves in short order he’s THE guy and is ready to tear the CFL apart. Far more likely, though, is Manziel encounters a pretty steep learning curve and needs to understudy for quite some time. He’s far from guaranteed a starting job at any point during his time in the league.

Let’s not forget how well Jeremiah Masoli played down the stretch after taking over from Zach Collaros last season. In going 6-4 as a starter, Masoli threw for 300-plus yards six times, including his last five consecutive games. In those 10 starts, Masoli threw 15 touchdowns against just four interceptions and looked to prove he was finally ready for CFL primetime.

Manziel could learn a lot from his new teammate. Masoli joined the league in 2012 as a hotshot out of Oregon and Ole Miss (with some off-field legal issues of his own), yet it took him four years to start making real inroads as a CFL starter. Beating a deserving Masoli out of the starting role at any point will be no easy task for Manziel.

Is he committed to Hamilton and the CFL?

This is the area many have been most skeptical about since Manziel’s link with Hamilton first became more than a pipe dream. For his part, Manziel said all the right things over the weekend after signing his two-year deal with Hamilton.

“This isn’t just a pit stop for me,” Manziel assured. “I’m not just coming here to get what I need and go back to the NFL. I’ve signed into this for the long haul, for two years, and I’m here to make the most of it.”

 

I’m in the group of skeptics that this will actually be the case, and I think for good reason. Manziel exhausted a lot of other options before signing with Hamilton on the eve of training camp, which suggests strongly the CFL was not his top priority. If he’s looking at the Ticats as a last resort, which some believe is the case, I’m quite confident this will not work out.

Can he perform on the field?

In the end, this is the most important question, and there are reasons to be optimistic. The hope would be we’re talking about a motivated Manziel looking to recharge his career. If that’s the case and football is the primary thing he’s focused on, then he’s got a chance to make this work.

After all, you don’t win a Heisman Trophy and go in the first round of the NFL Draft without having an immense amount of talent. If he commits to learning the CFL game, understands and accepts his role behind Masoli, and truly puts the work in, you don’t have to squint to see this working out.

On the flip side, Manziel was a disaster in his first professional go around with Cleveland. Furthermore, he hasn’t thrown a meaningful pass in more than two years and this league has a long history of chewing up and spitting out quarterbacks not familiar with the three-down game.

If Manziel is going to be a CFL success, he’ll have to be the exception to a number of long standing rules.

The Money List

Despite there being a ridiculous amount of notable movement around the league, I just couldn’t omit our Money List compilation for another week or else we’re never going to finish it! In saying that, there’s some great analysis on the site this week covering Adam Bighill’s return, Jovan Olafioye’s return to BC, and John White’s release in Edmonton.

We’ve had some close battles in our first few selections for the 2018 list and we’re continuing to fill out the defensive side of the ball this week.

Quarterback: Bo Levi Mitchell, Calgary Stampeders
Receiver: Greg Ellingson, Ottawa REDBLACKS
Defensive Tackle: Micah Johnson, Calgary Stampeders

Defensive End: Willie Jefferson, Saskatchewan Roughriders

Jefferson had some stiff competition as we’re talking about one of the golden ages of CFL rush ends. Teammate Charleston Hughes, Calgary’s Ja’Gared Davis, Toronto’s Victor Butler and Shawn Lemon, and BC’s Odell Willis all got heavy consideration here, too. We’re giving the nod to Jefferson, though, because I think he’s just getting started.

Jefferson brings a rare combination of beastly strength and freak athleticism to the position. His strength is on display frequently going head-to-head with top offensive lineman off the edge, and he has the ability to power through some of the league’s top blockers. Jefferson’s career-best eight sacks in 2017 speak partly to that.

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Zach Collaros and the Riders kicked off their training camp Sunday in Saskatchewan (Riderville.com)

It’s his athleticism that really sets him apart, though. At 6-foot-6 and 245 pounds, Jefferson combines speed and quickness with his power, which allows him to beat linemen without going right through them. And, perhaps most rare at his position, Jefferson is extremely proficient against the run, as his 45 defensive tackles will attest to; that led all defensive ends in 2017.

With the aforementioned Hughes joining Saskatchewan’s fold this season, I think Jefferson is in for a huge season. Having to account for both guys off the edge has the potential to give opposing offensive lines fits all season long.

Linebacker: Alex Singleton, Calgary Stampeders

It’s tough to give the nod at linebacker to anybody but Singleton after his outstanding 2017 season. While BC’s Solomon Elimimian continues to be the league’s tackle king, it’s Calgary’s Singleton that impacts the game from his position more than anyone else.

In just two seasons, Singleton has cemented himself as the CFL’s most well rounded linebacker because he can be used in so many different ways. Just like Elimimian, he’s a field general with ridiculous range, as his 123 defensive tackles last season will attest to. But it goes beyond that with Singleton.

Because he’s as speedy as they come at the position, the Stampeders are able to use Singleton in a variety of other ways. He’s a pass rush threat on every single down as a result and finished last season with four sacks. Singleton can also drop back into coverage and cover effectively and can pop a big play every once in a while, too.

There are other linebackers in this league who are effective in the coverage game, the same way there are other rangy mike linebackers able to rack up solid tackle totals. But to combine those abilities makes Singleton a game changing threat on every single down. Choosing him here is a no-brainer.

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