What to Expect from Brian Hoyer, Cleveland Browns Against Ravens in Week 3

The legend of Cleveland Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer continues to grow.

The story of the hometown kid (Hoyer is a former Saint Ignatius star) starting for his childhood team should be one of the best feel-good tales of the 2014 NFL season.

Unfortunately, for the most part, that story has been lost amid the early-season controversies plaguing the league this year.

The fact that his understudy is rookie media sensation Johnny Manziel only detracts from Hoyer's position among fans and in the media.

Manziel is a former Heisman Trophy winner and the Browns' most recent first-round draft selection. He is also viewed as the latest under-center hope for a Browns team that has lacked consistency at the quarterback position, where there has been 20 different starters since the franchise was reborn in 1999.

Manziel also has the resume of a future superstar (7,820 yards passing, 2,169 yards rushing in two collegiate years) and Browns fans are hungry for a winner.

Hoyer, though, has managed to hold off Manziel and proven himself to be the winner Browns fans have wanted. As a starter, he is 4-1 with the Browns. This makes Hoyer the winningest Browns quarterback of the expansion era (Derek Anderson comes in second with a 16-18 record). 

What is truly impressive is the way that Hoyer has managed to deliver wins. 

He is certainly not the most gifted or efficient quarterback in the league. He is currently ranked 26th overall at his position by Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

Yet, Hoyer has won 80 percent of his games with Cleveland. He has produced two fourth-quarter comebacks (against the Minnesota Vikings in 2013 and against the New Orleans Saints this season) and found a way to excel in tough situations.

The Baltimore Ravens should provide a tough test, but Hoyer has already flashed the ability to overcome challenges.

In his only loss, Hoyer helped the Browns erase a 24-point halftime deficit against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He helped deliver 24 second-half points and put the Browns in position for victory before Pittsburgh hit a game-winning field goal before time expired.

Against New Orleans, Hoyer directed a 13-play, 85-yard drive that started with less than three minutes remaining and culminated in a game-winning field goal.

It is clear Hoyer is a player who will not shrink under pressure. He is also a quarterback who won't frequently make mistakes; Hoyer's last interception came against the Vikings in Week 3 of 2013.

Hoyer's ability to take care of the football should come in very handy against a Baltimore Ravens team that has already forced three turnovers this season, while his ability to manipulate a defense should provide even more value.

According to Pro Football Focus, Hoyer is the league's fifth-best quarterback when executing play-action passes. Averaging 156.5 yards per game, Cleveland currently boasts the league's sixth-best rushing offense.

This creates a potent formula that has the potential to keep the Baltimore defense on its heels throughout the contest. 

If the Ravens decide to focus their attention on rookie running back Terrance West (fifth in the NFL with 168 yards and a touchdown), Hoyer and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan have the ability to make them pay.

Followers of the game should now know (he is in his 11th year and with his fourth NFL team) that Shanahan runs a run-oriented system built on a zone-blocking scheme. His system is also designed to deliver big plays off play action.

Washington quarterback Robert Griffin III thrived in his rookie season (3,200 yards passing, 102.4 passer rating) under Shanahan, largely because of his mobility in the pocket and his ability to make plays off play action out of the pocket.

While Hoyer should never be confused with one-time first-round pick Griffin, the Michigan State product has shown enough athleticism and mobility to run Shanahan's offense to perfection. 

This is why the Browns' offense—which looked abysmal during the preseason—is currently ranked sixth in the NFL in scoring (26.5 points per game). 

Expect an extremely heavy dose of the ground game (Cleveland has ran 61 times and passed just 41 times this season) against Baltimore. Also expect the Browns to use their rushing attack to set up the passing game via play action.

This should set Hoyer up for a successful outing.

After watching tape, I feel comfortable saying that many of Hoyer's best throws this season have come off play action and while moving out of the pocket (on designed plays such as pistol roll-outs and bootlegs). I also believe that Hoyer's ability to deliver an accurate ball on the run can be a big weapon against an aggressive Ravens defense.

Hoyer has the physical ability to put himself in position to make plays. Shanahan seems to have a knack for putting his quarterback in that position.

Again, I will point out that the Browns have averaged 26.5 points per game against the Steelers and Saints. These are teams that ranked 14th and fourth in scoring defense last season respectively. It's also worth noting that Cleveland has been without star receiver Josh Gordon (suspension) and faced the Saints without starting tailback Ben Tate and Pro Bowl tight end Jordan Cameron.

This is an offense that was supposed to struggle without Gordon. Instead, it has flourished.

Credit for that should go to Shanahan, who obviously knows how to maximize the talent on his roster. Head coach Mike Pettine also deserves credit for having faith in that roster.

However, most of the credit has to go to the hometown kid who is currently living out that Browns fanboy fantasy.

He hasn't exactly been the epitome of consistency (59.5 career completion percentage), but he has delivered when it counts. He throws a soft, catch-able ball with great accuracy, which has allowed him to shine in Cleveland. 

Hoyer has been dynamic, dependable and passionate since joining the Browns. Most importantly, he has provided results. Yet, he has a long way to go before anyone outside of Cleveland will want to sing Hoyer's praises.

Giving the Browns a winning record would be a fantastic start. Doing it against the franchise that used to be in Cleveland would make it even better, especially for a Cleveland native like Hoyer.

If the Browns can establish a running game, there is a good chance the team will have the advantage. It won't be easy, however.

The Ravens currently rank eighth in the NFL against the run (89 yards per game allowed), so it would seem that leaning on the ground game won't be enough for the Browns. Hoyer will probably have to step up and deliver at least a few big passing plays in order to secure victory.

The hometown kid will likely have to provide another impressive performance for the Browns to move to 2-1 before their Week 4 bye.

If he pulls it off, Hoyer will establish Cleveland as a team worthy of respect in 2014. He will also add a new chapter to his Browns legend.