Johnny Manziel Should Replace Brian Hoyer as Cleveland Browns Starter

Brian Hoyer has been the starting quarterback of a surprising 7-4 Cleveland Browns club that is thirsting for a playoff berth. Beating out Johnny Manziel, the 22nd overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft, for the job in the preseason, Cleveland's coaching staff trusted and believed in Hoyer as its starting quarterback—at least for this season.

However, it's time for that same coaching staff to make an educated decision and name Manziel the starting quarterback heading into Week 13. Especially with wideout Josh Gordon back on the field, Manziel would be an upgrade in what could be a dynamic offense due to both his passing and rushing abilities.

"It's great to win, but I'm really disappointed in myself," Hoyer said after squeaking out a victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, via Mary Kay Cabot of the Northeast Ohio Media Group. "I feel like I let the team down even though we won. ... Obviously, it's great to get a win and be 7-4, but I have to do a better job."

The former backup to Tom Brady went 23-of-40 for 322 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions. Two of those interceptions came in the crucial final five minutes of the game. He attempted to force the ball to Gordon in double and even triple coverage, and he put his team in danger of losing in the process.

Though he did lead the team on a game-winning drive with less than a minute to go, it seems as though the Browns won in spite of his play, not as a result of it.

A largely one-dimensional pocket passer, Hoyer has completed just 55 percent of his passes this season for 2,864 yards, 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He has also rushed 22 times for four yards and been sacked 16 times. Sporting a passer rating of 82.3, he can be considered an average quarterback when using that number as a standard.

Meanwhile, Manziel, quite possibly the most dynamic player on the entire Browns roster, has been anxiously standing on the sidelines, ready to make a difference.

In this offense, Hoyer can be functional, but Manziel can be special.

Often compared to Russell Wilson in terms of size and playmaking ability, Manziel's ability to extend plays and throw accurate deep passes will create big-play opportunities every time he's on the field. With the All-Pro abilities of Gordon, shifty speedsters Andrew Hawkins and Taylor Gabriel and veteran Miles Austin, this is an offense that should be putting up more points through the air.

But it isn't. Over his past three starts, Hoyer has thrown one touchdown and has been picked off four times.

As seen in Seattle with Wilson and in San Francisco with Colin Kaepernick, having a quarterback who can not only extend plays but deliver accurate passes is key. That ability sets up a solid running game and adds another layer of confusion to opposing defenses. With Hoyer at the helm, opposing defenses have to prepare for two plays: a simple run or a drop-back pass.

With Manziel in the game, the option, different formations and a plethora of new offensive opportunities and creativity can be explored.

Running back duo Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West would likely benefit greatly from Manziel taking over as well, as more focus would be paid to the quarterback's dual-threat ability than a simple run-stopping scheme. Marshawn Lynch has made a living off Wilson's play while Frank Gore has performed similarly in San Francisco as a complement to Kaepernick.

You can even argue that the combination of two young backs like Crowell and West, who have demonstrated an ability to rush the football already this season, has the potential to be even more effective.

While pocket passers Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning and Brady can get away with being pure passers, they possess intangibles and abilities that Hoyer simply doesn't have.

In the preseason, Manziel threw for 296 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions and also rushed for 88 yards on 12 carries with a rushing score. Hoyer originally won the job by throwing for 261 yards with one touchdown and an interception while not rushing a single time. By looking at the numbers, you can conclude that Manziel outperformed Hoyer and should have earned the job prior to the start of the season.

At 7-4, the Browns have a real shot at making the playoffs for the first time since 2002 and winning their first playoff game since 1994. Having already won more games than they did in any of the past six seasons, this is an opportunity to reward a fanbase that has remained loyal in the toughest of times.

Cleveland used a first-round pick on Manziel. It's time to put him to use—not next week, not next season, but right now.