Manziel will try and give the stiff arm to The World on Saturday. (Credits: John David Mercer/US Presswire) |
Only a select few people will be rooting for Manziel on Saturday, those that are A&M fans and those that are Manziel fans. The latter are those that see the 20-year-old for what he is. A slightly immature, 20-year-old who is trying to enjoy himself like any other 20-year-old, but because of a pretty important trophy he's now demanded to play the game like Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. News flash, Manziel isn't Brady nor is he Manning. He plays the game with a swagger. He plays the game with a smile. He plays the game to punch you in the mouth. He plays the game to leave you in his dust trail. And now, thanks to ESPN and every other analyst out there he plays the game angry. Angry at his opponent. Angry at Mark May and Lou Holtzsh (get it). Angry at 50-year-old Joe Six-Pack who doesn't like his antics. Angry at those fraternity bros who tossed him out of that party. Angry at the absolute world. He won't just be playing to obliterate the vaunted Alabama defense, he'll play to prove to his haters that last year wasn't a fluke, that Johnny Manziel is the real deal once again. Get used to it folks, Manziel's here to stay.
While a lot was made of Manziel's taunting penalties and his "bump" (certainly not a bump, coach initiated the contact) of head coach Kevin Sumlin, but little was made of his 190.9 QB rating, six TDs and 497 passing yards in barely three halves of football that he's compiled. There were no ill effects from the off-season criticism and there shouldn't be any ill effects from the critical comments from two weeks ago. Manziel will be just fine.
Fortunately for Johnny Football, he'll be stepping into his own confines on Saturday with the fans who adore him like none other. He doesn't have to worry about the boo-birds or piercing chants that the Tuscaloosa faithful might have showered him with. So when he takes the field we know he'll be playing with a chip on his shoulders, but at least he'll be getting showered with cheers and not jeers when he scores TD after TD. Not like it matters though, Manziel will be focused on dismantling the Alabama defense just like he did last year.
If it comes down to a matchup of Manziel vs. senior All-American linebacker C.J. Mosley, I say advantage Manziel. There's a reason why Saban scheduled Texas A&M in only the third week of the season; he has legitimate concerns. On the outside Saban's showing a cool exterior, but he knows if the Tide let Manziel run wild they might not have an opportunity to make it three-in-a-row. If they do lose, at least it will have come in Week 3 and not Week 7 or Week 9. Precautionary measures. I like the idea of a highly motivated Manziel against a revenge-fueled 'Bama defense. The intrigue is enormous.
A win for Manziel would be duct tape to his haters' mouths. A loss, on the other hand? Let's just say Johnny Foosball isn't thinking about that. 3:30, College Station. Game on.
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