Other teams have tried to use the run-around backup quarterback as a change of pace.
But Steelers safety Troy Polamalu thinks it might actually work with the Browns and Johnny Manziel, so that’s what he’s focusing on this week.
“The thing about it, New York tried to do that with Tim Tebow a little bit,” Polamalu said, via Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “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.”
Of course, the Steelers are going to be prepping for Brian Hoyer to start and play most of the game, but that’s not as daunting as whatever curveball might get thrown.
“Regardless who’s in there, you want to go out and beat them, you want to make sure you’re playing sound football,” defensive end Brett Keisel. “I know sometimes you see someone come in and you go ‘ahhhhh’ and freak out a little bit. We need to just maintain our job, maintain the things we’ve got to do during that play call and execute.”
Now they just have to come up with a way to stop it, better than they did against Tebow in the playoffs.