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Cleveland Browns Stock Watch: Johnny Manziel Keeps Rising

By Erik Lambert

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Aug 13, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) celebrates his touchdown run with Cleveland Browns guard Karim Barton (63) during the second quarter against the Washington Redskins in a preseason NFL football game at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Like any preseason game, there was good and bad to take away from it.  Some players did themselves a big favor and others lost out on a golden opportunity.  Based on this new stock report, which stocks rose or fell the most?

Stock Up:  Johnny Manziel, QB

Even though he had a fumble on the night, Johnny Manziel played with a good deal more calm and efficiency than what characterized his ugly rookie season.  He completed 7-of-11 passes for 42 yards and was the Browns’ leading rushing on the night with 14 yards including a dandy 12-yard touchdown to extend the lead in the 1st quarter.

There is a long way to go before he’s done enough to challenge Josh McCown for the starting job, but it’s good to know the word out of training camp that he’s improved wasn’t exaggeration.

Stock Down:  Isaiah Crowell, RB

The investments they’ve made at running back signal that Cleveland has every intention of a steady ground attack.  They had hoped Isaiah Crowell, who enjoyed a solid rookie season would be their primary starter.  Recently though there has been chatter that the young back isn’t doing enough to progress.

Coaches aren’t happy that he isn’t more intense about winning the starting job.  That lack of passion seemed to carry over into the opener where he was effectively shut down for just six yards on four carries.  Any more games like that and Crowell risks not getting any playing time at all, let alone starter touches.

Stock Up:  Darius Jennings, WR

This kid was the star of the evening for the Browns.  The rookie free agent made two catches on offense for 28 yards and was even better on special teams as a returner.  Chiefs among the highlights was his ankle-breaking 54-yard kick return to start the second half.  One lesson that every coach says in order to make a roster is show that you can do more than one thing well.

Jennings did that, and given the questionable depth at the receiver position in Cleveland, he may have positioned himself to claim a roster spot.

Stock Down:  Justin Gilbert, CB

The injury to Joe Haden really hurts the Browns secondary.  Magnifying it even further is the fact that former 1st round pick Justin Gilbert still hasn’t shown signs that he’s ready to fulfill his potential as that second shutdown corner they hoped they were getting last year.  The preseason opener showed little difference.  Receivers were still finding it too easy to make plays in his area of the field and too often he wasn’t even around the football.  For the evening he only made one tackle.

If he’s not careful the coaches may decide benching him is a better alternative than continuing to explore whether or not he can start.

Stock Up:  Christian Kirksey, ILB

On the flip side, another second-year player on defense looks like a keeper.  Inside linebacker Christian Kirksey was routinely finding his way to the football.  He made three solo tackles in the game and assisted on three others.  His biggest play came when he perfectly sniffed out a Redskins screen pass and delivered a hard hit to force a 3rd and 25 situation.

That mix of vision, field speed and physicality makes him an almost certain starter in the near future and could serve to help improve what was a porous run defense last year for the Browns.

Next: NFL Draft: 10 Biggest Quarterback Steals Of All-Time

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