IZR Debate: Mariota or Manziel?

Reported by Josh Schlichter on November 14, 2012
In Inside Zone Read | 6 Comments

Marcus Mariota and Johnny Manziel might just be the best two quarterbacks in the nation. They don’t fit the traditional mold of a west-coast passer, nor are they experienced veterans, but they are doing things freshmen never do. Mariota currently leads the nation in passing efficiency, while Manziel has racked up a ridiculous amount of yards and touchdowns against the (supposedly) best defenses in the country.

Right after Johnny Football torched the unbeatable ‘Bama defense, Marcus Mariota slings six touchdown passes, and effectively made Oregon appear even more unstoppable to every defensive coordinator out there.

The question is, who would you rather have on your team?

Both quarterbacks will fit in a traditional offense, and can make highly accurate throws while displaying elite pocket presence and athleticism. Both can command spread offenses, and make the right reads in both the running and passing game. Manziel is a bit more of an athletic body type, and can take hits if he needs to fight for more yardage, while Marcus is elusive and has elite speed to boot.

So who would you take: Mariota, or Manziel?

Categories: Inside Zone Read

Josh SchlichterJosh is a College Football enthusiast from sunny Southern California. He has written for several self-operated prep sports blogs, as well as multiple SB Nation sites. In High School, Josh played football for four years, and helped create and operate the team's no-huddle system. Most of Josh's football knowledge branches from watching College Football his entire life, and is backed up by his first hand experience in both option and spread offenses. Above all, though, he is a proud student at the University of Oregon. @joshschlichterView all posts by Josh Schlichter →

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Aggie

I’ve only watched two games of Manziel but he doesn’t seem as consistently accurate as Mariota. There for I would take mariota
- http://twitter.com/joshschlichter Josh Schlichter
  
  It’s been a while since I’ve seen a freshman that is as accurate as Mariota. I agree, Mariota is probably the better passer all around
http://www.facebook.com/TheBruceleeroy Jason Curtis

I may be biased, but I take Mariota for a couple of reasons.

1 – As stated by “aggie”, Mariota is the more accurate passer.

2 – Johnny football MUST do more. The fact is that Marcus is sitting back in an offense with 2 guys who have been in the middle of Heisman talks this year. When you look at passing stats Johnny has 500 more yards. But he has to pass more because he does not have Barner (1300 yards) and DAT (500 yards) standing behind him. Johnny runs 15+ times per game. Marcus only had to rush 10 times twice. A&M’s main running back has 1/2 the yards as Barner. I think if Marcus were forced to rush twice as much as he does, he’d match the stats Johnny has.

But! Manziel is great to watch, hell of a ball player.
- http://twitter.com/joshschlichter Josh Schlichter
  
  We probably wouldn’t even be having this argument if Oregon’s defense wasn’t as solid as it was. Mariota would be pushing for 40 TDs at this point… can’t even imagine the numbers Barner would have put up.
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