Lindsay H. Jones

USA TODAY Sports

BEREA, Ohio — If the Cleveland Browns quarterback competition were only two days long, Brian Hoyer would be the winner, and it wouldn't be close.

But fortunately for rookie Johnny Manziel, the Browns coaches will keep this competition going for at least a couple more weeks, at least enough time for both quarterbacks to participate in a scrimmage in six days and the first preseason game at Detroit on Aug. 8. Coach Mike Pettine has said he would like to name a starter before the third preseason game, on Aug. 23.

"We're going to put more weight on the live work, the scrimmage — which won't be live (hitting) on him — and on the first preseason game," Pettine told USA TODAY Sports.

Through the first two practices, Hoyer and Manziel have gone through basically the same script of plays, part of process of installing offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan's scheme. The team has yet to implement any plays specifically designed for either quarterback, nor have any players worn pads or engaged in any sort of contact.

The lack of live action can make it more difficult to evaluate a player like Manziel, whose quickness and elusiveness and improvisation are part of what made him such a special player in college at Texas A&M. Pettine, the Browns' first-year head coach, understands this, and has had to remind his defensive players of it at times during these first two days of camp.

"Sometimes a defensive guy will go by and say, 'Hey, that was a sack!' and I'll say, 'If the bullets were live, I've seen a lot of guys that he's made miss when it was in a live situation,'" Pettine said. "You take that into account that there is the ability to (improvise). But at the same time, and he knows this better than anybody, is he can't base his living on that. That greatly diminishes his shelf life than if he just becomes that guy."

But this is the challenge Pettine and his coaching staff faces in trying to evaluate Hoyer vs. Manziel — a veteran whose first years in the NFL came as a backup to Tom Brady vs. the gunslinging kid from Texas. The Browns want Manziel to have the chance to be that dynamic player, but they also need to him to be able to run an NFL offense –— and one that requires the quarterback to take snaps from under center, to take straight drop-backs, and run the play-action passing game and be able to decipher NFL defenses.

Those are the things Hoyer is excelling at through the early part of camp, and are a big reason why Hoyer will remain the first-team quarterback for at least several more days. Players are off on Wednesday, and Pettine and Shanahan and quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains will use that time to decide if Manziel deserves first-team snaps and more time with the team's better receivers, running backs and offensive linemen.

"We'll get those things evened out so we can get a better evaluation," Pettine said.

The next step will be to add in more read-option plays or designed quarterback runs — the types of plays better suited to Manziel than Hoyer, who will admit that he's not the most agile runner.

But for now, as the Browns keep both quarterbacks on the same script, Hoyer is the clear leader after following Saturday's solid camp debut with a strong performance in Sunday's two-hour session. Hoyer hit on deep completions to rookie Taylor Gabriel to kick off a 7-on-7 drill, and long touchdown to veteran Anthony Armstrong in a team drill.

Manziel appeared to struggle in the same sessions, overthrowing at least one deep attempt and failing to get rid of the ball before the pocket collapsed on several other plays.

Pettine urged caution before drawing any conclusions from the one practice.

"I don't want to get in that habit, it's similar to after a game," Pettine said. "I don't know how much true evaluation I'll be able to offer. One time you'll think one thing and you get in and watch the tape and your opinion changes."

All it means is the best of this quarterback competition is yet to come.