Baker Mayfield: Fire The Cannons

[BlessEm]

When is the last time a Browns QB completed at least 85% of his passes on 20+ attempts?

I'm going to go ahead and assume never.

Especially considering those around him are not optimal either besides.. What..Jarvis and our gaurds and C? We can all agree the Cards suck for Rosen also... But our tackles, including our rookie LT. A rookie rb behind him(Chubb is killing it). Our drop prone recievers in 4th rd pick Calloway and Njoku and Perriman. Higgins seems like a Godsend and has impressed but then top it off with HC and OC change 2 weeks ago..

Impressive stuff. The first td throw IS Baker Mayfield. Btw

 

[Ohio]

Impressive stuff. The first td throw IS Baker Mayfield.

That throw was absurd. Not many guys that can do that.

 

[godfather]

This is why I didn't get when some were starting to doubt him when he struggled a bit. It's clear as day he's got it. Just the horrendous coaching and lack of talent was the only thing getting in his way.

I have ZERO concerns about him. He's not going to be good. He'll be great. Thank GOD we drafted him.

I don't even care about missing the Wentz' or not getting to draft the Golf's of the world anymore.

Those guys are good, but so is Baker. I really feel next year he'll be a pro bowl QB. I'm that high on him.

 

[priceFTW]

That throw was absurd. Not many guys that can do that.

It really was. He got so much velocity on it from an awkward position. He made something out of nothing and added + value from a negative value position and THAT’S what difference making players do. Most QBs can make plays when they have all day to throw and the pocket is clean, but how many can make the throw Mayfield did?

 

[godfather]

It really was. He got so much velocity on it from an awkward position. He made something out of nothing and added + value from a negative value position and THAT’S what difference making players do. Most QBs can make plays when they have all day to throw and the pocket is clean, but how many can make the throw Mayfield did?

How high are you on this kid? Pretty exciting stuff, huh?

 

[The Wizard of Moz]

It really was. He got so much velocity on it from an awkward position. He made something out of nothing and added + value from a negative value position and THAT’S what difference making players do. Most QBs can make plays when they have all day to throw and the pocket is clean, but how many can make the throw Mayfield did?

If Baker gets Price to start posting regularly in the Browns section he’s worth even more to this franchise than I could’ve imagined

 

[prf100]

It really was. He got so much velocity on it from an awkward position. He made something out of nothing and added + value from a negative value position and THAT’S what difference making players do. Most QBs can make plays when they have all day to throw and the pocket is clean, but how many can make the throw Mayfield did?

When he threw it, I thought for sure it would be a pick - can’t throw that far perpendicular to the route without a DB undercutting it... but then the ball went right into Higgins... for a TD. Just a bolt of a throw.

 

[MGMT]

I grossly underestimated his overall arm talent. I didn’t care that he was good against the blitz in college; I wasn’t impressed by the completion percentages and some of the advanced metrics.

I think what I can own is I essentially covered my ears and closed my eyes while yelling “LALALA” because of the Big 12/system stigma.

Never been so relieved to be a dumbass.

 

[buzzdog]

I grossly underestimated his overall arm talent. I didn’t care that he was good against the blitz in college; I wasn’t impressed by the completion percentages and some of the advanced metrics.

I think what I can own is I essentially covered my ears and closed my eyes while yelling “LALALA” because of the Big 12/system stigma.

Never been so relieved to be a dumbass.

You and me both. My primary problem with him was my thinking we just needed a prototypical big QB for the AFC North, and some leftover angst from the failures we've drafted who were less than the ideal height in McCoy and Manziel.

But my biggest blind spot about Baker by far was that I vastly underestimated his arm talent. I knew he was accurate and I thought he had a decent arm. But I had no idea he had a gun on him. He can zip it in as hard as it needs to be, he rarely (if ever) misses a throw because he doesn't put enough velocity on it.

 

[Jordan]

I grossly underestimated his overall arm talent. I didn’t care that he was good against the blitz in college; I wasn’t impressed by the completion percentages and some of the advanced metrics.

I think what I can own is I essentially covered my ears and closed my eyes while yelling “LALALA” because of the Big 12/system stigma.

Never been so relieved to be a dumbass.

What advanced metrics weren’t you impressed by? Football Outsiders and Pro Football Focus both had Baker as the leader or close to it for nearly every metric. Moreover, he was one of the most highly rated QBs by analytics to come out this decade, and the most since Andrew Luck.

The criticism against Baker were that the advanced stats disguised problems like a funky throwing motion and antsy feet.

 

[MGMT]

What advanced metrics weren’t you impressed by? Football Outsiders and Pro Football Focus both had Baker as the leader or close to it for nearly every metric. Moreover, he was one of the most highly rated QBs by analytics to come out this decade, and the most since Andrew Luck.

The criticism against Baker were that the advanced stats disguised problems like a funky throwing motion and antsy feet.

I specifically recall being skeptical of PFF’s big time throw metric; I struggle with remembering why.

And I knew both had him as the leader in a myriad of categories. Thought maybe his overblown hubris would prevent him from putting in the work (mechanics, footwork).

I just wasn’t paying attention. Simple as that; I’m not going to lie to myself.

 

[Jordan]

I specifically recall being skeptical of PFF’s big time throw metric; I struggle with remembering why.

And I knew both had him as the leader in a myriad of categories. Thought maybe his overblown hubris would prevent him from putting in the work (mechanics, footwork).

I just wasn’t paying attention. Simple as that; I’m not going to lie to myself.

Right, I wasn’t criticizing you. I may have misunderstood your post. But Baker did not have any weak advanced stats - the criticism was based on eye test (like you note, mechanics and footwork).

I just have gotten exhausted with people saying that Baker was the “eye test” and “intangible” guy. Baker was the analytics guy who looked very good (but not perfect, or even the best in the draft) by the eye test and had solid intangibles.

 

[MGMT]

Right, I wasn’t criticizing you. I may have misunderstood your post. But Baker did not have any weak advanced stats - the criticism was based on eye test (like you note, mechanics and footwork).

I just have gotten exhausted with people saying that Baker was the “eye test” and “intangible” guy. Baker was the analytics guy who looked very good (but not perfect, or even the best in the draft) by the eye test and had solid intangibles.

No I know you weren’t. I was more speaking to my own refusal to objectively look at assessments of him. He was just another guy in a conference compiling stats against awful defenses to me and I dismissed basically all tangible evidence because of a stigma which is indicative of my stubbornness and lack of open mindedness.

But to argue against him now — at least at this point — just doesn’t look good. He has a long road ahead of him as far as establishing himself amongst the best in the league but he can process; be decisive; he’s confident in his ability. You don’t have that you don’t make it — and he does and at this point it’s becoming increasingly obvious.

One more thing about today specifically:

I was really impressed by him taking the checkdown(s) in the flat today; he had exhibited a slight tendency to get too aggressive downfield but he took the safety valve to move the chains and I thought that was excellent to see.

 

[YuenglingGator]

Man this kid makes Browns football exciting. He wasn’t my first, or second, quarterback. I was wrong and that’s why I’m not an NFL scout. But sheesh, in a “normal” Browns world we’d pass on him and watch him go off in another uniform... kicking ourselves for missing.

But man, I’m so thrilled that isn’t the case. We finally got our guy. We got it right. Can’t wait for what’s to come!

 

[I'mWithDan]