Baker Mayfield: Fire The Cannons

[AZ_]

That's a hilarious assertion.

Its a colossal waste of time and effort to bother responding to trash like that.

 

[Amherstcavsfan]

Here's what to blame for Baker this year:

First, and most importantly, Baker himself is a big part of the problem. He's already admitted to the media that he didn't put in enough work in the off season. We've all made jokes about his weight and all the commercial work he has done, but it's clear he wasn't prepared for the season. He's been behind the eight ball from the beginning of the season and has been trying to dig himself out ever since. In the NFL, it's impossible to catch up when you are trying to prepare for next week's opponent and try and get yourself right physically. It was a lesson he needed and did learn this year that the NFL wasn't as easy as he thought it was last year.

Secondly, his mechanics have been awful all year. This was a problem from time to time at Oklahoma and has reared it's ugly head once again in Cleveland. His pocket presence this year has evaporated from what it was in 2018 when he was calm and collected in the pocket. Even when he has a clean pocket, he's loading up on his back foot and the ball is sailing on him all the time. When he is leaning back and not following through the ball, the thing is going to sail every, single time. It's how he missed a wide open OBJ in Arizona. He is either in his head or he's seeing ghosts because he panics when there isn't pressure and the results are a total loss of composure and mechanics, which leads to...

Thirdly, he's getting absolutely shit help from his coaching staff. The play calling from Freddie has been abominable. When Vance Joseph knows what you are going to do before you even run the play, it's a big problem. It's been predictable and varies from extremely basic to hopelessly complicated. The Kitchens/Monken offense has taken the weaknesses of both offenses and created a monster that would make Dr Frankenstein blush. Gone are the days of quality play action, sticking with run and taking deep shots. Here to stay are short passes to running backs, RPO's and Jet Sweeps that haven't worked at all this year.

Not only is it play calling and his offensive coordinator, but it's clear he's suffering from lack of help from his positional coach. If I can see these problems, and people on twitter can see these problems, how is a former NFL QB who played with Tom Brady missing it? Why has it not been corrected or even improving? How are we entering the late stages of the season and it's getting WORSE? Say what you want about Ken Zampese, but that dude had been an NFL coach before and did wonders with Andy Dalton of all people. Ryan Lindley won't have a job next year if Freddie Kitchens is fired.

All of these problems have conglomerated into what we see on the field. It's a miracle that the passing offense and Baker looks as good as he does at times, which is a testament to his raw ability and why he was drafted first overall in the first place. The talent is there, but sometimes, it's flat out not enough.

 

[Ohio]

Here's what to blame for Baker this year:

First, and most importantly, Baker himself is a big part of the problem. He's already admitted to the media that he didn't put in enough work in the off season. We've all made jokes about his weight and all the commercial work he has done, but it's clear he wasn't prepared for the season. He's been behind the eight ball from the beginning of the season and has been trying to dig himself out ever since. In the NFL, it's impossible to catch up when you are trying to prepare for next week's opponent and try and get yourself right physically. It was a lesson he needed and did learn this year that the NFL wasn't as easy as he thought it was last year.

Secondly, his mechanics have been awful all year. This was a problem from time to time at Oklahoma and has reared it's ugly head once again in Cleveland. His pocket presence this year has evaporated from what it was in 2018 when he was calm and collected in the pocket. Even when he has a clean pocket, he's loading up on his back foot and the ball is sailing on him all the time. When he is leaning back and not following through the ball, the thing is going to sail every, single time. It's how he missed a wide open OBJ in Arizona. He is either in his head or he's seeing ghosts because he panics when there isn't pressure and the results are a total loss of composure and mechanics, which leads to...

Thirdly, he's getting absolutely shit help from his coaching staff. The play calling from Freddie has been abominable. When Vance Joseph knows what you are going to do before you even run the play, it's a big problem. It's been predictable and varies from extremely basic to hopelessly complicated. The Kitchens/Monken offense has taken the weaknesses of both offenses and created a monster that would make Dr Frankenstein blush. Gone are the days of quality play action, sticking with run and taking deep shots. Here to stay are short passes to running backs, RPO's and Jet Sweeps that haven't worked at all this year.

Not only is it play calling and his offensive coordinator, but it's clear he's suffering from lack of help from his positional coach. If I can see these problems, and people on twitter can see these problems, how is a former NFL QB who played with Tom Brady missing it? Why has it not been corrected or even improving? How are we entering the late stages of the season and it's getting WORSE? Say what you want about Ken Zampese, but that dude had been an NFL coach before and did wonders with Andy Dalton of all people. Ryan Lindley won't have a job next year if Freddie Kitchens is fired.

All of these problems have conglomerated into what we see on the field. It's a miracle that the passing offense and Baker looks as good as he does at times, which is a testament to his raw ability and why he was drafted first overall in the first place. The talent is there, but sometimes, it's flat out not enough.

Well said.

Only thing I'd add is that the OL has been a mess. There's not one RG or RT on the roster that should be starting in the NFL. Having the entire right side of the line be terrible has definitely hurt Baker this year.

Disregarding the OL was a big mistake by Dorsey. Hopefully it's addressed and Baker is able to overcome his own issues and bounce back next season.

 

[Los216]

I think Baker is going to transform his body this offseason. I also think he’s been dealing with a hand injury since he took that hit on the goal line on the dog pound end in week 1 against the Titans. I knew as soon as he hit hit that he was hurt and his throws were way off since then. Remember he left the game with his hand in a cast and it was just brushed off as nothing serious but I think that it was.

I think he’ll get himself into great shape by shedding some baby fat. I also think he’ll refine his mechanics and come into the offseason fully prepared.

 

[Los216]

I think Baker has been hurt since this play

 

[Triplethreat]

What happened to Baker Mayfield? | NFL News, Rankings and Statistics | PFF

PFF's Mike Renner examines where it all went wrong for the young quarterback during the 2019 NFL season.

www.pff.com

 

[Jordan]

What happened to Baker Mayfield? | NFL News, Rankings and Statistics | PFF

PFF's Mike Renner examines where it all went wrong for the young quarterback during the 2019 NFL season.

www.pff.com

These three quotes were the most alarming to me. Great article and thanks for sharing!

 

[bgfalcon]

Unfortunately, I just don’t think he has it. Maybe a new coach can build him back up, but knowing you have Jackson in the division has to be demoralizing. Either it’s a wake up call to Baker or we are back at square 1 looking for a new qb in the coming drafts.

 

[SanduskyCav]

Unfortunately, I just don’t think he has it. Maybe a new coach can build him back up, but knowing you have Jackson in the division has to be demoralizing. Either it’s a wake up call to Baker or we are back at square 1 looking for a new qb in the coming drafts.

Explain...

 

[ClevelandSportsFan]

Explain...

Dude has been ass this year. Let's not try and say anything otherwise. Inaccurate. Indecisvive. Poor mechanics. Not prepared. The whole thing

 

[SanduskyCav]

Dude has been ass this year. Let's not try and say anything otherwise. Inaccurate. Indecisvive. Poor mechanics. Not prepared. The whole thing

None of this is coaching and scheme?

He just magically had it his first year and lost it?

 

[Marcus]

Maybe not quite the right thread for this, but these certainly aren’t the words of a team leader that has any confidence in his coach at this point.

 

[inliner311]

None of this is coaching and scheme?

He just magically had it his first year and lost it?

I truly think alot of Baker's and even Freddie's problems are the changes in coaching staff but also Dorsey constantly changing the players around Baker. I can't even think of a guy that Baker has good chemistry with at the moment. We are constantly using different TEs or using Harris too much in the passing game. Hunt's position was a necessity that the coaches and front office failed to realize was such a big part of what makes the offense go. Baker basically has had only Landry as a consistent WR since he has been here. The guys who all worked with him all off-season and preseason at WR were waived.

If Dorsey decides to operate the exact same way this off-season and at the 53 man cut, we will have a similar slow start and lack of development from Baker.

 

[Amherstcavsfan]

I mean, we already know and see the Browns are much better in jumbo sets yet the Browns actively avoid it.

Its coaching and Baker but they havent helped him one bit.

 

[SanduskyCav]

I truly think alot of Baker's and even Freddie's problems are the changes in coaching staff but also Dorsey constantly changing the players around Baker. I can't even think of a guy that Baker has good chemistry with at the moment. We are constantly using different TEs or using Harris too much in the passing game. Hunt's position was a necessity that the coaches and front office failed to realize was such a big part of what makes the offense go. Baker basically has had only Landry as a consistent WR since he has been here. The guys who all worked with him all off-season and preseason at WR were waived.

If Dorsey decides to operate the exact same way this off-season and at the 53 man cut, we will have a similar slow start and lack of development from Baker.

Freddie and these random ass inactives are killer too. Must be pretty damn easy to get on Freddie’s bad side. Njoku being inactive and Higgins not touching the field our horseshit moves.