Baker Mayfield: Fire The Cannons

[CPK]

OBJ may or may not be a top talent still. For me, I don't know that I care. He was amazing in the Dallas game, no doubt about it. But seeing the team play like it did today without him? I don't know. We had some great things going in 2018 with mostly unknown names. I'd like to see what we can do playing team ball rather than focusing on a given start talent.

 

[Los216]

So, I love the game.

But, I'll be interested to see how much of "the change" we saw was Baker, and how much was Stefanski.

Just from watching live, it seemed like most of our passing success came after we started running out of the shotgun, or letting Baker take deeper drops when under center. His comfort issues from having to stay in the pocket disappear when you let him sink back further behind the offensive line. He seems more comfortable there, and for a shorter QB, it gives him more vision and a better trajectory for throwing the ball.

Also, that Bengals defense is atrocious.

So Hue Jackson was right last week?

 

[Los216]

I can’t buy into Baker Mayfield not looking like a good QB because of OBJ. That’s disrespectful to both players to assume that. OBJ has played hard all season. He’s been good even when he wasn’t catching passes by blocking and he even got hurt hustling to make a tackle on an INT. He hasn’t been out there dogging it on the field and off the field there hasn’t been any issues with the team either.

As for Baker, if he’s not playing good because he’s forcing the ball to OBJ then that’s all on Baker. That’s also unfair to accuse Baker of doing to. It’s not like he only looks bad throwing the ball to OBJ this season. He’s looked bad throwing the ball to everybody. To blame their struggles on their relationship is unfair.

 

[ZooCrewDude]

Love him or hate him, it takes a special talent to go 22 completions straight for 5 TDs and in competitive/clutch situations. There aren’t too many guys in the league that can string that kind of performance together. It was too good to be a one off fluke (and I don’t care if it’s Cincy D - it’s an NFL team and a divisional rival on the road). How we/he unlocks that consistently can’t continue to be a mystery going forward... buts it’s a fine reminder of what we have in him.

 

[Vee-Rex]

OBJ may or may not be a top talent still. For me, I don't know that I care. He was amazing in the Dallas game, no doubt about it. But seeing the team play like it did today without him? I don't know. We had some great things going in 2018 with mostly unknown names. I'd like to see what we can do playing team ball rather than focusing on a given start talent.

Baker just has more chemistry with Higgins. There was one play where Higgins clearly had sort of a go route and had two defenders in front of him so he turned around and Baker was already passing the ball, because he and Higgins were on the same page.

All the back shoulder throws and so forth was reminiscent of 2018 Baker, and it just feels like OBJ was never on that same page. I think it'll be interesting to see more Higgins and DPJ going forward from here.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

So Hue Jackson was right last week?

No idea. What did he say?

I tend to not pay attention to garbage.

 

[Vee-Rex]

So Hue Jackson was right last week?

Partially right. I think it helps Baker to be in shotgun, but I don't think our offense would be strong without relying on the run and heavy PA.

As KEVSKI (yes I'll keep saying it) said, they need to be multiple. Hue would have us in 4-5 wide almost every down even when opposing defenses start shutting it down.

 

[Los216]

No idea. What did he say?

I tend to not pay attention to garbage.

He said the same thing you said about the offense looking different and Baker playing in shotgun more. he said they have to get back to letting him do what’s makes him comfortable.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

He said the same thing you said about the offense looking different and Baker playing in shotgun more. he said they have to get back to letting him do what’s makes him comfortable.

Then I think that's a dumb take.

I think you have to operate with the best offense for your football team, which, when healthy with Teller and Chubb, certainly involves more under-center QB play.

You don't abandon Baker's development and your team's strengths. But, you realize that if you need to go into passing situations, that this is currently what works best for your QB.

 

[Los216]

Then I think that's a dumb take.

I think you have to operate with the best offense for your football team, which, when healthy with Teller and Chubb, certainly involves more under-center QB play.

You don't abandon Baker's development and your team's strengths. But, you realize that if you need to go into passing situations, that this is currently what works best for your QB.

I agree with you but I think what Hue was saying was not to scrap their whole offensive philosophy. He was saying that we needed to work in more things that make Baker comfortable and it looks like that’s exactly what they did.

 

[Surge]

That 13 yard throw off one leg to DPJ on the last drive was amazing. It's tough to go 21-22 in warm ups let alone during an NFL game.

Couldn't be happier with his performance and want him to build on the pocket toughness and progression reading he showed today.

I am torn on the OBJ/Baker dynamic. They are both talented, but is it possible they just dont mesh? I dont know. But with his injury, it's not looking like we need to think about it for a while.

 

[col63onel]

That 13 yard throw off one leg to DPJ on the last drive was amazing.

This something that @CBBI has been saying, and he was right. The second the pocket is off, or heaven forbid he gets pressure, he just wilts.

But he literally had a guy grabbing his leg and he completed a pass for a first down.

 

[adam81king]

If we can get *mostly* the Baker after the first 5 throws going forward, I'll take back all the hate I've thrown his way.

However, the way some of yall are talking about OBJ is just silly. You're making Baker sound like the kid that plays with the box instead of the new toy that came in it. Baker played differently. He played decisively. He played confidently. He played without fear. He made aggressive throws. If OBJ takes that away from him, he's not the guy I want leading the team.

 

[DJTJ]

This something that @CBBI has been saying, and he was right. The second the pocket is off, or heaven forbid he gets pressure, he just wilts.

But he literally had a guy grabbing his leg and he completed a pass for a first down.

Saw something about it, but haven’t seen any tape to confirm- deeper drops to substantiate the pocket within his vision.

Basically, if he can see tackle to tackle, his climb is to where they want him to throw from originally. You can’t feel frantic if you can legit see the pocket, and for once, he really, really didn’t seem frantic.

 

[Triplethreat]

That 13 yard throw off one leg to DPJ on the last drive was amazing. It's tough to go 21-22 in warm ups let alone during an NFL game.

Couldn't be happier with his performance and want him to build on the pocket toughness and progression reading he showed today.

I am torn on the OBJ/Baker dynamic. They are both talented, but is it possible they just dont mesh? I dont know. But with his injury, it's not looking like we need to think about it for a while.

They don’t mesh IMO.

Baker Mayfield was so good today at hitting that back shoulder throw. I’ve legitimately never once seen Beckham make that adjustment to the ball like I’ve seen Higgins and DPJ do today....

Idk it’s just so bizarre to me.