Baker Mayfield: Fire The Cannons

[shoes22]

Huh. Harrison was pretty good but I wouldn’t have guessed he was our highest rated defensive player yesterday.

I’m guessing Myles numbers took a hit considering there were two or three guys on him the entire second half. What was Ward’s rating?

Edited to add: I think defensive player ratings are largely bullshit anyway compared to offensive players.

 

[Kbiz]

Nice.

 

[Triplethreat]

Insane to see this.

 

[Bob_The_Cat]

One of my biggest worries with Baker has always been the his response to mistakes/turnovers. He tends to let things snowball once something bad happens and then there’s no telling what comes next.

I was really happy to see him respond after some bad plays to play well in the second half. It shows some big improvement at as a player to bounce back like that and play well.

I’ve been a fairly harsh critic of Baker and much has been warranted IMO. However, I saw some promising things yesterday that hopefully he can build on. As much as I’ve talked about it, I really want no part to having to find a QB this offseason. Let’s hope a Baker can build on this and continue to progress, starting with a tougher test in LV.

 

[natedagg]

My theory is OBJ when healthy is too fast/quick sometimes. I have nothing to back it up. It must just be the timing of when people are open during progressions.

Anyway he is hurt. He will probably be retained if we aren’t in cap he’ll next year, but healthy or not, we will likely look to reallocate $ toward other positions even if we take a small step down at WR. We have to see if DPJ and Higgins can make an impact versus better teams but if so, those are big $ savings that can then be applied to a proper thumper at SS and whatever else it takes to shore up the middle of the defense.

 

[Surge]

My theory is OBJ when healthy is too fast/quick sometimes. I have nothing to back it up. It must just be the timing of when people are open during progressions.

Anyway he is hurt. He will probably be retained if we aren’t in cap he’ll next year, but healthy or not, we will likely look to reallocate $ toward other positions even if we take a small step down at WR. We have to see if DPJ and Higgins can make an impact versus better teams but if so, those are big $ savings that can then be applied to a proper thumper at SS and whatever else it takes to shore up the middle of the defense.

I despise Pittsburgh as much as anyone, but the way they cycle in their young receivers seems like a proper way to model the position.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

On the year, Odell had a 75.4 grade from PFF. Landry was at a 73.6 going into the Bengals game. Those are solid #1 receiver numbers. I feel like the Steelers game is deeply engrained in the memory of Browns fans while all their best moments from before it are being forgotten.

Odell has been solid this season, and in a win where he was injured for the year, it's an odd time to talk about trades and some kind of exit strategy. Normal fans celebrate after an impressive last second victory. You are allowed to try it out, see how it makes you feel.

From where I'm sitting, it is less about "getting rid" of OBJ, and more about whether his salary is worth the improvement in performance over a guy like Higgins. Our offense may be almost as good with a dominant running game, and reliable possession receivers.

 

[natedagg]

From where I'm sitting, it is less about "getting rid" of OBJ, and more about whether his salary is worth the improvement in performance over a guy like Higgins. Our offense may be almost as good with a dominant running game, and reliable possession receivers.

I agree but this hypothesis has to and will be put to the test for a few games, particularly against good cover corners.

 

[Los216]

From where I'm sitting, it is less about "getting rid" of OBJ, and more about whether his salary is worth the improvement in performance over a guy like Higgins. Our offense may be almost as good with a dominant running game, and reliable possession receivers.

What happens when you need your receivers to step up and be more than possession receivers?

 

[Triplethreat]

What happens when you need your receivers to step up and be more than possession receivers?

Unfortunately that's something O'dell has done in one single game since he has been here.

 

[Los216]

Unfortunately that's something O'dell has done in one single game since he has been here.

I'm confused. Higgins has been benched by two different regimes and we're expecting him to just step in and light it up? DPJ was inactive in games to start the season and now we'll be just fine with him taking on a larger role. After those two guys we're talking practice squad players.

I'm confused how Baker has looked bad up until yesterday and now we should expect him to not only look better but for receivers who haven't done much all year to step up now. I guess we'll see but there's plenty of reason to be skeptical.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

What happens when you need your receivers to step up and be more than possession receivers?

Possession receivers may be selling them a bit short - they're just not superstar No. 1's.

But the point is that we just can't afford to have studs everywhere. Our OL is going to be expensive. So is Baker, and so is Chubb. We need defensive help badly. So...is it really worth an extra $15M to have OBJ, while useful players like Higgins, etc., ride the bench because we normally use only 2 WR's?

Keeping both OBJ and Landry on the roster at those salaries is not sustainable unless we go cheap at other positions where we can afford it even less.

 

[Vee-Rex]

I'm confused. Higgins has been benched by two different regimes and we're expecting him to just step in and light it up? DPJ was inactive in games to start the season and now we'll be just fine with him taking on a larger role. After those two guys we're talking practice squad players.

I'm confused how Baker has looked bad up until yesterday and now we should expect him to not only look better but for receivers who haven't done much all year to step up now. I guess we'll see but there's plenty of reason to be skeptical.

I agree.

I guess where I stand is I don't want us to blow a high draft pick or big cap space on a receiver we're not even sure will mesh with Baker. What if we struggle to trade OBJ - we'll have to pay him, Landry, and [insert receiver]. I wouldn't mind seeing more DPJ and Higgins in this Stefanski offense. DPJ could be a gem, but if we do go out and get some more firepower I want it to be smart moves for guys who aren't getting paid big bucks and seem like a good fit for Baker.

 

[Los216]

Possession receivers may be selling them a bit short - they're just not superstar No. 1's.

But the point is that we just can't afford to have studs everywhere Our OL is going to be expensive. So is Baker, and so is Chubb. We need defensive help badly. So...is it really worth an extra $15M to have OBJ, while useful players like Higgins, etc., ride the bench because we normally use only 2 WR's?

Keeping both OBJ and Landry on the roster at those salaries is not sustainable unless we go cheap at other positions where we can afford it even less.

I understand your point and in an ideal world that would be perfect but at some point teams have to make tough decisions and a lot of guys who we are assuming will be getting contracts and be here for years to come won't. Guys like Larry Ogunjobi were in line to get an extension are now looking like they might be on the roster bubble going into next season. The O-line is already solidified except for Wyatt Teller. I don't think money is a issue there.

Bottom line is that while you may see moving OBJ as a smart move for financial reasons he's not going to be an easy player to move. You're not going to get anything higher than a 3rd round pick from him with a torn ACL this offseason and at that point you re-signed to keeping him on the roster well into next season. That's just where we're at.

I'm not saying go out and spend big on another receiver either. There's guys who we can get that aren't making much or won't have a huge financial burden.

 

[Los216]

I agree.

I guess where I stand is I don't want us to blow a high draft pick or big cap space on a receiver we're not even sure will mesh with Baker. What if we struggle to trade OBJ - we'll have to pay him, Landry, and [insert receiver]. I wouldn't mind seeing more DPJ and Higgins in this Stefanski offense. DPJ could be a gem, but if we do go out and get some more firepower I want it to be smart moves for guys who aren't getting paid big bucks and seem like a good fit for Baker.

Yes but we have to look at a bigger picture than just finding a guy that's good for Baker. Baker is not at the level of QB play where you have to build your roster around him yet so it's tricky. I want smart moves too but it's not like they're easy to find.