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Baker Mayfield: Fire The Cannons

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Lol. I didn't watch the link cause I couldn't care less for sports talking heads. I was just basing what he said on the tweet

You should watch it. It's short, direct, and very persuasive.
 

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Coming off last year’s playoff run, the Browns return the entire coaching staff from last season, including Kevin Stefanski, who was named NFL Coach of the Year in part for helping Mayfield get back on track by placing him in a heavy play-action scheme that suited his skill set. The rest of the staff returns, as well, including offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, who once coached Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay and helped Mayfield refine his footwork and regain his confidence.
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For those reasons, Mayfield seems primed to take another leap off last season, when he reestablished himself by finishing in the top 10 of QBR while leading the Browns to their first postseason victory in 26 years.
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Buoyed by arguably the most improved offensive line in the league, the Browns finished sixth in offensive efficiency, with Mayfield flourishing behind the protection. In fact, from Week 7 to Week 15, as he settled into Stefanski’s system and the offense jelled around him, Mayfield ranked third in QBR, trailing only two of the past three league MVPs, Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes.
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“We are trying things that are pretty challenging offensively -- how we want to run routes, certain looks and formationally how we are setting things up,” Mayfield said of the second year in the offense. “We are trying to challenge ourselves each practice. Our guys are handling it correctly, and we are just getting better.”
But, Mayfield cautioned, the true test will come once the season begins.
“Last year, none of that matters,” Mayfield said. “But we are much further along because everybody is not learning [the offense] for the first time. That’s a key part. ... Now, I’m truly hoping to make a huge jump, taking care of the ball and being efficient.”
 

Coming off last year’s playoff run, the Browns return the entire coaching staff from last season, including Kevin Stefanski, who was named NFL Coach of the Year in part for helping Mayfield get back on track by placing him in a heavy play-action scheme that suited his skill set. The rest of the staff returns, as well, including offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, who once coached Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay and helped Mayfield refine his footwork and regain his confidence.
...
For those reasons, Mayfield seems primed to take another leap off last season, when he reestablished himself by finishing in the top 10 of QBR while leading the Browns to their first postseason victory in 26 years.
...
Buoyed by arguably the most improved offensive line in the league, the Browns finished sixth in offensive efficiency, with Mayfield flourishing behind the protection. In fact, from Week 7 to Week 15, as he settled into Stefanski’s system and the offense jelled around him, Mayfield ranked third in QBR, trailing only two of the past three league MVPs, Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes.
....
“We are trying things that are pretty challenging offensively -- how we want to run routes, certain looks and formationally how we are setting things up,” Mayfield said of the second year in the offense. “We are trying to challenge ourselves each practice. Our guys are handling it correctly, and we are just getting better.”
But, Mayfield cautioned, the true test will come once the season begins.
“Last year, none of that matters,” Mayfield said. “But we are much further along because everybody is not learning [the offense] for the first time. That’s a key part. ... Now, I’m truly hoping to make a huge jump, taking care of the ball and being efficient.”
I’m probably one of the bigger Baker-skeptics on the board, but I think there is a reason to believe that his overall play will improve on last year. This offense, at a base level, improves QB play. But i think there are two main reasons to be optimistic:

1) Stefanski’s scheme is a bit more complex than a traditional Shanahan offense. The idea is the same - outside zone and having the run and the pass game look identical pre-snap - but Stefanski uses a bigger playbook. He still gets to the leak and flood play action plays, but he uses things like counter runs and power runs at much higher rates than other guys running this offense. That means Baker needed to master a much bigger playbook. I think we will see a wider variety of plays called by Stefanski and Baker having more latitude and comfort to audible at the line.

2) Felton and Schwartz should give the Browns more of a threat on pre-snap motion. Browns used pre-snap motion at a bottom five rate in the NFL last year. I think that number will be closer to league average or higher. This means easier pre-snap reads for Baker.
 
Browns have the same running game, better relievers, some with actual speed. I think that maps to more points..

They also improved markedly in passing defense talent.. If that doesn't apply to less points allowed, it's the defensive coaching..

Net net bigger differential, more wins, higher seed.. and deeper run into the playoffs. Injuries will play a role in how far we go..

Mayfield is tough, and I think he has an improved year..
 
Think this is an interesting read, and destroys the lazy argument that Baker is carried by his teammates/coach.

 

Mayfield already has a list of notable accomplishments with the Browns this early in his career.
  • Mayfield is the first quarterback in Browns history to throw for 10,000 yards in his first three years.
  • His eight career games with 300 passing yards are the third most by a Browns quarterback since 1950. Sipe has the most with 18 and Kosar is second with nine.
  • Mayfield is the second Browns quarterback to start 16 games in consecutive seasons (2019-2020) and his streak of 44 consecutive starts is the longest by a Browns quarterback since Sipe started 70 from 1978 through 1982.
  • Mayfield is fifth in Browns history in games with at least two touchdown passes (24) and has the most multiple pass touchdown games in his first three years for the franchise.
  • Mayfield threw at least 20 touchdown passes in each of his first three seasons, the first Browns player to accomplish the feat. He was also the first Browns quarterback to reach the mark since Brian Sipe reached it from 1978 through 1980.
  • Mayfield was the first Browns player to start his career with three straight seasons of 3,500 passing yards, and just the second player in franchise history to reach 3,500 yards in three straight years (Sipe, 1979-1981).
  • Mayfield recorded at least one touchdown pass in each of his first 17 career starts, trailing only Kurt Warner (23) for most consecutive starts with a touchdown pass to begin an NFL career.
 

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