Replacing Baker Mayfield: Poll

[Real Deal]

Run it back with healthy/motivated Baker + upgraded WR room for one more year -- if he's bad again, bark loud for CJ Stroud!!!

 

[Los216]

All of the QB’s that are being dismissed like Derek Carr and Jimmy G as not being a real upgrade somehow have better numbers and win more games. So tell me why would there be any other reason besides people holding out hope that Baker plays as good as he did in a 10 game stretch in 2020 against a soft schedule and empty stadiums?

Are we only allow to acknowledge that small stretch of games in Baker’s career? Remember when he had that streak of consecutive games throwing an INT? Or how he failed over and over in crunch time? Remember when his record against teams above .500 was bad? His mechanics. His attitude. His leadership. All of those things have been questioned but we have to ignore that in favor of a 10 game sample size when considering clear upgrades like Derek Carr and Jimmy G.

 

[Los216]

Run it back with healthy/motivated Baker + upgraded WR room for one more year -- if he's bad again, bark loud for CJ Stroud!!!

What reason does Baker have to not be motivated? Seriously. Baker has had every reason to play well the last two seasons. He doesn’t need any more chips on his shoulders or any more underdog narratives. He simply needs to play above average on a consistent basis. He’s never done that.

Why should we be confident that Baker entering the final year of his deal is going to come through when he’s had multiple chances to do that already and he’s failed?

 

[Urban]

Los still hasn't watched Jimmy G play and it shows

 

[Real Deal]

Los still hasn't watched Jimmy G play and it shows

Below average suckage today. Defense and Deebo baby!!

 

[Los216]

Los still hasn't watched Jimmy G play and it shows

I watched that entire game.

Tell me, what does Baker Mayfield do better than Jimmy G?

 

[CBBI]

It's hard to have a real discussion if you won't just accept he's played well at times.

Here's the question I have...

Was 2020 the best Baker Mayfield can do?

We all want to believe Baker could improve upon what he did in 2020, and he needs to if the Browns want to go further in the playoffs, but I'd argue that it's unfair to expect that the Browns will be able to replicate all of the positive factors they had offensively that season. In particular with the blocking.

The blocking in 2020 was historically good. The Browns were the first team in PFF's database to be No. 1 in pass blocking grade and run blocking grade in the same season.

This year the blocking was still good, but not quite as good (11th in pass blocking, 3rd in run blocking). With Conklin's health a major question mark heading into 2022, it stands to reason the Browns may not be able to replicate what they did from a blocking perspective in 2020.

Can Baker, who we all can admit has been very poor under pressure, succeed with an offensive line that's merely very good instead of historically great?

 

[Los216]

Below average suckage today. Defense and Deebo baby!!

So he managed to make enough plays to win a game where his play was less than stellar and he gets killed for that?

 

[Urban]

I watched that entire game.

Tell me, what does Baker Mayfield do better than Jimmy G?

Well he's capable of pushing the ball down the field. Something Jimmy G cannot do.

 

[DJTJ]

What reason does Baker have to not be motivated? Seriously. Baker has had every reason to play well the last two seasons. He doesn’t need any more chips on his shoulders or any more underdog narratives. He simply needs to play above average on a consistent basis. He’s never done that.

Why should we be confident that Baker entering the final year of his deal is going to come through when he’s had multiple chances to do that already and he’s failed?

I’m obviously not a Baker guy, but this is ridiculous. I know Jimmy is your guy, but they didn’t win because of Jimmy. Like Baker, he held SF back. Cale offense to run. Jimmy is living off of one great season in your head. Anyway…

2020 Baker, if he comes and repeats, gets a huge extension. 2021 Baker didn’t even need to improve, and he probably gets 30-35 easy. He doesn’t. Doesn’t mean he wasn’t motivated. Doesn’t mean he blew a chance.

2022 Baker is literally playing to ever be a starter in this league long term. This is it. It’s either succeed and get money, or become a back up if the ego can take a hit. It is quite literally the best motivation and his last chance.

Obviously if given the opportunity to obviously improve, they will. But they aren’t giving up assets for an equally as tipsy-turvy QB.

 

[Los216]

Well he's capable of pushing the ball down the field. Something Jimmy G cannot do.

Except Jimmy G can push the ball downfield and it’s not like Baker excels at doing that either. Are you saying that Baker is one of the best in the league at pushing the ball downfield? Is Baker one of the best in the league at anything.

 

[DJTJ]

So he managed to make enough plays to win a game where his play was less than stellar and he gets killed for that?

Dude, he was HORRID. I cannot for the life of me wrap my head around this obsession.

Baker and Jimmy run some of the most ridiculously easy schemes plays. Just getting guys ridiculously open, in space. Jimmy just constantly misses. He’s tremendously calm in the pocket, and just flails miserably trying to do anything off schedule.

If anything, he’s your case study as to why Baker would improve with more weapons, because Jimmy arguably has the best supporting cast in football.

 

[Los216]

I’m obviously not a Baker guy, but this is ridiculous. I know Jimmy is your guy, but they didn’t win because of Jimmy. Like Baker, he held SF back. Cale offense to run. Jimmy is living off of one great season in your head. Anyway…

2020 Baker, if he comes and repeats, gets a huge extension. 2021 Baker didn’t even need to improve, and he probably gets 30-35 easy. He doesn’t. Doesn’t mean he wasn’t motivated. Doesn’t mean he blew a chance.

2022 Baker is literally playing to ever be a starter in this league long term. This is it. It’s either succeed and get money, or become a back up if the ego can take a hit. It is quite literally the best motivation and his last chance.

Obviously if given the opportunity to obviously improve, they will. But they aren’t giving up assets for an equally as tipsy-turvy QB.

Well for starters Jimmy G is not my guy lololololololol

Also 2020 Baker is probably not gold enough to get to the AFC Championship game this season. Is 2020 Baker better than 2021 Justin Herbert? Herbert missed the playoffs. Is 2020 Baker better than Mahomes, Burrow, Herbert, Watson (for now), Jackson, Carr, Tannehill, or Allen?

That’s just the AFC. I didn’t even include Rodgers or Wilson who could be in the AFC next season too.

2020 Baker is not moving the needle in 2021 or 2022 so why do we keep throwing that out there as a measuring stick?

 

[Los216]

Dude, he was HORRID. I cannot for the life of me wrap my head around this obsession.

Baker and Jimmy run some of the most ridiculously easy schemes plays. Just getting guys ridiculously open, in space. Jimmy just constantly misses. He’s tremendously calm in the pocket, and just flails miserably trying to do anything off schedule.

If anything, he’s your case study as to why Baker would improve with more weapons, because Jimmy arguably has the best supporting cast in football.

But to believe this you’d have to believe that Baker and Jimmy G are on the same level when healthy and they aren’t. Jimmy G is better.

 

[DJTJ]

Well for starters Jimmy G is not my guy lololololololol

Also 2020 Baker is probably not gold enough to get to the AFC Championship game this season. Is 2020 Baker better than 2021 Justin Herbert? Herbert missed the playoffs. Is 2020 Baker better than Mahomes, Burrow, Herbert, Watson (for now), Jackson, Carr, Tannehill, or Allen?

That’s just the AFC. I didn’t even include Rodgers or Wilson who could be in the AFC next season too.

2020 Baker is not moving the needle in 2021 or 2022 so why do we keep throwing that out there as a measuring stick?

2020 Baker Mayfield, IIIRC, was the 12th DVOA QB including his horrid start, and two of the worst weather games in the entire league.

We finished around 13/14, and that was in spite of him. You would have had both a top ten offense and defense, and they would have undoubtedly made the playoffs, and probably win the division.

I don’t think he’s the guy, but let’s not pretend that with a 12-15 season, this team doesn’t limp to 8-9. He probably makes the playoffs, and gets 35 mil.