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Baker Mayfield: Fire The Cannons

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Imagine if Baker showed up to camp looking like this.

90550823_10101331898442178_3361862032918839296_n.jpg
 
@Out of the Rafters at the Q I know you said that Kollmann is not good, but this video actually confirms a lot of what I was seeing with Baker, especially regarding his dropback.

A big part of why Baker was so successful on RPOs and play-action, yet looked like a totally different quarterback on regular dropbacks, was a combination of poor pass blocking, worse scheming with chips and TEs, and Baker's nonconventional dropback. The first two are a given, but this video shows Baker punch-drop, whereby he uses his left foot to get more depth in the pocket and avoid inside pressure. This made it take Baker another half-second longer on ordinary dropbacks to even hit enter his throwing motion.

The worst of all worlds, though, was when interior pressure still got there, Baker rolled out to the right, and Freddie had no receivers on that side of the field.


I hope the new coaching staff works with Baker on ways to get pocket depth without always using the punch-drop and, more importantly, creates offensive schemes to reduce outside pressure and give Baker more options for when he inevitably rolls right.
 
@Out of the Rafters at the Q I know you said that Kollmann is not good, but this video actually confirms a lot of what I was seeing with Baker, especially regarding his dropback.

A big part of why Baker was so successful on RPOs and play-action, yet looked like a totally different quarterback on regular dropbacks, was a combination of poor pass blocking, worse scheming with chips and TEs, and Baker's nonconventional dropback. The first two are a given, but this video shows Baker punch-drop, whereby he uses his left foot to get more depth in the pocket and avoid inside pressure. This made it take Baker another half-second longer on ordinary dropbacks to even hit enter his throwing motion.

The worst of all worlds, though, was when interior pressure still got there, Baker rolled out to the right, and Freddie had no receivers on that side of the field.


I hope the new coaching staff works with Baker on ways to get pocket depth without always using the punch-drop and, more importantly, creates offensive schemes to reduce outside pressure and give Baker more options for when he inevitably rolls right.

Watching that video was like reading this forum last season. Much of what he states was posted here by multiple posters week after week. Baker should be under center with more play action. No empty backfields. Multiple TE and/ or backs more often. Basically, Stefanski's proposed offense from Minnesota. The scheme that worked here when the coaches were smart enough to run it, which wasn't often enough last year. I feel real good about the direction that the team is going in this year. Personnel to fit the scheme being added piece by piece. A scheme that on paper fits Baker very well. That tape also shows why the tackles were effective in the second halo of 2018, and then pretty much complete crap in 2019.

Wasn't there some talk about wanting to change which foot he went back with first by one of the new coaches?
 
Watching that video was like reading this forum last season. Much of what he states was posted here by multiple posters week after week. Baker should be under center with more play action. No empty backfields. Multiple TE and/ or backs more often. Basically, Stefanski's proposed offense from Minnesota. The scheme that worked here when the coaches were smart enough to run it, which wasn't often enough last year. I feel real good about the direction that the team is going in this year. Personnel to fit the scheme being added piece by piece. A scheme that on paper fits Baker very well. That tape also shows why the tackles were effective in the second halo of 2018, and then pretty much complete crap in 2019.

Wasn't there some talk about wanting to change which foot he went back with first by one of the new coaches?

Alex Van Pelt talked about changing from having his right foot forward to having his left foot forward presnap in Shotgun. Even doing it myself I can tell it would allow for a much more smooth and rhythmic dropback.

So I like what I'm hearing from him. Though I was just happy that our OC's first name wasn't Todd when we hired him.
 
@Out of the Rafters at the Q I know you said that Kollmann is not good, but this video actually confirms a lot of what I was seeing with Baker, especially regarding his dropback.

A big part of why Baker was so successful on RPOs and play-action, yet looked like a totally different quarterback on regular dropbacks, was a combination of poor pass blocking, worse scheming with chips and TEs, and Baker's nonconventional dropback. The first two are a given, but this video shows Baker punch-drop, whereby he uses his left foot to get more depth in the pocket and avoid inside pressure. This made it take Baker another half-second longer on ordinary dropbacks to even hit enter his throwing motion.

The worst of all worlds, though, was when interior pressure still got there, Baker rolled out to the right, and Freddie had no receivers on that side of the field.


I hope the new coaching staff works with Baker on ways to get pocket depth without always using the punch-drop and, more importantly, creates offensive schemes to reduce outside pressure and give Baker more options for when he inevitably rolls right.
I think Kollman's fantastic. I just think he's inaccurate when it comes to college prospects (but who isn't?). He's usually spot-on and one of the most insightful people around when it comes to NFL evaluations.

Don't take my previous post the wrong way. I haven't found a better resource than Brett. However, he's so convincing that it's easy to take his word as Gospel. Just a word of caution.
 
Watching that video was like reading this forum last season. Much of what he states was posted here by multiple posters week after week. Baker should be under center with more play action. No empty backfields. Multiple TE and/ or backs more often. Basically, Stefanski's proposed offense from Minnesota. The scheme that worked here when the coaches were smart enough to run it, which wasn't often enough last year. I feel real good about the direction that the team is going in this year. Personnel to fit the scheme being added piece by piece. A scheme that on paper fits Baker very well. That tape also shows why the tackles were effective in the second halo of 2018, and then pretty much complete crap in 2019.

Wasn't there some talk about wanting to change which foot he went back with first by one of the new coaches?

It's still totally baffling to me that Kitchens literally did none of what worked so well last year after he became head coach. It doesn't make any goddamn sense, especially after he spent all offseason talking about how he'd tailor the offense to the players. I know he was in over his head, but it's like....just watch last year's tape and fucking do that.
 
I'm bored and stuck inside, so I'm re-watching all 21 of Mayfield's interceptions from 2019. Here's Week 1.

WEEK 1 V. TITANS

INT Number 1:
2nd and 14 from the Browns 45. Trailing by 9 with 14:37 to go in the 4th Q.

Formation: Shotgun 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB
-2 WR to the left (Ratley wide, Landry slot)
-1 TE to the left (Njoku) just off the line
-1 WR (Beckham) wide right
-1 RB (Chubb) in the backfield.

Routes:
-Ratley wide left runs a straight go route. Not open.
-Landry slot left runs open down the seam, but decides to curl back towards the left sideline rather than continuing up the seam or curling right towards the middle of the field. This brought the underneath coverage back into play. Not open.
-Njoku inside left runs a flat. Open, but would have been a minimal gain of 1-3 yards.
-Beckham wide right runs a deep post. Open as he makes his break.

Screen Shot 2020-03-22 at 9.33.44 AM.png

Titans rush 4 and drop 7. Chubb stays in, picks up the Titans' zone blitz and Mayfield has a nice pocket. To his credit Mayfield doesn't stare down Beckham. He actually looks middle towards Landry first and then comes back to the post on the right. Unfortunately, Baker didn't see the underneath zone coverage on the right side and that is the defender that made the interception. That said, even with the coverage misread, a great throw would have beat the zone and been completed for a first down. It's a tight window, but a great throw still gets the job done.

Verdict: Mayfield's fault. Inaccurate throw.

INT Number 2: 3rd and 4 from the Browns 31. Trailing by 16 with 11:38 to go in the 4th Q.

Formation: Shotgun 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB
2 WR to the left (Ratley wide, Landry slot)
1 TE to the left (Njoku) tight on the line
1 WR (Beckham) wide right
1 RB (Chubb) in the backfield.

Routes:
-Ratley wide left runs a straight go route. Not open.
-Landry left slot runs a quick out. CB Ryan has blanket coverage. Not open.
-Njoku tight left runs open up the seam, but curls back into the zone coverage. Not open.
-Beckham wide right runs a 10 yard out route. Open. The ball needs to go here on time and on target for the first down.

Screen Shot 2020-03-22 at 10.02.57 AM.png

Titans rush 4 and drop 7. Chubb stays in, picks up the Titans' zone blitz and Mayfield again has a nice pocket. Baker stares down Landry the entire way and tries to force him the ball. The throw is accurate, but Ryan has perfect coverage and he's able to make a play on the ball in front of Landry. This pass should have never been thrown. Beckham was open on the other side on the 10 yard out and the ball needed to go there.

Verdict: Mayfield's fault. Bad decision.

INT Number 3: 1st and 10 from the Browns 30. Trailing by 23 with 3:11 to go in the 4th Q.

Formation: Shotgun 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB
2 WR to the left (Ratley wide, Landry slot), 1 TE to the left (Njoku) tight on the line and 1 WR (Beckham) wide right. 1 RB (Chubb) in the backfield.

Routes:
-Ratley wide left runs a quick in route. Open.
-Landry left slot runs a quick in route. Open.
-Njoku tight left runs up the seam. Not open.
-Beckham wide right runs a curl. Not open
-Chubb releases late out of the backfield to the right. Open.

Screen Shot 2020-03-22 at 12.49.48 PM.png

Titans rush 4 and drop 7. Mayfield gets rid of the ball quickly before any pressure arrives. The throw to Landry is high and wide, but the irony here is that it appears Landry tipping the ball is what caused it to actually get intercepted. If Landry doesn't touch the ball, it's just an incomplete pass and not a pick 6. Can't fault Baker's decision to throw to Landry because it's the shortest throw and he's open, but if Mayfield had waited a beat longer he could have hit Chubb out of the backfield with no defenders anywhere around him.

Verdict: Mayfield's fault. Inaccurate throw, but this should have just been an incomplete pass.
 
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WEEK 2 AT JETS

INT Number 4:
2nd and 14 from the Jets 34. Leading by 20 with 10:28 to go in the 4th Q.

Formation: Shotgun 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB
-2 WR to the left (Beckham wide, Landry slot)
-1 TE (Harris) tight right
-1 WR (Ratley) wide right
-1 RB (Chubb) in the backfield to Mayfield's left.

Routes:
-Beckham wide left runs a 16 yard deep in route. Gets in front of his defender's face. Open.
-Landry slot left runs a 10 yard in route. Tight window, but a great throw could be completed.
-Ratley wide right runs a straight go route. Not open.
-Harris tight right runs a wheel route. Not open.
-Chubb slips out of the backfield after a play fake into the right flat. Open.

Screen Shot 2020-03-22 at 2.24.38 PM.png

Browns run play action and fake a stretch play to Chubb to the right. Jets rush 4 and drop 7 and the Browns OL holds up nicely. The safe throw here would be the dump off to Chubb in the right flat. Worst case scenario there appears to be a 6 yard gain. If Mayfield insists on trying the aggressive throw to Beckham, the ball needs to come out a beat earlier right as OBJ is starting his break. That said, the Jets defender hit Beckham in the back before the ball got there. This absolutely should have been called defensive pass interference. Beyond the no call, the ball bounced straight into the air for the unlucky interception.

Verdict: Bad luck. Ball should have come out a beat earlier, but defensive pass interference should have been called.
 
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WEEK 3 V. RAMS

INT Number 5:
4th and 4 from the Rams 4. Trailing by 7 with 0:33 to go in the 4th Q.

Formation: Shotgun Empty 4 WR, 1 TE
-Chubb wide left
-Beckham slot left
-Harris tight right
-Landry and Ratley stacked wide right

Routes:
-Chubb wide left tries to run a slant, defender basically bearhugs him. Not open.
-Beckham slot left runs a quick curl, but is double teamed. Not open.
-Harris tight right runs up the seam. Not open.
-Ratley and Landry both run quick slants on the right with the plan being for Ratley to essentially pick his defender and Landry's defender at the same time.

Screen Shot 2020-03-22 at 2.52.15 PM.png

This is a pretty weak play design by Kitchens, but Mayfield inexplicably does not pull the trigger to Landry right away. Mayfield needs to throw to Landry immediately and give him a chance to fight into the end zone. Baker's hesitation allows LT Robinson to get beat badly by DE Fowler Jr. and create a scramble drill. At that point Baker has to essentially throw the ball up for grabs because it's 4th down and DB Johnson wrestles the ball away from Ratley in the corner.

Verdict: Mayfield's fault. Bad decision to not pull the trigger to Landry.
 
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WEEK 4 AT BALTIMORE

INT Number 6:
3rd and 3 from the Ravens 48. Leading by 7 with 5:42 to go in the 2nd Q.

Formation: Shotgun 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB
-Landry slot left
-P. Brown tight left
-T. Taylor slot right
-Beckham wide right
-Hilliard in the backfield to Mayfield's left

Routes:
-Landry slot left runs a slant
-Beckham wide right runs a slant
-Brown blocks
-Taylor blocks
-Hilliard blocks after a play fake

Screen Shot 2020-03-22 at 3.35.25 PM.png

This is essentially a 1 route RPO. Baker pulls the ball away from Hilliard and fires the quick slant to Landry. The throw doesn't appear to be perfect, but Landry completely and utterly quits on his route to avoid getting hit.

Verdict: Landry's fault. This is 100% a hospital ball by Mayfield, but if Landry doesn't opt to make a business decision this pass is not intercepted.
 

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