Baker Mayfield: Fire The Cannons

[6.19.2016]

Hey @Los216

A young, developing QB had a bad game against a really good defense.

Haven't you heard? He's 25 going on 45, already at his peak or even washed up, since he's in his 3rd season and nearly 2 years older than Lamar, 1 year older than Allen, slightly older than Mahomes, nearly Goff's age, etc. /s

 

[DJTJ]

He was bad today and I'm starting to get concerned that, even at his peak, he won't be enough.

That said, I don't think it is fair to blame him for a ton today. 99% of QBs would have struggled against the pressure he faced today.

Might want to look away from the NextGen Stats.Baker Mayfield’s Time To Throw was 3.3 seconds.

Baker, largely, manufactured his own pressure with his inability to step into a clean pocket, and made the line look atrocious. Baker creates chaos because he can’t see down field, because he doesn’t trust his arm, and because he thinks if he does enough scrambling he can heave something open and be the hero.

Jokes on Baker. You’ve seen it the last two weeks- happy feet leading to bad decisions against zone defense.

 

[Amherstcavsfan]

I'll say this, his eyes dropped way too fast today, he was anticipating the rush instead of looking down the field.

It was a terrible day for him, no doubt about it. My faith is fully shaken and, I have to admit, I'm starting to look to see what QB's might be available to the Browns in this year's draft.

 

[Lee]

I'll say this, his eyes dropped way too fast today, he was anticipating the rush instead of looking down the field.

It was a terrible day for him, no doubt about it. My faith is fully shaken and, I have to admit, I'm starting to look to see what QB's might be available to the Browns in this year's draft.

We will be in the back half of the draft, but for comparison, Aaron Rodgers had an equally bad day today against Tampa

 

[Los216]

I'll say this, his eyes dropped way too fast today, he was anticipating the rush instead of looking down the field.

It was a terrible day for him, no doubt about it. My faith is fully shaken and, I have to admit, I'm starting to look to see what QB's might be available to the Browns in this year's draft.

Might have to consider what Baker’s trade value is or is going to be at the end of the season. The Jets are doing the same thing with Darnold. I wish Jerry Jones was dumb enough to trade Dak for Baker. Maybe we can sell him on some feel good Texas homecoming story.

 

[Los216]

And I think next week Baker needs to go off against Cincy. He needs to own them. He can’t have another pedestrian game that we win in spite of his performance. If we’re gonna make excuses when he plays against good defenses like PIT today then he needs to go off against Cincy. No exceptions.

 

[Amherstcavsfan]

Might have to consider what Baker’s trade value is or is going to be at the end of the season. The Jets are doing the same thing with Darnold. I wish Jerry Jones was dumb enough to trade Dak for Baker. Maybe we can sell him on some feel good Texas homecoming story.

It's definitely not worth it.

The only route to replacing Baker is with a rookie, otherwise you are severely limiting the Browns ceiling over the next several years.

 

[tristan+kyrie=$]

I think berry and Company want to draft their own guy but they are going to let baker device for them this season.. baker still has 10 more games and can turn it around but man he needs to start showing better

 

[Amherstcavsfan]

I think berry and Company want to draft their own guy but they are going to let baker device for them this season.. baker still has 10 more games and can turn it around but man he needs to start showing better

Unless he totally shits the bed, and looking at our schedule I'd say it's unlikely, I don't think they actually take a QB next year.

We'll see.

 

[Los216]

It's definitely not worth it.

The only route to replacing Baker is with a rookie, otherwise you are severely limiting the Browns ceiling over the next several years.

That’s not true. It’s more likely that we aren’t even in position to draft one of the top QB’s available. We don’t have to force a rookie. We can still sign a veteran FA or trade for a guy.

 

[chrisrich91]

I’ve said it before and I’ll echo it even more strongly after today’s performance.

I am so glad that we have a Browns braintrust who I feel confident in evaluating Baker this season and reacting accordingly.

I’m also glad that we have a complete offense around Baker which makes it far easier to determine if he is the problem. In year’s past you could absolve a QB by saying they didn’t have weapons or an OL or a good play caller...not the case here.

I fully trust that Stefanski will be able to give the thumbs up or down to Berry by season’s end.

 

[Los216]

I’ve said it before and I’ll echo it even more strongly after today’s performance.

I am so glad that we have a Browns braintrust who I feel confident in evaluating Baker this season and reacting accordingly.

I’m also glad that we have a complete offense around Baker which makes it far easier to determine if he is the problem. In year’s past you could absolve a QB by saying they didn’t have weapons or an OL or a good play caller...not the case here.

I fully trust that Stefanski will be able to give the thumbs up or down to Berry by season’s end.

One thing that doesn’t get mentioned enough is that they didn’t choose Baker.They’re not married to him. That’s why I don’t think they will slow roast this thing after the season if Baker is not it. I think if they move on they will move on quickly.

 

[CBBI]

The biggest problem for Mayfield is that he doesn't just have one issue. Everything he struggles with compounds upon the next thing.

-He's short.
Baker doesn't have the natural throwing windows of a taller QB. This certainly isn't a death knell for a QB, except...

-He's very skittish against pressure.
Baker routinely drops his eyes and speeds up his process, which significantly hinders his ability to maneuver in a dirty pocket. This certainly isn't a death knell for a QB, except...

-He's not athletic.
There are QBs out there who aren't super comfortable stepping up into or sliding side-to-side in a dirty pocket, but Mayfield's lack of foot speed and agility keeps him from effectively bailing out of the pocket backwards or out to the right. This certainly isn't a death knell for a QB, except...

-He struggles with reading coverages, both pre and postsnap.
Brees is similar to Mayfield; short, unathletic, skittish with pressure. But the difference between the two is that Brees is one of the game's all-time greats at diagnosing coverages. We're now 2.5 years into Baker's career and he still stares down his first read, is too slow to get to his second and/or third reads and still misreads disguised zone coverages.

When you add all these issues together? You have a below average QB.

 

[Chris]

One thing that doesn’t get mentioned enough is that they didn’t choose Baker.They’re not married to him. That’s why I don’t think they will slow roast this thing after the season if Baker is not it. I think if they move on they will move on quickly.

I’ve mentioned it to anyone who will listen, to be honest. My issue is it’s not like we can draft a highly touted rookie without trading up. Plenty of great QBs do come from outside the top 10, of course. Just have to find them.

 

[Amherstcavsfan]

That’s not true. It’s more likely that we aren’t even in position to draft one of the top QB’s available. We don’t have to force a rookie. We can still sign a veteran FA or trade for a guy.

I'd rather just stick with Baker, because the other options aren't going to be very good or too expensive.