Hoodie Network
Before you start writing hate comments, allow me to explain.
First off, what exactly is the Baker Mayfield problem? The problem is that we
have seen the best we are going to see from Baker. That’s not to say he won’t
continue to pay at that level, but he won’t get any better than he already is.
Some would like to say it’s been terrible, and his avid supporters want to say
it’s been phenomenal. But what it’s really been is… solid – Just solid.
Now, how exactly is that a problem? It’s a problem because there are two people who seem to not know exactly what Baker is and isn’t capable of. The first one, obviously, is the Cleveland Browns quarterback himself. Baker is wildly talented. He makes throws that make your eyes pop. The issue is sometimes he thinks he’s superman. He’ll try to scramble through a dense pocket instead of taking a sack, find a man slightly open 30 yards downfield, and try to fit the ball in a tight pocket throwing on the run, resulting in a turnover instead of 3rd and long. 3rd and long is not ideal, but it’s better than surrendering a chance for points and most likely giving the other team good field position.
The second person who needs to recognize the ceiling of Baker Mayfield’s abilities is Kevin Stefanski. I love Stefanski. I mean love. He has turned the Browns from the Factory of Sadness into a legitimate playoff or championship contender. And here’s the BUT- his playcalling has been less than perfect as of late. I love when he designs plays which give Baker easy reads and let Baker’s physical abilities succeed before his superhero mentality causes a mistake. However, lately it seems like he’s gotten too cute with things. We have gotten away from taking what the defense gives us and relying on the best backfield in football. It almost seems like we are relying on chunk plays, as opposed to earning them from proper execution and set-up. This reliance on big plays forces long 2nd and 3rd downs, which forces Baker to make risky throws or to pass over a 7-yard throw in hopes of getting a first.
So, how do we solve this “problem”. Well, it’s not as simple as ditch Baker. He’s not expensive right now and no rookie would be as good as him. Plus, aside from Russell Wilson or Aaron Rodgers, there’s not many options already in the league that make your team any better. So we stick with Baker for at least the short term. Maybe draft a rookie QB if one falls or hope a late round project is a gem. But Baker Mayfield is clearly the guy in Cleveland.
Baker is a starting caliber quarterback, if not more. But he is not a guy who will take a mediocre team and turn them into a championship team. You have to put him in a position to be great. Or rather, put him in a position to be natural. Let Baker be Baker. Allow him to let that thing fly, but don’t ask him to make 3 different reads while adjusting his feet and looking off the safety all to make it happen. Let Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt make plays. Give Jarvis Landry and the speed of Peoples-Jones and Schwartz to open up opportunities for Baker to shine. He is at his best when he isn’t asked to do too much. Keep it simple, let him shine, and enjoy as the W’s accumulate.