I'm watching the Rose Bowl so I can see Baker Mayfield under the lights, but I might see some other guys to draft in this game too. So far so good Mayfield looks real good standing around....
4 for 4 make that 5 for 5. 4 interemediates and a semi-lateral (WR). 2 completions to number 36 who should be a fullback or H-back. 12 or 13 yard TD pass to a WR.
2 crossers, 2 verticals. Beautiful accuracy, anticipation and touch. I have to agree with one scout so far, however: That must be a terrific offensive line, because Mayfield has had all day so far.
I forgot: The TD pass was set off by a really nice play-fake.
Fromm came right back! He's pretty good himself! I don't know if he's draftable but if he is somebody other than the Browns ought to check him out.
But he didn't complete 71% of his passes or 55+% over 15 yards so...
How SNEAKY! Third and long and Mayfield hands off left handed on a reverse playfake. The Bulldogs were so paranoid about the pass they were all back and the running back brought no vaseline, so to speak!
Now they just ran for another TD so it's not the Mayfield show at the moment, but I can tell you that Baker is a real good actor. I can't wait to see him trying to draw a roughing the passer penalty!
Mayfield has 38-39 starts. That's important. I see a quick decisive guy here. Lack of pressure is something to consider, but I don't think he's held the ball for even close to three seconds yet (I could be wrong). And he's as good on vertical routes with guys running away from him as he is on crosses and slants with them going right to left or vice-versa.
DAMN he's got a truly scary running game propping him up too! What was that a 30-yard handoff for a TD? I'll have to check out that running back, but that was mostly blocking! Gotta check out that Okie offensive line Sooner rather than later. "Sooner"? Get inevermind.
Bulldogs just did the same thing. Kenneth Murray number one that's a WR number--but again give the Dogs' big uglies credit there as well.
Ok just there I saw Mayfield check down and pull the trigger instantly to his really good tight end (in a crowd). That was really encouraging that's "processing speed". He hit a really tight window in time as well as space there, and NONE of the Browns last several quarterbacks...well they'd all STILL be standing there considering whether or not they should throw the damn ball ya no?
Oklahoma has a terrific offensive playcaller by the way!
AH! Guy in Mayfield's face and he flicks the ball away in like one second flat to the hot guy about 5 yards deep (he got some more yards). There's your "muddy pocket" stuff: Mayfield reacted well to pressure there.
Oops then he got sacked. It's okay he didn't have a chance. The Bulldogs are blitzing a lot inside now trying to blow up Mayfield and his running backs all at once. Good idea. Cool I want to see how Mayfield deals with it.
Nitpickers will pick at a pass "thrown behind" a wide receiver, but it was just barely behind him and very catchable. The drop was all on the receiver. It was a "high-point" crosser thown high to give the receiver an edge, and it was almost perfect ok?
Ok if you haven't seen this, check out the last two minutes of the first half. Yeah there was a trick play at the end and Mayfield caught a TD pass but I'm not talking about that.
During that whole drive, Mayfield was sending people in motion with specific hand-signals right before the snap (or not). Every time he does this, he's changing the called play based on what the defense is showing him.
I hadn't noticed this earlier, but on that touchdown drive he did it like 3 times in a row. It LOOKS like somebody screwed up and he's "getting them lined up right" at first glance, but it's really the way he changes plays. The signals are all the same, and are instantly obeyed (he looks like a dog trainer).
Based on his results, Mayfield is almost always right, too!
I'm standing by for the second half here, but Baker Mayfield is my Browns QB of the future, and that's final for now!
While I'm waiting, I really really need to compare this Baker Mayfield to DeShaun Watson. Think back to this time last year, and remember what everybody (including YOU maybe) were saying about this guy!
Short. Skinny frame. Too many picks. Inaccurate. Weak arm. Great supporting cast. Remember? No I MEAN it, you can't rewrite history here; you need to remember what people were saying about DeShaun Watson, and WHY he was drafted where he was, okay!?!
Well Mayfield is less than one inch shorter than Watson. I believe he has a stronger arm. He is solidly built, and might even outweigh Watson. He has more starts. He does NOT turn the ball over, and he's set records with his accuracy.
Ok it's over and Oklahoma lost. The Bulldogs scored a bunch of points and found ways to stifle Mayfield. With the lead (and therafter) including overtime, the Sooners ran excessively.
Im not bashing them for that, and would have done the same thing in this particular game. But we didn't get to see Mayfield trying to carry his team.
Baker threw a bad pass interception in the end zone IN O V E R T I M E which was wiped out by a penalty. Earlier, he threw another interception which you need to try to comprehend: This pass was on the money. The Sooners' heralded tight end had been knocked off-balance, so he couldn't jump for it like he was supposed to.
I now know that Mayfield kind of specializes in "jump balls". He deliberately throws high whenever he can, even to normal-sized receivers. If his receivers know it's coming and the defender doesn't, it gives the receiver an edge.
Review the tape. You'll see this all game long; guys leaping to high-point Mayfield passes. But if the guy can't make that leap, it's an easy pick if a safety is backing the play.
It's not that important. That's how Oklahoma's (really smart) Coaches make the most of the players they have. Mayfield went low and hard when he needed to as well.
Based on this one game, here is what you will be reading about Baker Mayfield:
1: Inaccurate on deep passes.
2: Marginal arm.
3: Falls apart in the clutch.
4: Can't deal with pressure.
This is idiotic, but I'm just giving you a sneak preview so you know who's an idiot when you read it.
Then Mayfield will kick ass at the Senior Bowl and these clowns will all change their minds.
It's too bad that unless Jimmy fires Hue...
That's okay. Based on what I saw tonight, this kid could start in Hue's offense as a rookie. He shouldn't, but since Cousins or Smith would not want to play for Hue, Mayfield would probably beat out Kizer...
And get beat up and lose at first.
Dammit.
No comments:
Post a Comment