ESPN's Dan Graziano and (scrolling down) Pat McNanoman have some opinions about the "Mayfield effect", as do a bunch of Browns players who Pat quoted, including Mayfield himself.
That last was informative. Mayfield demonstrates a solid understanding of team psychology; it's not all just "instinct" for him. And Joel Bitonio gets it too.
I guess you can scratch what I posted yesterday about Odenigbo, because the Browns just released him.
I'm pretty sure they'll hold onto dt/nt Devaroe Lawrence, though, because he's unique on this squad. He's the only guy who is actually well-suited to play a conventional "space-eater" nose tackle role on this team.
He doesn't fit Gregg's scheme 85% of the time, but he becomes precious vs some offensive lines and in some situations.
Devaroe can also play defensive tackle or 3-4 defensive end on run downs (especially short yardage), so I think he'll stick around. (Now watch them cut him loose tomorrow.)
Graziano clearly doesn't read this Blog, as he predicts Baker Mayfield screwing up like Sam Darnold. See last post. Baker will screw up--in fact he got stripped and lucked out not throwing a pick last week. But he's vastly more experienced and polished than the rest of his draft class (except for Josh Rosen).
Bucky Brooks offers some suggestions on how the Browns can modify/tweak the offense to help him succeed until he gets some pro games under his belt.
I'm pretty sure that Todd Haley will do most of what Bucky suggests.
When the Panthers drafted Cam Newton, offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski (sound familiar?) brought a big part of Cam's college offense to the NFL, including the read/option.
Cam was not ready to start in the NFL at that point, but was a superior athlete and a big monster. It worked.
Defenses adapted, of course, so Cam, after a white-hot start, sputtered and stumbled somewhat later in his rookie season, but that was okay: He made it, as a winner, and got to work that offseason with an expanded professional playbook.
Of course, Mayfield isn't Cam Newton. Cam took a couple years to actually become a top ten quarterback, because he was never very accurate or decisive, and he had very little experience coming out of college.
Cam Newton took awhile. Baker Mayfield won't. At Oklahoma, he was first and foremost a pocket passer. His mechanics are perfect. He sees the whole field, and doesn't hesitate.
I really like what one commenter said: "He rips your heart out and steps on it".
Baker was mostly running Tyrod's offense when he took over last week. I don't think Todd Haley can change it much, as Mayfield can already do everything Tyrod did, except for the quarterback runs.
Still, some Oklahoma plays should help.
In a world free of mysticism and insanity, the 2018 Browns should be favored over the Raiders beacause they're...well you know...better?
But they'll be underdogs. I'll jump the early line, because it will shrink.
The Raiders are 0-2, having lost to the Rams (decisively), and last week to the Broncos (in a squeaker).
There are some doubts about the 2018 Broncos, butta bunch of smart people have accused the Rams of being the best team in the NFC.
Meanwhile, the Browns were one kicker away from beating both the Steelers and the Saints, and just accidentally got a big upgrade at quarterback on a thursday.
The Raiders traded Khalil Mack, and their pass-rush is unmistakably diminished. Their overall defense doesn't suck, but isn't in the top ten either.
John Gruden (currently tied with Marvin Lewis as the most overrated Head Coach in the NFL) should indeed get Derrick Carr (already really good) to step up and stuff, but right now, Carr isn't handling pressure very well. And Garrett, Ogunjobi, Avery, and probably Ogbah WILL get all up in his face.
Here's what (apparently) nobody not on the Browns roster (or Charlie Weiss or me) get:
Flush all the Browns' offensive stats from the Steelers and Saints games down the terlet. Baker Mayfield presents a new paradigm.
This whole Browns team has been building up talent for three years now. Incompetent coaching and bad quarterbacks (plus general inexperience) has stifled it.
But it's been stuck in a boiler, building up pressure as this team went 1-31. (Oh yeah: the young/emerging talent is the steam, see?)
Well, Baker Mayfield is the valve that releases all that built-up steam to the engine, and gets this whole thing rolling.
Baker Mayfield was the best quarterback in his draft class, and (I believe) in the last several drafts. He's more athletic than Goff, and more accurate than Wentz (or possibly every other quarterback EVER...well ok he's as accurate as Joe Montana, anyway)...
But I digress: YOU PEOPLE keep reminding me that the quarterback is the most important player on any team, and Baker Mayfield just walked on to the field down 14 points near halftime, and pulled it out (by the way the Jets defense is pretty good)...
I haven't done my Raiders home-work yet, but I can right now make a few predictions:
1: Derrick Carr will get sacked at least four times.
2: The Raiders will turn the ball over at least twice.
3: Baker Mayfield will rack up 300-plus yards by air; the offense in general over 500 yards.
4: Mayfield will rank over 100 in quarterback efficiency.
5: Vance Joseph won't miss any extra points, and not more than one field goal.
6: Garrett, Ogunjobi, and Avery will get at least one sack each.
7: The defense will finally score points somehow.
8: Chuckie's face will be beet-red for most of the game.
9: The zebras will flag both teams for unneccessarily ruffling the quarterback's pink tutu at least once each.
10: The better team will win (unless it's fixed).
In other words, the Browns will win.
If I had been the Browns GM, either Mahomes or DeShaun Jackson would have been here now.
But would you take a Brees, Warner, and Rodgers tossed into a blender vs those guys? Well, here's Baker Mayfield. There ya go.
Don't tell me to "pump the brakes", oh wise sage: The Cleveland Browns HAVE a franchise quarterback, right NOW!
Baker Mayfield is NOT DeShone Kizer, or even Sam Darnold. He is NOT a "project"; stumbling around like an infant. Baker Mayfield IS an elite quarterback right NOW DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
Not above average, let alone a "project"; a top ten NFL quarterback right NOW.
The Browns should dominate the Raiders next week, and KEEP winning with Baker Mayfield running the show (and Todd Haley the offense).
Baker Mayfield was a home run, and Ward was at least a triple. Stand by.
This is the Mayfield era now.
Pump the brakes my ass.
THIS JUST IN from Dan Orlosky. Dan isn't quite pumping the brakes, but offers some informative insight in re Baker Mayfield's future.
In my own opinion, I will not vote for Dan when he runs for office, and probably won't buy whatever he is selling--but this is 20% worth the click.
Randy Gurzi weighs in on the nationwide interest in the Browns. I can attest to this, as I talk to NFL fans all over the place (along with fantasy players), and they all want to know about Mayfield, Callaway, etc.
As Randy mentions, "Hard Knocks" has a lot to do with this. But they're now1-1-1, Baker Mayfield got them the first "1", and the people I talk to are taking the 2018 Browns seriously...
...well fantasy football has made everybody who plays it wise to skill-players and matchups-that's why I rarely get laughed at when I recommend Higgins, Duke, the Browns defense, and Njoku...
...Dammit Njoku pisses us off, but somehow got better after Mayfield took over.
...so did Callaway, and Duke...
Landry might have dropped his own on-the money pass due to shock. Callaway simply choked--but he is what we call a "rookie", so...
And look at how Mayfield handled these drops! No finger-pointing or "scenes"; he just "re-set", and twice went right back to the guys who had just dropped passes!
Baker Mayfield takes stuff in-stride, and simply adapts. Ok you dropped that so it's third and eight instead of first and ten. Give the dropper a hard look (or a reassuring grin) and do what you need to do...
You people don't get this yet: Baker Mayfield is a born LEADER.
He's about to fix EVERYTHING, right tf NOW.
Stand by. Stand by.
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