As this article outlines, Baker Mayfield has lost nearly 200 yards (and a few touchdowns and several first downs) to rampant drops.
I know, it's hard to fathom that multiple receivers (including Jarvis Landry) are the problem, and not the one guy they all have in common, but it's true.
Now, a few pundits are already trying to moderate how hard Baker throws the ball; criticizing his touch.
Sorry, guys. Baker has exceptional touch, and often has to rifle it into tight windows. And guys? Those receivers get paid to c a t c h the damn ball.
I'm not worried about Jarvis Landry. The guy was correct that some of the balls thrown in his direction were throwaways. The numbers sites call those "targets" (so they need to work some bugs out in judging receivers as well. They simply shouldn't count throwaways).
Jarvis nevertheless had a bad game, but he'll bounce back.
Can't wait to see Nick Chubb unchained, and Duke used more. Thank you again John Dorsey (no offense Carlos).
Good for Myles Garrett to speak out about the way the referees have been jobbing the Browns all season. They've cost the Browns at least two wins.
Don't say "well they shouldn't have let it get that close". That's irrelevant, and the other team gets a gdam vote! What, you don't deserve to win unless you win by a touchdown? If it's closer than that it's okay for the refs to help the other team win?
I know the coaches have to blabber those mindless cliches, but fans who parrot them are embarrassing. If the games had been officiated fairly the Browns would have won four games by now, period.
I fully expect Baker and this team to rebound from last week's massacre and take Tampa Bay out behind the woodshed.
Nick Chubb might sputter and chug early, but he can bust it loose on any given carry, and will seem to get stronger as the game progresses.
Tampa's defense has been soft vs both the pass and the run (and vs opposing tight ends too).
Naturally, since this is the Browns, that defense will look like a Superbowl contender for a series or two (sigh), but the new Browns offense is too explosive.
Dameion Ratley has passed up fellow ROOKIE Antonio Callaway on the depth chart, because he catches the damn ball. This is the 1-2 punch now: Ratley and Landry (Ratley at X).
Todd Haley SHOULD favor reliable hands over raw speed, and put Duke at wide receiver (when not at running back) over Callaway, until the latter proves he can catch two damn passes in a damn row.
I kinda think Njoku will be allright. His drops were mental, I think. But for sure Seth DeValve can catch.
You see? The "weapons" are here for Baker Mayfield. Haley just has to put the most RELIABLE receivers on the field!
I'm not too clear on why Callaway was assumed to be way ahead of Ratley in the first place, as Ratley actually had more college experience, and is an even more impressive physical freak too. Do these guys get extra credit for getting in trouble or something?
Mayfield got a lot of work with Ratley through camp and preseason (and since), so keeping Ratley on the field for Baker is a no-brainer.
Baker didn't get to work with Landry much at all, up until he took over. Vs the Chargers last week, this was evident.
But that will improve this sunday. Like Josh Gordon, Jarvis Landry is "quarterback-freindly", and reliable as hell.
All the offensive needles are pointing up for the Browns.
The Bucs offense is a different story, with Mike Evans and DeShaun Jackson at WR.
I don't believe in Jamius Winston. I mean I think he is, or will be, pretty good--but not great. And really ditto Mariotta from the same draft class.
Somebody needs to compare that class to this one; Kinda Mariotta/Winston vs Mayfield/Darnold/Rosen/Allen. I wonder if you tossed all those guys into the same class how it would have worked out.
I don't know about the rest of it, but I can pretty much guarantee that John Dorsey still would have drafted Mayfield first overall.
Think about that.
But I digress: The Browns offense is due to work some bugs out and is explosive and potentially physically dominating. The Browns defense got punked last week, but Winston can't do what Rivers did (Baker Mayfield said "you can't stop a perfect pass"). Rivers hit a bunch of microscopic windows (and got rid of it quickly).
You people need to know that this combination of accuracy, touch, and decisiveness is rare. Big Ben, Andy Dalton, or Joe Flacco couldn't have done that (although Dalton is close).
It is concerning that Carrie is now starting opposite Ward, because he hasn't played well at all this season. Nor has Boddy-Calhoun. That's why I think Winston might do some damage.
...and then there's the fact that the Browns can't seem to cover tight ends, and the Bucs have OJ Howard AND Cameron Brate dammit...
...and Schobert is out and Kirksey will replace him...ok I'm going back and taking the "over" now but I digress:
The Bucs got big issues on their offensive line. They have a really good left guard, and guys named Joe. The Browns defensive line has them outgunned, and Genard Avery should be the starting WIL backer too.
Winston is reasonably mobile, but not dangerous, and Gregg can kitchen-sink him.
Peyton Barber is a good running back, but I frankly expect Baker, Nick, and company to establish an early lead and undermine the Bucs running game.
I guess I'm in the minority, as the Browns are 3.5 point underdawgs. That might have something to do with what Rivers did to this defense last week.
There is no comparing the Bucs offense to the Chargers' offense. They're not in the same zip code. The Chargers defense rose to the occasion last week, but is, in reality, better than the Bucs defense as well.
Winston is working off some rust check, but the Browns have superior talent and depth everywhere, and Mayfield, Ratley, Chubb, Callaway, Avery, Ward, and Robinson are all rapidly-ascending rookies, and this is Todd Haley's first season here.
I opened this post citing the article pointing out that Baker Mayfield's box score doesn't reflect his actual performance to-date, or his performance tomorrow or beyond.
Those more accurate PFF numbers describe a top 13 NFL starting quarterback...already.
We can debate about pass-protection and stuff, but Nick Chubb is a better running back than Carlos Hyde, and Duke Johnson should be on the field in some capacity on every snap. That's about to happen (thanks yet again Dorsey!!!)
Really, folks: I expect the Browns to dominate the Bucs like the Chargers dominated the Browns last week.
Bold predictions:
1: Ratley will catch 7 passes for over 100 yards and 1 TD.
2: Ditto Landry.
3: Duke and Chubb will combine for over 150 ground yards.
4: Chubb will bust loose for a long TD.
5: Duke will catch 6 passes for over 74 yards.
6: Winston will get sacked 4 times and throw two or more picks.
7: Baker Mayfield will not exceed one pick and will get at least 3 TDs (by air or himself).
8: The Browns tight ends will combine for over 90 yards. The Bucs tight ends will combine for more. Dammit.
9: The referees will screw both teams and ruin the game (*they might screw the Browns more*)
10: Genard Avery will get at least two tackles-for-losses, five overall tackles, at least a half-sack...etc.
11: The Browns will win by a comfortable margin in a high-scoring game (because of the damn Bucs damn tight ends and the Browns vulnerability to same plus the attrition in their secondary)...oh yeah "over"...definitly "over"...but I digress:
Browns 55, Bucs and Refs 24.
Update: The under/over is 52. I was kidding. That's about right.
Dammit.
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