I’ve had a chance to watch the National TV punditry this week in re the Browns vs Cowboys.
It’s all been pretty objective and intelligent, except I feel the “concern” over whether or not Comrade Mayfield can hold up his end of a likely shootout with the white-hot Dak Prescott is a bit overboard:
Ever since Mayfield put on shoulderpads, shootouts have been kind of his specialty, including last 2 seasons at Oklahoma.
He NEVER. EVER. choked.
He lost a couple of his shootouts, but nobody with a brain tried to blame him, and he won the majority.
Right up until his Dyson-level suckage in 2019, Baker Mayfield relished “you go or I go” passing duels with other QBs (search “Mayfield vs Mahomes”...but make sure you’re sitting down).
Verily, Mayfield has done nothing in this preseasonless 2020 in a new system to redeem himself after 2019, but then, he didn’t have to.
Ok I heard that and it was dumb:
Vs the Ravens Stefanski didn’t panic early, and tried to maintain a balanced offense until the Ravens had a huge lead.
That’s because most of this offense’s passing game is built off the run.
Jedrick Wills was still having issues in true pass-sets, those are Jack Conklin’s weakness, Teller had much left to prove, and Stefanski runs a Shanahanian scheme ah crap if you don’t comprehend this by now you never will:
At no point in that first game was a shootout possible. Did you notice Mayfield twice overthrowing an open OBJ? Do you get that a Tight End pausing to chip a DE eliminates himself as a deep target vs an ears pinned-back passrush like the Ravens can generate?
The Browns weren’t ready, and couldn’t run their whole offense yet. Toss that game out!
Since then, Mayfield has been a semi game-manager...
“Semi” because he has consistently struck deep, and vs Washington converted two 4th and 10-plus yard situations (the failure of either of which might well have cost the Browns the game is any of this sinking in yet?)
The Browns have now played 3 games together, and the Mayfield-OBJ connection has clearly improved (nor has he been forcing the ball to him).
Fewer penalties, screwups, etc. You don’t need to be an expert to sense all this:
This Offense has been almost as prolific as the Cowboys’ over the last two games, and it’s not a mirage, ok?
Why exactly do the Browns have to resort to 5-7 step drop-backs and deep passes to keep up with the Cowboys, when they just scored 34 points on the Washington defense?
Well ok, I get that the Dallas OFFENSE is going to wreak more havoc on the Browns’ shaky Defense, but that’s being overstated, as well:
Greedy Williams is out, but Olivier Vernon, Denzel Ward, and Rodney Phillipsfield are questionable.
Ronnie Harrison has had time to learn the system, and he and/or Rodney Redwinefield should upgrade Free Safety (where it looks like Sendejo is washed up).
More importantly, the Browns don’t need to blitze to pressure a Quarterback, and the Cowboys DO.
Aldon Smith has been sensational (and good for him btw; dude was HOMELESS last year), but he’s all the passrush Dallas has.
The extra Tight Ends aside, the Browns’ Offense is designed to neutralize Edge-rushers like Smith.
No doubt, Dallas moves Smith around (and inside) to avoid chips and match him with slower blockers, but the wide/outside zone and rollouts inhibit this as well.
The Browns Offensive Line so far has been one of the best in the NFL, and is the best the cow-pokers have faced.
Meanwhile, the Browns have Myles Garrett...and Ogunjobi, Richardson, Elliott, Clayborne, and Gustin in a Carsonian attack-scheme.
This scheme has stifled the run so far by by blowing it up or forcing it wide, so it’s working.
As intended. Vs Mixon, name your Raven RB, etc.
That’s custom-made to stop the Cowpokers...sorta.
The Cowboys might well try to ram Zeke down the Browns’ throats ah screw it:
Zack Prescott has a smorgasbord of elite receivers to throw to check. He has maybe the best RB in the NFL check.
But his Offensive Line has issues.
My inner analyst is fighting my inner fan here; I’m not sure I can trust myself, but:
The Browns should win.
Once you get past the stellar Cowboys’ Wide-outs and Zeke, Dak and Aldon Smith, the Browns are the more talented and deeper team.
The Browns’ Tight Ends are superior to the Cowboys crew, and CLUE they count as receivers.
OBJ has been there/done that. So has LANDRY, for that matter!
The national pundits are sensationalizing Prescott’s 4 Wide Receivers, and all but dismissing Austin Hooper, OBJ, Landry, Harrison, Hunt, Hodge etc as if they don’t matter.
But they do matter! Tight Ends COUNT. Khaderal Hodge (a deep threat) COUNTS. Comrade Mayfield has more weapons than Prescott has, here on this planet.
It’s legit to question Mayfield himself. It’s legit to call the Cowboys’ WR corps the best and deepest in the NFL.
But it’s stupid to ignore Austin Hooper, Kareem Hunt, Harrison Bryant, and (by the way) Comrade Stefanski’s offensive scheme (as if that matters oyeee...)
The Cowpokers’ Defense can’t cover everybody. They couldn’t even without Chubb and Hunt trampling them.
In game 4, Comrade Stefanski (if I’m correct) will let Baker be Baker, and hit whoever is open deepest period.
If Mayfield is Mayfield, he can trade punches with Zack Prescott, like he did with Mahomes.
He’s HOPING for a shootout!
Okbye
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