That kind of stuff reminds me of that two year span where Peyton Manning manipulated defenses into exactly what he wanted on nearly every play. Keep it up Baker!
We finally have a QB who throws with anticipation, goes through his reads, and is a mad scientist when it comes to movement in the pocket.
I dunno about everyone else, but I’m already wanting to give this guy a mega contract. Theres not gonna be a sophomore slump with this guy either.
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
Is there a limit on how many of those you can get? Because this has to be some kind of record for just number of nominations, and the n for wins as well. Gives me a case of fan goosebumps!
I suspect he will surpass JFF at this rate. A delight to watch this today.
PS I wanted another score for Huey and carve Marv some more.
"Every responsibility implies opportunity, and every opportunity implies responsibility." Otis Allen Glazebrook, 1880
That highlight reel is awesome. I don’t recall a rookie with the pocket awareness and ability to feel pressure as well as BM does. Throws as well on the run as any other QB for me. Accurate, very nice arm, edgy, winner, leader.
I’ve been stopping myself from proclaiming it but - HE IS THE MAN to end our hurt.
Cowherd gets an audience because he says controversial stuff. It is a sign of the times, bashing somebody has become the new thing. If he would state facts, he would have no audience. He's like a shock jock, many tune in just to hear how absurd his next comment will be.
Memory is a funny thing. Most of us probably remember Baker looking so spectacular that day. But on a second viewing some two months later, Baker looks pretty rough and rookie-like. It is amazing how much he has progressed in such a short period of time.
Try it for yourself. View the video longer than that late 2nd Quarter fast drive for a field goal. Watch well into the 2nd Half. Yeah... Baker looks a little rough.
On A Sidenote:
If you watch all of the game, including the Tyrod Taylor bits, you will note that Todd Haley's gameplan and gamecalling wasn't working for Tyrod either. It becomes obvious how Haley refused to alter his playbook to suit the capabilities of his players. And this wasn't just a problem for the Browns. Even Roesthlisberger complained about Haley, declaring that the Steelers were leaving points on the field because of Haley's rigidity and refusal to adapt.
Haley is what I call a "System coach". System coaches are stubbornly committed to their precious "System" which may or may not adapt to the talent of the players available. System coaches don't care about anything but their System. The System matters more than even winning. If the right players aren't available to fit the System, well, that's OK. A good GM can build a roster of players perfect for the System in about five years.
I despise System coaches, of which there are a great many in the NFL. They are some awful combination of stupid, unimaginative, stubborn, and cowardly.
All coaches yap and blather about how they adapt their schemes to suit the talent of the players on the field. Very few coaches actually do this. The rest are lying SoB "System coach" mediocrities.
</ System coach rant concluded. >
Last edited by AaigSuckinDawg; 12/30/1808:22 AM. Reason: Added the SoB bit. Had to call them SoBs.
Let me guess. He is not a bozo or a media whore? Instead, he is a profit.
Perception equals reality.
What are you thoughts on what he actually SAID in that link so graciously provided by Jester? I can't control who gets to speak in the media...I can't control who they are or were...but he made some really good points in THAT interview.
For a change, we got some former-player insight that wasn't all "look at me and what I did in the league". I found his comment about not letting "people" on the filed during a game was very interesting. That also might be the first time I've heard him speak where he made me think and not just shake my head.
As a former player, I think he explained rather well the trash-talking and aggression that are simply part of the game...not to mention his comment that Baker is-who-he-is and that he's genuine in his actions and words. Good stuff really.
That was enjoyable to re-watch this morning. I'll keep this mostly about Baker....but there are some things here that I think are interesting.
The Jets came out with a ridiculous amount of confidence. They showed ZERO respect to Tyrod and he was sadly inept. Our offense had no chance to move the ball with TT at the helm.
For a rookie to come in cold like that - having taken ZERO 1st-team reps - is remarkable in itself. But to do that on OUR team and at THAT time with THOSE about-to-be-fired coaches on national TV is remarkable. (Not saying that your post suggests that you'd disagree.)
He had that sloppy fumble and couldn't get the ball in the endzone from the 8. Had a nice drive that stalled but started at the 5.
Things I noticed:
The Jets began to respect the pass after that first drive and the oline stopped looking inept
Man...he made some GREAT throws and had a couple behind the receiver that were caught.
Is it me? Or was the cadence the exact same on every snap?
That throw to Landry and That catch shook up the Jets D.
Aikman got on the Baler train rather quickly. I think he saw what was coming.
Calloway & Landry both had huge drops
Last point: That last drive in the 4th where we took about :30 off the clock was painful. The play-calling showed ZERO confidence in the Offense. I think that lack of confidence showed the rigidity of Haley and highlighted the incomprehensible mistake of not letting Baker take any reps with the 1st team up until that point.
That was a long-winded way of saying that I agree with your post.
Let me guess. He is not a bozo or a media whore? Instead, he is a profit.
Perception equals reality.
Wow, you really have a problem with Mayfield, It your guy or the highway. I don't understand it several times you would say, I was wrong but you must have some genuine hate for the kid or would that be hate for a poster like devicedawg who championed him as a prospect.
If I have this wrong and possibly your statement was about Cowherd a true Bozo and Media whore...then my apologies and a good example how communicating on a message board is not always easy.
??? Greatest thing to happen to the Cleveland Browns since we got our team back.
Defense wins championships. Watson play your butt off! Go Browns! CHRIST HAS RISEN! GM Strong! & Stay safe everyone!
I didn't even read/listen to it. I just made an observation that how people feel about media members. It's not limited to sports. People simply tend to like media types who echo their thought processes and discredit those who don't. That is why I said something like perception equals reality.
In addition to Haley's maladapted game planning, I think there was another factor causing problems for Tyrod Taylor.
The Tyrod Taylor we Browns fans saw for two and a-half games was NOT the Tyrod Taylor who played for the Bills all those years and did OK. Not great, not bad... but OK.
I think Tyrod shares a quality with Brian Hoyer. So long as both quarterbacks enjoy the full faith and support of their coaching staffs and do not have any significant competition from the #2 QB; they both play well.
But if the organization doesn't show much faith in them, or there is some hotshot backup QB breathing down their necks; both Tyrod and Hoyer lose their cool and do not play up to their limited potential. They just can't handle that kind of pressure.
Everybody on the Browns knew that Mayfield was the substantially superior quarterback. Well, everybody except those dummies, Hue Jackson and Todd Haley, who made bad roster decisions on the basis of politics, extreme bias for veteran players, and selfish CYA concerns - as opposed to starting the best talent available. I blame Todd more than Hue for a lot of this, though Hue gets a big chunk of blame for the awful hire of Todd Haley.
I think a lot of the problem with Tyrod was that he felt deeply unnerved by Baker Mayfield's presence. I say this with regret and sadness, because Tyrod Taylor has exemplary leadership qualities. He works extremely hard at his craft and serves as an excellent team mate. But his star was overtaken by a blazing, fiery comet.
Posted this in the Bengals Postgame Thoughts thread and had a request to post it in the main forum.
Love this long and extended discussion on Baker and the attitude he brings to the team and how his teammates respond to him (on every team he's ever played on). Several things stood out to me (in no particular order):
- The amount of trash talking, grudges and coaches calling plays to embarrass and target players that is prevalent but unseen by fans.
- That you have to be real good to be able to talk the talk / walk the walk - to carry that attitude. Baker is.
- Baker is being true to be who he is - he's genuine. He's authentic. To me that's the reason players respond positively to him.
- This wasn't a blanket statement that being good and having an edge/attitude is good .... the influence and reaction of the TEAM is sort of the litmus test. And the Browns players love them some Baker .... Muting his personality and trying to be someone he isn't is NOT necessarily going to be good for Baker or the Browns.
Bottom line for me is that Baker obviously has a huge issue with Hue ... I don't know if that is from something Hue said or did as the HC, something he said or did in the Media circus after Hue was fired, or if it's because he went to a division rival so quickly. . . . but Baker's "attitude" has surfaced in what can possibly be conceived in a negative way twice: [1] He didn't hug Hue (big freaking deal) and refereed to him as Fake (based on the post firing media tour I agree) [2] The stare down. Other than that Baker has been pretty dog gone exemplary. . . .
Just me, but I thought the media circus was classless and showed how incredibly insecure and self serving Hue is. Name me one other HC in the History of the NFL who has done what he did (let alone say what he said) .... the move to Cinci I could care less about. The guy has a right to work, and having been fired by the Browns I would hope his attitude is that he wants to prove that the Browns organization was wrong for firing him.
The noise and Baker hate from folks like Cowerd seems to me to be WAY WAY WAY out of balance with Baker's actual professional career.
The more things change the more they stay the same.
Baker had a GREAT year. Every reason to be excited right now which is awesome! Oh, and yes he still has a ways to go because he only just finished his rookie year.... anyone honestly expecting him to have done materially better in 2018 knows NOTHING about NFL football. Criticize if you want but at least TRY to be objective about it.
Baker is advanced in reading defenses as I have ever seen from a rookie. Andrew Luck was the only one I have seen who operated at the level Mayfield did this season. He gets through his progressions, he throws with anticipation, he will throw 50/50 balls and isn’t scared.
Just look at the progression over time. There every reason to believe with a full offseason dedicated to him that he will improve on some of his flaws. He does not handle mixed reads well, specifically when the defense shows man and drops linebackers/Safeties under his vision/pre snap read. Baltimore and Houston both got him on this.
I have never seen a rookie galvanize a team like Mayfield. He is exactly what this team needed.
Anyone better than I (most of you) in acquiring the facts but can we list the achievements Baker has made this rookie season showing how great he is.
I can start of course with this one. In 13.5 games Baker set the all time TD in a season record for rookies. Just one of I think many achievements he has made showing us that we got something special here.
And how can we collectively throw mud balls at Cowherd...lol
Defense wins championships. Watson play your butt off! Go Browns! CHRIST HAS RISEN! GM Strong! & Stay safe everyone!
Anyone better than I (most of you) in acquiring the facts but can we list the achievements Baker has made this rookie season showing how great he is.
I can start of course with this one. In 13.5 games Baker set the all time TD in a season record for rookies. Just one of I think many achievements he has made showing us that we got something special here.
And how can we collectively throw mud balls at Cowherd...lol
To put that in perspective, we had 30 passing TD in all of 2016 & 2017
We finally have a QB who throws with anticipation, goes through his reads, and is a mad scientist when it comes to movement in the pocket.
I dunno about everyone else, but I’m already wanting to give this guy a mega contract. Theres not gonna be a sophomore slump with this guy either.
I wanted to beat Baltimore in the worst way but since it didn't happen, looking for the bright side... Baker is at his best when he feels slighted or undervalued. Ending the season the way he did with a missed throw followed by an INT to miss the chance to knock a division team out of the playoffs isn't going to sit well with him. I think he is going to work his butt off in the off-season...
I'll keep this mostly about Baker....but there are some things here that I think are interesting. 
