My plan is to watch at least 5 games of each top quarterback prospect. In addition to game film I will do some outside research to try and get a full picture of each prospect.
Need to get a few things out of the way regarding Baker Mayfield. First is his size. He is small, not fast but elusive, plays from a spread offense.
There are guys we can look to that because of his size there will be comparisons: Drew Brees, Russell Wilson, Manziel.
Mayfield's background and how he got to where he is; is a big part of who he is. He has carried a chip on his shoulder for a long time about being "too small". He has had some issues off field. There has been plenty written about it. They are not complete red flags but are note worthy.
The NFL in general wants quarterbacks to be bigger.
The Oklahoma spread. Very difficult to watch this offense and forecast the player to an NFL offense. The best you can do is try to watch plays post snap and then try and find plays that display like type conditions that he would later face.
He has a plus arm with a compact delivery. For the most part he shows good accuracy however, he does miss some open guys.
In the games I watched from this year he had good protection. When protection or time gave out he was more apt to leave the pocket and try to create. Not a pocket quarterback in general. He would fall into the scrambler category. Has that "make it happen" mentality as a passer or runner. Takes way to many "body" chances running the ball.
He can throw well off the run. He can throw from multiple platforms. Shows good touch.
He is tough. Plays with passion. Those traits are admirable but can lead to injury.
He has good instincts for the college game. But may find the NFL game very different. Playing under center and delivering the ball from set drops (3, 5 ,7) to timing patterns is different game. Not his fault but there will be necessary adjustments he will have to make.
Russell Wilson played from a more pro type offense coming from college. Drew Brees is a pocket passer. Manziel I will not get into. We dissected him enough. I will say as far as style of play coming from college he resembles Manziel the most. Part of that comparison is from the offenses they played in.
Accuracy in the NFL is a must. Mayfield has shown good accuracy. He also shows the ability to go to secondary targets at times. But the way they run that offense a lot of plays are per-determined pass plays and the receiver gets stared down.
In the end analysis there are things I like about Mayfield but there are things that give me pause. The most difficult part of evaluating Mayfield is forecasting his skill set to a NFL offense.
Some guys like Mariota who came from a spread offense were easier to evaluate because in Mariota's case post snap there were many options that required progression reads. In addition he was asked to do more and had more offensive responsibility.
We shall see how Mayfield stacks up against the other prospects.
I very much appreciate you taking the time to watch video and post here about what you saw. This part of what you posted should set off alarm bells with every Browns' fan, not to mention the Browns FO:
Quote:
He is small, not fast but elusive, plays from a spread offense.
You have to understand, the spread is where QB's come from these days. I talked about this 7 years ago and told people this was the trend to watch. Some will remember.
The pro game is starting to follow the college game. They have had to because the HS game and the college game produce spread QB's.
If everybody had like minds, we would never learn.
I will look at all the top guys and anybody that catches my eye.
When I am done I will compare some of them as it pertains to the Browns. Finally I will select the guy I would like to see with the Browns.
Of course it doesn't mean a thing. They will draw their own conclusions. So far they have never selected the guy I wanted.
The only time I felt it might happen was with Andrew Luck. But of course that was spoiled when Maurice Drew had the game that put the pick into the Colts hands.
Thanks for putting in all the effort. It sux that draftbreakdown is charging. I am not going to pay. Though I appreciate all the effort they put into doing the cutups.
Mayfield looks like the real deal, but so many others have as well.Seems like size is the biggest issue. And playing in the Big 12. I was listening to the Okie St game Saturday and one of the analysts made a comment about Rudolph but it applies to Mayfield as well. When was the last time a Big 12 Qb was successful in the NFL? Those funky offenses just don't prepare a guy for the NFL game. I think Mayfield has what it takes to be the exception. But when you start looking for exceptions you get yourself in trouble.
Speaking of Rudolph. Love the way he throws the ball but reminds me of Bryce Petty. I like Petty but the NFL game is too big for him. Hard to know what is in a players head so he could be different. He throws a nice ball but it occasionally gets away from him. Accuracy has improved from last year.
Intended to add thoughts on a few other players but need to leave for work. Will chime in a little later.
Am I perfect? No Am I trying to be a better person? Also no
Everything I have seen from Mayfield (albeit I will admit is limited) he just screams johnny manziel 2.0 to me. Flash of good here, flash of good there, but just not cut out for the NFL.
I have also paid my only $2 a month for draft break down and have watched a ton of Mayfield. I will give you my thoughts.
-Has easy zip on short and intermediate passes.
-His long ball needs work with trajectory but has plenty of arm.
-accurate with ball placement and in general accuracy.
-throws a very catchable ball, knows when to zip it and when to put touch on the ball.
-very fast processor of information. His best trait. Has always been able to recognize when and where to throw it, so not an offense familiarity thing.
-sometimes he gets too antsy in the face of pressure.
-plus escapeability but sometimes tries to do too much.
-steps in the bucket a lot.
-he is short but thick. He is 6 foot, but an easy 220 lbs. Not at all like Johnny and much more similar to Dak and Wilson.
Overall, if he were 3 inches taller, he would easily he QB1. But he is 6 feet and teams will penalize that against him. IMO? Size is not a skill.
Mayfield is a very good prospect. He is Wilson 2.0, nothing like Johnny. He has had one off the field incident that was very public, but is reportedly a VERY hard worker. Has a big chip on his shoulder too. Personally I love his attitude.
Watched what they have on the draft breakdown site.
Also, saw the OK vs Ok State game live.
I've watched almost every one of Mayfield's games. But I'm a homer for OU too so I'm staying out of this. For the record, I'm not qb whisperer but I like the kid. He's a winner.
Natural leader. Good under pressure. Quick release. Good on his feet and throws well on the run. Good accuracy and touch on the ball. Tough kid all around.
Wish he was taller, had more experience under center and that he didn't have that Manziel moment on his record.
I've not paid the slightest bit of attention to other qb's. Like I said, I'm a homer. I watch OU and OSU, not college football. I'm not advocating he be our QB. Personally I'd rather Kiser work out for us so we can spend that pick on another necessary piece to the Browns puzzle.
Most feel like bigbaddawg mentioned, it was his first bonehead action so lets move on. I agree with sentiment. People like to forgive and as long as he uses it as a teaching moment people will. If he does it again, or something equally moronic, then I'd be concerned.
All caught on video. To be fair, it was a one time thing.
Peyton had a "manziel moment." Kizer has had a "manziel moment." Big Ben has had a "manziel moment."
I think what's more important is how he handles himself afterward.
I love that he's going to want to go out there every Sunday with a chip on his shoulder wanting to prove an "undersized quarterback" can play in the NFL.
Mayfield seems like the kind of kid that if.. big if.. he comes into the NFL and lights it up, I might love his cocky brash attitude and showmanship... but if he comes in and struggles those things wear on you quickly.
Unlike some of the old sticks in the mud around here, I like my players to play and carry themselves with some attitude.. I don't want them to hand the ball to the referee when they score, I want them to celebrate... I want them talking on the sidelines and, if necessary, getting in another players face if he does something stupid.. holding each other accountable... I want them to do a little trash talking in the media... all of this, of course, comes with the caveat, that they better be able to back it up on Sunday.. I want them celebrating go ahead scores in the 4th quarter, not 4th quarter scores that pull us to within 21. I do have my limits.
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