Another Baker article. Pretty similar to the last one.
Browns coach Hue Jackson: ‘Baker Mayfield has been everything I thought a quarterback should be’ Published: July 29, 2018 - 7:12 PM By Nate Ulrich
Beacon Journal/Ohio.com
BEREA: Quarterback Baker Mayfield’s accuracy is starting to show up consistently at Browns training camp, and the rookie No. 1 overall draft pick is wowing the organization with the way he’s carrying himself, too.
Those factors prompted coach Hue Jackson to praise the reigning Heisman Trophy winner on Sunday after the fourth practice of camp.
“He’s an outstanding listener,” Jackson said when asked if the former University of Oklahoma star in any way resembles a know-it-all because of his celebrity. “I mean, Baker Mayfield has been everything I thought a quarterback should be for our organization thus far. He’s doing the things that we want him to do the way we want him to do it, and he’s exceeding those things because he’s putting in the time.
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inRead invented by Teads “He doesn’t have a pride or authorship any kind of way. I think his thing is, ‘You guys tell me what you need me to do, and I’m going to do it.’ That’s what he’s done since he’s walked in the building, and that’s exciting because that’s a player that’s eager to learn.
“But more than that, I think he’s built an unbelievable bond with Tyrod Taylor and Drew Stanton in that quarterback room, and I think that’s where it starts. I think there’s trust. … When you’re the first pick of the draft and you walk in, normally some guys walk in with their chests out [as if] it’s about me, me, me. He’s not about that. He’s about the team. He’s truly about the football team and about getting better.”
Mayfield has worked exclusively with the second-team offense while Taylor has taken all of the starting reps during camp. Both of them had impressive outings Sunday.
Mayfield hit wide receiver Rashard Higgins with a scoring strike in the back left corner of the end zone during a goal-line drill and later faked a handoff a split-second before connecting with Higgins for about 30 yards on an out route in another 11-on-11 session. In a seven-on-seven period, Mayfield threw a long pass on a go route to rookie wide receiver Derrick Willies, who beat cornerback Terrance Mitchell and ran into the end zone to score a touchdown of about 70 yards.
“Baker’s deadly accurate with the ball,” Jackson said. “So is Tyrod and so is Drew. I think our guys have been throwing some pinpoint passes, so the receivers, all you’ve got to do is be in the right spot at the right time.
“I just think [Mayfield] understands his teammates better, and he knows where to place the ball to give them a chance to make a play. I mean, he threw a ball behind the ear to someone today and, I mean, to me, it was outstanding. So those kind of things that he’s doing, along with standing in the pocket [instead of fleeing too soon].”
Mayfield’s growing knowledge of offensive coordinator Todd Haley’s system is another reason Jackson has seen “really good progress” from the top pick.
“Between Coach Haley and [quarterbacks] coach [Ken] Zampese and my every now and then, little prod, he’s done a really good job,” Jackson said. “He spends a lot of time here in the building. To me, him and Tyrod probably should just sleep here. These guys are here 24-7 doing everything they need to do along with Drew.”
“Baker’s deadly accurate with the ball,” Jackson said. “So is Tyrod and so is Drew. I think our guys have been throwing some pinpoint passes, so the receivers, all you’ve got to do is be in the right spot at the right time.
Not sure I believe this since I have seen a lot of Stanton.
“He’s an outstanding listener,” Jackson said when asked if the former University of Oklahoma star in any way resembles a know-it-all because of his celebrity. “I mean, Baker Mayfield has been everything I thought a quarterback should be for our organization thus far. He’s doing the things that we want him to do the way we want him to do it, and he’s exceeding those things because he’s putting in the time.
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inRead invented by Teads “He doesn’t have a pride or authorship any kind of way. I think his thing is, ‘You guys tell me what you need me to do, and I’m going to do it.’ That’s what he’s done since he’s walked in the building, and that’s exciting because that’s a player that’s eager to learn.
“But more than that, I think he’s built an unbelievable bond with Tyrod Taylor and Drew Stanton in that quarterback room, and I think that’s where it starts. I think there’s trust. … When you’re the first pick of the draft and you walk in, normally some guys walk in with their chests out [as if] it’s about me, me, me. He’s not about that. He’s about the team. He’s truly about the football team and about getting better.”
FIRE HUE!!!! All he does is throw his players under the bus!
Hue is our coach and you bashing him over NOTHING is not productive.
Please - as if anyone in Berea reads this stuff. I'll tell you what's really not productive; its the players feeling like they have a HC who doesn't have their backs.
Do you have proof of that? I can provide quotes from guys like Joe Thomas that say the opposite.
Stop your BS!
Do you have any quotes from Isaiah Crowell, DeShone Kizer, or Shon Coleman saying how much they appreciated Hue pointing out their shortcomings as players in public to the media?
Hard Knock Life: Browns camp – Day 4 news and notes
Corey Coleman, Rashard Higgins and the top 2 QBs shine at camp Sunday
Berea, OH (92.3 The Fan) – Corey Coleman wasn’t even supposed to practice Sunday and he went out and put on his best performance of this training camp.
Coleman, who is nursing a soft tissue injury, made a multitude of plays a day after having a difficult practice earning praise from head coach Hue Jackson.
“He said, ‘No, Coach. I want to practice.’ That was really good to see him step up,” Jackson said. “That is what you want to see. Go out there, compete and make plays.”
Coleman has lived under a microscope – in part because he was a first-round pick in 2016 selected 15th overall and secondly because of breaking a bone in his right hand in each of his first 2 seasons.
"I feel motivated," Coleman said last week. "Everybody wants to see [what I can do]. So I'm just working each and every day, putting my head down, just going after it, man."
Jackson and the Browns are hoping that the former Baylor star can stay healthy and shine in his third NFL season, especially with Josh Gordon being away from the team.
Coleman wasn’t the only wideout catching balls or the eyes of spectators.
Rashard Higgins, also drafted in 2016 but in the fifth round – No. 172 overall, elicited oohs and ahhs a few times from the crowd, including on a diving catch up the seam that went for at least 25 yards.
“[He] Made plays. That is what receivers have to do,” Jackson said. “They have to make the plays when the ball is thrown. Whether it is under-thrown, over-thrown or whatever that is, you have to make the play. That is what Rashard is starting to do. You are starting to see him show up every day, which is good to see.”
It helped that quarterbacks Tyrod Taylor and Baker Mayfield were throwing darts and dropping dimes during positional, 1-on-1, 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills Sunday.
All told, it was a great day for Coleman, Higgins, Taylor and Mayfield.
Catch me if you can – Tight end David Njoku continues to struggle with consistency catching the football.
For as an impressive of a physical specimen as he is – and he’s not afraid to show it either by tucking his jersey under his pads so his 6-pack abs show – the Browns would probably prefer he focus more on showing off his hands instead.
Midway through Sunday’s practice Njoku dropped 3 straight balls that were thrown to him in drills much to the displeasure of offensive coordinator Todd Haley, who let him hear it. He rebounded later by making a nice catch in traffic up the seam during a 7-on-7 drill.
“He is a young player. He made some plays but did drop some,” Jackson said. “He has to catch the ball better than he did today. That is obvious. He will. It is Day 4. He has some work to do. It is that simple.”
Packing on the pounds – Center JC Tretter added 10 pounds this offseason in an effort to give himself a stronger base to hold off opposing tackles this coming season.
“The defenses we play within the division I think having 10 more pounds will be beneficial,” Tretter said. “I worked with Katy [Meassick] our nutritionist here and stayed here most of the offseason. She did a great job of giving me a meal plan of what I should eat, when I should eat it, what it should consist of. She was a huge asset and big help. It's good weight. I can still be agile.”
Jackson feels the added weight will be a big bonus for Tretter this year.
“He plays against some of those 300-pound defensive tackles and nose guards – some of these guys are 340 – and he has to be able to hold those guys off,” Jackson said. “He normally can do it with quickness, but I think having a little bit more weight behind him will help him.”
Jackson also revealed what might be helping keep his offensive line in the 300-pound plus weight class.
“You guys should ask him about these protein muffins that he has in the offensive line room. They are unbelievable,” Jackson said. “He told me if I eat one, I will eat 10 so I have not had one, but those guys are eating a ton of them in that room so hopefully, nobody grows as big as a gorilla here pretty soon.”
Ratley returns – Receiver Damion Ratley returned to practice Sunday after suffering a hip injury during the first practice of training camp last Thursday.
“He made a play I saw in one of the deals,” Jackson said. “He went down and caught a ball. He made some plays. I am just glad he is back out there, but I will see more when I watch the tape. It is good to have all of our young players out there practicing and competing.”
Faces in the crowd – Former Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel visited camp Sunday.
Before practice Tressel spoke at length with general manager John Dorsey while players took the field and went through early drills.
The new Browns preseason television broadcast crew were also on hand – former ESPN anchor Jay Crawford and former Browns quarterback and No. 1 pick Tim Couch watched practice from the sideline.
New turf – Now that concert season is over at FirstEnergy Stadium, the grounds crew has begun installing the field for the upcoming season.
Fresh sod started going down Saturday after the stadium hosted the Taylor Swift as well as Beyoncé and Jay Z’s tours this year.
Crews have until Aug. 17 to get the field into shape when the Browns host Buffalo. The preseason opener is Aug 9 at New York.
Puppy pound counter – 4 puppies from the Northeast Ohio Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) were adopted Sunday and a total of 41 the first 4 days of camp. Since the program’s launch in 2015, 264 puppies have been adopted.
Injury report – TE Devon Cajuste (concussion), DL Daniel Ekuale (calf), WR Jeff Janis (knee), OL Greg Robinson (concussion), DL Trenton Thompson (illness-NFI), OL Desmond Harrison (toe-PUP), DB Jabrill Peppers (groin-NFI), DL Chad Thomas (hernia-PUP).
TE Seth DeValve left Sunday’s practice with a quad injury.
RG Kevin Zeitler, TE Darren Fells, C JC Tretter, DE Myles Garrett, RB Duke Johnson and LB Jamie Collins did not practice as part of the team’s health management program during training camp.
I don't feel like taking the time to look up quotes, but I do know that when Kizer called the dumbass audible to run it in down by the goal line that Hue bailed him out and said it was on him. Others came out and said it was all on Kizer.
Please stop. You're sounding like cfrs, Vambo, Memphis, peen, and other biased posters.
Hue should have thrown Kizer under the bus for two dumbass call.... thwt was the worst call I've ever seen in a professional football game... if hue actually called thwt play he would have been fired the next day... surprised Kizer wasn't benched the rest of the season after thwt play...
Have you guys read about how Josh Allen is doing? It's very very very very very early, but at this point it seems like we dodged a bullet.
(There are a bunch of videos of him online missing wide open guys horribly.)
ON the morning of the 2018 draft around noon, the car radio local station made it unclear whether the Browns had actually signed Josh Allen and went to comemerical, for 4+ minutes I thought he was the pick, trying to bring myself to accept it.
“Baker’s deadly accurate with the ball,” Jackson said. “So is Tyrod and so is Drew. I think our guys have been throwing some pinpoint passes, so the receivers, all you’ve got to do is be in the right spot at the right time.
Not sure I believe this since I have seen a lot of Stanton.
I know completion percentage isn't everything. With that said, Stanton completed 49.7% of his passes (on 159 attempts) last year and has a 52.4% completion rate for his career.
Drew Stanton is a very bad NFL player. Pretending he is anything else is blowing smoke. Just say, "Drew is a pro's pro."
Shon Coleman is not the answer, at least it would appear
It's day 4 of training camp, and he's switching from RT to LT.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Baker Mayfield has yet to throw a pick in camp, has developed amazing chemistry with Rashard Higgins and is starting to look comfortable under center.
On Sunday, he had his best day of camp, and Hue Jackson acknowledged that he's exceeded expectations.
"Baker Mayfield has been everything I thought a quarterback should be for our organization thus far,'' Jackson said after practice. "He's doing the things that we want him to do the way we want him to do it and he's exceeding those things because he's putting in the time. He doesn't have a pride or (arrogance) any kind of way. His thing is, 'you guys tell me what you need me to do and I'm going to do it' and that's what he's done since he's walked in the building and that's exciting, because that's a player that's eager to learn.''
What's more, Mayfield has absorbed every pearl of wisdom dropped on him by starter Tyrod Taylor and mentor Drew Stanton, both inside the RV parked outside the fieldhouse that he had to provide for the group, and out.
"He's an outstanding listener,'' said Jackson. "He's built an unbelievable bond with Tyrod Taylor and Drew Stanton in that quarterback room and I think that's where it starts,'' said Jackson. "There's trust. There's honesty and transparency among that group. When you're the first pick of the draft, some guys walk in with their chests out, it's about me, me, me. He's not about that. He's about the team. He's truly about the football team and about getting better. That's why I'm glad he's here.''
In practice, Mayfield has displayed the traits that led the Browns to select him No. 1 overall in the draft: a quick release, good vision, a strong arm and nimble feet. He's working exclusively with the second-team offense, but making guys like third-year pro Rashard Higgins look like starters. The two have consistently connected on deep balls, with Mayfield often fitting it into tight windows.
"Baker's deadly accurate with the ball,'' said Jackson. "So is Tyrod and so is Drew. I think our guys have been throwing some pinpoint passes, so the receivers, all you've got to do is be in the right spot at the right time, they'll put the ball in place where you get a chance to catch it. So that's been good.''
Jackson said it's Mayfield's accuracy that has improved since minicamp in June more than anything.
"Not that he didn't do it then, I just think he understands his teammates better and he knows where to place the ball to give them a chance to make a play,'' he said. "He threw a ball behind the ear to someone today and to me, it was outstanding. So those kind of things that he's doing, along with standing in the pocket, he's seeing the offense unfold a little bit better, because I think he understands the system better. He's making really good progress, which you want to see from your quarterback.''
What's more, Mayfield is picking up the system quickly, which means he's been studying hard in between getting engaged, winning and ESPY and vacationing in Hawaii.
"Yeah, again, between coach (Todd) Haley and coach (Ken) Zampese and my every now and then little prod, he's done really good job,'' he said. "He spends a lot of time here in the building. Him and Tyrod probably should just sleep here. These guys are here 24/7, doing everything they need to do along with Drew, so that's good for that group.''
Shon Coleman is not the answer, at least it would appear
My thoughts on LT are that we are not looking for the permanent solution at LT but the solution for this year. LT is our biggest hole and we are going to have trouble filling it. I am pretty sure that whomever we decide to put there is going to need schematic help. Definitely for the start of the season.
Then if the guy develops we are in great shape. If not, we are fortunate that next draft looks deep with highly thought of LT prospects. Multiple guys who can be 10+ year cornerstones at the position. If Coleman or Corbett develop then we go a different direction.
My prediction is that Corbett is going to be our center of the future, Bitonio and Zeitler at OG, Hubbard at RT and a 2019 1st round pick at LT. Backups will be Coleman, Drango, Reiter. That looks like a pretty good offensive starting 5 with 3 backups who have significant starting experience.
Alternatively, Reiter starts at center and Corbett at one of the OG positions and we let Zeitler go down the road. I like tretter, good solid center but nothing more than that. I don't know how old he actually is but it feels like he is getting a little up there.
Am I perfect? No Am I trying to be a better person? Also no
Why Browns safety Jabrill Peppers expected to find himself in fight for starting job: ‘I can hardly watch tape of myself from last year’
I have a few things to say about Peppers:
--I never wanted us to draft him. I was very vocal before the draft about that. I thought he was a dynamic returner and a "flash" player, but I thought he was bad in coverage.
--I was surprised last year that he was so bad in the return game. I thought he would stud-out there. It makes me question his speed.
--He was absolutely horrible w/his tackling in the open field.
--He was slow to react when receivers made moves while he was in coverage.
--He often looked confused.
--I do think he is suited to SS way more than FS.
--I think he won't be so good in coverage, but he can be a TJ Ward type. Blitz, make some big hits, play the run well.
--I like what he said. He's "owning it." I respect that.
--I do think he is a hard hitter.
--I think he wants to be good and that is important.
--I'm keeping an open mind on him this year. I hope he improves and at least comes close to his lofty draft status.
I agree with most of this post. Peppers has not been very good in coverage when playing FS. He just doesn't have the instincts for that position. He is much better around the LOS. Having said that, I think his best bet would be to put on 10-15 pounds and play OLB. He will be a good coverage Lb and I think he can be really good blitzing from the OLB position.
I wasn't surprised that Peppers struggled at FS last year. I was very surprised and quite disappointed by how poorly he did in the return game. I thought that he was going to be something special there. Our next Josh Cribbs. I am hoping that his struggles at FS messed with his confidence and that it overflowed into the return game. And that this year he will be more comfortable at his new position and his return skills will blossom into something game changing.
Am I perfect? No Am I trying to be a better person? Also no
QBs are not tall - so yeah noticeable...when balls keep getting batted I will start to worry. Mayfield actually looks taller than TT.
Corey I heard had a tough time and took off a day??? Don't know if he didn't go out there or took off mentally? He bounced back yesterday and had a very good day. Inconsistant I guess, he has to get his head together that is for sure. I have him as our 5th WR if Gordon isn't here he could be #4. No team wins or loses on who their #4 is.
LT...biggest competition is out with a concussion. Right now its Shon's job and he's not losing it. I think Desmond Harrison is his biggest competition and he's on the PUP list but they are working him out in back of the huddle with each play.
Bitonio is option Z as in last on the list...Canadian Gray seems to be the Comedy provider for the unit. Face it Coleman is going to be the guy. Unless Greg Robinson wins the job by end of camp. We will have support there probably more so with an RB than a TE.
jmho
Defense wins championships. Watson play your butt off! Go Browns! CHRIST HAS RISEN! GM Strong! & Stay safe everyone!
From 2nd day of camp: DL Caleb Brantley left practice for a second straight day due to cramps
yeah, i think he was okay the last two days
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Cooper is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Moore is flanked out wide to the right. Chubb and Ford are split in the backfield as Watson takes the snap ... Here we go."
Corey Coleman was scheduled to have a day off yesterday, but when as asked to practice, and reportedly had his best day of practice thus far.
It would be great if he could come in and and be an impact player this season.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
he's a big wild card for sure ... his consistency needs to improve, but let's HOPE that JG returns to make CC's role less integral
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Cooper is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Moore is flanked out wide to the right. Chubb and Ford are split in the backfield as Watson takes the snap ... Here we go."
Report: Eagles players confused, frustrated after meeting with referees about new helmet rule
Yahoo Sports Ryan Young,Yahoo Sports 13 hours ago
The NFL will implement a new helmet rule this season in an effort to protect players from dangerous hits on the field.
Apparently, though, that rule change is causing some confusion among both players and referees.
According to Tim McManus of ESPN, the Philadelphia Eagles were given a presentation by NFL referees this week that left multiple players frustrated and confused.
“We were trying to ask questions to get a better understanding, and yet they couldn’t really give us an answer,” Eagles linebacker Nigel Bradham told ESPN. “They couldn’t give us what we were looking for.”
The new rule penalizes a player 15 yards, and can potentially fine or eject a player, for lowering his head to make contact with an opponent with his helmet.
According to McManus, officials showed players clips of hits that are now considered illegal under the new rule. Some of them — including Malcom Jenkins’ massive hit on Patriots wide receiver Brandin Cooks in the Super Bowl — left both players and refs confused on how to rule them.
And, McManus reported, some of those clips appeared to be “routine tackles.”
“I’m going to make that play 10 times out of 10. If it’s a flag, it’s a flag,” Jenkins told ESPN. “You can’t slow yourself down thinking about rules in a split second. The game happens really, really fast, faster than the rules, I think, take account for, but I won’t let it affect the way I play.”
Now, the new rule is meant to be a positive thing — as it should help keep players safe and better protected from big hits. And with concussions and other related injuries a major concern, this rule is a good move.
However if the referees are struggling to understand the rule themselves and struggling explain to players how it works, it could end up causing more harm than good.
“[The refs] were kind of like, ‘Hey, we didn’t make the rules.’ Because I think guys were kind of frustrated,” running back Wendell Smallwood told ESPN. “Most of the defense was like, ‘Man, how are we supposed to tackle?’ They were frustrated.”
Now, it is early. Training camp is just getting started across the league.
Eagles coach Doug Pederson also told ESPN that both he and his staff plan on making the new rule a “point of emphasis” during meetings and on the practice field throughout training camp — and that the new rule had been made clear to him — so that should help the confusion, too.
Hopefully the Eagles, and the rest of the league, can get the new rule down before the start of the season.
“It’s been well communicated to us,” Pederson told ESPN, “and it’s our job to communicate to our players these rules.”
I hope that Coleman really steps u big, and Higgins continues his great training camp throughout the season. We might be able to put an end to the Josh Gordon melodrama once and for all.
Calloway has reportedly looked good, and Ratley also flashed yesterday.
Other deep roster receivers have looked good, as well.
I think that a lot of receivers are going to look good this year because of better QB play.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
yeah, the qb play is the big new variable (obviously) ... it'll be interesting to see how our offense looks
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Cooper is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Moore is flanked out wide to the right. Chubb and Ford are split in the backfield as Watson takes the snap ... Here we go."
I can't wait to see Chad Thomas. I think that he's going to be a beast in the DL rotation.
I hope that Trenton Thompson gets back on the field soon. (he was sick) I think that he's going to be a big piece on the DL.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
admittedly, i don't know anything about Thomas other than his measurables ... hopefully he can impact
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Cooper is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Moore is flanked out wide to the right. Chubb and Ford are split in the backfield as Watson takes the snap ... Here we go."
Browns HC Hue Jackson said he called LT Shon Coleman to the side after a team drill to tell him he needs to meet Hue’s standard for what he expects.
This is the type of thing I fully expect a head coach to do. However, IMO it is NOT the type of thing he should be relating to the media. SMH, Hue's still throwing players down the stairs.
That is lame. He didn't throw him down the stairs. The dude has been reportedly getting his ass handed to him and Hue was questioned about what he said.
You guys just look for reasons to slam Hue. It's old.
No, Hue is lame for propping himself up at his players' expense. Like I said, I'm fully aware that those kinds of conversations need to take place but they should remain between the coach and the player. This kind of [stuff] is how a coach loses a locker room.
You got it wrong. It’s the kind of stuff coaches do to build character and a better team. Hue only relayed a snippet to the press. Not the entire exchange. I agree with Vs. Some of you will go out of your way to bash Hue here.
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." Thomas Jefferson.
