DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum How Baker changed everything

Apparently there is another series of articles on this topic. This is a good one for the salary cap guys and why Dorsey isn't going to be overly patient with getting the team ready to win now.

https://expo.cleveland.com/sports/g66l-2...e-contract.html

This is a Jake Burns article analyzing Baker's play last year. This Burns guy is really good.

https://expo.cleveland.com/sports/g66l-2...-film-room.html

here's a video of Bitonio on the topic.

https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/video/jo...ou-want-to-play

Njoku is clearly a fan.

https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/video/da...owns-enter-camp

Njoku is someone who I’d get along with haha

One of our board members tried to talk about that after the season but it didn't go over very well. Hell, another board member even made fun of him for saying such a thing.

Breaking down last year won't help them win this year. I expect they'll pay little attention,

This train's on a tight schedule.

I remember there being some discussion on the matter...I think the conversation didn't get legs because Baker has a 4 year deal with a 5th year option. Too far away for many to get interested in at this time. JMO

This article really goes into a lot of detail - not too interesting for me personally (too much detail as I get the point), but the numbers guys and salary cap gurus should enjoy the read. Those pre-CBA QB deals were insane.

I enjoyed your article. It makes sense to me. And I was the one who started a thread about taking advantage of having a good qb on his rookie deal. It just makes too much sense not to take advantage of it. The hard part is obviously finding a qb good enough to count on.

You know, sometimes I shake my head in amazement at the job Dorsey has done in such a short period of time. Super posted all those positional analysis threads and in almost every single case, you see something about how that particular position is so much better than just a couple of years ago. Hell, just look at the QBs and WRs. It's freaking amazing!!!

The change in the roster makeup is truly remarkable...and the salary cap was not completely destroyed in the process...impressive.

The Burns article is a great read as well. He does an impressive job of making his point easy to understand by a variety of fans - from deep Xs and Os guys to the less technical fans. His breakdowns of Collins' play last year were eye-opening..

Yeah, Burns does a great job of educating people. He provides pretty good detail and explains things in a way that almost anyone can understand.

It really is amazing what KJ has done ... it seems every position group has at least ONE STUD and plenty of talent around it ...

U mentioned WR’s & QB and that alone is incredible ...

I believe our WR corps is the best in the league and if Calloway develops it’ll be head and shoulders above the rest ... not even close ... and when we get Hunt back I believe the combo of him and Chubb will be even better than the WR group when comparing them to the rest of the league at their respective positions ...

Our DL isn’t talked about to much around here and its one of the top 3 in the league and could end up the best when its all said and done ..... the talent of our 4 starters is flying under the hype radar but is right there with the others ...

In the backfield we have Ward and Randall and who knows what we have in Greedy ..

The only position we don’t have bonafide studs at are LBer and TE ... by the end of the year Njoku or Harris could emerge as studs at TE ...

The turn around is mind boggling to me in the short period of time it took to do it ...

His “batting average” is going to come down a lot ... but the fact he hit on so many things all ready is just amazing ... last year’s draft could go down as the greatest in the history of the league .. and that includes when back in 72 i believe it was when the niners drafted 3 dudes for their secondary and All 4 of the niners defensive backfield started for the nfc in the pro bowl ...or maybe they were still playing college teams back then and all 4 of them started on that team ..

Anyhow .. his batting average is comparable to Joe D’s 56 game hit streak ...lets just hope it don’t turn into when Ted Williams won the triple crown but Joe D in the biggest snub ever won the MVP ...

LETS GOOOOOOOOOoooooooooo

What's amazing is that I was disappointed in that draft. I didn't like taking Baker, Corbett, or Chubb where we did. I was okay w/the Ward choice.

Man, was I wrong about that overall draft.

See, I was highest on Rosen. But Baker fell behind him as my number 2. I acknowledged that the manager had other information that i might not have in-terms of character/chalkboard knowledge. But Baker was clearly my number 2 guy. Definitely behind Rosen, but closer to Rosen than Darnold (who was my number 3)

I was fine with Nick Chubb. Didn't understand the Ward pick over Bradley Chubb, and never heard of Austin Corbett.


And i'm absolutely giddy about last year's draft. As the title of this topic says, Baker changed everything. There's not a player in the NFL that i'd trade Baker with. There's no other player that i want to lead us on Sundays over Baker Mayfield

You're right, Petey. Baker is the key. I was wrong. I can admit that.

Nice video.

I don't know if it's possible to overstate the difference in Freddie's play calling and schemes compared to Haley's.

Well ... neither of us has liked many if any drafts we’ve had since our return ... odds were stacked against us being right again ... *LOL* ...

I wanted Darnold but was 100% fine with Bake and would have been fine with Rosen also ... due to the fact his only “weaknesses” were things like could he throw into tight windows and he played in a “gimmicky” offense ... he had no real negatives the questions all revolved around things he didn’t have a chance to do ... that and tabbers takes (i trust tabber .. to me he’s one of the dudes who knows more about football then me) ..

LOVED the Ward pick just based on need and where he came from ... and i had NO CLUE HOW GOOD HE WAS ... HOLY CRAP BATMAN ...

I would have preferred K. Johnson over Chubb but LOVED Chubb also ... after Bark there was a group of about 4 or 5 backs i had about equal ... Chubb was right there ... i liked Johnson just slightly better ... i really liked that dude ..

Only thing that matters is KJ and COMPANY got it almost 100% right ...

Lets not forget there’s Corbett and a few others that may shine this year ... this class could possibly get even better ... wooooohoooooo ...

The only person I remember on this board as being 100% pro Baker was devicedawg. There may have been others, but he was the one who advocated the most and got into it with those who thought it should be Darnold or Rosen.

I also remember the look & vocal disappointment by those Dawgs at the Draft when his name was called. So many got it wrong including the "experts" in the media.

Regarding Ward, when Chubb was still there everybody expected him to be the pick. I liked Dorsey and Gregg's quick response as why they chose a corner over a DE. It all made perfect sense and with exception to his missed weeks due to concussions/injury he made a dramatic difference from game one onwards.

I still question Corbett, that may be the one duff pick of the draft, but let's see how he does in year 2.

In Dorsey we trust.

Here's the next installment...excellent content.

https://expo.cleveland.com/sports/g66l-2...and-browns.html

j/c:

Tabber was also ....

Device and tabber nailed that one ...

To point out some of the understated and underrated impacts of guys like Vice Grips... we protected Baker by using lots of Max Protect, which severely limits the number of routes getting run - and we were still getting guys open with amazing consistency and racking up completions.

How many times in the past have we seen the Browns sputter, flail, and die on offense the moment we have to start keeping guys in to block? Now, we're able to do it and still tear defenses a new one. This all goes to Kitchens, the impact of Baker, and the skill & abilities of WR's that actually know how to get open and force a defense to react to them.

I think that is a good point. I'm not a fan of using max protection because it makes it pretty difficult for your receivers to get open. I think our receivers must have done an excellent job last year in those situations.

Willie clears his throat loudly. Just sayin'.

I got on the Baker train after his senior year and was all in on that guy from that point forward. Disclaimer: I've been wrong about players as much as I've been right. I was the sole rider on that train within my circle of Browns fan buddies...but they came around very quickly. On draft day, I nailed the first six picks...ended my streak when the Bills took Allen. Disclaimer: I was guessing/picking them one round at a time...and got very little correct after that.

Next hindsight claim will be with Kitchens. I was all-in from the start...a couple guys were curious and one guy was vehemently against it. Let's hope a blind squirrel finds more than one nut.

That vid is showing the offense out there dictating. Protecting a QB is a lot easier with plenty of help and an offense that is fluid.

Most of Baker's movement behind the line seems predictable to the OL. He's very good at buying time at the right pace, maximizing his window, sometimes chasing the window all the way to the sideline. That's not hard for the OL, it's Baker vs defender at that point.

QBs that see a breakdown quickly and react before the defender expects it, maximize their window. And they make their OL look good while doing it. The "dictating" we witnessed last season with a rookie OC and QB was very refreshing.

We watched receivers running routes and expecting to get hit in stride.

It's a different mindset when a WR knows the QB is going to find him. It was an "aha moment" when Landry took one straight to the chest and watched it bounce away. And Baker Mayfield, the choreographer: on time, on target, freezing defenders, probably stares you in the eyes right before he throws the ball... and then grins.

The last play on this video, where he finds his window by stopping on a dime, to split defenders? Wow. The double clutch TD pass to Fells?? C'mon man. Over the course of last season, I began to notice that Baker, many times, throws directly at Njoku's head. Want to cure the dropsies? See if someone likes taking one to the face... He'll get those big mitts up there and make the catch!

Now add Hunt and OBJ to the mix - this offense is not coming out to dance with you, they're coming out to dance on your head.

I just really don't see the league keeping pace with Freddie, Baker and all this talent this year.

Nailed it!

We saw some things last year that we've not seen much of STR. The right play-call, the correctly-run route, the correct spot on the throw with timing that was darn-near perfect.

I felt like I was watching another team at times.

I really wanted Darnold and Chubb and Chubb ... so I was 1/3 correct. Not saying Darnold won’t be good/great, but I was very wary of Baker

Former Browns Offensive Line Coach Bob Wylie just told a story about the night Baker Mayfield took over in that Thursday Night game against the NYJ and won it. After Baker’s first series the O-Line comes to the sideline and they are laughing...Coach says why you guys laughing?

They say the Jets defense was taking trash and one Jets lineman says “hey rookie we are coming after you.”
Baker looks at him and goes “I don’t even know who you are man” The Browns Offensive line declared in that moment Baker IS THERE GUY

https://twitter.com/diannaESPN/status/1156532314496741381

A lot of people were,, I sure was.. You are not alone man..

Yeah, I recall it wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies in here that night. Admittedly, some did like the picks though

Baker Mayfield came in and led by example, and he succeeded. This thread is the epitome of the great players make the players around them better. Success pushes further success, and winning begets winning.

That's great!

That's Baker, through and through.

New look, new leadership style for Browns QB Mayfield
By BRIAN DULIK


https://apnews.com/bacdbb12d7b440a2983e5db8b79eda4c


BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Baker Mayfield didn’t hesitate to answer when asked what areas of his game he wanted to improve.

When the subject switched to his modified facial hair, he was far less revealing.

“That’s the elegance of having a mustache,” Mayfield said, unable to suppress a smile. “Maybe you’ll find out why I got rid of the goatee, maybe you won’t. That’s the great thing about having a mustache. It’s always a mystery.”

The second-year quarterback reveled being the center of attention Wednesday at the Cleveland Browns’ training camp, unveiling an array of situational plays designed by coach Freddie Kitchens and offensive coordinator Todd Monken.

Mayfield was especially animated when his unit failed to convert simulated late-game scenarios, loudly calling out teammates while displaying the leadership that Cleveland envisioned when it made him the No. 1 overall draft pick.

“Baker is leading in his way and that’s all he can do,” starting left tackle Greg Robinson said. “I didn’t know him from a can of paint last year, but there are some guys you can bond with and Baker is one of them. He’s open and he’s really friendly.

“When you get through one year, you’re more talkative and have a little more fun with it.”

The Oklahoma product and 2017 Heisman Trophy winner has been sharp-tongued toward his wide receivers over the first six practices, addressing Pro Bowl players like Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry in the same manner as undrafted free agents.

Mayfield offered no apology for pointing out their mistakes in front of fans — often using adult language — because he follows up the outbursts with calm, measured conversations in the locker room.

“I’m not a (jerk), you’ve got to talk through it,” said Mayfield, who set an NFL rookie record with 27 touchdown passes and won six games after taking the job from Tyrod Taylor in Week 3. “It’s nothing personal in getting after somebody. I hope they all hold me accountable, too.

“We need to be overcommunicating right now in practice because you’re not going to get two-minute drills where you have to score in the preseason.”

Kitchens has instructed his coordinators to treat 11-on-11 sets like a laboratory, experimenting with concepts that might not be used when the games count. He wants Mayfield to be uncomfortable improvising now and calm later.

“We’re creating an environment where it’s reactionary,” Kitchens said. “It’s about continuing to put the quarterback in a situation to decipher, then react accordingly. You may be planning on one thing, but teams may do something totally different. It can’t be a wasted play.”

Robinson said adjusting to numerous defensive schemes is challenging for linemen, but he noted that Mayfield’s running ability gives them some room for error.

“In a perfect world, you want him to stay in the pocket to make throws,” he said. “But if you do screw up or take a bad step, you do have that mobile quarterback who can slip out and keep the play going.”

The 6-foot-1, 215-pounder had 131 yards rushing last year and said he enjoys scrambling out of heavy pressure. Yet he also stressed that his primary objective is consistency, not leading the league in highlight-reel plays.

For the Browns to take the next step and make the playoffs after a 7-8-1 season, Mayfield knows he must reduce his 14 interceptions, seven fumbles and 25 sacks from 2018.

“I want to make fewer turnovers, put us in better position to score more often, less negative plays, definitely less sacks,” he said. “Just really commanding the offense and putting us in the best spot to win. More wins, though, is the best individual goal I can have.”

NOTES: C JC Tretter rolled his ankle but remained on the field after having it taped. RB Duke Johnson (hamstring), RB Kareem Hunt (groin), DE Olivier Vernon (hamstring), TE Seth DeValve (concussion) and DE Chad Thomas (illness) did not practice. . Cleveland Cavaliers center Larry Nance Jr. — a Northeast Ohio native — attended the two-hour workout with first-round draft picks Darius Garland and Dylan Windler. “We’re Cleveland fans, so it was good to have them out,” Kitchens said.

Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Or, is it somewhere in the middle?

It's a fun thing. It doesn't have to be good or bad.