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might as well have been.

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Browns

Footwork? Lose weight? Find a backup? What about Cleveland Browns messages to Baker Mayfield?



By Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer

ABOUT BAKER MAYFIELD

Think back a year ago.

Baker Mayfield was coming off a powerhouse season where the Cleveland Browns QB set an NFL rookie record for TD passes. Freddie Kitchens was named head coach, primarily because of his success calling plays for Mayfield.

Digging deeper, that was the problem.

Kitchens owed his job at least in part to Mayfield. And Mayfield was smart enough to know that.

It created an unhealthy situation, especially when things went poorly for both men. It led to Kitchens being fired after a 6-10 season. Mayfield ranked near the bottom in several QB ratings for starters.

We can debate if Mayfield fell into the trap of entitlement. He had commercials and magazine covers while the Browns hype went into what we now know was ridiculous overdrive.

For whatever reason, Mayfield wasn’t the same QB as he was his rookie year. Kitchens was overwhelmed. In the end, the front office and most of the coaching staff were fired while Mayfield lost some of his rookie-year glitter.

THINGS HAVE CHANGED

The biggest job for Kevin Stefanski and the new coaching staff is to get Mayfield back to his 2018 form.

It’s important to realize Stefanski and new GM Andrew Berry aren’t as attached to Mayfield as was Kitchens. There was a sense from some players that Mayfield wasn’t pushed as hard as needed by the former coaching staff.

That won’t be the situation in 2020.

With Berry in charge, the Browns are stressing the need for everyone to deliver the same message. At their introductory press conferences, Berry and Stefanski stressed their confidence in Mayfield.

“The sky is the limit for Baker," said Stefanski. But the coach also said he had a “detailed plan” set for Mayfield. The same is true for other players.

Part of that plan involves changing Mayfield’s footwork, as new offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt explained at his press conference. Most fans know there were times when Mayfield was off balance when he threw the ball.

“It all starts with the feet,” said Van Pelt, adding it’s important to “me and Kevin (Stefanski)” that Mayfield make some adjustments.

Something was wrong as too many of his passes sailed high in 2019, especially compared to his rookie season. That also could be a footwork problem.

CHANGE THE SHAPE

The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported the Browns want Mayfield to be “slimmer.”

I was told the new Browns regime doesn’t want to leave the impression that Mayfield was horribly out-of-shape. But Mayfield’s off-season plan to add muscle and bulk to be stronger for 2019 didn’t work.

The good news in 2019 was Mayfield became only the second Browns QB since 1999 to start all 16 games (Tim Couch in 2001 was the other). But he looked slower and less athletic than in 2018.

I don’t know much about Mayfield’s physical condition in 2019, other than he was able to survive all 16 games. But I do like the idea the Browns want him to work on his footwork. I anticipate he will take more snaps directly under center, and that puts a premium on quick feet.

Want faster feet and better balance? Have less bulk. That makes sense.

For what it’s worth, at the 2018 NFL Combine, Mayfield was measured at 6-foot, 5/8th inches and weighed 215. At the end of the 2019 season, the Browns listed Mayfield at 6-foot-1, 215 pounds. So according to that, he didn’t gain any weight.

But last August, Mayfield admitted he put on some weight for 2019, but declined to say how much.
BAKER & CASE KEENUM

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield and Denver Broncos quarterback Case Keenum talk after the game in 2018. Photo by Joshua Gunter / cleveland.comcleveland.com

ABOUT A BACKUP

Veteran Drew Stanton missed all last season because of a knee injury, meaning rookie Garrett Gilbert was the backup QB to Mayfield.

I believe the Browns want Gilbert as the third QB, at least as of now. But they are shopping for a quality veteran who has the right “Tough... Smart... Accountable” attributes Berry and Stefanski have mentioned over and over.

For a while, I’ve been pushing for Case Keenum, who is a free agent. The 32-year-old Keenum has been with five teams. His best season was 2017 when he had an 11-3 record as a starter for the Minnesota Vikings, with Stefanski as his QB coach.

For his career, Keenum is 27-35 as a starter. He is respected for his unselfish attitude and can do a decent job if needed to start.

Signing Keenum would not lead to a dreaded QB competition in training camp. But it would let Mayfield know there is a solid player behind him who can start if necessary. Also, Keenum is an example of how to survive in the NFL without outstanding physical skills.

Keenum was paid $7 million last season. I’d offer him about $5 million as a backup. The Browns also are reportedly looking at Chase Daniels. He’s not as attractive.

THE BOTTOM LINE

The last thing the new regime wants to do is search for another starting QB.

Analytics is important to the front office, and analytics loved Mayfield when he came out of Oklahoma. Had former V.P. Sashi Brown remained in charge of that draft, my guess is he would have used the top pick on Mayfield.

The analytics and basic football stats were very promising after Mayfield’s rookie season. So the Browns still believe in him for a variety of reasons.

The Browns haven’t said so, but I believe they want to challenge him – and they’re not afraid to do it.


https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2020/02...r-mayfield.html

Article Title: Unflattering Photo of Baker Mayfield With Giants’ Stars Has People Thinking He’s Gained Weight (PIC + TWEETS)

You can read and view here: https://www.totalprosports.com/2020/01/3...ght-pic-tweets/


#workinghard

Coming out, I thought Baker was one of the most accurate passers I'd seen in years. And he displayed that often his rookie year. But I agree with you to the extent that I was baffled by his lack of accuracy last year. I couldn't decide of it was the bulk he added, the plays, or the scheme... I don't think it's not fixable, but I won't be happy if it's not fixed by the end of camp this year.

I'm not going to comment on the coaching/FO changes but right now I'm feeling pretty uninspired to follow the Browns... I hope this feeling changes by the time the season starts because I have never followed another team, but I'm struggling to continue being a diehard fan.

I'm not going to comment on the coaching/FO changes but right now I'm feeling pretty uninspired to follow the Browns... I hope this feeling changes by the time the season starts because I have never followed another team, but I'm struggling to continue being a diehard fan.

At 74, I am liking Noah Igbinoghene CB from Auburn. Greedy had a disappointing year, and Ward is too injury prone and gets burned too many times to keep around.

At 41, TE is also a major need. They need to move on from Njoku. I really like Cole Kmet TE from Notre Dame

Article Title: Unflattering Photo of Baker Mayfield With Giants’ Stars Has People Thinking He’s Gained Weight (PIC + TWEETS)

You can read and view here: https://www.totalprosports.com/2020/01/3...ght-pic-tweets/


#workinghard

Imagine if he had done that last season. We all know that his HC made him less accurate and worse than he was in 2018.

What he is getting paid is irrelevant to the quality of player he is and so you are going to keep a bad player because he is cheap. Explain how that translates to winning. He is inconsistent, and has very questionable hands