we end up with mayfield and ward
and i'll be so freaking angry
At the moment, it is starting to seem like Mayfield at #1 isn't a bold prediction.
I gotta be honest, I'm not happy about it. I've watched so much Mayfield, and I want to love the kid, but I have some major issues.
- The offense was just so simple. For example, the game against Oaklahoma State game. Mayfield had like 6 touchdowns and 700 yards, but the throws were so easy. One was a 50 yard TD to a RB left uncovered, one was a 45 yard TD to the h-back after the safety fell down, one was an 85 yard TD on a slant to Hollywood Brown. Brown had another 50 yarder on a screen, Mark Andrews had two massive gains when left wide open. One TD was a sweep. As incredible as the production was, a fraction of the tape was impressive. All single-read, wide open looks. Baker can only run his offense, but it's not an offense that translates well to the NFL.
- Mayfield plays a highly athletic game, but he's not an athletic quarterback. His combine results were eye-popping. He hardly tested better than Darnold and Rosen. He was outright beaten by Allen. Mayfield is worse, athletically, than Manziel in every way - and we remember how lost Manziel looked out there as an athlete. It's easy to turn on a highlight tape and see Mayfield running around and doing his thing, but at the NFL I'd guarantee he lacks the athleticism to truly star.
- I'm not sold on Mayfield's arm. I like his short and intermediate accuracy, but I don't think he's got a very big arm. He also doesn't have the frame to grow into his body more like an Allen, Darnold or Rosen. All have developmental upside. Mayfield already has nice feet and a great stocky build for his height - I just don't see much room to get more out of him.
- While everyone loves the leadership, he was a disaster at Texas Tech when things were not going well. He transferred when beaten out by Davis and Mahomes, he threw his coach under the bus (Said he wasn't offered a spring scholarship, which his coach denied) while drawing a lot of criticism. TCU's coach said, "If people knew the whole story, they might not have a great opinion of Baker and his father." Mayfield's father is said to be intrusive, an, "arrogant guy who thinks he knows everything." So, which Mayfield do we get? The disaster at Texas Tech, or the Sooner with great leadership. What I do know is that we don't offer the immediate opportunity for greatness that he got as a Sooner. He'll likely sit behind Taylor on a rebuilding team that isn't yet read to win. Can he handle that? Will his attitude mesh well with a more mature, adult professional franchise?
I don't dislike the kid, but I'm concerned our team will fall in love with the idea of Mayfield while overlooking that as a prospect, there are serious questions regarding how he will translate to the NFL - both his play style and his admirable-yet-overwhelming personality.
I don't dislike Mayfield. I don't think he's the worst-case that I feel with Allen, but I struggle to see how he's the top quarterback. I'll trust Dorsey, but I'm just not seeing it.
