Baker Mayfield: Fire The Cannons

[natedagg]

To quote the moving picture classic The Replacements, Baker looked like a duck on a pond last night.

“Like a duck on the pond. On the suface everything looks calm, but beneath the water those little feet are churning a mile a minute.”

Pretty much exactly how I felt about Baker watching him last night. He looked remarkably poised and in control... from the waist up. But those feet are perpetually in motion. His footwork is choppy, borderline wild and causes most of his “all arm” passes.

The good news is that Baker, unlike a lot of QBs, has enough arm talent (strength + accuracy) to still be very effective even when his footwork isn’t ideal.

As the game slows down for him, his footwork will surely get better.

He was late on a couple of throws, but all things considered, there’s very little to critique besides “guy needs more time on the field.” He threw some guys open, went through some reads, put balls in tight windows, and critically, if only for a series, showed some red zone potential. I actually liked his 2 out of bounds runs because both seemed in control and he didn’t run too early.

The giants had a shitty team and secondary last year so it’ll be fun to watch him as the competition levels up, even in the preseason. Hopefully he gets some time w the 1’s just to appreciate full game speed.

 

[Soda]

We want our QB to be moving his feet quickly. We also want our QB to set his base when throwing. Ultimately, though, a guy moving his feet more positive than negative. Jared Goff & Drew Brees (and Peyton in his day) move their feet a ton.

 

[dark2332]

We want our QB to be moving his feet quickly. We also want our QB to set his base when throwing. Ultimately, though, a guy moving his feet more positive than negative. Jared Goff & Drew Brees (and Peyton in his day) move their feet a ton.

I’m with this.

He gets a little sloppy with his feet, but as a guy under 6’1, he makes so many throws from different arm angles and platforms. You can tell he has a naturally live arm and that he’s played a lot of baseball.

He really does have a Drew Brees element to his game.

Also, I was excited to see that his running ability translated in the same manner as it did in his last two years at OU. The ability to move in the pocket, roll out, and pick up a 3rd and 4 when needed.

He’s definitely quicker than he was timed.

 

[Soda]

Also, I was excited to see that his running ability translated in the same manner as it did in his last two years at OU. The ability to move in the pocket, roll out, and pick up a 3rd and 4 when needed.

I was very impressed with his comfort in the pocket. He climbed it well when necessary, also.

I don't want to get ahead of myself, but I have to say that his awareness and overall play was encouraging.

 

[Kbiz]

He certainly look the part. He made some very tough NFL throws last night. His TD to Njoku was about as tight of a window you can get in the league. I was especially impressed with the pass he made on the run to Callaway off his back foot - he fit it right where he needed it to and still got some heat on it.

His footwork is a bit all over the place but he's always been a bit of a "bouncy" guy in the pocket but when he plants and delivers, wow - he can get some major zip on that thing.

Live look at the Baker Bandwagon this AM:

 

[Soda]

"One of the best QB debuts I've ever seen"

 

[bboy]

everybody enough with the feet already....he'll be fine

 

[AZ_]

Very positive debut, really showed some improvement keeping his eyes down field and climbing the pocket.

Still reverts backwards too often, still unnecessarily making poor mechanical decisions.

Last night was NOTHING if not a positive sign of development for him. He's clearly improved quite a bit.

Not having any pressure to play right now definitely does seem to be paying off.

 

[Triplethreat]

Very positive debut, really showed some improvement keeping his eyes down field and climbing the pocket.

Still reverts backwards too often, still unnecessarily making poor mechanical decisions.

Last night was NOTHING if not a positive sign of development for him. He's clearly improved quite a bit.

Not having any pressure to play right now definitely does seem to be paying off.

The hedging begins

 

[Jordan]

Very positive debut, really showed some improvement keeping his eyes down field and climbing the pocket.

Still reverts backwards too often, still unnecessarily making poor mechanical decisions.

Last night was NOTHING if not a positive sign of development for him. He's clearly improved quite a bit.

Not having any pressure to play right now definitely does seem to be paying off.

Yep, I texted my friend after the first half ended, and said, “I love Baker, but am ecstatic that we have Tyrod for the year. Baker looks great but has to work on avoiding jitters in the pocket.”

Baker is doing everything asked of him. Hopefully he gets to sit all season, learn, and takeover when his time is ready.

 

[AZ_]

The hedging begins

You really don't quit, huh?

We're going to have to pretend like I said Baker Mayfield was the Ethan Albright of QBs coming out. All so you can seek the acknowledgement you so desperately seek.

 

[Pick6]

View: https://twitter.com/FTFonFS1/status/1027897713738883073

 

[brownsbuck6]

Yep, I texted my friend after the first half ended, and said, “I love Baker, but am ecstatic that we have Tyrod for the year. Baker looks great but has to work on avoiding jitters in the pocket.”

Baker is doing everything asked of him. Hopefully he gets to sit all season, learn, and takeover when his time is ready.

I honestly don't know what you saw that made you think he had any pocket jitters. That was one of the most impressive things to me was his pocket awareness, kept moving his feet, moved up in the pocket to buy time and kept his eyes downfield. The few times he took off for first downs it was last resort, but he shows an innate awareness of the pocket around him.

Only nit picky thing I see is he needs to continue to work on footwork, and not throwing from his back foot so much. Not surprisingly his worst throws came when he did that.

But I saw literally zero jitters. Just don't agree with that characterization.

 

[DJTJ]

People are catching on.

Feels good. Can’t wait for next week. Looking forward to more improvement. Get that comp% up.

Who’s the guy who said Mayfield never went through reads??

In college, and on tape, it was clear that he didn’t.

Doesn’t mean he couldn’t, but there isn’t a single person who can honestly watch the college tape and say, yeah, he can move through progressions so quickly.

 

[Ohio]

You really don't quit, huh?

We're going to have to pretend like I said Baker Mayfield was the Ethan Albright of QBs coming out. All so you can seek the acknowledgement you so desperately seek.

Dude spazzed after Barkley's run, which only happened because Kirksey & Ward both slipped (and Randall took an AWFUL angle).

His next 3 carries went for 3 yards.

Such is life with an all or nothing back. For every 20 yard run he has twenty 1 yard runs.