Malacogary
Situational Stopper
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2019
- Messages
- 232
- Reaction score
- 434
- Points
- 63
I cannot get my head around the idea that Kevin Stefanski believed any of the stuff he would routinely parrot to the media about Baker's health. "He gives us the best possible chance of winning games" etc. These soundbites were given without any conviction or sincerity whatsoever.
There was one very telling visual from the Week 17 game where yet again Baker imploded on 3rd down, stared down two open receivers right in front of him, double pumped and then took a particularly ugly slow-motion sack. The broadcast cut to Stefanski who just just looked up at the sky, presumably thinking the Ivy League equivalent of "This fucking guy" and began to cross out huge swathes of his play sheet.
If Stefanski has any meaningful input on the immediate future of the QB position it is clear he has practically zero faith in Mayfield ever being successful at the helm of his version of a modern NFL passing attack. I think he regards Mayfield as being a hugely limiting presence with regard to that attack actually evolving.
The stuff about Baker being the starter going forward is likely mere window dressing. The organisation is not going to say publicly at this point that they intend to go in another direction. That would be hugely counterproductive as a negotiating position, both in terms of acquiring a replacement and dealing what they currently have.
I'm not quite as low on Mayfield as many of you in here. I think he still has some very qualified upside as a player. After the huge difficulties of last season—and we can only guess at quite how strained everything was behind the scenes for long stretches—I think a fresh start for Baker somewhere else is probably needed. I listened with interest to the Trent Dilfer comments about the relative skillsets of Burrow and Baker and the need for Mayfield to get back to who he actually is as a player. I don't necessarily know if Cleveland under KS is that place.
Having said all of that the idea of Trubisky, Bridgewater or Mariota coming here is a bit depressing. Anyone better than those types of players would need a lot of convincing to sign though.
There was one very telling visual from the Week 17 game where yet again Baker imploded on 3rd down, stared down two open receivers right in front of him, double pumped and then took a particularly ugly slow-motion sack. The broadcast cut to Stefanski who just just looked up at the sky, presumably thinking the Ivy League equivalent of "This fucking guy" and began to cross out huge swathes of his play sheet.
If Stefanski has any meaningful input on the immediate future of the QB position it is clear he has practically zero faith in Mayfield ever being successful at the helm of his version of a modern NFL passing attack. I think he regards Mayfield as being a hugely limiting presence with regard to that attack actually evolving.
The stuff about Baker being the starter going forward is likely mere window dressing. The organisation is not going to say publicly at this point that they intend to go in another direction. That would be hugely counterproductive as a negotiating position, both in terms of acquiring a replacement and dealing what they currently have.
I'm not quite as low on Mayfield as many of you in here. I think he still has some very qualified upside as a player. After the huge difficulties of last season—and we can only guess at quite how strained everything was behind the scenes for long stretches—I think a fresh start for Baker somewhere else is probably needed. I listened with interest to the Trent Dilfer comments about the relative skillsets of Burrow and Baker and the need for Mayfield to get back to who he actually is as a player. I don't necessarily know if Cleveland under KS is that place.
Having said all of that the idea of Trubisky, Bridgewater or Mariota coming here is a bit depressing. Anyone better than those types of players would need a lot of convincing to sign though.
Last edited: