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Baker Mayfield: Fire The Cannons

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If all we have to pick at is body language after two preseason games, things are looking pretty good.

Height was the biggest concern. I guess system too. I haven't seen it be a detriment yet. Understanding of offense, accuracy, decision making, and pocket awareness have all been above average/elite so far. Watching Baker work the pocket has been a thing of beauty.
 
I didn't watch the game but just watched the highlights of his plays posted by @red.

Mayfield made a few bad decision/dangerous throws that I think he wishes he could have back. I was impressed with his ability to move his feet and create extra time in the pocket all while keeping his eyes down field.
 
I went back and looked at all of Darnold throws in two weeks...

Darnold Week 1
1. Immediate swing pass to RB for no gain. (1st read, complete)
2. Looks to RB in left flat. Pressure. Hits TE on shallow cross for 8 yards (1st read covered, complete to 2nd read)
3. Looks to RB in left flat. Covered. Pressure. Scrambles for 5 yards. (1st read covered, run)
4. Looks to WR right the whole way. Back shoulder throw incomplete. (1st read, inaccurate pass)
5. Looks to WR left the whole way. Hits slant for 8 yards. (1st read, complete)
6. Looks to TE middle whole way. Hits stop for 9 yards. (1st read, complete)
7. Looks to WR middle whole way. Hits cross for 8 yards. (1st read, complete)
8. Looks to TE middle. Covered. Hits check down to RB for 1 yard. (1st read covered, complete to check down)
9. Looks to WR left. Has slant open. Comes off slant against pressure to hit deep out from slot TE for 18 yards. (1st read open, complete to more open 2nd read)
10. Looks to TE middle. Covered. Hits slant for 8 yards. (1st read covered, complete to 2nd read)
11. Looks to TE middle. Covered. Steps up and rolls right against pressure. Hits 14 yard TD pass on scramble drill. (1st read covered, buys time, complete to 2nd read)
12. Play action bootleg left. Has FB open in flat, opts to run for 3 yards. (1st read open, runs)
13. Looks to Slot left the whole way. Hits flat for 5 yards. (1st read, complete)
14. Looks to WR left. Covered. Hits check down to RB for 1 yard. (1st read covered, complete to checkdown)
15. Looks to WR right the whole way. Not open. Throws inaccurate pass on slant. Defender drops INT. (1st read, inaccurate pass)
16. Play action right. Hits FB in flat for 3 yards. (1st read, complete)
17. Looks to slot WR left. Covered. Throws deep to outside WR left. Inaccurate pass. (1st read covered, 2nd read open, inaccurate pass)
18. Play action left. Good pocket. Accurate pass to deep crossing route. PBU by CB on impressive play. (1st read, PBU)
19. Sacked
20. Play action bootleg left. Hits medium crosser throwing across body for 13 yards (1st read, complete)

Week 1 Totals
Dropbacks: 20
1 read throws: 7/10 passing for 46 yards
2 read throws: 5/6 for 61 yards, 1 TD
3+ read throws: None
Check downs after 1 read: 2/2 for 2 yards
Check downs after 2+ reads: None
Designed runs: None
Scrambles after 1 read: 2
Scrambles after 2+ reads: None
Sacks: 1
Throwaways: None


Darnold Week 2
1. Looks to Slot right the whole way. Hits flat for 2 yards. (1st read, complete)
2. Play action bootleg right. Pressure. Throwaway.
3. Sacked
4. Looks to WR right. Covered. Complete to left slot post for 13 yards. (1st read covered, complete to 2nd read)
5. Looks to WR right the whole way. Hits outside hitch for 6 yards. (1st read, complete)
6. Looks to WR middle the whole way. Hits inside hitch for 11 yards. (1st read, complete)
7. Play action right. Hits RB for 9 yards. (1st read, complete)
8. Looks to RB middle the whole way. Hits shallow cross for 6 yards. (1st read, complete)
9. Sacked
10. Looks to TE middle. Covered. Check down to RB for 11 yards. (1st read covered, complete to check down)
11. Looks to WR middle the whole way. Open on inside hitch. Ball batted at LOS. (1st read, batted down)
12. Looks to WR right the whole way. Hits outside hitch for 4 yards. (1st read, complete)
13. Play action left. Looks to middle inside hitch the whole way. Double covered. Ball easily intercepted. (1st read, interception)

Week 2 Totals
Dropbacks: 13
1 read throws: 6/8 for 38 yards and 1 INT
2 read throws: 1/1 for 13 yards
3+ read throws: None
Check downs after 1 read: 1/1 for 11 yards
Check downs after 2+ reads: None
Designed runs: None
Scrambles after 1 read: None
Scrambles after 2+ reads: None
Sacks: 2
Throwaways: 1

Darnold Preseason To Date
Dropbacks: 33
1 read throws: 13/18 for 84 yards, 1 INT
2 read throws: 5/6 for 61 yards, 1 TD
3+ read throws: None
Check downs after 1 read: 3/3 for 13 yards
Check downs after 2+ reads: None
Designed runs: None
Scrambles after 1 read: 2
Scrambles after 2+ reads: None
Sacks: 2
Throwaways: 2

The Jets are being SUPER conservative with their young rookie. Giving him a pretty defined first read on every passing concept.

To his credit, Darnold has been good about diagnosing these first reads presnap and getting the ball out quickly and accurately, but it hasn't led to much success with just a 4.67 YPA on all of these short throws.

What I find to be very interesting is that Darnold has actually been very effective when he is forced to come off his first read and find another, but he's only actually done it 6 times in 33 drop backs. He seems like he's a little too cognizant right now of "if I hold the ball, I may get sacked" and is opting to get rid of the ball before his pocket has really even begun to collapse.

I also did not see a single drop back where Darnold came off his 2nd read and went to a 3rd or 4th read.

I'll write up all of Mayfield's throws a little bit later.
 
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What I really noticed about Baker are two things:

1) He stays in the pocket so well. Most rookies tuck and run, and Baker only does that as a last resort. He uses that with his super-quick reload to make passes under pressure.

2) He is so damn accurate. The ball goes where he wants it to go...short, intermediate, deep...he puts it on the money.

I have very little doubt he can be the anchor of this franchise for a decade.
 
Mayfield Week 1
1. Play action. Looks to TE middle the whole way. Ball overthrown. (incomplete to 1st read)
2. Play action. Looks to WR right the whole way. Hits back shoulder for 26 yards. (complete to 1st read)
3. Play action. Left WR screen dropped. (incomplete to 1st read, dropped)
4. Looks to TE middle. Covered. Hits square in to left WR for 21 yards. (1st read covered, complete to 2nd read)
5. Looks to WR right the whole way. Deep pass incomplete. Slight overthrow. (incomplete to 1st read)
6. Looks to WR crosser. Covered. Looks to slot middle. Pressure. Scrambles for 6 (1st read covered, 2nd read covered, run)
7. Looks to TE deep right the whole way. Hit on throw. Ball lands incomplete short. (incomplete to 1st read)
8. Looks to Slot flat left. Covered. Looks to square in right. Covered. Scrambles for 5. (1st read covered, 2nd read covered, run)
9. Looks to RB flat right. Covered. Looks to left WR cross. Covered. Looks to right WR cross. Covered. Hits TE on deep cross for 10 yard TD (1st read covered, 2nd read covered, 3rd read covered, complete to 4th read).
10. Play action. Looks to WR right. Hits square in left for 13 yards (1st read covered, complete to 2nd read)
11. Looks to WR deep left the whole way. Pass wide incomplete. (incomplete to 1st read)
12. Looks to WR left. Looks to WR right. Throwaway.
13. Looks to WR middle on shallow cross. Diving PBU by CB. (incomplete to 1st read)
14. Play action. WR screen right complete for 9 yards. (complete to 1st read)
15. Looks to TE left flat. Covered. Rolls and hits deep comeback to WR right for 24 yards. (1st read covered, complete to 2nd read)
16. Play action. Looks to right WR the whole way. Hit slant for 20 yards. (complete to 1st read)
17. Looks to WR right the whole way. Deep pass incomplete. (incomplete to 1st read)
18. Looks to WR left. Covered. Hits RB left for 12 yards. (1st read covered, complete to 2nd read)
19. QB sneak
20. Play action. Looks to slot middle deep. Covered. Scramble drill right. Deep pass incomplete to WR right (1st read covered, incomplete to 2nd read)
22. Sacked
21. Play action. Hits TE in flat for 19 yards. (complete to 1st read)
22. Hits Left WR screen for 4 yards. (complete to 1st read)
23. Looks to right WR the whole way. Hits slant for 54 yard touchdown (complete to 1st read)

Week 1 Totals
Dropbacks: 23
1 read throws: 6/13, 134 yards, 1 TD
2 read throws: 4/5, 70 yards
3+ read throws: 1/1, 10 yards, 1 TD
Check downs after 1 read: None
Check downs after multiple reads: None
Designed runs: 1
Scrambles after 1 read: None
Scrambles after multiple reads: 2
Sacked: 1
Throwaways: 1
Dropped Passes: 1

Mayfield Week 2
1. Looks to TE right flat. Covered. Looks to WR shallow cross right. Covered. Checks down to RB for 2 yards (1st read covered, 2nd read covered, check down complete to 3rd read).
2. Designed RB screen. Hits RB for -2 yards. (complete to 1st read)
3. Sacked
4. Looks to WR right the whole way. Pass to outside hitch broken up. (incomplete to 1st read, PBU)
5. Looks to WR right. Covered. Looks to WR middle. Covered. Scrambles for 4. (1st read covered, 2nd read covered, run)
6. Looks to WR middle on cross. Covered. Looks to check down. Covered. Throws to TE deep middle. Dropped. (1st read covered, 2nd read covered, incomplete to 3rd read, dropped)
7. Looks to WR left the whole way. Hits inside hitch for 9 yards. (complete to 1st read)
8. Looks to WR right the whole way. Hits quick out for 9 yards. (complete to 1st read)
9. Looks to WR left. Covered. Hits slot TE over middle for 26 yards. (1st read covered, complete to 2nd read)
10. Looks to TE middle. Covered. Looks to WR middle. Covered. Scrambles for 6. (1st read covered, 2nd read covered, run)
11. Designed shovel pass. Blown up. Runs for no gain. (1st read covered, run)
12. Looks to Slot middle the whole way. Incomplete pass. Underthrown. (incomplete to 1st read)
13. Looks to WR right. Covered. Hits WR middle for 13 yards. (1st read covered, complete to 2nd read)
14. Play action. Pressure. Throwaway.
15. Looks to WR left. Covered. Hits Slot middle for 18 yards (1st read covered, complete to 2nd read)
16. Looks to WR right. Covered. Scramble drill right. Incomplete pass behind original 1st read (1st read covered, incomplete on scramble drill)
17. Looks to WR right on endzone fade. Perfect pass. Caught, but unable to get 2nd foot down before knee hit out. (incomplete to 1st read)

Week 2 Totals
Dropbacks: 17
1 read throws: 3/7, 16 yards
2 read throws: 3/3, 58 yards
3+ read throws: 0/1, 0 yards
Checkdowns after 1 read: None
Checkdowns afer multiple reads: 1/1, 2 yards
Scrambles after 1 read: 1
Scrambles after multiple reads: 2
Sacked: 1
Throwaways: 1
Dropped passes: 1

Mayfield Preseason To Date
Dropbacks: 40
1 read throws: 9/20, 150 yards, 1 TD
2 read throws: 7/8, 128 yards
3+ read throws: 1/2, 10 yards, 1 TD
Checkdowns after 1 read: None
Checkdowns afer 2+ reads: 1/1, 2 yards
Scrambles after 1 read: 1
Scrambles after 2+ reads: 4
Sacked: 2
Throwaways: 2
Dropped passes: 2

In 40 dropbacks, Mayfield has made multiple reads 15 times (37.5% of the time) compared to just 6 of 33 dropbacks for Darnold (18.1%).

Darnold has been more accurate on short, quicker throws but Mayfield has done a significantly better job attacking down the field and going through progressions. Mayfield has been tremendously good coming off his first read, finding soft spots in zones with arm strength and accuracy.

Mayfield has also had two passes dropped compared to Darnold with zero.

Darnold has been more apt to "my primary isn't open, I better run before I get sacked" where Mayfield's runs have been more of a "I've exhausted all my options, let's pick up some yards with the legs".
 
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My post in the game day thread saying “Baker is better than Tyrod right now” for 4 disagrees.

People really think Tyrod is a better QB??
 
Lee said:
Where did you get this stat, I counted 4 or 5 longer passes in just the Buffalo game.
Click to expand...

He meant Darnold. I got confused too and wrote a scathing post shitting him for being wrong last night and had to ninja edit it once I realized what he meant :chuckle:
 
Triplethreat said:
My post in the game day thread saying “Baker is better than Tyrod right now” for 4 disagrees.

People really think Tyrod is a better QB??
Click to expand...

I think people are tired of explaining to you that:

A. Of course Baker, a #1 overall pick, has more talent than a former 6th round pick. It's a waste of time discussing.

B. Of course the long-term confidence and success of Baker is more important than the Browns record the first 5 - 10 games of this season. This isn't the Super Bowl run season. This is the return to respectability season.

C. Do it right this time, Browns. Frankly, you as a poster have no clue how to do it if you keep forcing this conversation four times a week.

BTW - Spare us the idea that taking the right steps with a rookie QB is anti-Baker Mayfield. I'm saying take your time and my fantasy team is Baker's Dozen + Kicker.
 
Triplethreat said:
My post in the game day thread saying “Baker is better than Tyrod right now” for 4 disagrees.

People really think Tyrod is a better QB??
Click to expand...
What’s the harm in making sure that Baker is overly prepared?

Seriously, what’s the issue if he sits an extra few games when he was ready? I have to know.

Because we all know the risk involved with putting him out there too early.

He’s been great. He’s sharp. He’s obviously ahead of schedule. But that doesn’t mean he has to play even if he’s more physically gifted than Taylor.

Learning how to lead. Learning the professional game. Observing preparation from a Pro Bowl QB—these are all good things for him.

And when his time comes—even if he’s ready “enough” now—he’ll be much better for it.
 
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Triplethreat said:
My post in the game day thread saying “Baker is better than Tyrod right now” for 4 disagrees.

People really think Tyrod is a better QB??
Click to expand...


i honestly think now Baker is probably better for this offense than Tyrod

Baker is more accurate, throws a better ball and cooler under pressure

Baker would feast with all the talent on the 1st team offense..... I dunno, I get what theyre trying to do but Baker is just good
 
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