Baker Mayfield – Trubisky comparison is inaccurate
We have reached peak hot take and attention seeking season because what we have here is an all-timer. Claiming that Baker Mayfield and Mitchell Trubisky are comparable quarterbacks.
Here is the deal, Baker Mayfield is not Mitchell Trubisky. This is nothing against Mitchell Trubisky, but Baker Mayfield is a far superior passer. Trubisky is a fine quarterback, but he is not anywhere near the caliber of passer that Mayfield is. What is considered good from Trubisky is not the same as what is considered good from Mayfield.
Trubisky is a quarterback who needs to use his legs to move the ball down the field. This is because he struggles to complete passes on a consistent basis. When the game speeds up it becomes too fast for Mitchell Trubisky. This does not apply to Baker Mayfield. As we saw several times last season, the game does not become too fast for Mayfield.
As a passer Baker Mayfield is more polished than Mitchell Trubisky and Mayfield can make throws that Trubisky can only dream about. Mayfield has a much stronger arm and can throw receivers open on a consistent basis. Two things that cannot be said about Trubisky.
Anything can look like an accurate comparison when you do not tell the whole story
An “analyst” decided to cherry pick some less than stellar moments from Mayfield’s first two games and decided to make a definitive statement about them. Two games in which Baker Mayfield has not looked like Baker Mayfield. Two games in a new offense just to prove a false narrative with flawed information. A narrative suggesting that Mayfield and Trubisky are comparable as quarterbacks. A narrative that claims that Mayfield’s performance is more indicative of his ability as a quarterback rather than adjusting to a new offense.
It is abundantly clear that through the first two games that Mayfield has looked a bit off. Nobody is arguing that fact. But trying to say that this is what he looked like last year is laughable. Mayfield simply does not look comfortable this season. Part of that is the new offense from Todd Monken. An offense that relies upon deep shots. These concepts can pose a problem for an offensive line that is questionable at best. Waiting for these routes to develop fully is difficult when the offensive line struggles to block on a consistent basis.
If Baker Mayfield was struggling with what he succeeded with last season it is a completely different discussion. The offense is clearly different and predictably there is an adjustment period.
The difference between this season and last season is how quick the offense was last year. Freddie Kitchens ran an offense last year that was predicated on what the players felt comfortable with, which is a lot of quick passes. Almost the complete opposite of what we’ve seen so far this season. Cleveland has used some quick concepts, but mostly it is deep shots that have been called.
The key to properly evaluating Baker Mayfield relies on two things. Whether the offense continues running plays that the team is struggling to run and if Baker Mayfield can adjust to what the defenses are throwing at him. Running a new offense while facing over half a century of defensive play calling experience in the NFL through three games will make most quarterbacks struggle (this includes the upcoming Sunday Night game against the Rams). It will be up to Freddie Kitchens, Todd Monken and Baker Mayfield to adjust accordingly.
The Browns offense had a moment against the Jets where they looked like they did last year. It was Baker Mayfield’s pass to Odell Beckham Jr. which resulted in a career long touchdown pass and reception for both players.
The ball is snapped, Mayfield executes the play fake quickly and the ball is out. Mayfield connects with Beckham before the defense can react and then it’s off to the races. This is the type of play the Browns need to run more of. This is what was successful last season. Quick passing concepts. Holding the ball for long passes clearly isn’t working. Snap the ball, execute a play fake (if necessary) and get it to the receiver as quick as possible, this is when Baker Mayfield is at his best. Hopefully seeing the success of this play will remind Kitchens of what worked last year and he will run more of it.
There is not enough of a track record to accurately compare Baker Mayfield to Mitchell Trubisky
The reason the person compared Baker Mayfield to Mitchell Trubisky did this for one reason and one reason only. Attention. Trubisky is an easy target for people to point at since the Bears traded up to take him over several other quarterbacks. Trubisky has had issues in regards to his development since reaching the NFL. Most of his issues are accuracy related while the others are his ability to read a defense. There are two-plus seasons worth of Trubisky tape to watch. Trubisky is in his second season with his current coaching staff and concepts, verbiage etc. are not going to change all that much. Trubisky looks about the same this year as he did the year before.
Baker Mayfield will have plenty of time to adjust to the new offensive concepts that are being utilized by Freddie Kitchens and Todd Monken. Second year quarterbacks tend to have a bit of an adjustment period to begin with. When a new offense is introduced that just adds to the adjustment process. Having weapons like Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry will make any quarterback feel the need to force the ball their way. Baker just needs to get comfortable, settle in and do what he does best. Find the open receiver and get the ball to him quickly. A concept which he has shown previously that he can do with ease. A concept which Mitchell Trubisky does not exactly excel at.
If Baker Mayfield is unable to progress and is having the same issues next season, then, and only then is when a comparison to Mitchell Trubisky can become valid.
