Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield is facing multiple tests this season. Some have come from his opponents, the others from his own team.
First things first, Baker Mayfield has been blitzed at the highest percentage of any quarterback in the NFL. The Browns signal callers have faced pressure from five or more pass rushers an astounding 32.9 percent of the time this season. (This percentage does include the starts from Tyrod Taylor early on in the season). What this means is that opposing defenses want to pressure the rookie into making rookie mistakes. Mayfield has made some mistakes but has also succeeded when facing adversity.
Mayfield’s completion percentage is only 55.6 percent this season, not necessarily a good mark. Passing for 1,076 yards with four touchdowns and five interceptions. Mayfield has also fumbled three times this season. These fumbles are not the product of rushing, but being sacked 13 times in four games. The sacks are without question a result of poor receiver play and the absurd amount of pressure he has faced. Pressure will get the best of most rookie quarterbacks, Mayfield is not an exception.
In time the pressure should subside, as it has for more established quarterbacks. For reference the least pressured quarterbacks this season are Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford, Cam Newton and Andrew Luck. Once Mayfield is able to make opposing defenses pay on a regular basis the pressure will subside due to fear of being beat through the air.
Baker Mayfield’s receivers are doing him absolutely no favors
An astounding 8.5 percent of Baker Mayfield’s passes have been dropped this season. This number is absolutely disgusting. The next highest number is Blake Bortles with a drop rate of 6.8 percent. The next highest rookie is Sam Darnold with 5 percent. For reference if the often praised Darnold had the same drop rate as Mayfield his completion percentage drops four percentage points and is nearly identical to Mayfield’s. Darnold’s completion percentage would be 55.8 compared to Mayfield’s 55.6 percent. Also can be argued that a few of Darnold’s touchdown passes would have been dropped. Exactly what happened to Mayfield all season long.
Things will not get easier for Mayfield in the drops category.
Rashard Higgins, Rod Streater and Derrick Willies are all injured. The only healthy receivers are Jarvis Landry, Antonio Callaway, Damion Ratley and Breshad Perriman. Another receiver will be added before the end of the week, but probably will not be a flashy name. This was covered more extensively in a previous article. Any receiver the Browns sign needs to do one thing. Catch the ball.
The Hue Jackson factor
The ultimate negative x-factor, Hue Jackson. Time and time again Jackson has stated he wants to get other players involved the offense and fails to do so. While Todd Haley is the offensive coordinator, Jackson is still the head coach. Ultimately it is up to Jackson who plays and who does not.
Before this past week Jackson said he wanted to get Duke Johnson and Nick Chubb more touches. To the surprise of no one, this did not happen. Johnson got six touches and Chubb ran three times. Both amounts are on par for what each player has got in each game this season.
Johnson is an electric playmaker, when given the chance to do so. Unfortunately the chances are not there. Chubb is an absolute beast when given ample opportunities. Rather than give the young players a chance to make plays the team continues to go back to the well with Carlos Hyde. Hyde is a veteran and has a place in the league. However Hyde being the overwhelming primary ballcarrier in the backfield is a travesty.
Hyde’s 3.4 yards per carry is a career-low on a career-high 19 rushes per game. Logic says give the ball to other players. Instead Hyde continues to get carries which takes away opportunities for Johnson and Chubb to make plays. Plays that would help take the pressure off of Baker Mayfield.
The resilience of Baker Mayfield
Baker Mayfield is quite the resilient individual. Every step of the way in his young career Mayfield has faced an obstacle of some sort. From being a walk on in college to backing up Tyrod Taylor to start the year. In the end Mayfield steps up and success. It is not beyond the imagination of anyone to see Mayfield succeeding again. Even if that includes throwing to a lackluster receiving group this season. Hue Jackson will not do Mayfield any favors and it is possible the Browns front office will not either. It will be up to Mayfield to make things happen rather than depend on everyone else to do it for him. Considering Mayfield’s history, this appears to be a challenge that he is ready for.
