Mayfield eager for chess match vs. blitz-happy Williams
QB expects Browns’ former coach will have some surprises tonight.
BEREA — Baker Mayfield anticipates Gregg Williams repeatedly attacking him with blitzes on “Monday Night Football.”
The o nly real question is whether the Browns quarterback will be able to make the New York Jets pay for the ultra-aggressive approach of their defensive coordinator.
“Greggis the same mindset guy every week, so we knew what to expect out of him,” Mayfield said Thursday as he prepared to lead the Browns (0-1) against the Jets (0-1) at MetLife Stadium. “We know this one means a lot to him.”
The Browns believe Williams will be out for revenge after he guided them to a record of 5-3 as their interim head coach last season but lost out to Freddie Kitchens for the full-time job during the NFL’s hiring cycle in January. Williams also spent the past two seasons as the defensive coordinator of the Browns.
“We’re all familiar with him. It presents challenges,” Mayfield said. “We’re sure that he has some stuff waiting for usand surprises here and there. We’ll be ready for anything.”
The blitzes won’t be a surprise, though. A heavy dose of them
is a staple of a Williams-led defense.
“The only way to strike fear in somebody to not bring pressure is you have to hit explosive plays,” Browns offensive coordinator Todd Monken said. “You have to take advantage of it. If you don’t, there’s no risk-reward, and it’s all reward from their end of it.
“Now with [Williams], I’m not sure he stops. I don’t know if he has much of a deterrent. It is what it is. Gregg has been successful because of that. I have a lot of respect for him.”
No defense will be afraid of the Browns if Mayfield doesn’t bounce back from his rough outing in a 43-13 season-opening loss to the Tennessee Titans. The Browns were crushed by 18 penalties for 182 yards, but Mayfield also threw three interceptions, including a pick-six, in the fourth quarter. He finished 25-of38 passing for 285 yards and a touchdown with the three picks. His passer rating was 64.
“Something important for a QB is a short-term memory,” Mayfield said. “... I’m going to have my eyes in the right place and do the right thing.”
Refraining from holding onto the ball too long will be vital. In Week 1, Mayfield took five sacks, the same number he absorbed across the final eight games last season.
“[I was] definitely holding onto it,” Mayfield said. “Get rid of the ball.”
The Browns have no doubt he’ll get the job done.
Coach Freddie Kitchens pointed out the offense isn’t far away from executing the types of plays it’ll need against the Jets. On the first snap of the fourth quarter against the Titans, wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. broke free on a deep route, but tight end Demetrius Harris was penalized for holding while linebacker Sharif Finch pushed him back and pressured Mayfield out of the pocket. Kitchens is confident Mayfield would make the play if he received a bit more help.
“Baker is very resilient,” Kitchens said. “I’m not worried about Baker at all.”
“He’s not going to quit ever,” Beckham added. “... He’s the leader of this team.”
Center JC Tretter said Mayfield has comported himself this week the way he normally does.
“There’s no nervousness or angst about what’s going on here,” Tretter said.
The Browns are lucky that’s the case. Mayfield hurt his right wrist while taking a sack for a safety against the Titans, but he practiced throughout this week.
“It looks good,” Mayfield said while raising his throwing hand as if he were presenting evidence in a courtroom.
The Jets had just one sack in their 17-16 season-opening loss to the Buffalo Bills, but their defense generated four takeaways, including an interception returned for a touchdown, and a safety. The Bills trailed 16-0 late in the third quarter but rallied against Williams’ defense for the win.
Mayfield said he relishes the opportunity to face the blitz-happy Jets “if we can get on the same page and be able to get the ball out, protect and push the ball the ball down the field. Whenever you’re playing a team that blitzes, different things and exotic stuff, you have to be on the same page.”
Monken said Mayfield “is fantastic with getting us in the right protections and where to go with the ball if they come because you can’t block them all. He’s really good at escaping, so it’s hard to corral him . ... We just have to do a great job of communicating.”
It will be essential. Williams cannot afford to be predictable, especially because of the familiarity the two coaching staffs have with each other, so disguises are in order.
Still, the bread and butter of his system is attacking.