The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Baker Mayfield feels Dawg Pound fire
Top draft pick faces a wait behind Taylor at quarterback
Baker Mayfield gets it. Mayfield’s birth on April 14, 1995, was more than five years into the future the last time the Browns gave their fans real reason to cheer by advancing to the 1989 AFC Championship game, but somehow the rookie quarterback knows what it will be like if the Browns ever reach that status again.
Mayfield learned firsthand what Cleveland’s pro teams mean to the community last month when he attended an Eastern Conference finals game between the Cavaliers and Celtics at Quicken Loans Arena. He was shown on the Humungotron, waving his rally towel and cheering as though he’d been following the Cavs since he could walk.
“It’s much more than just a game, how much the people care about the Cavs and the Browns around here,” Mayfield said before minicamp practice on June 13 in Berea. “It’s a huge deal, so it goes far beyond the win and loss record. It goes to affecting families around here, bragging rights to traditions to the history of this town and it means just that much more.”
Exactly when Mayfield will get the chance to return the Browns to glory is to be determined. Barring injury to starter Tyrod Taylor, it probably won’t happen until 2019.
Taylor is on a one-year contract and unlikely to get an extension unless he is willing to reverse roles and become Mayfield’s backup. The Browns did not spend the first pick in the 2018 draft on Mayfield so he can be a career caddy.
Mayfield began working with the second unit, moving past eight-year veteran Drew Stanton, during organized team activities last week. Stanton was signed on March 25 — 11 days after the Browns acquired Taylor in a trade with Buffalo and a month before Mayfield was drafted. Stanton knew he was being signed to tutor the first pick in the draft. He has no problem slipping to third on the depth chart.
“Everything was mapped
out before I even signed of what we were looking to do and the reasons why I was brought here,” Stanton said. “Part of it is — and I tried to tell (Mayfield) when he got here — I’m here to be his advocate, to help him speed up that learning curve for him and do everything I can to try and help him get prepared to play.
“As I get to know Baker more, I’ll try to pick and choose where I can help him out, and sometimes, it’s just letting him learn. That’s really the best way to do it at this position — go out there and face trial by fire.”
Sometimes it’s difficult getting a fair read on players not with the first team because some of the players with the second unit won’t be on the final roster. Coach Hue Jackson, however, says that doesn’t factor into Mayfield passing the football.
“The day he walked out here, there was no question about his arm talent — his ability to ad lib plays and throw the ball around the field,” Jackson said. “I think it was being under center (that was a challenge), the terminology, how fast he’s going to be able to say the play in the huddle, communicate all of this information to the whole offensive football team. I think that he’s handled it well.”
Mayfield compared his development to building a castle.
“You don’t build a great castle just all at once,” he said. “You have to build it block by block and so for me, that’s how I need to handle it. Taking the next step — consider getting all the basic knowledge of the offense down, taking that next step and then you go into details.
“Then you go into improving with your guys
and growing and learning together. For me, something I always need to focus on is protections. I’m going to continue to learn those and know I could put myself in a good spot where I don’t have to worry about blitzes and things like that. I know I’m (protected) so I’m not looking at the rush. I can look down field and read coverages. For me that’s the biggest next step I can take.”
Jackson decided to cancel minicamp practice for June 14, which means the session June 13 will be the last time the Browns are on the field together until training camp begins in late July.
Mayfield said he plans on using the down time to work out and study the playbook, take a week off to be with his family and spend time in California throwing passes to his Browns’ teammates.