Mayfield knows offense ready, even in preseason
Baker Mayfield didn’t entirely dismiss the value of the NFL’S preseason, but the quarterback made it clear the Browns starting offense doesn’t need to make an appearance in an exhibition game to be ready for the real thing.
“Yeah, I mean, our job is to be ready physically, mentally, and just ready to roll as soon as the season comes around,” Mayfield said. “Right now, we’re on pace to do that.”
Mayfield and the majority of Browns starters will sit out Sunday in preseason game No. 2 against the New York Giants at Firstenergy Stadium.
Coach Kevin Stefanski used the same approach in the team’s 23-13 preseasonopening win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Quarterback Case Keenum and other backups operated the offense.
There is a good chance Stefanski will hold most of his first-string players out of the Aug. 29 preseason finale at the Atlanta Falcons, too, but he declined to say one way or another Friday.
Stefanski and the Browns are convinced their joint practices with the Giants on Thursday and Friday in Berea gave the starters invaluable work on situational football they wouldn’t necessarily receive in a preseason game. Two-minute drills, red-zone trips and short-yardage scenarios aren’t guaranteed within the normal flow of a game, but the coaches can simulate them in joint practices.
“Right now, we’re overemphasizing communication on certain looks and adapting on the fly, taking care of the ball and no pre-snap penalties. That’s the biggest thing going in,” Mayfield said.
“[The key to] knocking the rust off the early weeks of the regular season is don’t beat yourself. That’s the important part, and we’re focusing on that right now.”
In other words, this strategy is all about keeping frontline players healthy for as long as possible and peaking at the right time.
Of course, there are other huge factors.
One, preseason games didn’t exist last year because of the pandemic, so many coaches view them differently now.
Two, teams are playing three preseason games this summer instead of four and gearing up for 17 regular-season games instead of 16 for the first time in league history, so it’s only logical to adopt a different approach.
Three, the Browns are preparing for another playoff run, meaning they could play as many as 21 real games.
“We’re trying to challenge ourselves each practice,” said Mayfield. “Our guys are handling it correctly, and we’re just getting better.”