Cleveland Browns: Baker Mayfield and company are doing whatever it takes

Cleveland Browns’ Baker Mayfield and his receiver corps are conducting their private workouts in Southern California. To achieve greatness, first, you have to put in the work.

When the Cleveland Browns announced their offseason work schedule, fans were able to begin to celebrate the return of football. It was learned when the rookies would report, when the voluntary portion of OTA’s would begin, and when the mandatory OTA’s would take place.

Then, as it happens every off-season, we enter a void between mandatory OTA’s and the start of training camp. This year, we were given a beacon of light.

During a media scrum at the mandatory OTA’s, Cleveland Browns quarterback and savior Baker Mayfield said that he and a few Browns wide receivers would be getting together for private workouts in California. No date was given for these workouts, but thanks to last year’s ‘Hard Knocks’ series, we did get a glimpse of what they would look like.

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Well, thanks to Jarvis Landry’s Instagram account we can confirm that Landry, Odell Beckham Jr., Rashard Higgins, and Mayfield are currently conducting their private workouts in Southern California. It is unknown, at this time, who else is present at these workouts. Antonio Callaway was expected to join them, but with the passing of his grandmother, it would be understandable if the talented second-year wide receiver did not attend.

These type of workouts are the kind that could play large dividends early in the season. The benefits are numerous. Most importantly, this will allow Mayfield to develop a chemistry with Beckham. That factor alone makes these workouts worth it. Being ridiculously talented is one thing, but being on the same page, well…that is what will make them dangerous. Anything that they can do to accelerate their on-field growth is worth doing.

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Every receiver has a different catch radius, and these extra reps will allow Mayfield to explore the various throws and different ball placements that best suit his targets. Mayfield getting his feet and eyes in sync with his receiver’s body language and breaks could be the difference between a difficult catch and hitting his target in stride. In a game of inches and split seconds, any advantage you can gain could make the difference between winning and losing.

These workouts will also give the receivers live repetitions. You can practice on the jugs machine all you want, it certainly won’t hurt, but it can’t prepare you for Mayfield lacing a heater to beat the corner before you even come out of your break. Mayfield’s arm strength is something that has to be adjusted to, Beckham said as much during the mandatory OTA’s. Although Mayfield can make every throw, and many of them with touch, at the end of the day he is a calculated gunslinger who believes he can create windows with the howitzer that is attached to his shoulder.

Beyond chemistry and relationship building, what these workouts signify is how Mayfield is taking control of this team. By bringing his weapons out to work out the kinks before the season even begins shows how important winning is to him. It also demonstrates how seriously he takes being the leader of this team. Hoisting a Lombardi trophy is the ultimate goal, and to get that done, first you have to put in the work. It’s obvious that the second year signal caller and his receivers are willing to do whatever it takes.