Cleveland Browns: Baker Mayfield’s 3 keys to success as a sophomore

3. He needs protection

This one won’t be on Baker Mayfield so much as it will the team and coaching staff around him. Early on in the 2018 season, the Browns struggled mightily to protect their quarterbacks. Tyrod Taylor was sacked 13 times in the first three games before being knocked out with a concussion.

Mayfield then took over and was sacked 22 times in his first six-plus games. Of those sacks, 20 came in his first five appearances with Hue Jackson and Todd Haley in charge. With Freddie Kitchens taking over as interim offensive coordinator, things got much better in this department.

Kitchens switched up protection schemes and started to get the ball out of Mayfield’s hands much quicker. That led to just three more sacks in the final seven games of the season. Even with that being the case, Cleveland’s offensive line feels like the weak link of their roster — a feeling which has been magnified by the departure of right guard Kevin Zeitler who was traded to the New York Giants.

However, there’s no reason to think this is going to be a huge detriment. Kitchens, who has now moved to head coach, should employ similar schemes this season that limit the sacks Mayfield takes. Of course, should they fail to perform at the same level, it could be hard for the sophomore to make as big of a leap this coming season as he should