Cleveland Browns: Why are Baker Mayfield’s numbers down?

Baker Mayfield is off to a rough start to 2019, but it does not mean that there is something wrong with him, but mostly the Cleveland Browns offense.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield has gotten off to a slow start to the 2019 season, and a few critics are grumbling about the Oklahoma gunslinger.

If the stats are down from last year, it does not necessarily mean there is something wrong with the quarterback. But it does mean there is something wrong with the team’s passing attack.

Last year, Mayfield set the world on fire in his debut during the second quarter of Week 3 against the New York Jets. He then tailed off as head coach Hue Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Haley tried to kill him off (20 sacks in five and a half games).

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He then caught fire again when Gregg Williams became the interim head coach and Freddie Kitchens was promoted to offensive coordinator. Down the stretch, statistically speaking, he was one of the hottest quarterbacks in the NFL. In the last eight games, he won great praise for his quick release and was sacked only five times. He also threw for 2,254 yards and a passer rating of 106.2.

With the much-ballyhooed addition of superstar wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., it was assumed the Browns would be an even greater threat through the air in 2019. So far, however, the offense has not been.

In his first two games this year, he was intercepted four times versus only two touchdown passes and has been sacked eight times. In other words he has been sacked 4.0 times per game this year versus 0.6 sacks per game over the last half of the 2018 season.

This is not the time to throw the panic button, but it is time to examine the offensive unit.  Mayfield is still Mayfield, but there are some problems that need to be overcome.

First, they played high quality opponents in the Los Angeles Rams, Tennessee Titans and even the New York Jets. The Jets probably do not have the same talent level as the other two teams, but their defensive coordinator is none other than Gregg Williams, whose familiarity with the Browns gave him an advantage game planning against his former team.

Second, opposing teams have had all spring and summer to study Mayfield’s film and make adjustments. They have figured out what his weaknesses are and made the necessary adjustments. Now Mayfield will have to make his own adjustments and find different ways to succeed.

If Baker is holding the ball too long and is too predictable, that might be on him. But it is probably something that Todd Monken and the offensive staff can fix. They are going to have to spend some time at the blackboard and create some adjustments of their own. So far, however, the Browns have not settled on a style of play that works for them.

Third, there are major problems on the offensive line. It starts with replacing right tackle Kevin Zeitler, who was traded to the Big Apple as part of the deal for defensive end Olivier Vernon. Austin Corbett, expected to step up, instead took a step back and is now auditioning to be a backup center. Eric Kush has moved into the right guard spot.

Left tackle Greg Robinson, who was very strong down the stretch for the Browns last year, has been plagued with bonehead plays, especially getting thrown out of the game for kicking an opponent in the head versus Tennessee. Kendall Lamm, thought to be a solid backup at least, is injured after having to come in for Robinson. With Chris Hubbard injured, the Browns are starting Justin McCray, a newly acquired guard, at right tackle. It is very grim right now on the offensive line, which was arguably the strength of the team last year.

The Browns will not push the panic button, because there is no panic button. Baker Mayfield is the starting quarterback, and no one wants to make a change at the position, except perhaps Garrett Gilbert’s mom. They are going to have to make fixes, however, admitting that this team is different from last year and has more talent at wide receiver but less at offensive line. The other teams are wise to what the Browns want to do, and the Browns will have to make adjustments.