Baker Mayfield ‘feeling comfortable’ in Cleveland Browns, Stefanski offense
By Josh Brown
Baker Mayfield spoke about social injustice, where the Cleveland Browns offense is as a whole and Joel Bitonio’s beard on Thursday.
The Cleveland Browns chose to practice for one hour today in the wake of the Jacob Blake shooting. After the practice, the players went back indoors to discuss further actions to increase awareness and make real change.
The Cleveland Browns Training Camp Live crew, Nathan Zegura and Joshua Cribbs, did have a chance to speak with Baker Mayfield following Thursday’s practice before joining his teammates.
Mayfield regarding efforts to affect change
The first question from host Zegura was regarding the shortened practice leading to more conversation about making changes regarding social injustices. Mayfield immediately went to the alliance formed by the Cavaliers, Indians, and Browns to “develop a sustainable and direct strategy to address social injustice facing the city of Cleveland and all Northeast Ohio communities.”
Mayfield spoke about the importance of voting and how it affects everyone because you choose who is representing your community. He also spoke about chipping away at the cultural change needed in our communities and helping set the standard for their communities. He stated that having three major sports franchises working together is special, and if it goes as planned, real change is the result.
On standing up for his teammates
Cribbs said it best when asking Mayfield about standing up for the players in his locker room, sometimes to his detriment. Mayfield responded with the fact he does do that to his detriment at times, and he has always been someone who wears his heart on his sleeve.
He also made a point to say he knows right from wrong and will always be 100 percent transparent when it comes to social injustices. Mayfield wants his legacy to go far beyond what any expects, and he’ll take the heat for what he believes in and stands up for. He is looking to inspire the people he can, and his family and brothers in that locker know that.
On his comfort level and crispness of the offense
Here is what Mayfield had to say about the new Browns offense being implented by head coach Kevin Stefanski:
"“Yeah, starting to feel way more comfortable. Had some new red zone, goal line stuff in today, so some first looks at some of that. It’s been great to go through the installs a few times and kind of put everything under our belt for the first time. So, truly starting to make progress, which needs to happen. We are only two weeks from today to the first NFL game, so we know the sense of urgency is at an all time high.” – Baker Mayfield via Browns Training Camp Live"
Mayfield also spoke about the difficulty of running plays against the defense when the same concepts the defense saw in the morning came right back at them in the afternoon. They obviously know what is coming and it is about the details. Getting the routes right, ball placement, being precise with the reads, blocking, etc. and it is time to go out and execute what they have been taught.
On utilizing all the weapons
Cribbs talked about the depth at wide receiver, tight end, running back, and so on, then asked Mayfield how he plans to utilize all that talent. (Queue the beautiful quarterback speak)
"“I gotta go through my reads, do my stuff because that’s the coach’s job to call the plays and get the ball in those playmaker’s hands. I gotta go through and do my job. I gotta be a playmaker as well and be a ball distributor. We have guys everywhere that can make plays, so it’s gonna be nice to look out there with one-on-ones all over the field, and if they do want to double team guys, then everybody else needs to be licking their chops.” – Mayfield"
Next. 3 needed improvements at Browns training camp. dark
On Joel Bitonio’s Beard
Zegura had to get a little silly in the end with Mayfield and asked about the caveman beard Joel Bitonio is sporting in camp. Mayfield said Bitonio looks like Jekyll and Hyde, but not sure which in that Sean Connery movie. He also said Bitonio probably “has some stuff living in there.”