Cleveland Browns: For Baker Mayfield, progression is key in 2020

Progress is the key for the Cleveland Browns and Baker Mayfield

Asking for patience is never an easy thing to ask, and it is even harder when those requests are coming from the Cleveland Browns. However as this team is coming off of a Week 2 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, the more important takeaway is the progress made in the four days from Sunday to Thursday.

More specifically, the progress Baker Mayfield made from his struggles on Sunday to his dazzling performance was a joy to witness. As the season continues to roll along, more important than wins and losses will be the continued development of Mayfield. Instead of firing off instant reactions, the key will be sitting back and examining the growth the young quarterback can make this year.

Cleveland Browns will ride out Mayfield in 2020

It’s easy to fall into the instant reactions regarding his play, already hearing for him to be benched after one week, but the Browns would be doing themselves a disservice to pull the plug on Mayfield at any point in the 2020 season. The worst decision the Browns could make this year would be to bench Mayfield, handicapping the amount of game tape in their new system they have on the young quarterback if they truly have to evaluate him for the future.

Just beginning his third season in the league, pulling the plug on Mayfield after one game in a system he had never played in before was never on the table for the Browns. Instead, he climbed back out Thursday night and led the Browns’ offense to consistent points with limited blemishes against the Bengals.

Progress was evident from Mayfield vs. Bengals

In Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens, Mayfield played with zero confidence. He was late and missing on timing routes, failed to fit his passes into space, and struggled to pick up reads pre-snap. Falling into his bad habits from 2019, Mayfield looked uncomfortable in his drop back and often bailed from a clean pocket.

However, on Thursday night, Mayfield found his poise in the pocket, stepping up and throwing darts over the middle of the field. It seemed head coach Kevin Stefanski, who called an absolute gem of a game, got Mayfield on the move on play-action and boots as well; this has proven to be an area of strength for the young quarterback.

Mayfield was accurate along the boundary and deep down the field, connecting with Odell Beckham Jr. on a long touchdown in the first quarter. One of his more impressionable throws in the mind of this writer was a ten yard out route to Khadarel Hodge that was delivered on time and accurately near the boundary, a throw Mayfield failed to make against the Ravens.

Needless to say, the progression Mayfield made in four days was evident. One will argue that playing the Bengals was key to his success, however, good teams beat the teams they are supposed to beat, something the 2019 team failed to do. Besides, the level of competition does not have any bearing on Mayfield’s ability to work through reads, operate on time, and diagnose defenses pre-snap.

Continued progress, not instant success the key

The season is long, the Browns are not going to win out, and Mayfield will likely see struggles again this season. However, the key to his 2020 season will not be found in those singular games. Instead, look and evaluate Mayfield based on his growth throughout the year.

By Week 4, Mayfield needs to show he can be consistently as good as he was against the Bengals last night. By Week 8, we need to evaluate Mayfield and see his progression from Week 4; through each quarter mark of the season, as long as the trajectory is upward for Mayfield, then the Browns will find themselves in a favorable spot.

Like he did from Week 1 to Week 2, looking for Mayfield to get better every week, continue his development, and show moxie and poise will be more important to the team than wins and losses. Should Mayfield continue to develop and improve, the wins will undoubtedly follow.