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Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield must perform better under pressure

By Sam Penix

Nov 29, 2020; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) throws a touchdown pass over Jacksonville Jaguars outside linebacker Aaron Lynch (59) and defensive tackle Doug Costin (58) and Browns offensive tackle Jedrick Wills (71) during the second quarter at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 29, 2020; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) throws a touchdown pass over Jacksonville Jaguars outside linebacker Aaron Lynch (59) and defensive tackle Doug Costin (58) and Browns offensive tackle Jedrick Wills (71) during the second quarter at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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Baker Mayfield must improve in this one key area

It’s been a very interesting third year for Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield. Through 11 games, he’s led his team to an 8-3 record, and has shown significant improvement in many areas, although the stat sheet may not show it. The past five games have been especially encouraging, as Mayfield has been extremely efficient and smart with the ball, putting it into harm’s way only twice according to Brendan Leister from Pro Football Focus.

Mayfield has some big tests coming up against some of the NFL’s better defenses in the Baltimore Ravens, New York Giants, and Pittsburgh Steelers. He’ll be counted upon to win this week against the Tennessee Titans, a game that could quickly become a shootout between two of the league’s elite rushing offenses. Mayfield still has plenty of work to do, and one area, in particular, has given him trouble this season: pressure.

The Heisman House commercial claims that Mayfield can perform only when he’s under pressure, but that hasn’t exactly been the case this season. His PFF passing grade drops an astounding 52.7 points when pressured. The only other starters who have a similar pressure number are Carson Wentz and Jared Goff, two interesting names given the team’s history with those guys.

Mayfield ranks 29th among all passers in attempts under pressure, but ranks 23rd in total dropbacks. This is certainly not a good trend for him, but his pressure sample size is also smaller than what it was in 2019 and 2018; that means the Browns’ investments in the offensive line this season are working.

Passing grade is just one piece of the puzzle in evaluating a QB under pressure, and when looking at adjusted completion percentage, which measures how many passes are on-target, Mayfield ranked 25th in the league over weeks 1-6, but has been eighth from weeks 7-12. On the season, he ranks ahead of players such as Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger, Deshaun Watson, and even Patrick Mahomes. That is not to say he’s played better than those guys under pressure, but it’s another data point to account for.

Perhaps the best example of Mayfield’s struggles under pressure came in Week 6 against the Steelers, the best pass-rushing team in the NFL. Cleveland’s offensive line was dominated on both run and pass plays, and Mayfield was constantly getting hit, and when he wasn’t, was being forced out of the pocket. Finding Austin Hooper over the middle of the field on quick pressure players will be important moving forward.

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Baker Mayfield is showing growth and winning games, and that’s all anyone could have asked for this season. If he can improve when pressured, that’s a huge stepping stone in his development towards franchise QB status.

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