Year 3 is a very important one for Baker Mayfield. (si.com)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
For those looking for signs of maturity in Baker Mayfield, Wednesday was a good day.
Mayfield’s Zoom call with reporters was his first interview of any kind since the Super Bowl.
“I have a different approach to this year,” Mayfield said. “I think everybody who has been interviewed on our team has hit the nail on the head over and over about it is time to work. It is time to do our thing, instead of talking about it.
“This is the first media thing I have done just because there is no need to be talking about it. It is just time to go do it. Right now, it is kind of moving in silence, which is fine with me. That is how I used to do it before getting on a bigger stage so I am happy to get back to those roots and like I said earlier, get back to the fundamentals to where I can accomplish the goals when the season comes around.”
Some of the change may be due to the mature, composed approach of Kevin Stefanski, who has preached “time to work” since he succeeded Freddie Kitchens as Browns coach.
Some of the change may be due to the collective humbling experience of the Browns in 2019. Some of it may be due to the Covid-19 challenges.
And some of it may be due to Mayfield entering his third NFL season after an alarmingly bad second year, and the clock ticking on his guaranteed fifth-year option and a second contract.
“There is no doubt Year 3 is always a big year in these contracts,” Mayfield said. “Timing wise, everybody knows that. I am not going to put any added pressure on myself. There is no need for that because if I win, good things will happen and good things will happen for our team and the guys around me.
“That is the most important part. That is why quarterback is one of the positions that is the hardest in sports. If I play better, our team is going to do better. I put that pressure on myself. It does not matter what year it is. I have to play better each year.”
Looking up
Despite the restrictions imposed by the coronavirus pandemic, Mayfield has been able to make strides on learning Stefanski’s offensive system.
“During all this, it has kind of made everybody go back to the just sheer fundamentals,” he said. “You can’t do so many complex drills and all the stuff you might and everybody might not have the same equipment, but we can teach the very base fundamentals of what this new coaching staff wants to do and go from there. I think that has been the best thing is essentially just getting back to the basics.”
Mayfield enjoyed conducting an informal passing camp recently in his hometown of Austin, TX. He said nine players attended, including new tight end Austin Hooper and backup quarterback Case Keenum. He said he has leaned on Keenum for tips on picking up Stefanski’s system during this virtual offseason.
“It could be an excuse if I wanted it to be, but there is nothing wrong with getting knowledge from different guys that have coached and been around great players, if you can pick up something from all these different systems and put it all together,” he said. “I know I have not had the success that I truly want to accomplish down the road, but if I can combine all this and play within the system that I am in now, that is when the good things happen.”
And, yes, he sees the Stefanski offense as a perfect match with his skill set.
“I think it matches up very nicely with being in control, getting checks in the run game and just being efficient,” Mayfield said. “Last year, I know, was not a great year for turnovers, but I have always prided myself on not turning the ball over. That is something in the conversations we have had is where we do take our shots, it has to be smart decisions and there is nothing wrong with throwing an incompletion every once in a while. Scheme wise, I think my skillset matches up to that very well and also how he is coaching it. I think it is going to be a great fit.”
Same page
Mayfield likes what he’s seen of the cohesion between GM Andrew Berry and Stefanski.
“Looking at the grand scheme of things of what we brought in throughout the draft, trading, free agency and all of that, it seems like they are absolutely one message, one team,” he said. “We have a game plan for what we really want to try to accomplish, and it seems as though Andrew, Kevin and the whole staff have gotten on the same page personnel-wise and probably wanted to accomplish that.
“Seeing the cut-ups and everything, we do have somewhat similar personnel to what Minnesota had with the strong running game and picking up [tackle] Jedrick [Wills] and [tackle Jack] Conklin as of recently for our run game to help those backs out. Just for the passing game and what Minnesota did, they had some good tight ends so having David [Njoku] still on board, Stephen [Carlson], a young guy [Harrison Bryant] going in and then also obviously Austin Hooper to come help out, with that as productive as he is. Personnel wise of what they have tried to do for the scheme and matching that up, they are on the same page, I will say that.”
The elephant in the room is whether the much-needed chemistry between Mayfield and receivers Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. that escaped them last year can improve while they rehab from separate offseason surgeries during this virtual offseason.
“No, I think what we are doing right now in these Zoom meetings and these installs has created a great foundation for scheme wise being on the same page,” Mayfield said. “I have enjoyed kind of sitting in and listening in on some of the receiver meetings with [pass game coordinator/wide receivers] Coach [Chad] O’Shea.
“Those guys are working extremely hard after their surgeries for the rehab process. They look really good, and they say they feel really good. It appears that way. It is just a different mindset going into it.
“Like I said, I think they went back to the basics. They are ready to take over, and it is their time now. They know that. We only have so many more opportunities together. They are going to do it and everything for each other. I am looking forward to seeing the productivity they have.”
Likewise, I’m sure.