Baker Mayfield is taking ownership of the offense in the second year of Kevin Stefanski's system and expects to 'play a whole lot better' than last season. (Cleveland Browns)
Baker Mayfield determined to play ‘a whole lot better’ in second year of Kevin Stefanski's offense
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
Takeaways from Day 2 of Browns training camp …
Don’t think Baker Mayfield is content simply with how he progressed in the Kevin Stefanski offense over the last nine games last year.
In his first press conference of training camp, Mayfield declared, “I can play a whole lot better than last year, I know that.”
The continuity of returning to the same offensive system, taught by the same coaching staff, and surrounded by the same starters on offense – all of which is happening for the first time in Mayfield’s NFL career – is a large part of Mayfield’s expectation to play better in 2021.
The continuity already has resulted in improved communication between Mayfield and coaches, along with Mayfield and teammates. Mayfield agreed he now is more comfortable with taking ownership of the offense and instructing his players on the nuances of Stefanski’s offense.
“When you are able to have those same guys come back and you are speaking the same terms and the same terminology, it makes it a lot more enjoyable,” he said. “You know how to push those guys, and we know that we can say, ‘Hey, based on this rep, remember when we did this and this in this game? Hey, let’s change it up this time or, hey, do the same thing you did last time.’ It is fun to see those guys working and competing together.
“Just because I might think that somebody knows the little details, [I still must] over-communicate because I think that is the most important part right now. Yeah, it is continuity and everybody is saying same system and same people, but you have to emphasize those little details over and over. I am definitely a lot more comfortable to do that this year.”
As for personal goals, Mayfield said, “I am truly hoping to make a huge jump taking care of the ball and being efficient.”
The elephant in the room is re-incorporating Odell Beckham Jr. into an offense that evolved into a semi-powerhouse after the flamboyant receiver suffered a torn ACL. In parts of two seasons before the injury, Mayfield and Beckham never clicked consistently.
“When it comes down to the chemistry stuff, every rep matters for us, but then just the terminology and speaking outside the building, not just about football, that goes such a long way when it comes to chemistry and that trust factor. We have made huge strides, and I know he feels the same way,” Mayfield said.
“Year 1, we were definitely just trying to get used to each other. Last year, did not have a full season by any means because of the injury. This year, I think we have had our backs against the wall, the two of us together. I think we can relate a lot on those types of things. Having success is always sweeter when it is not just handed to you, it is not the easy road, you hit adversity and you have to battle through it. That is just the way of life, too.”
No wristbands for you
Some NFL teams are using color-coded wristbands to identify their players who have taken the Covid vaccine and those who chose not to. The Browns are not one of them.
Coach Kevin Stefanski said he did not need to consult with center JC Tretter, the NFLPA president who recently railed against the NFL on the union’s Website for trying to publicly shame players into getting the vaccine.
“That [decision] was organizationally,” Stefanski said about not having players wear wristbands. “It is on our lanyards when you are in the building. As you know, we are not dividing the team over this issue. I have been pretty clear with the team and I think you guys know how I feel.”
Tretter doubled-down on his criticism of the NFL during his press conference at training camp on Thursday.
“The wristband policy is just kind of a nonsensical idea,” he said. “They say they need a differentiator between unvaccinated and vaccinated players. We already have a differentiator. Unvaccinated players need to wear masks.
“No other sports leagues use any sort of scarlet marking or helmet decal or wristband because they know it’s not necessary. What it really comes down to is the NFL wanted to put a policy in place to try to shame unvaccinated players publicly about their status. And that shouldn’t be the case.
“The Browns don’t need it. We all know who is and who isn’t. I don’t know why some teams are doing it. I think players should ask their teams why they’re doing it.”
Brownie bits
After kicking himself through a November slump and going a perfect 11-for-11 on PATs and field goals in the postseason, you’d think that the kicking job was Cody Parkey’s to lose. Well … in the first leg of competition on Thursday, Parkey went 1-for-5 in field goals and challenger Chase McLaughlin was 5-for-5. The kicks typically begin from 33 yards and are moved back five yards for each succeeding try. Parkey made the first one and then was wide left, hit the right post, wide right and wide left …
Receiver Rashard Higgins (ankle) was out, along with linebacker Tony Fields (foot), cornerback Troy Hill (illness) and safety Richard LeCounte (illness). Stefanski also said receiver Derrick Willies is on a rehab program after having knee surgery in the offseason. Willies has been off to the side in all drills …
Players coming off surgeries will be managed throughout camp. Getting days off from regular practice on Thursday were Beckham, JoJo Natson, Grant Delpit and Chris Hubbard …
As expected, cornerback Greedy Williams returned fine after leaving Wednesday’s practice early when trainers thought he had a heat-related issue …
When it comes to contract extensions, one player whose contract is up after this year who is seldom mentioned is safety Ronnie Harrison. Well, his fellow starting safety, John Johnson, has noticed. “Ronnie is just exceptional,” Johnson said. “I do not know how a team did not lock him in for a long time. Hopefully, that will happen.” …
Mack Wilson was the starting weakside linebacker at the June minicamp, and he has started training camp that way ahead of Jacob Phillips and rookie Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, who is out on the Covid-reserve list. Wilson had a miserable season last year after a dreadful training camp at which he was excoriated for tackling Nick Chubb to the ground one day and then suffered a knee injury the next. “Mack is in a great place,” Stefanski said. “He is working really, really hard. He had a great offseason. Both physically and mentally what he did within the scheme, I thought he did a nice job. He is out here, and I think we can’t look too much into who is running with the ones. This is a competition, and we are all competing. Now, we are going to start in one place, but everybody is fighting for those jobs every single day. Mack is doing a nice job.”
