Baker Mayfield and Odell Beckham Jr. need more game reps to establish a better connection. (ESPN)
Kevin Stefanski ‘not concerned’ about Baker Mayfield-Odell Beckham Jr. misconnections
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
Takeaways from Browns practice and interviews …
In order to correct a problem, the first step is to admit there is one.
So far, the Browns are not willing to characterize Baker Mayfield’s sub-par game in the 14-7 win in Minnesota as a chemistry problem between Mayfield and Odell Beckham Jr.
Mayfield attributed his 15-of-33, 155-yard passing day simply to missing throws – not just for Beckham, but for several intended receivers.
“Hitting the guys that are open and taking what is there. Yeah, just have to get it corrected,” he said.
Coach Kevin Stefanski backed down some from his immediate post-game comments blaming himself the play-caller for some of the issues.
“We missed a couple guys and we’re going to work real hard to make sure we hit them this week,” he said. “I’ve seen Baker have great success in games and I have no doubt we’ll continue to work on it this week.”
I asked Stefanski if he felt Beckham’s 7-for-16 catch rate in two games back with Mayfield was a concern.
“It’s really not, guys,” he said. “It’s a concern any time we don’t have a completion. But with the amount of balls thrown down the field, in particular to Odell, I think you have to be realistic about what that completion percentage is going to be. Now, there are opportunities that we have to do better. I have to do better. But I feel good about where we are.”
Mayfield again dismissed that his left shoulder, which was injured in the Houston game, is affecting his accuracy. He said wearing a harness to protect it “should not” be a problem.
Mayfield repeated that one of the misses to Beckham was the result of miscommunication between the two. He admitted for the first time that all those reps “on air” in Austin, TX, and in training camp, while Beckham was being held out of team drills to save his surgically repaired left knee, are no substitute for reps in real games.
“There is definitely different timing when it comes to game reps when I am having to get the ball out, guys are barreling down and he is seeing a different thing,” Mayfield said. “His game speed is a little bit different, too. It is pretty quick. Yeah, there is definitely that, but we have to take advantage of our opportunities. It starts with me.”
Asked if he planned to do anything different in his work week following the tough outing in Minnesota, Mayfield said, “Fix the mistakes. Go back and correct it. That is what I have always done.”
Running back Nick Chubb said he’s seen him work his way out of a funk before.
“We all stress to him that we have all been there,” Chubb said. “I have been there plenty of times. It is just about the bounce back, which he always has. I know we all trust in that and believe in him.”
Spoils of victory
The tough, physical, defensive slugfest in Minnesota took its toll. Wednesday’s list of players who didn’t practice was the longest since the season started.
Seven defensive players sat out with injuries – defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (elbow), cornerback Troy Hill (toe), defensive end Takk McKinley (ankle/knee), linebacker Malcolm Smith (abdomen), cornerback Denzel Ward (neck), along with cornerback Greg Newsome (calf), who missed the game.
Offensive players who didn’t practice were tight end David Njoku (knee), center JC Tretter (knee/back) and left tackle Jedrick Wills (ankle).
Stefanski seemed unfazed by the injury list and said only Newsome is ruled out for now.
The coach again dismissed the notion that Wills’ game status would be determined by the availability of super-sub Chris Hubbard, who has missed two games with a triceps injury but continues to have limited participation in practice.
On a positive note, linebacker Anthony Walker was designated for return from injured reserve. Walker missed three games with a hamstring injury. Stefanski said he’ll see how Walker does in the practice week before commenting on his game status.
Go west, young men
The trip to Los Angeles is the first to the West Coast under Stefanski. Historically, the Browns have had success on the West Coast when they had good teams and no success when they had bad ones. No surprise there.
Mayfield’s first NFL start came in Oakland in 2018 (45-42 loss). His other outing on the West Coast came in 2019 against San Francisco (31-3 loss).
The only hardship is the long flight back and forth through three time zones.
Chubb said, “Once you’re playing, it seems like you’re at home. Everything before and after [is a pain]. The flight back, which you dread. The flight there, which you dread, too.”
Stefanski quipped, “I do not think so. It is a nice plane. It is not like you have someone sitting next to you. We spread out, so they do a great job here traveling our guys.”
Who needs three?
In preseason, Stefanski said he wouldn’t be kicking field goals from inside 30 yards.
Through four regular-season games, he has softened – but just a bit.
In seven instances at distances 30 yards or closer, Stefanski has chosen to eschew the short field goal five times.
He went for it on fourth down twice in Kansas City (converting both times), once against Chicago (missing on a sack), and twice in Minnesota (missing once on a sack).
The only short kicks Chase McLaughlin has attempted were from 30 yards against Houston and 28 against Chicago. Both were good.
“All of those instances depend on so many factors,” Stefanski said. “Ultimately, we really, really value seven points versus three. I know that is a difference of four, but we really believe in those sevens because in this game, you typically have to score a bunch of points.
"We won a game last week, 14-7. That is not typical in the NFL. You have to score a bunch of points. It will be dependent on a bunch of factors. If those factors tell us we should take the three points in those instances, we will, but I just think that difference – I know it is four points – it seems is huge.”
