By Jordan Long
The Cleveland Browns are preparing to take on the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, looking to improve their record to 2-2-1. The Browns are starting rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield which will be his 2nd career NFL start. According to ESPN, Ravens’ Defensive Coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale said, “ I already told the defense this, I think Baker Mayfield is this generation’s Brett Favre or John Elway, if you will. This guy knows where he wants to go with the ball, and he’s very accurate. He’s got a quick release, and he’s really playing well.”
This is really high praise by Martindale. Mayfield has played well in his 2 games as an NFL quarterback. The Browns are moving the ball down the field with chances to score touchdowns. In the games Mayfield has thrown for 496 yards and 2 touchdowns. Those are not bad stats but not great either. The Browns would like to score more touchdowns once they get into the red zone and increase that total from 2.
The downside with Mayfield is he is a rookie quarterback. NFL defenders are quicker than college. That has forced Mayfield to throw the football sooner then he wants to. Those passes are into double coverage and have been picked off with 2 interceptions. Mayfield is lucky it hasn’t been more.
The other problem with Mayfield is holding onto the football. Defenses are blitzing him, knocking the football out of his hands for fumbles which can kill any drive. Mayfield has fumbled twice a total of 4 turnovers.
Mayfield is still a young quarterback adjusting to the NFL game. It is great Martindale believes he can be as good as John Elway or Brett Favre, both who are in the NFL Hall of Fame. That may come in time. Mayfield might also become a bust like Ryan Leaf, JaMarcus Russel, and Akili Smith. These players never could read defenses or play the quarterback position in the NFL. In a few years we will find out what type of player Mayfield is. For right now, he needs to continue to grow as the Browns’ quarterback and learn the NFL game.
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