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Pocket presence is key for Cleveland Browns QBs Tyrod Taylor, Baker Mayfield

Pocket presence is a key to success for Cleveland Browns quarterbacks Tyrod Taylor and Baker Mayfield.
Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

BEREA, Ohio -- There is something to be said for having grace under fire, and quarterbacks in the National Football League know that well.

It has long been said that for a quarterback to be successful at the professional level, he has to throw the ball well from inside the pocket, no matter what kind of a rush opposing defensive coordinators throw at the signal-callers.

“Being out there on the field, the feel aspect comes with just confidence in the guys up front and with the guys making plays on the outside, being able to stand into the pocket and being able to move and find a guy downfield, so I think it definitely goes hand in hand,” Browns quarterback Tyrod Taylor said prior to Tuesday’s practice.

“As far as being able to find rush lanes on film and different ways to step up in the pocket, there’s definitely ways to do both.”

Rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield came to the Browns having run most of his offense out of the shotgun formation at the University of Oklahoma, but since being selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, he has worked on taking snaps under center.

“You’ve still got to have pocket presence, no matter what,” Mayfield said. “Being in the shotgun just meant I was back there throwing the ball more, and so, you’ve got to be able to go through your reads and sit there comfortably.”

Credit: Matt Florjancic, WKYC Digital Sports
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield fires a pass down the field in a drill during Tuesday's practice at the team's Berea training facility.

There was plenty of pocket presence on display in the Browns’ 20-10 victory over the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, last Thursday night.

Taylor completed all five of his passes for 99 yards and one touchdown during his two series against the Giants.

Tight end David Njoku caught a 16-yard throw from Taylor at the 20-yard line, and then, outhustled Giants defenders down the field before diving across the goal line for the score, which gave the Browns a 7-3 lead with 2:55 to play in the first quarter.

Credit: Matt Florjancic, WKYC Digital Sports
Cleveland Browns quarterback Tyrod Taylor throws a pass down the field in a drill during Tuesday's practice at the team's Berea training facility.

In his NFL preseason debut, Mayfield found the mark with 11 of his 20 attempts for 212 yards and two scores, including 10 and 54-yard touchdowns to Njoku and rookie wide receiver Antonio Callaway, respectively.

“I think it comes with experience, getting a feel for the pocket,” Mayfield said. “If you talk on the meetings and film aspect of it, it’s just trusting where your receivers are going to be, knowing exactly what your answer is to a different look so you don’t have to run around. When you see younger quarterbacks playing, sometimes they run around a little bit too much because they don’t see the first read and they kind of panic.

“Then, they move around, whereas you see veterans, they go through their reads. They just sit there and they go from one read to the next. They just comfortably sit there. Yeah, you have to move every once in a while, but the guys that know their gameplan and their offense and what looks they’re getting, they can just comfortably do it.”

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