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Todd Haley: 'Even-keel' mindset from Baker Mayfield is 'good sign' for Cleveland Browns

Offensive coordinator Todd Haley says an "even-keel" mindset from rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield is a "good sign" for the Cleveland Browns.
Credit: Scott Galvin
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) drops back to pass against the Los Angeles Chargers during the first quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland.

CLEVELAND -- Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield is a perfectionist when it comes to his craft, and has placed on his shoulders the responsibility for the struggles that have plagued the offense over the last two weeks.

And while Coach Hue Jackson does not want Mayfield to take on too much too soon, offensive coordinator Todd Haley believes the first-year quarterback is handling everything well.

“He has been pretty even-keel, which I think is a good sign,” Haley said in his weekly press conference Thursday. “He is all business and looking for ways that he can be better. He understands that he has to be better than last week to get us and him where we need to go.

“The response is what is critical. Bad plays, bad games are going to happen. It is how you respond to those situations that is critical. As Sam Rutigliano told me one time, ‘Sometimes the responses to the crisis is more important than the crises itself.’”

Despite suffering an ankle injury in the first quarter of last Sunday’s 38-14 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers at FirstEnergy Stadium and a relentless pass rush that resulted in five sacks for the Chargers, Mayfield played the entire game and completed 22 of his 46 attempts for 238 yards and one touchdown, a late fourth-quarter throw to tight end David Njoku, against two interceptions.

Limited in his ability to escape the pocket, Mayfield rushed for just eight yards on two carries.

“Some of the holding of the football is part of the process,” Haley said. “That is why it is a fine line when you are coaching these guys. You do not want to coach out the aggressiveness, but at the same time, he is in the process of learning that No. 1 at this level, guys are not going to be wide open ever. It is going to be the process of putting the ball into tight places and knowing when it is too tight.

“I think that was a big-time game. Unfortunately, it came at the expense of us as a team, but growing and learning and learning what this is all about. By no means am I saying that the reason we had a bad performance was all on Baker, but he was a part of it, along with the entire group.”

Credit: Ken Blaze
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) calls a play during the first half against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland.

Mayfield has a bit of the Brett Favre “River Boat Gambler” mentality within him where he tries to extend plays by escaping the pocket and throwing downfield. However, Haley is working with Mayfield to accept check-down options when available.

Heading into Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, Haley expects those types of plays to become a more regular part of Mayfield’s repertoire.

“Just coach him, that along with understanding,” Haley said. “I think the biggest learning that can come out of that game is that guys are not going to be as open as you want them to be. Then, it is on him to make the decisions.

“You can save a lot of pain and suffering with that ball coming out quick to your first read. It is not going to always look perfect, but he is a good enough thrower that he is quite capable of putting the ball where it needs to go. We have had a good week thus far of taking that tape, breaking it down and really trying to grow from it.”

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