QB Baker Mayfield (8.8.19)

QB Baker Mayfield:

On if the first series was a two-minute drill at its finest:

“It was a little over two minutes so not exactly.”

 

On if the two-minute series was scripted: 

“No, we were calling it as it goes. We kind of had an idea of what we wanted to do not really knowing exactly what they were going to come out when we were playing that fast. It was just seeing the adjustments and checking the ball down when they are carrying their seams and stuff like that. Get the ball down to your back quickly and let them do some work, and they did a good job.”

 

On if he would like to see more tempo throughout the game: 

“I think there is a time for it. In our division, we have to be able to run the ball and slow the clock down when we need to. There are situations when we can press the tempo a little bit. I think once we get comfortable in that, we can be pretty good at playing fast and having success. We have to be good at it all.”

 

On starting the opening drive with a TD, especially given WRs Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. did not play: 

“It is great. We have to have guys. We always say ‘next man up.’ We have to have that mentality. Whoever is in there has to have success and have to be able to play. Just having those guys out there and doing well that first drive, means a lot. We will go back and watch the tape. We weren’t perfect at all, but a lot of things to work on but a lot of good things that happened today.”

 

On RB Nick Chubb’s improvement from his rookie year: 

“He played like three plays today so… I am just messing with you. He is the same guy. Head down. He works really hard. He doesn’t say much. You just know exactly what you are going to get out of him. He looks like he is feeling really great and he is healthy. It is just being more comfortable in this offense pass-protection wise because run game, he is going to take care of that. Just seeing everything in-game slowing down for him pass protection wise, there has just been tremendous improvement with his game.”

 

On RB Dontrell Hilliard’s skillset and filling the role of RB Duke Johnson Jr.: 

“I would say just that third down (running) back style that everyone wants to say and just being a receiver out of the backfield, that can be lethal for an offense to have when the defense wants to double team receivers like we have. We have to have somebody out of the backfield at all times that can catch the ball.”

 

On connecting with Hilliard today due to seeing him perform in practice:

“No, just what they are doing on defense. We have to have guys who are making plays at all times and ready to step up.”

 

On chemistry with WR Rashard Higgins: 

“I think it goes back to last year getting reps with him in camp in the second team, just building chemistry with him and being able to talk to him all the time and just knowing exactly what you are going to get out of him on every play.”

 

On getting excited about Head Coach Freddie Kitchens throwing the challenge flag: 

“I could not explain it. I do not know. There is a lot of things that I do that I can’t explain.”

 

On the Browns trading Johnson today: 

“That is obviously not my call. We talked about it. They wanted people who wanted to be there, and Duke was there. Unfortunately, he got hurt and then the decision was made to trade him away. We have to have the next man up mentality so tonight you saw a lot of Dontrell Hilliard. We are going to be counting on guys that continue to step up and see who can fill the void because Duke was obviously a huge part of our offense last year.”

 

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