Browns: Baker Mayfield is eating a bulk of the blame for Kevin Stefanski’s mistakes

Baker Mayfield is taking it on the chin following the Browns’ loss.

I would put my faith in an analyst to explain what’s happening on the screen. Especially one like Charles Davis, who’s widely respected for having done this job for many many years. So when Davis, who was a defensive back himself, points out that the Browns are running plays where no one is getting open; how is that on Baker Mayfield and not Kevin Stefanski?

Davis is literally showing evidence that the Browns’ receiving options are completely taken away by the Patriots’ superb pass defense. Yet, that’s on Mayfield? Myles Garrett called out the coaches for not making adjustments, and somehow the lack of production is on Mayfield?

If the coaches can’t put players into positions to succeed, how can you blame them for the failings of the coaches?

The Browns offensively are a mess, and many point to Kevin Stefanski’s game-planning as to why, yet and for some wild reason, they think that Mayfield is immune to Stefanski’s mistakes. That he should be able to succeed where Stefanski has failed. They’ve bought into the hot-take principle that a quarterback is just supposed to succeed. Never mind that Mayfield is playing behind one of the worst offensive lines in the game right now (3rd in the league with 30 sacks). Never mind that he has no playmakers on offense who can regularly step up and make plays when defenses lockdown on routes.

This falls on Stefanski and GM Andrew Berry. Who instead of taking accountability and shutting down the noise, is letting it go on. Mayfield is just supposed to will the team to score, apparently.

Except that’s not how it works. Every player in the history of the game who has ever been successful at the quarterback position has either had an elite head coach or an elite crop of weapons around him.

Mayfield, by fans’ own admissions, has no elite pass-catcher and has no elite play-caller. So what is he supposed to do, force passes to guys with a history of drops?

David Njoku drops everything but bad habits, and people think that his one good game was proof of what he is. Jarvis Landry’s hip injury from two years ago proved to be what we all feared it would be, a career-altering injury. He’s slower now than ever before and isn’t even reliable enough to just catch passes. Austin Hooper is widely inconsistent. Harrison Bryant is either a bad player used limitedly due to his inabilities or is being mismanaged by bad coaching. Donovan Peoples-Jones and Rashard Higgins are up and down options offensively and arguably his most reliable receiver, Kareem Hunt, has been on the shelf for half the season.

Yet, Mayfield is just supposed to will the team to score? Is he supposed to run routes for players and then catch the ball himself?

The fault for the passing game is on Kevin Stefanski, not Baker Mayfield

Let’s remember some things; Mayfield has been extremely accurate in 2021. Mayfield is not turning the ball over (four interceptions). Mayfield has proven that he can start in the NFL a few dozen times already. Mayfield has a broken and torn-up shoulder. Mayfield is playing behind a bad offensive line.  Mayfield was in the top five for the longest average passes in the NFL. He’s doing it all without any Pro Bowl talent. Mayfield also has a quarterback rating of 95.7.

Clearly, the issue isn’t Mayfield.

Remember that Josh Allen was considered a disaster as a second-year player, and then he got an elite wide receiver in Stefon Diggs; then he became a Pro Bowler. The Cowboys and their fans didn’t think Dak Prescott could lead a team, then they got Amari Cooper (and then CeeDee Lamb). Those players changed their quarterback’s perceptions.

When Landry was healthy, Mayfield looked great. When he wasn’t healthy, Mayfield looked very average. Why? No quarterback succeeds without talent around them. Prime Matt Ryan had Julio Jones, Peyton Manning had three Hall of Famers in Indianapolis, Tom Brady has…everyone. Ben Roethlisberger had at least two Hall of Famers (Hines Ward and Antonio Bryant) and a gaggle of Pro Bowlers. Same with Jim Kelly, John Elway, Steve Young, Joe Montana, Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson. You name the quarterback, and they had a great player around him.

Mayfield has Nick Chubb, a great option but then that’s been it the last two years. He needs help and he’s not getting it.