Former NFL cornerback DeAngelo Hall issued a word of warning for Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield headed into Sunday afternoon’s game against the Washington Football Team.
The Washington Football Team leads the NFL with 11 sacks through the first two weeks of the 2020 season.
“This is for Baker Mayfield, baby. Beware, Baker Mayfield, because that Washington defensive line is coming,” Hall said on the NFL Network. “Kevin Stefanski has to lean on this run game. He can’t just drop Baker Mayfield back. These pass rushers have struggled a little bit when you talk about stopping the run, but when you say, ‘just drop back and go get the quarterback, ‘they go get the quarterback.”
Hall made his comments during a Saturday appearance on “Good Morning Football.”
Don't say @DeAngeloHall23 didn't warn you, Baker: the @WashingtonNFL D-line is coming for you!#WeekendWarning🚨 pic.twitter.com/zbRhAdt3IA
— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) September 26, 2020
Washington had eight sacks in a Week 1 win against the Philadelphia Eagles and three sacks in a Week 2 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
Hall, who played for Washington from 2008-2017, attributed Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray’s elusiveness as part of the reason for the lower sack total compared to Week 1.
Plus, Wentz lost 62 yards on the plays where he was sacked, whereas Murray lost only eight yards.
“Baker Mayfield has a little bit of elusiveness, but he doesn’t seem to want to run as much,” Hall said. “I’m going to be looking at that Washington defensive line, so Baker, better be ready.”
Mayfield has struggled under pressure through the first two games of the 2020 season:
- His completion percentage of 35.3% while under pressure ranks 29th in the NFL.
- His quarterback rating of 24.6 while under pressure ranks 33rd in the league.
Entering Sunday’s game, Mayfield has thrown at least one interception in eight consecutive games.
Mayfield, 25, will attempt to snap his interception streak on Sunday.
This year marks Mayfield’s third year in the NFL.
The Browns will eventually have to decide whether Mayfield is a franchise quarterback, which includes whether to pick up his fifth-year team option for the 2022 season.
Mayfield is looking to build upon a solid performance during a Week 2 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, going 16-of-23 for 219 yards, for two touchdowns and one interception.
Washington has allowed 217 rushing yards through the first two weeks of the season, which ranks 11th fewest in the NFL.
Sunday will mark Washington’s toughest test thus far against the run, going against Browns running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt.
The Browns rank second in the NFL, averaging 176.5 rushing yards per game.
In the offseason, the Browns upgraded their offensive line with the additions of rookie offensive tackle Jedrick Wills in the NFL Draft and signing right tackle Jack Conklin in free agency.
The upgrades have paid dividends for Cleveland through two weeks of the 2020 season.
The Browns’ top priority this offseason was upgrading the OL. So far, CLE ranks 4th in run block win rate and 7th in pass block win rate.
— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) September 22, 2020
The Browns also enter Sunday’s game with a 1-1 record.
If the Browns win, it would make their first winning record since the team was 7-4 during the 2014 season, only to lose their remaining five games that year.
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