In a Browns season that has been a disappointment, many have questioned quarterback Baker Mayfield‘s dip in production from a year ago.
While head coach Freddie Kitchens has taken much of the blame, many have questioned if Mayfield is the quarterback of future for the Browns.
After a stellar rookie season, Mayfield’s production has dropped significantly in his 2nd season.
In only 13 games a year ago, Mayfield set an NFL rookie record with 27 touchdown passes. He also finished with a 93.7 rating.
This season, he has thrown 15 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. His 79.9 passer rating ranks 33rd in the NFL.
Mayfield has thrown the 3rd most interceptions in the league trailing only Jameis Winston (20) and Philip Rivers (15).
How do you feel about Baker Mayfield as a franchise QB?
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) December 5, 2019
Browns offensive coordinator Todd Monken still believes Mayfield is the right guy at quarterback for the Browns despite his drop in production.
“There’s no doubt,” he said in his press conference Thursday. “Any statistical evidence you have of any area you want to look at has its holes. Obviously we’ve got to do it collectively as a group better, but I think he’s a tremendous, tremendous football player, competitor, smart, tough, has a rare competitive quality and rare want to be great.’’
“That’s a thing that I think is going to continue to push him and for him to push the rest of our offensive group. There’s been some moments where we haven’t played as well around him, we’ve gotten behind a little bit, and he’s competitive.’’
“Over his career, I’ll be stunned if he’s a guy that turns the ball over a lot,’’ said Monken. “He doesn’t have that in him. He does not. He’s not careless with the football. If you look at … one of his interceptions is a shovel pass at New England, for God’s sakes. That’s not his fault, it’s our fault, my fault for the way we designed it and the way it turned out. Sure there’s other ones, but in my mind we’ve got the right guy going forward.”
With all the talent on the Browns offense this year, it has been less than stellar.
They have scored 13 or fewer points in 5 games so far this season.
Monken says the entire offense is to blame for the struggles and not just Mayfield.
“It’s not like I look at it and say, ‘Boy it feels like over a certain amount of time the velocity’s down’ or in terms of going through a progression, I don’t see that,” Monken said. “It’s just we’ve got to do it better … that’s a fact … collectively. And when we do that, then we’ll continue to see our growth and consistency.
The Browns play the Bengals this Sunday who have the 31st ranked defense.
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