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Baker Mayfield: I have to be better quarterback for Cleveland Browns' offense

Rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield says he has to play to the best of his abilities for the good of the Cleveland Browns' offense.
Credit: Ken Blaze
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) throws under pressure from Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Melvin Ingram (54) during the first half at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland.

CLEVELAND -- Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield has proven himself to be the type of leader that puts the responsibility of failures on his shoulders and spreads around the glory after a victorious effort.

Prior to Wednesday’s practice, Mayfield put the onus for last week’s 38-14 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on himself and took on the challenge of improving his play ahead of Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

“It just comes down to me not doing my job to the best of my ability, plain and simple,” Mayfield said, flatly during his weekly press conference. “There is no way around it. I have to be better for this team and be that for our offense.”

Credit: Scott Galvin
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) throws the ball against the Los Angeles Chargers during the second quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland.

Despite suffering an ankle injury in the first quarter 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.

“I think that they did a good job of when they were pushing me up in the pocket, they closed up the lanes to run through,” Mayfield said. “Kudos to them for doing their job. They did it well. At the same time, if I get the ball out of my hands, then none of that really matters.

“When a play breaks down, yeah, I have been blessed with the ability to make plays. When it comes down to it, I was not drafted here to run around and do things with my feet. I am not fast, so I have to be able to throw from the pocket.”

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.

Browns wide receiver Jarvis Landry had at least four receptions in each of the first five games of the 2018 regular season, but the Pro Bowl pass catcher hauled in only two of the nine throws to come his way in the loss to the Chargers.

And Landry was not the only player Mayfield had trouble connecting with, as wide receiver Antonio Callaway caught two of the 10 passes thrown his way.

With Rashard Higgins (sprained knee) and Derrick Willies (broken collarbone) out of the lineup, rookie Damion Ratley got his first extended game action, and while he led the team with 82 yards on six catches, both he and Callaway missed opportunities to make plays in the end zone against the Chargers.

“I have always said that you can never defend a perfect ball,” Mayfield said.

“Even if the guy is covered, if you can put it where only he can reach it, kudos to the quarterback for that. Do a good job of that, and then, finding my check-downs. If they are covering people down the field, have to get to the check-down. If not, throw the ball away or make a play.”

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