Cleveland Browns offensive lineman Joel Bitonio has blocked for many a starting quarterback since being joining the organization through a second-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft out of the University of Nevada, but to him, there is something different about this year’s signal-caller.
With rookie Baker Mayfield at the helm of the offense, Bitonio senses a new level of confidence within the offense.
“You’ve got to have a quarterback to win in the NFL, and it hasn’t been perfect, but to have him out there with you, there’s always that hope that, ‘Hey, we’ve got a chance to win this game,’” Bitonio said.
“He’s doing all the things right. He’s working with Tyrod. He’s working with Drew. He’s working with Coach Zampese to improve on the things he wants to improve on, and just to see the work he’s put in, the talent that he has and the pieces that we can add around him and keep improving, there’s no limits to what we can be in the future.”
Although the Browns’ recent four-game losing streak “has been tough” on Mayfield, Bitonio has seen a rookie quarterback committed to getting things correct, both in practice and in meetings leading up to games.
“People are like, ‘Oh, Baker’s only won one game as a starter, technically,’ but we have this ‘Next Play’ mentality now, where we’re talking about the next game, the next play, that’s the most important thing, and he’s done a great job of turning the page and being focused on the week at hand,” Bitonio said.
“That’s something you’ve got to do in the NFL. Even when you’re winning, you’ve got to turn that page and move on. That’s what he does every time. If he has a bad play, he’s ready to go next play. If he has a good play, he’s ready to go next play, and that’s something you have to be able to do as a quarterback. He learns from it, but he’s ready to go for the next play.”
And Bitonio is far from the only offensive lineman that feels confident in Mayfield’s ability to lead the team to success despite recent struggles.
“He has handled everything very well,” right tackle Chris Hubbard said.
“To me, you would never know he is a rookie the way he handles everything. He does a great job with what coaches ask him and see him go out there and get the job done no matter what it is. For us as the O-line, we trust him, and I am pretty sure he trusts us, so we have to take care of him.”
Currently, the Browns are 2-6-1 and multiple games behind the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North Division standings heading into today’s game against the Atlanta Falcons at FirstEnergy Stadium, but teammates say outside observers would not know that the team is on a four-game losing streak, not especially with the way Mayfield has shown up to work.
“He is one of those guys that he is going to bring it to you, his attitude and his demeanor,” Hubbard said.
“He has the right things that are leading up to be that guy, that franchise guy, the quarterback guy. He has that poise. I trust in him, and I know, as an O-line and as an offense, we trust in him. He is getting the job done for us.”
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