Browns quarterbacks coach puts all 11 interceptions on Baker Mayfield, but still sees 'vast improvement'
Marla Ridenour Beacon Journal
Oct 15, 2019 at 4:23 PM Oct 15, 2019 at 5:41 PM
BEREA — In Ryan Lindley's world, there is no tipped ball discount.
Baker Mayfield leads the league with 11 interceptions, and Browns quarterbacks coach Lindley refused to put any of the responsibility on Mayfield's teammates who have let balls go through their hands or deflect off them for turnovers.
"He gets all of them. We don't put 'em on anybody else; he's got all 11 right now," Lindley said after practice Tuesday.
"There's an aspect we like to put in there, 'We've just got to do our job.' There's things you can always be better at in every one of those plays that he's had this year. In our room, you have to think that everybody has to be held accountable for what they're doing. As coaches you have to do that, too. If I told him to do something that led to one of those interceptions, then it's on me as well."
Later Lindley did concede, "Some of it's just bad bounces. It's a game of inches and a game of breaks. If they don't bounce your way, it can end up pretty rough."
With the Browns having a bye before their game at the New England Patriots on Oct. 27, Mayfield statistically has regressed from last season. His 66.0 quarterback rating is better than only three other qualifiers. His interception total in six games is just three shy of tying last season's total. He has only five touchdowns. His completion percentage has dropped from 63.8 percent in 2018 to 56.6. He's completed 9-of-29 passes in the red zone and 4-of-17 inside the 10.
"Looking in the last couple days where he was Week 1 compared to where he is now, there's improvement, there's vast improvement, it's just not where we want it to be," Lindley said. "It is a game of numbers, it's a results-driven business. We look at what he grades out at, what he's doing, what we're asking him to do. We've shown improvement every week and we'll build on that."
Lindley said opposing defensive coordinators are doing their best to confuse Mayfield by mixing coverages.
"It's something you see with everybody when guys go from their first to second year. Everybody builds a book on different guys scouting report-wise. We'll continue to see how he can react and adapt to those things and we'll also change what we do," Lindley said.
"The one thing I harp on, 'We're not making a lot of bad choices, we're just making some mistakes.' When you make mistakes twice, you're making bad choices. He's seeing things for the first time and people are throwing different looks at him than he's seen. I think we're learning as we go. I think we're in a heckuva lot better place than we were a few weeks ago."
Lindley said Mayfield needs to work on his feet and his timing, but the buzzword is rhythm.
"I think it's just details right now. We need to hash some things out and make sure we're in rhythm," Lindley said.
Lindley said the biggest thing Mayfield needs to change is taking what the defense gives him, especially with the success running back Nick Chubb is having. But Lindley said the organization remains confident that Mayfield is the Browns' franchise quarterback.
"Extremely," Lindley said. "On a day-to-day basis, you still see the things he does on the field and the way he carries himself. The best part is he's still young and he's still growing. You see what that kid's going to become and what he is and that's something special.
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Browns blog at www.ohio.com/browns. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MRidenourABJ.