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We are undoubtedly inclined to hyperbole when it is something like the long-awaited emergence of the Cleveland Brown. With so many romantic factors at play, the most important being the number one choice to quarterback perforation defenses with well placed fastballs, it's easy to see things that are not there. It is human nature to be caught in the rising tide.
And yes, it's only against Jon Gruden's Jets and Raiders 1-3. And one of those games – this Sunday – was a waste of extra time. But Baker Mayfield is once again part of the Browns.
Imagine any other route of the post-1999 Browns heading to fourth and sixth place with confidence. This meant that so many unarmed card-launchers embarked on their attack and called the team. Imagine a rookie bouncing after a troika of bad falls to start the game – one that has resulted in a choice of six – only to continue shooting with extreme accuracy.
For those who have not abandoned Cleveland after Palmer and Davis and Robiskie and Crennel and Mangini and Shurmur and Chudzinski and Pettine and Jackson – who have won just one of his first 32 games in the NFL – the Sunday against the Raiders was like watching football in high definition for the first time. Cleveland will need time to solve the problem, but what is the last time an opposing defense has had so much respect for the passing game? When were the corridors so ripe for a talent like Nick Chubb?
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The Browns did a lot of things on Sunday. Mayfield's performance – 21 of 41 for 295 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions – far exceeded the stats line, although his aggression and self-confidence cost him a bit. Of all the rookie quarterbacks in this class, Mayfield has so far found the best balance between the expansion of games with functional mobility and the fast and decisive shift. The team has happily exchanged concerns about the height, which has so far only affected a few pieces in Mayfield's warrant, because of his ability to see a play unfold.
Cleveland's next game, against a much more formidable defense from the Ravens, should give us a first glimpse of the fact that it is a mirage at the beginning of the season or if the Browns have an offensive base for the first time in this millennium.
This Sunday, four of the five quarterbacks selected in the first round of the 2018 draft have started a game. We know what we felt for Mayfield, but how did the rest work?
Josh Allen (16 of 33, 151 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT, 22-0 loss to the Packers): The most encouraging part of Josh Allen's afternoon was his ability to find Kelvin Benjamin deep towards the end of the first half after a terrible start. He showed that even if the game is still far from slowing down, he can still reset himself and use his greatest strength: a deep ball with good velocity. However, Allen does not seem 100% ready. Before the season, I noticed that the bills would have a much better deal with a substitute companion like AJ McCarron instead of forcing Allen to play in games where he is under constant pressure and with few playmakers to help him – and that always seems to be true. Allen holds the ball longer than ideal and gave the Packers a few points on the basis of neglected decision-making. Is it repairable? Yes. Do the Bills have the structure in place offensively to bring it this season? Doubtful.
Josh Rosen (15-of-27, 180 yards, 1 touchdown, 0 INT, 20-17 loss to the Seahawks): This is a Cardinals attack that suffers from a bit of an identity crisis, although Rosen's play does not last long behind what Arizona has in the game book. Rosen stood in the pocket and made difficult shots against a well-prepared defense on Sunday. He did so despite the inability to establish David Johnson as a threat every time on the pitch. The touchdown of the fourth quarter was a lot of fun, including a nice pass between two defenders against Chad Williams. These four rookie offenses will begin to move in different directions once teams can build a strong opposition, but do not be surprised to see Rosen improve a little bit each week.
Sam Darnold (17 of 34, 144 yards, 1 touchdown, 0 INT, 31-12 loss to the Jaguars): This defense Jaguars has swallowed much better quarters. That being said, the Jets offensive requires serious help. Without the introduction of a racing game (the Jets carried the ball 12 times with a total of 26 yards on the ground), Darnold will continue to be forced to pass fatal. On Sunday, Darnold was plunged into a fall, trying to see some sort of separation from his receivers, completely masked by a Jaguar defense that had a human wall in front of the first marker. The Jets have the impression of playing a much more compact version of the modern game, relying on mid-range safe throws that could potentially generate greater gains through their wide athletic passes. The problem is that without a power element to their attack, Darnold does not have the defensive aspect to test the opposing teams safely. When he does, he misses throws or his receivers do not win their individual clashes. Against Jacksonville, Darnold continued the disturbing trend of not getting rid of football quickly, which resulted in a familiar dive. He has a superior talent in the arm, which allows him to continue to tighten tight passes in small windows (see: the throw to Jermaine Kearse at the end of the third quarter, which was judged completed following the resumption) but does not succeed as easily as some of his fellow recruits and second-year shifts move into the league.
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