HANDLING QUARTERBACKS – OF BEING PUSHED, CODDLED OR A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH
By STEVE KING
Some people thrive when being pressured.
Others melt when they are pushed. They prefer to be coddled.
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That’s true for everyone. But it’s even more the case for athletes, including football players, and it’s especially when handling quarterbacks.
They are indeed a different breed. Quarterback is the most important position in team sports. If a team has a good quarterback, then it has a chance. And if it doesn’t, then it doesn’t. It really is that simple.
All that is why the unique way of handling quarterbacks – finding the right mix of pushing, coddling or some of both – is so very important. As that effort goes, so, too, does the team overall in just about every respect.
Concerning Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield, he is a guy who needs to, and likes to, be challenged. He likes to be on the spot – not in a negative manner, but in a passively aggressive kind of way.
And, fortunately so for him, the offense and the team as a whole, he will be challenged this season by a whole new group of coaches, including head coach Kevin Stefanski and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt.
That comes after a 2019 season that was dysfunctional, difficult, disappointing and disastrous in every way, shape and form for not just Mayfield but also – and not surprisingly – the offense and the Browns overall. It caused a lot of people to lose their jobs, and a lot of people, especially Mayfield, to be challenged.
He has to be better – a whole heckuva lot better, markedly better, light years better – and he knows it. In fact, no one knows it better than he does.
That’s a good thing. It’s a very good thing for both Mayfield and the Browns.
As such, he will come to camp ready to go. He will not need any kind of pep talk.
So, then, what will happen?
