Wamu
whats-a-matta-u?
do you see the same comments I do, @Shanemansj13 , @WiggyRuss , @Wamu ? Have to say I do not get the Browns' fans I so often see in Cleveland sports forums. I can certainly understand opposing fans not liking Baker, and hell, even our fans not caring for his personality. But to constantly cry about him and look for reasons to diminish a 7-3 start for a team who won 7 games in their last 48 prior to this year?
The "we cannot beat good teams" is absurd, as no one has beaten more than 2 good teams, and most good teams have lost to a bad team (the Browns as of now have not). Calling Baker a game manager is also absurd. When he struggled this year it was because he is not a game manager. He often took chances that did not need to be taken and threw costly picks. Now it is true, when it is effective Stefanski's offense might be better off with a QB who could manage a game. The hope is they build a lead by running the ball and/or can run out the clock with their elite RBs. Baker has been better playing his part and not throwing costly picks (none for a month, I believe...never mind the awful weather he's played in). They often failed in the past when our dunderhead coach forgot he had 1-2 elite RBs and even in bad weather had Baker throw 30-40 times. So nice to finally have an adult in charge.
Can Baker be elite? Guess is still no. But I still think it's possible he can be a top 10 QB in Stefanski's system. Next year will be his first since last 2 in Oklahoma he had same offense 2 years in a row.
Bashing the Browns is commonplace on this site. Been going on since I got here. And while most of it is deserved this year seems to be different. Now they can't lay egg and lose to a terrible Jags team on Sunday. But while trashing Mayfield (something I never pass up) has been easy after last season he's not the same turnover prone QB he was when he was last or near the bottom in TD to int ratio & rating.
You asked if he can be elite? He hasn't proven it yet in my opinion. One thing I can't hold against him is the number of head coaches and systems he's gone through already. That shit's gotta stop. Something like that isn't good for any QB, no matter what his name is.