Cleveland Browns: 3 reasons why Baker Mayfield could struggle in 2020

The Covid-19 disruption

While some may shriek about this being the reality of the world we live in, the facts are what they are. There is no doubt that this pandemic has affected how we do everything. Form everyday interactions to shopping to even how we work. For some, working from home is already the norm but not for NFL players. Especially not for NFL players who are learning a brand new system, with brand new terminology.

For Baker Mayfield to succeed in 2020, he’ll have had to prep extra hard during the downtime away from the team facilities. He’ll have needed all of those Skype or Zoom conference calls, would need to have sent practice film to the coaching staff, and would need to work on his throwing mechanics all while being states away from his coaches.

That’s a hard task. It’s even harder when you remember that Jedrick Wills is changing sides of the line, meaning learning how to step and plant differently, as well as bringing in Jackin Conklin into the fold through online classes. It’s not a perfect way to introduce anyone into anything.

Most pundits agree that established teams will struggle to improve due to current team situations. They also think that teams like the Browns, who gutted and rebuilt themselves in one offseason like a house on HGTV, will have even more hurdles and issues to overcome.

Again, none of this is to say the Browns will be awful and that this is why. This is merely one possibility that exists as to why the Browns could struggle. The disruption of the coaching, meetings, and lack of team bonding are huge things to overcome. The team is lead by some great men, however, and it’s entirely possible that this is a non-issue heading into the season.

There’s also a possibility that the team is weeks behind when the season starts because of this. Only time will tell which possibility comes to fruition.