If you’re having any doubts about Baker Mayfield, eliminate them.
This isn’t a guarantee, but a reassurance. 
Most rookie quarterbacks look the way Mayfield has looked this season for the Browns, some good, some bad, some flashes of brilliance, some moments of confusing frustration.
Most rookie quarterbacks, however, don’t get caught in a power struggle between a head coach and an offensive coordinator that ends with both of them getting fired.
So, Mayfield has that going for him.
On this week’s Takes By The Lake podcast, Doug Lesmerises dove into the history of rookie quarterbacks with a writer who studied them as in depth as anyone. Justis Mosqueda wrote a story for optimumscouting.com that is worth your time and will explain a lot.
Rookies have troubles. It’s normal. By Mosqueda’s data, of the 58 rookie quarterbacks who played a lot since the 1970 merger of the NFL and the AFL, only 11 really helped their teams.
Struggles are normal. On this latest episode, we talked all about this history and what it means for how you should view Mayfield’s season.
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Ep. 103: How Baker Mayfield is like almost every other rookie QB

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Doug Lesmerises is back after a long Takes break to check in on the departures of the Cleveland Browns GM and coach and where the Browns might go from here. Doug doesn't think this is just same old, same old, and there are ways in which the Haslams are showing progress as owners. So that's the discussion, looking back some and looking forward more as to what the Browns might do next.
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Ep. 120: What's next for the Browns after John Dorsey and Freddie Kitchens?

Doug Lesmerises is joined by Pete Smith, the editor of SI Browns Maven, to discuss everything going on with this 2-6 team, led by what could happen to help Baker Mayfield look like 2018 Baker Mayfield again.
They attempt to turn down the heat on the reactions to this Browns team as they look for answers for the second half of this season and beyond. Thanks for listening to Takes By The Lake from cleveland.com.
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Ep. 119: How can the Cleveland Browns make Baker Mayfield more comfortable?

This episode of Takes By The Lake from cleveland.com is a little different from the norm. The topic of discussion isn't just sports, but life in Cleveland sports. Doug Lesmerises is joined by Ken Carman from 92.3 The Fan to dig into Carman's life as a sports radio host, how he reached this point in his career, what responsibility he feels to Cleveland sports fans, what happens when he offers an opinion that teams or players don't like and everything else that comes with being one of the strongest and sharpest voices and minds in Cleveland sports media.
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Ep. 118: Ken Carman on the Browns and life in Cleveland sports radio

As the Cleveland Browns take their off week, Steven Ruiz of For The Win makes his first appearance on the podcast to talk about Baker Mayfield's progress and whether he's been fixed yet after some issues early this season. A great film analyst, Ruiz takes us through Mayfield's highs and lows and give his prediction on how he thinks the rest of the season will shake out for the Browns and the AFC North. Then Doug Lesmerises comes back with his view about the Browns, which is more optimistic than many views, and his take on one player in particular who is throwing off the offense. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep. 117: Baker Mayfield's ball placement and Chris Hubbard's blocking

The Cleveland Browns are 2-3... and no one should be freaking out. On this calm, reassuring episode of Takes By The Lake, Doug Lesmerises is joined by two great guests -- his cleveland.com colleague Ellis Williams and former Case Western Reserve quarterback Dan Whalen.
Whalen is up first to break down Baker Mayfield's performance Monday and whether anything about the long-term outlook on Mayfield has changed.
Then Ellis jumps on to discuss his proposal that the Browns trade for Washington left tackle Trent Williams and he makes a compelling case. They also discussed Freddie Kitchens’ play calling so far.
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Ep. 103: How Baker Mayfield is like almost every other rookie QB

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