Should Panthers put more pressure on Baker Mayfield?

The Carolina Panthers are within the midst of a quarterback battle. All indicators, although, level to Baker Mayfield being their starter, not Sam Darnold. 

Mayfield took reps with the highest offensive unit within the Panthers’ preseason opener towards the Washington Commanders. He has additionally taken nearly all of the snaps with the offensive starters throughout coaching camp practices to date. 

Emmanuel Acho is not certain the Panthers are taking the best method, and he in contrast Mayfield to a sure superhero in explaining why. 

“Baker Mayfield’s just like the Incredible Hulk,” Acho mentioned on Tuesday’s “Speak For Yourself.” “When the Incredible Hulk’s confused, he prompts a superpower. In the identical breath, when Baker Mayfield’s challenged, it prompts his superpower.”

Acho cited virtually each season of Mayfield’s profession courting again to when he was a freshman in faculty and gained the beginning quarterback job at Texas Tech as a walk-on. Acho used Mayfield’s time at Oklahoma, the place he needed to win the beginning job as a walk-on earlier than successful the Heisman as more proof.

In the NFL, Acho pointed to Mayfield’s rookie and third seasons with the Cleveland Browns as even more poof that he thrives when challenged. Mayfield needed to beat out Tyrod Taylor to earn the beginning job as a rookie, and in his third season, he needed to show himself after a disappointing second 12 months. 

Acho believes that Mayfield wasn’t challenged sufficient in his second and fourth seasons with the Browns, which each led to dropping seasons. Acho thinks that Carolina could also be making the identical mistake. 

“Now, enter the Carolina Panthers,” Acho mentioned. “Please problem Baker Mayfield so we are able to see the Incredible Hulk. They do not. They hand him the job, seemingly.”

Joy Taylor took a special method. She did not argue if the Panthers are taking the best or fallacious method. Rather, she believes that Mayfield wants to vary his method.

“I actually cannot get into any person that I’ve to play thoughts video games with to do their job,” Taylor mentioned. “You know what your motivation is? It’s that verify you get each two weeks. Nobody wants to inform me to go work at my job as a result of I receives a commission to do my job, so subsequently, I’m going to do my job. That’s how I’m wired. And that is how I would like my quarterback to be wired.”

The upcoming season is a crucial one for Mayfield. He’s within the ultimate season of his rookie deal and was traded for only a fifth-round conditional choose in July, suggesting that he may have to show he is starter materials this season. 

Taylor desires Mayfield to drop his “underdog” mindset as a result of he already has to show sufficient as it’s.

“The problem is you are an NFL quarterback,” Taylor mentioned. “That is a particularly aggressive place. There are usually not quite a lot of these jobs on the planet. That needs to be your motivation already. 

“I hear you, however you’re a No. 1 general choose. You had been the Heisman Trophy winner. You’re not an underdog anymore, my man! You have arrived. You have 47 Progressive commercials, we get it. So, the entire underdog factor to me will get drained.” 

The Panthers face the New England Patriots of their second preseason recreation on Friday, and Carolina coach Matt Rhule implied that he’ll make a decision on who’ll be the starter after that.