The Baker Mayfield mania of 2018 hasn’t worn off. In fact, thanks to this Cleveland Browns quarterback, there seems to be a lot of excitement over Kyler Murray. The Oklahoma Sooners quarterback, who succeeded Mayfield in Norman, has been the subject of many a heated discussion. Kyler Murray fever has infected many, and it could be due largely to Mayfield’s success.
Kyler Murray Fever Has Hit
Height was a major issue when Mayfield started making a name for himself. At 6’0″, the opinions were split down the middle. Some still believed a shorter quarterback could never be successful in the NFL. Others remembered that quarterbacks like Drew Brees and Russell Wilson had developed other ways of moving and were successful despite their height. As Dawg Pound Daily‘s Elliot Kennel reminds us, Brees moves laterally to avoid the rush and reduce the possibility of passes being shot down by taller pass rushers.
Does Height Really Matter Anymore?
Analysts felt taller quarterbacks like Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, and Josh Rosen would translate to the NFL quicker than Mayfield. But he proved himself a more accurate passer and steady mover within the pocket than his taller counterparts. Additionally, he had a more profound ability to read defenses and reset at lightning speed. Before the season had even ended, Mayfield had Browns fans and just about everyone else starry-eyed. He helped turn the Browns into a franchise worth watching. They are no longer an embarrassment. Concerns over height have all but diminished.
Big 12 Quarterbacks Don’t Translate To The Nfl, Do They?
For as long as one can remember, experts have gone with the belief that quarterbacks from the Big 12 won’t be successful in the NFL. Teams use speed and big passing attacks and rack up the numbers fast. Robert Griffin III, Sam Bradford, and Brandon Weeden were accustomed to this style of play, and it showed once they reached the pros.
Mayfield may have put an end to the Big 12 theory. We’ll know once he’s played another season. For now, Murray can ride on the coattails of Mayfield mania, because it seems many are assuming this Heisman-winning Oklahoma quarterback is the same as that other Heisman-winning Oklahoma quarterback.
And What About Experience?
Kennel reminded us of the long-running belief that a college quarterback needs to have started three years and won 23 games in college. Mayfield had 42. Murray had 14. The quarterback role is a complex one that requires skills beyond just throwing a football and running fast. A quarterback can’t truly develop without the necessary reps over the space of a few years. Murray’s time was split between football and baseball. He gave up a hefty MLB contract with the Oakland Athletics to focus on football, and it might be a mistake.
At the Combine, Murray opted out of the 40-yard dash and the throwing drills. Word has it that his recent weight gain may be the reason. Times for the 40 can drastically increase with just a slight gain in body mass. No one knows how fast Murray is currently. He also doesn’t fulfill the minimum 9.5-inch hand span that some still believe to be a factor.
Does Murray Tick All The Boxes?
The first overall pick in the draft must have talent, athleticism, speed, stature, hand size, pocket-passing, skills and a good Combine report. Murray has talent, athleticism and speed. His stats are decent, not exceptional. His height, weight and hand size are less than convention dictates they should be. Some of his Combine skills aren’t known, and he hasn’t had three years of starting experience.
Murray himself hasn’t demonstrated any improvements in the off-season. But the hype over him has increased. He has what is needed to earn a spot in the NFL. But truth be told, he hasn’t given us reason to believe he’s as good as his predecessor Mayfield. His fans want to believe it. Mayfield went against the odds and set the precedent for the Murray hype. Perhaps too high for Murray. Chances are that he’ll be sitting on a bench for two years, but in time, his full potential can finally be realized.
