4 key takeaways from Baker Mayfield’s presser ahead of Week 2 at Giants

Baker Mayfield discussed some early jitters

Although he wasn’t showing it from the outside, Baker Mayfield’s production over the early exchanges indicated the quarterback was a little too hyped up going against the team that cast him aside. The Carolina Panthers put a lot on his shoulders after abandoning the run game, which gave the likes of Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney all the incentive needed to create havoc at will.

Mayfield’s timing was off and there were clear chemistry issues with Pat Elflein. Rather than passing the buck, the Heisman Trophy winner focused on his failings that the player said centered on footwork and not trusting the protection enough in the face of some significant pressure.

"“For me, it was kind of BS the way how I wasn’t settled in with my feet in the first half, I was kind of creating my own pressure moving around and not trusting them.”"

Perhaps knowing what Garrett and Clowney were capable of having practiced against them daily played a role. An eagerness to perform well in the face of his previous employers was another big-time factor, too.

Slowing things down at the New York Giants will be important for Mayfield. However, the onus also falls on offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo to provide a less predictable, more balanced scheme versus the organization that fired him as head coach.

If the Panthers can achieve this, then they have more than enough talent at the skill positions to make things happen.