Baker Mayfield Speaks Ahead of Minnesota Vikings Matchup
Transcript
00:00 >> It's finally here, yeah.
00:02 It's what you work all year for.
00:04 Real things finally here, so we're ready to finally go out and
00:08 play somebody else for real.
00:09 And just see all the things that we've been working on.
00:12 See how it comes to life, all the little details, all the off-season workouts,
00:16 the foundational stuff that we've been trying to get installed,
00:18 and just to see how it plays out.
00:20 Just see how guys handle it throughout the game.
00:22 It's football, it's the highest level you can play at, so
00:25 there's gonna be ebbs and flows, ups and downs in the game.
00:27 And so we're built to handle that adversity, and so I'm excited to see how we do.
00:31 >> Working with Dave Canales for the last few months, what has he meant to you the most?
00:34 Where has he helped you in your game the most, do you think?
00:37 >> I mean, his mindset, he's so positive.
00:40 It's just the next step mentality.
00:42 Next play, make it the best one.
00:44 Even if it's just a simple handoff where we're not doing anything besides carrying
00:47 out a fake, make it your best one.
00:49 And just that mindset to give it absolute 100% each time.
00:54 It's just refreshing to, even though it might be an off play for us,
00:58 to we still carry a weight in it.
00:59 There's still a factor in it, so do your business.
01:02 So he's so fresh, and that mindset's awesome.
01:05 >> Have you seen a progress then in your game specifically where it may be elevated
01:09 where you've played in the past?
01:11 >> Yeah, I think there's times where you overthink things.
01:13 You can harp on the last play.
01:15 The most important one's always the next one.
01:16 I say that, but it's easier said than done, and Dave truly lives by that.
01:19 So it's a refreshing thing to have in the room.
01:22 >> Coach Allison said that for him, kind of an aha moment when he was like, yes,
01:26 this is it.
01:27 Like this guy, Baker, the killer starter, was after that first preseason game.
01:31 I guess there was a little practice, and
01:33 I guess you hit this beautiful deep ball to Mike Evans.
01:37 Did you feel that then, or when did you maybe,
01:40 if you did have a moment where you're like, I've got this, and-
01:44 >> I think throughout camp, I think it was a great battle, to be honest with you.
01:48 So I don't think I had one of those moments.
01:49 It was the next day mentality of, all right, I gotta bring my A game,
01:53 because our whole room is extremely competitive.
01:55 And so just trying to do that each day.
01:57 I don't think it was one play.
01:58 And for them, they're looking at it from their perspective.
02:01 But yeah, it's always fun to get in there and throw a deep ball to Mike.
02:04 He makes your life easy.
02:05 >> Or was there a moment for you at all when you felt like you were able to,
02:09 I guess, make this offense your own?
02:11 Where you really started to feel natural?
02:12 >> Yeah, I think the command of it, once we got into that Jets week,
02:15 it really started to see all the little checks at the line of scrimmage.
02:18 We had the whole foundation, and
02:19 now it's about adapting to what the defense is giving you.
02:22 And from there, I think, just took control of it.
02:24 So I think you guys saw a little bit of it when Dave started getting on a roll in
02:28 that last preseason game.
02:29 So we kinda saw what our offense is supposed to be,
02:31 just getting the ball out, taking care of it.
02:33 And that's when I really felt it.