Receiver Rashard Higgins, left, and quarterback Baker Mayfield have exceeded expectations early this season as a pass-catch combo for the Browns. (Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com)
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- As the Browns prepared for the 2018 season, Baker Mayfield rarely found work with the first-team offense. The front office and coaching staff was committed to the idea of allowing Tyrod Taylor to start and bringing Mayfield along slowly.
While that plan didn't work in hindsight, it did allow the forming of a special bond between Mayfield and another player the front office was yet to be all too keen to giving first-team opportunities: Rashard Higgins.
While Mayfield and Higgins worked with the second team, the connection was being built and all eyes at camp could see the forming of a special bond.
The regular season came and Mayfield found his way onto the field quicker than expected.
When Mayfield found that opportunity to start, that is when the bond so many saw forming throughout the offseason really kicked into gear. The two had a sort of natural chemistry that stood out whenever Mayfield needed to find an answer in moments of crisis. There is no natural way to explain it. The duo just always seemed to come up with the big play when the offense needed it.
Quarterback have to find comfort in crisis at the NFL level. There are usually four of the biggest and quickest athletes in the world coming after you each snap. Things break down, and schemes don't always go as planned. This is when Mayfield found Higgins most often, and when the unspoken bond was on display.
Mayfield had trust in Higgins to go up and get contested throws as well. Against Atlanta Mayfield is forced out of the pocket to his right and gives Higgins a jump ball opportunity. Higgins comes down with it for the 28-yard touchdown.
As Freddie Kitchens took over the offense in Week 9, Mayfield did more work outside the pocket as he grew comfortable escaping pressure. As he did this, and led the AFC North in passing grade outside the pocket, he had a knack for finding Higgins.
Mayfield worked out of the pocket escaping to his right, he finds Higgins at the last second planted in the corner of the end zone and delivers a perfect throw for Higgins to keep two feet in bounds.
The Browns also used empty sets and four receivers often. They will likely do this again in 2019 due to the immense talent at the position. Kitchens preferred Higgins work over the middle of the field and into the vision of Mayfield. Watch as Mayfield slides out of the pocket to his left here and Higgins works the scramble drill to perfection finding the soft spot in the Cincinnati zone.
In 2018, according to Sharp Analysis, 43 percent of Higgins' targets were more than 15 yards in the air. He caught 17 of 23 targets for 390 yards and three touchdowns, and that amounted to 16.9 yards per attempt. Although Higgins isn't a high speed receiver, the duo found ways to make the connection work downfield through a variety of ways.
The back-shoulder was a throw the two excelled at connecting. It takes immaculate timing and a feel for the wide receiver's speed and who is covering him. Mayfield uses it here as he feels Higgins is covered upfield and can take advantage of the over-zealous corner.
Mayfield just always had a sense for where Higgins would be as you can see he is locked into finding the fourth-year receiver here. Even as chaos is happening around his feet, he knows where Higgins is located and how to deliver the back-shoulder ball that gives him the best chance to make a play.
Even in the most chaotic situations you will see, Mayfield would find Higgins. This throw in Week 17 truly showed how the dynamic between the two reached unexplained levels. Mayfield has to pump fake multiple times and escape to his right. He makes a couple defenders miss and Higgins works all the way from left to right for the completion.
It didn't always make sense, but it just worked.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Higgins and Mayfield know all about the connection they have formed. Higgins commented on the bond before Mayfield's first full start.
“I’m excited,” Higgins said. “Me and Baker and the timing that we got, it’s unbelievable to have something like that with another guy.
“It’s pretty well worth it. I hang out with Baker all the time. We live at Crocker Park, and I’m always at his house. I’m always asking him, ‘Hey, man, do you need anything to eat? Anything?’ All jokes aside, I’m very excited for him. I’m happy he’s here.”
The two carried the bond into a career year for Higgins and a coming out party for Mayfield.
When Higgins missed Weeks 6-8, the absence was felt and the Browns' depth became severely challenged. Mayfield never seemed quite as comfortable without Higgins as his go-to outlet.
The two formed a special bond and that bond doesn't seem to be going anywhere. The duo continues to click on all cylinders throughout minicamp and OTAs.
Higgins led the Browns in yards per catch, percentage of catches that resulted in a first down, and most yards per route run in 2018. The duo formed an efficient bond that resulted in key results in tight situations.
Higgins maximized his chances in this offense despite not getting the large share of targets those around him received. I expect this to remain the same. Low volume but a player who maximizes those opportunities with a quarterback who trusts him.
It's easy to see the names Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, take notice in Antonio Callaway's great offseason and push Higgins name to the side. But that will not be the case in 2019. Not for this offense.
As defenses key on certain aspects of the offense and undoubtedly focus on those big names above, it will be Higgins who is left working against inferior coverage, and it will be Higgins who Mayfield finds when it matters most.
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