Dave Canales: QB Competition Is About Respect
June 3rd, 2023
Bucs OC Dave Canales.
When asked last week why it’s important for the Buccaneers to have a true quarterback competition, new offensive coordinator Dave Canales didn’t give the response fans might have expected.
Joe thought Canales would have replied saying something like, “Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask are super-talented and we want to see who fits best in the system and plays great in August.”
Instead, Canales had a different take during his visit to the No Days Off podcast, a FOX-13 production.
“I think it’s partly just respecting the team, respecting what’s best for everyone, and then also respecting Kyle’s process,” Canales said. “You know, he comes in as the second-round pick with high hopes. Obviously, what a great thing, Tom Brady’s been here, so he’s been able to learn from him. But at the same time he’s worked really hard to try to have an opportunity to show what he can do.
“On the flip side, too, I think Baker, would he love to be named the starter? I’m sure. But Baker also knows this is his road back, too. From Cleveland to Carolina and L.A., you know, he’s been told told, ‘No,’ a couple of times. And so for him to be able to come out here to win the team over in his own right, to perform and to show them that he can be the caliber quarterback that he believes he can be, I think I owe it to both of them and to the team to put the best guy out there.”
The more Joe listens to Bucs coaches talk about the QB competition, the more it sounds like the collective organizational goal is to make sure Mayfield isn’t handed anything, and that management wants the roster to see Mayfield win the job outright and win players over.
Joe understands “respecting Kyle’s process.” But Joe suspects Trask would rather hear his coach say something more substantial about his talent, leadership ability and practice film.
June 3rd, 2023 at 7:23 pm
Geez Joe. We’ve been trying to tell you it’s a competition. Huh? Of course it’s a competition. Rigged, perhaps. But still a competition.– Joe. Why would the Bucs gift Mayfield the job. That wouldn’t even make sense
June 3rd, 2023 at 7:59 pm
It’s going to be a very interesting preseason. Both Trask and Mayfield will be given game time with the first string offense.
I can’t wait to see if Trask is developing and to see which QB best fits this new offensive scheme.
June 3rd, 2023 at 8:30 pm
Trask must really suck. To have had the benefit of not being rushed onto the field AND getting to watch and learn from the best who ever did it for 2 yrs. He should be ready to dominate the position at this point.
I’ve barely heard a word from players raving about Trask except for Godwin. If Trask doesn’t win the starting job then that officially makes Jason Licht’s 2nd rd pick of Trask a total failure. I’d love to see him succeed. His time is now. Or never.
June 3rd, 2023 at 9:10 pm
Let’s be clear here , That was Arians Pic and Shawn King made a bold statement that the Jets pick would not be as good as Trask !!!
June 3rd, 2023 at 9:25 pm
Joe is a stubborn sob … whatever anyone says or does, or who says or does it, he concludes that there is no real competition, no matter what.
Stupid!!!
June 3rd, 2023 at 9:29 pm
You’ve got to see which guy earns the respect of the team as well. And if the team isn’t buying into the guy you’re putting out there, they lose respect for the coaching staff. I think the players will feel better seeing these guys battle it out for the job. The more I read and the more I hear, the more I think it’s a legit competition. Mayfield has the experience edge, but if that doesn’t translate into better performance in TC and preseason games, I don’t think he’ll win the job. He’s going to need to be better than Trask. And Trask is said to be improving, so we shall see…
June 3rd, 2023 at 9:33 pm
Enough coach talk and BS, let’s see them both play with the first string offense. It’s getting tiring listening to the Mayfield sales job, the guy is not even journeyman level and he has the record to prove it. Not even as good as Jameis and the Bucs are in the position to try to hype this three time loser to fans. Sad.
June 3rd, 2023 at 10:26 pm
To me, “he comes in as the second-round pick with high hopes. Obviously, what a great thing, Tom Brady’s been here, so he’s been able to learn from him” sounds a lot better than, “From Cleveland to Carolina and L.A., you know, he’s been told told, ‘No,’ a couple of times”
So, it seems like it’s Trask’s job to lose!
June 3rd, 2023 at 11:21 pm
Nice response to Buccos Joe, doesn’t make you look like a @$$ at all…..
Joe calls it as Joe sees it. Frankly, whatever Joe may write, a healthy percentage of fans will call Joe an @$$, so Joe can’t be concerned about that. Trask and Mayfield are not the same quarterback, slightly different players with greatly different backgrounds. Joe firmly believes management wants Mayfield to win for multiple reasons and that will play out going forward in subtle and less-subtle ways.–Joe
June 3rd, 2023 at 11:33 pm
If the competition is rigged, as Joe claims, is it really a competition? Not really. If it’s rigged then Mayfield is being handed the job. That just doesn’t make sense for management if their jobs are on the line and they ‘respect’ the team as they claim. Let em fight it out and put the best chance to win on the field.
June 3rd, 2023 at 11:56 pm
How about “truthful?”
Don’t you think if anyone — not just Joe — who is watching all these practices thought Trask was the starter someone would be typing up stories explaining this by now?
There are at least a dozen reporters at all of these practices. How come not one of them is writing/reporting that this competition is a sham, and that Trask is the man?
Do you really want Joe to lie and say it’s over, Mayfield is done, Trask is the starter and he hasn’t let the ball hit the ground in practice yet (going on a third straight year)? That’s what you seem to want.
What else should Joe lie about that you prefer?
Rachaad White is the next Jim Brown?
Joe Tryon is going to make people forget Bruce Smith?
Devin White — despite everyone saying he’s too busy riding his horsies in Louisiana and has skipped spring practices — is a total animal in OTAs and is going to make Ray Lewis look like Myron Lewis?
What other #FakeNews would you like to read?
If Trask was torching the Bucs defense and looked like the locked-in starter, Joe would be happy as hell to write a bunch of stories about it for three reasons:
1) The Bucs would have their quarterback.
2) Joe would look smart because he applauded the drafting of Trask — go ahead and check the (free) archives.
3) People would finally STFU about Trask being some victim of an international conspiracy to ruin his career.
If you don’t want honest analysis from Joe, then please go to Buccaneers.com where they have Logan Hall as the next Mean Joe Greene.
June 4th, 2023 at 7:18 am
Joe … ‘There are at least a dozen reporters at all of these practices. How come not one of them is writing/reporting that this competition is a sham, and that Trask is the man?’
I don’t get the logic Joe. If NONE of them are writing that ‘this competition is a sham’ … which is what you seem to be saying … then they must surely believe that it’s legit. And that would mean that, in their eyes, EITHER Trask or Mayfield could win the starting nod. Which (ironically?) seems to be exactly what Bowles and Canales are saying.
You’re twisting Joe’s words around. Joe knows it’s not malicious, so that’s fine. Joe is not going to pretend this is a clean-slate competition with no bias in play. Joe doesn’t believe that and is not picking up evidence to convince Joe otherwise. There can be a rigged competition that’s won by the guy that the powers in place want to lose, if that guy makes it impossible to go with the intended winner. Still rigged, just overcome by the underdog who was not portrayed as the underdog.–Joe
June 4th, 2023 at 8:02 am
Sounds like to me they are telling Mayfield to come out on fire or else, not going to wait for him to show up. if he does not lite it up before the season starts(pre season/practice), I look for Trask to get it. it wouldnt hurt my feelings, as long as we get good results. honestly I dont care which one is the starter. although, I would like to see if Trask is going to be a starter, or a career backup. whats one year to find out? I would hate to see us not even give him a chance, and then he goes to some other team and makes us regret it.
June 4th, 2023 at 9:26 am
I miss Joe’s logic sometimes. Wouldn’t the front office prefer to have their draft pick be THE guy? Rather than some journeyman that has been on 4 teams in a year? Wouldn’t Trask succeeding make them look better?
Their focus is on winning. Don’t think a wise, No. 64 overall pick would make them look bad if he’s a good backup. –Joe
June 4th, 2023 at 9:32 am
You have such a great time misrepresenting Joe malicioiusly. Glad you’re enjoying yourself. –Joe
June 4th, 2023 at 9:46 am
It may not be a rigged competition, but it is probably biased to favor Baker. If Trask wins it’s because he more than earned it.
June 4th, 2023 at 9:52 am
@justsayin, people have heard of Baker Mayfield and he has lots of experience AND Bowles needs to win a good many games if he wants to remain head coach. The powers that be may prefer to see Trask succeed, but they don’t have much margin for error.
June 4th, 2023 at 10:13 am
The thing is, who from the players or the coaches the last two years when asked about Trask have said, that kid can really sling it, or he throws a really good ball and can fit it into tight windows? It’s always he has spent two years learning behind the GOAT and he’s working real hard, etc. etc. etc. I’m sure Trask is a hard worker and a great guy but that don’t win games. Talent and developing that talent into a great QB does.
June 4th, 2023 at 10:41 am
There is no doubt that the coaching staff will have a competition for the starting QB. Why, because they want the best QB on the field in order to keep their JOBS!!!!!
June 4th, 2023 at 10:50 am
When a season starts out with a Rodney Dangerfield QB competition..
June 4th, 2023 at 11:08 am
Joe call it as you see it, just don’t be so damn condescending.
June 4th, 2023 at 11:13 am
Joe’s way off with management wanting Mayfield to win the job. Licht does not give up on his second round picks easily. He’d look like a genius using a second round pick on Trask, and he becomes a good starting QB. That’s executive of the year stuff.
June 4th, 2023 at 11:31 am
Can it be about winning? Just wondering.
June 4th, 2023 at 11:52 am
I’ll post this again in case Joe missed it:
From 2022:
12 for 21 against the Packers for 111 yards and took 5 sacks.
11 for 19 against the Chargers for 132 and took 3 sacks.
13 for 26 against the Seahawks for 147 with 5 sacks again.
Against the Pack they had 156 total yards of offense – just abysmal.
Against the Chargers the running game tallied 166, but Bake couldn’t get anything done in the air despite you would think some play action opening up. 277 total yards of offense. Mayfield averaged 5 yards a completion with Higbee and Jefferson. Lost a fumble in that game. If they know you’re a check down charlie they are going to play up press which the Chargers did.
Against the Seattle the same story but add a pick for Mayfield. 146 yards on the ground for the Rams, but Mayfield couldn’t get it done in the air and threw the pick in overtime. Just inexcusable.
This is what you get with Mayfield.
June 4th, 2023 at 12:25 pm
It’s pretty simple …
1. Trask has zero starts and limited practice.
2. Trask is basically a rookie. He’ll lose games.
3. Bowles won’t survive a terrible year.
Baker is the safer bet.
Trask fans: The previous and current regime did him dirty. Why they didn’t make him QB2 and get him reps is beyond me.
June 4th, 2023 at 12:41 pm
All We can ask is for it to be a fair competition which should be backed by statistics and not just the opinions of prognosticators. It seems to me equal playing time in the preseason and accumulated QBR statistics in the preseason games and beyond would be the fairest way to go , yes Kyle has only had extremely limited playing time through no fault of his own and Mayfield has “experience” but also one of the lowest QBR’s ever recorded, possibly due to injuries, a clean slate for both and statistically based QBR’s with
June 4th, 2023 at 12:49 pm
Continued- demonstrated ongoing performance improvement being the tie breaker ,should be the way to go.
June 4th, 2023 at 2:51 pm
Hey Joe, do you have any evidence to prove your statement?
“Rigged, perhaps.” Or is it just another “itchy Joe feeling”?
I do hope we get a complete competition to the last quarter of our last pre-season game. We have QBs who have not yet had their opportunities, one with a SB Ring, and we have a former #1 pick, who has seen and tasted success, and also had that quickly removed. who had to watch his replacement signed to a multi-hundred million dollar contract, which helped him, show himself to the door as the 22-season training camp was starting. He went to an NFC South team, who fired their coach midseason, traded their best RB, and then cut our new QB. He signed to an SB-hungover beat-up NFC West team for the remainder of the season, who wanted him back, and showed he knows how to be a NFL QB. He has a fellow new Buccaneer from that same NFC West team who is a very good DT. (Why are no reports up on him, did I miss it?)
I for one am excited to finally hear as a Buc fan that we have three solid QBs on our team. In a year we have lost the GOAT and his old sidekick, and we still have a solid young QB room. With a new OC. I hope we watch one of the QBs rise to the top. I don’t really care who is 1-2 as long as they know and understand how to run our new offense and can do it best.
“Rigged, perhaps.” I hope not.
GO!!!!!BUCS!!!!!
June 5th, 2023 at 2:40 pm
All the ‘experts’ can ride with Baker if they choose but thats gonna be a losing bet in the end. Trask without question will overtake him at some point i gurentee that!
June 7th, 2023 at 2:58 am
The Canales PR Rha Rha is getting very stale Joe.
I want the best player to start.
Getting solid reliable info (not opinion or philosophy) to follow this so called competition has not happened. All I seem to be able to find out is that Baker is getting more reps with the ones than Trask (even that has been conflicting Info) and the limited availabilty OTA plays you ran down for us.
If Trask is not getting a fair chance here so be it. Myself and many other Bucs fans just want the truth of it. Not conjecture.
June 7th, 2023 at 3:05 am
“You’re twisting Joe’s words around. Joe knows it’s not malicious, so that’s fine. Joe is not going to pretend this is a clean-slate competition with no bias in play. Joe doesn’t believe that and is not picking up evidence to convince Joe otherwise. There can be a rigged competition that’s won by the guy that the powers in place want to lose, if that guy makes it impossible to go with the intended winner. Still rigged, just overcome by the underdog who was not portrayed as the underdog.–Joe”
Huh?