Bucs State Of Mind
June 23rd, 2023
Bucs GM Jason Licht.
It seems folks outside the Tampa Bay area, specifically those in #NFLMedia, are pretty consistent with one belief:
Kyler Traskfield sucks eggs.
Joe swears the only people who think Traskfield can lead the Bucs on a magical run are folks residing in the greater Tampa Bay region. Everyone else believes Traskfield is so bad, he will drag down the otherwise solid Bucs roster.
Take Jarrett Bailey of USA Today. He seems to think the Bucs threw a Hail Mary at Baker Mayfield, or just aren’t impressed with Kyle Trask. Bailey is convinced the Bucs know they’ll be hunting for a new quarterback next spring.
In attempting to explain what the current “State of Mind” is going on behind closed doors at One Buc Palace. Bailey seems to know the Bucs’ private fears despite what they are saying publicly.
Per Bailey, the “State of Mind” of the Bucs right now is, “We are definitely confident in [insert name of bad QB here].”
Joe doesn’t believe the Bucs think this. At worst, the Bucs have have hoodwinked themselves into thinking they can win big with Traskfield.
Joe keeps the QB situation simple. If Baker Mayfield plays well, he’s your Bucs quarterback for the near future. If he stinks, the Bucs are drafting a quarterback in April.
Joe struggles to grasp why folks don’t understand this inexpensive gamble.
NFL Teams Current State Of Mind: Part II pic.twitter.com/RW9CbXbsZc
— Jarrett Bailey (@JBaileyNFL) March 24, 2023
June 23rd, 2023 at 12:53 am
The real story is that Brady wasn’t really that good last year, his head was gone,starting with the 4th down miscue. We will either be the same or better at QB this year. Dude was fried last year, Tom Brady doesn’t get dumped or cheated on, was looking malnourished and everything but let’s talk about Trask and Baker, they will be just fine. Geeked about Canales, already a big uograde
June 23rd, 2023 at 12:53 am
Maybe one of them can become a long term backup under the new coach next year,
June 23rd, 2023 at 1:38 am
So cynical
Do you need a Hug?
June 23rd, 2023 at 2:39 am
Maybefield was not a “gamble”. He was our only true choice. Money and experience being the key factors. The gamble is if he can revert to a season he had years ago in a different offense that had a run game.
IF he is the man this year and fails, we will at last finally see what Trask can do in a real football game. The bonus is that either way we will not have to endure all the nonsense speculation any longer. I, unlike many on here am not looking forward to yet another QB crap shoot draft.
June 23rd, 2023 at 2:53 am
Nobody outside of 1 Buc Place knows the state of mind of the 2023 Bucs. And that includes Jarrett Bailey (who?) of USA Today.
Mac Jones & Kyle Trask were both drafted in 2021, but the major difference was that Mac Jones got to start all 17 games for the Patriots that year as a rookie. He went 10-7 & their offense ranked #6 in the league scoring 462 points. Despite that, it wasn’t a pretty season. They started off winning only 1 of their first 4 games, and ended up winning just 1 of their last 4 games. But in-between, they won 8 out of 9 games enroute to a wildcard playoff berth.
How’d they manage a 10-7 record with all the personnel turnover that they had that year? (Not unlike our 2023 Bucs’ situation?). Strong defense for starters. Their defense ranked #2, allowing just 303 points that year and oh ya, forced 30 takeaways. For another, they had a strong running game (ranked #8) that gained 2151 yards & scored 24 TDs behind 3rd year RB Damien Harris & rookie Rhamondre Stevenson. Their passing game was functional but not earth-shattering. Rookie QB Mac Jones threw for 3800 yards & 24 TDs mostly to WRs Jacobi Meyers (866 yds), Kendrick Bourne (800 yds) & Nelson Agholor (473 yds), plus TEs Hunter Henry (603 yds) & Jonnu Smith (294 yds). Not many of those are household names.
It looks to me like the 2023 Bucs are trying to replicate that same strategy: strong defense, effective running game & adequate passing game. Will it work? Right now that’s anyone’s GUESS because we’re a long way from the finished product. I’m hoping that it does, at least to the extent that we end up with something concrete to build on for the future.
June 23rd, 2023 at 5:39 am
Both Qb’s and head coach will be gone next year.
June 23rd, 2023 at 6:06 am
From what I heard, and saw from OTAs, and mini camp, things don’t look that bad. Inside the building the vibe seems good. Outside the building the vibe is never good. I’m sure that’s fine inside the building too. Bucs have a lot to prove. Silly me I’ll believe they can have a good year. I like what they’ve done this off season with what they had to work with. We shall soon see.
June 23rd, 2023 at 7:03 am
Can we play a game please!!!
June 23rd, 2023 at 7:08 am
Why does Joe keep bringing us words of wisdom from those who, this time last year, said Jalen Hurts was finished and the Bucs would be in the Super Bowl?
Why do those who worshiped Johnny Manzeil and Jameis Winston and countless other quarterback busts think their views today on “Traskfield” mean a whit?
June 23rd, 2023 at 7:16 am
garro Says: “Maybefield was not a ‘gamble’. He was our only true choice.”
Not so. If Trask was half as bad as Joe presents, the Bucs would have drafted Will Levis or Hendon Hooker (both hyped daily on this website) and brought in Moxie Mayfield. Instead they passed on both Levis and Hooker and brought in Moxie.
June 23rd, 2023 at 7:26 am
Lt. Dan understands “this inexpensive gamble.” In fact – I think its a brilliant move by JL.
June 23rd, 2023 at 9:53 am
skankasorous Says: Not so. If Trask was half as bad as Joe presents, the Bucs would have drafted Will Levis or Hendon Hooker.
If Trask was half as good as you say he is, the Bucs would have made him QB1. It’s obvious you believe you know more about his NFL abilities than the TB coaches. Your arrogance is immeasurable.
June 23rd, 2023 at 9:59 am
Uh, the “4th down miscue” was back in 2020, and we went on to win the Super Bowl that season.
June 23rd, 2023 at 11:37 am
“If Baker Mayfield plays well, he’s your Bucs quarterback for the near future. If he stinks, the Bucs are drafting a quarterback in April.”
No chance for Kyle Trask huh?
June 23rd, 2023 at 12:23 pm
Caleb!
June 23rd, 2023 at 12:32 pm
Barry House Says: “If Trask was half as good as you say he is, the Bucs would have made him QB1.”
Please tell us how good I have said he is. Oh, you can’t? That’s what I figured. Another blowhard.
June 23rd, 2023 at 12:33 pm
SomeDudeAtWork Says: “No chance for Kyle Trask huh?”
Not here. This website is part of the Magical Moxie Mayfield Propaganda Ministry.
June 23rd, 2023 at 1:55 pm
The daily anti-Trask propaganda is strong in this Joe! LOL!
June 23rd, 2023 at 2:05 pm
[Guess you missed the near hour-long podcast Dave Canales did with Joe at the combine? — Joe]
June 23rd, 2023 at 2:07 pm
I suppose that if you set the rookie TD pass record as a rookie who only played 13 and 1/2 games, it doesn’t count. I suppose if you lead the CLEVELAND BUM BROWNs to their first playoff win in 20 years, and, their first away playoff win in 30 years…….. it doesn’t count. If you lead a beat-up team to a Christmas Nite showdown in GB against The Great Gazoo ( with a torn-harnessed guide-shoulder AND A COACH WHO PULLED THE RUG OUT FROM UNDER HIM IN THE FOURTH QUARTER………….it doesn’t count. These are NOT opinions. These are FACTS. And to YOU…….they just don’t seem to count. Danny Baker Buc Esq.
June 23rd, 2023 at 8:14 pm
My only real concern is in the trenches on both sides of the ball. That killed us last year. The D got good sack numbers but struggled against the run. On the offensive side, well that was a disgrace.
If we can stop the run this year, the sacks will come, some will be coverage sacks because we have a good DB squad.
If the tranches on O are secure, we have solid RBs and very good receivers. If either Mayfield or Trask gets the nod, they should be ok if they stay within themselves and don’t try to be a hero. You can have a non-elite QB and still get to the Promised Land. It can take some.luck, but it can be done. Win this weak division then anything can happen..
Think about the QBs who beat Brady in the SB. Eli Manning (twice) and Nick Foles. Neither is H.O.F. or “flashy”.. Mayfield is as good or better than either of them imo.
Oh yeah, then there’s Bowles and a rookie OC. So two more of my worries but QB isn’t unless they turn into turnover machines. Canales is easily an upgrade over Lefty even if he stinks. A fresh outlook can only be a plus. If Bowles can get out of his way (and out of his own way) I’ll take the over on the 6.5 wins all day
June 23rd, 2023 at 10:29 pm
Danny Baker’s also the guy who threw an INT on a floater in OT to lose after 146 total passing yards against Seattle in his most recent game played.
Wentz had back to back seasons with a 101 & 102 RTG – last year he had an 80 RTG and is currently looking to get a backup job. The past is the past and sometimes guys peak early.
Sometimes the book gets out on guys too. It’s not like defenses have to worry about Mayfield standing tall in the pocket and hitting the TE seam. Its not like they don’t know Canales is going to have to scheme open passing lanes and if he doesn’t they’re going to bat or force balls away from in between the hashes. I saw a recent podcast where Canales openly admitted they’re going to advocate to take the flat and try to draw opposing defenses up. Defenses know how leverage against size limitations at QB. Bucs have this vision where they’re going to put Bake on the move like Russell in the early days. You seen Russell Wilson lately? Defenses in the NFL adjust. Geno Smith is 6’3″ and last year Seattle didn’t have to scheme open passing lanes. They were able to keep teams honest with the deep ball especially.
Canales knows this. He’s no dummy. He knows with Trask there are plays he can call that wouldn’t be there with Baker – he hinted around to that. Right now Bucs think they got dealt a nice hand with Baker, but there is a reason for Mayfield’s recent struggles. The player with the bigger upside is Trask. If you listen carefully enough to Canales this is really about it clicking for Trask. Can he play and execute at game speed on these new concepts? If he can then the playbook opens up. We’ll see in TC and preseason. If not then they run Baker out there for as long as they can. Joe, everybody thinks this is all but locked up. Remember what Mike Tyson said… Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth. That’s what is going to happen if Trask balls out when the pads go on.
June 24th, 2023 at 5:18 am
No chance for Kyle? Funny how they only brought in the great Baker Mayfield to compete with him…Hmmm Trask must be godawful coz baker is pure garbage 100% FACT