“You’re Going To See Guys Going After That Ball A Lot More”
June 19th, 2023
Did the Buccaneers’ veteran secondary do Bucs quarterbacks a disservice this spring?
Competing Kyle Trask and Baker Mayfield are hunting the same job and were eager to showcase their abilities throughout spring practices, where pads and hitting are forbidden. However, a defensive back breaking hard on a football is allowed and guys are free to jump routes and dive to break up passes.
That wasn’t really happening the way it will in August, per new Bucs safety Ryan Neal.
“Right now we gotta kind of take it easy because it’s not that point in the season yet, so guys are kind of hesitant with taking that shot,” Neal said Wednesday. “But, you know, when we get to training camp, it’s going to be a totally different story.”
Joe thinks the approach Neal shared is magnified because the Bucs have such a veteran defensive backfield — one well versed in flipping a switch come training camp while rookies often run hot in the spring.
That reality is another X-factor in the Trask-Mayfield competition. Perhaps Mayfield’s turnover woes will come back when the defense is more real? And/or maybe Trask will look overwhelmed when pushed to the No. 1 QB?
Joe sure hopes they both look fantastic.
June 19th, 2023 at 12:55 pm
More interesting was hearing in their 11 on 11 team drills that they went with an in-game, no script, call vs call on offense rather than allowing either side in on what the other side of the ball is working on. Helps both QBs respond to game situations and helps the new OC in ironing out what calls work against a given defense and is like simulating in-game play calling, but in practice.
June 19th, 2023 at 1:07 pm
Bucs secondary needs to pick off more passes this year period.
June 19th, 2023 at 1:22 pm
They should have revamped our conditioning coaches it seems like every year more and more injuries and I am sure by october we will have a few.
June 19th, 2023 at 1:28 pm
Just RUN the dadgum ball. When Bucs rushed for over 100 yards last season they were undefeated. If you run well consequently you will also throw well.
June 19th, 2023 at 1:35 pm
Maybe , just maybe, it’s the Defensive Backs that will be pushed, and who knows , maybe it was the Quarterbacks who took it easy on the Defensive Backs? They both should be challenging the other, that’s how they get better, it will be interesting when the pads are on.
June 19th, 2023 at 1:39 pm
:sigh:
It’s gonna be a looooooong 6 weeks…
June 19th, 2023 at 2:06 pm
How time flies……veteran secondary….it seems like just yesterday we drafted Davis, Dean and Winfield…..
June 19th, 2023 at 2:46 pm
For real cobra it’s going to be a long break. Thanks for articles Joes I hope y’all can keep them coming to keep us busy reading lol and make the time pass faster
June 19th, 2023 at 3:00 pm
Who is Smith?
June 19th, 2023 at 3:19 pm
It’s a positive. You want your guys challenged to better prepare them.
June 19th, 2023 at 3:43 pm
So like I said. No real pressure and they weren’t really being challenged. Neither QB was showing anything. But of course we know who wanted Trask named starter during flag football time.
June 19th, 2023 at 4:01 pm
Joe, I love the way you dole out praise (?) to Mayfield & Trask. Ending with a bottom line of ‘Joe sure hopes they both look fantastic’ was a nice touch.
Of course, that did follow this bit of skepticism …
‘Perhaps Mayfield’s turnover woes will come back when the defense is more real? And/or maybe Trask will look overwhelmed when pushed to the No. 1 QB?’
It’s just June; both QBs have a looong road ahead before either of them is ready to grab the reins of this offense for Game 1. Even though you poo-poo preseason games, how both of them do against the Steelers (11 Aug), Jets (19 Aug) and Ravens (26 Aug) will probably determine which one gets the starting nod for our 10 Sep game against the Vikings.
Only one “Joe” pooh-poohs preseason. The other Joe thinks the games are more valuable than ever since real practice has been watered down by safety rules over the years. Bucs also have joint practices with one team this season rather than two.–Joe
June 19th, 2023 at 5:40 pm
We are going to need a lot of turnovers to make up for the 200 yards a game rushing we are set to give up
We better get some veteran depth on that DLine….
June 19th, 2023 at 6:11 pm
Am awfully glad that Joe shares my opinion about preseason. I am sure wanting them to win a game or two there this year.
June 19th, 2023 at 6:13 pm
They definitely need to play HARD WHEN Training Camp starts to give them a competitive advantage when the season starts.
Not sure what the 49ers do , but that team plays hard.
No team won a game after playing them means they beat that team up.
How can we get our team to mimic that play style?
June 19th, 2023 at 9:37 pm
@BillyBucco
I like what you’re saying
And with younger guys it becomes much more possible, maybe probably.
We have Bowles as our defensive coach as well as the main man calling the shots. And if he gets a notion, he Is the type to go for it on defense. He may realize that not only is a little extra push a good thing, with so many younger guys, it’s a NEED THING. Bowles coming from an old school must certainly realize the necessity.
June 20th, 2023 at 2:10 am
Smith?
Is he Bowles invisable friend?
Turnovers were supposed to be a focus last year according to Bowles.
Failed.
June 20th, 2023 at 3:50 am
I just reread this and we really gotta know who this Smith guy is?