“You’re Not Handcuffed”
June 16th, 2023
NFL Network found an upbeat Baker Mayfield this week, a man appreciative of his new offense under first-time playcaller Dave Canales.
Mayfield didn’t hold back. He likes the quarterback freedom of decision-making in the offense
“[Canales] gives us the keys eventually to be able to check things at the line of scrimmage and have answers. You know, you’re not handcuffed at the line of scrimmage,” Mayfield told reporter Sara Walsh. “We’re able to use weapons, and if there’s a good matchup, take advantage of those things. … The difference in this offense is we always should be able to get to a good play.”
Soooooo, did Mayfield play in offenses that didn’t allow him to check to a better play at the line of scrimmage? It sure sounds that way. Joe has heard various analysts talk about the “quarterback-unfriendly” offenses Mayfield has played in.
It’s not just the Tampa Bay offense that Mayfield appreciates.
He said this has been “my first true offseason since 2019,” and “it’s been extremely beneficial to be here the whole time.”
Mayfield lost traditional offseasons the past three years because of COVID, injury and getting traded, respectively.
June 16th, 2023 at 2:21 pm
May the best man win
June 16th, 2023 at 2:52 pm
I believe he has the tools for us to be at least average on offense again… but after reading the negative but ineffective article on Sam Darnold.. and knowing he has elite tools, I kinda sorta wish we had gone that route.
June 16th, 2023 at 3:02 pm
He looks like a load in that photo. What’s he weighing?
June 16th, 2023 at 3:17 pm
So, this means there are no excuses for losing…..
June 16th, 2023 at 3:32 pm
Maybe
Sean McVay went 11-5 in his first season with the Rams with this offense.
June 16th, 2023 at 3:32 pm
I LIKE THE ABILITY FOR A QUARTERBACK TO CHANGE THE PLAY AT THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE..REMINDS ME OF THE DAYS OF JOE NAMATH..I REMEMBER TOM BRADY YELLING “NO” AT SPONGEBOB LEFTWICH, THEN HITTING A RECIEVER ON AN OUT PATTERN THAT PUT US IN FIELD GOAL RANGE TO BEAT DALLAS OPENING DAY 2-3 YEARS BACK.IF TOM HADN’T DONE THAT WE RISKED LOSING IN OVERTIME THAT GAME..INSTEAD SUCCUP DRILLED IT & WE WALKED OUT VICTORIOUS !
June 16th, 2023 at 4:18 pm
shankasorous Says:
June 16th, 2023 at 3:02 pm
He looks like a load in that photo. What’s he weighing?
^^^^^^^^
Are you the same person, under a different name, who jumped all over the Joe’s for posting a picture of Kyle Trask that you thought was doctored to make Trask look “fat”? Obviously wasn’t a doctored picture, though.
June 16th, 2023 at 4:21 pm
If he blows up “offensively” great. I got a feeling so is Trask. In fact it’s easy to say concerning Trask because we don’t have enough play time in to judge otherwise.
In the meantime Mayfield keeps looking like a bad version of Flash Dancer! He needs to drop some but not a lot (because he’s probably gonna get hit a lot) of the gut he’s sporting around.
But his look is not exactly intimidating…. Fear the Flash Dancer! No one ever said with a straight face.
I’m just having a hard time taking him seriously looking like that…. Drop the head scarf buddy! While you’re at it, lose the gut to!
June 16th, 2023 at 5:51 pm
Actually Mayfield described the no risk it, no biscuit concept….
gives us the keys eventually to be able to check things at the line of scrimmage … “We’re able to use weapons, and if there’s a good matchup, take advantage of those things. …
June 16th, 2023 at 5:58 pm
Such a huge BA fan:
“No risk it, no biscuit means we’re going to take shots down the field. We’re not afraid to push the ball and challenge the defense.”
“I want our offense to be aggressive and attack relentlessly. We’re going to throw deep and take calculated risks to make big plays.”
“Playing it safe won’t lead to success. We need to be bold and make aggressive decisions to put pressure on the defense.”
“We’re not going to be afraid of making mistakes. We’ll learn from them and keep pushing the envelope on offense.”
“Our mentality is to go for it. We won’t settle for short gains or playing conservatively. We want to make explosive plays and keep the defense off balance.”
Love those BA quotes.
Hope we still have some of that.
June 16th, 2023 at 6:03 pm
“[Canales] gives us the keys eventually to be able to check things at the line of scrimmage and have answers.”
I’m not sure that’s a good thing. Mayfield isn’t known for making good decisions with the ball.
June 16th, 2023 at 6:07 pm
‘Soooooo, did Mayfield play in offenses that didn’t allow him to check to a better play at the line of scrimmage? It sure sounds that way.’
You’ve gotten to be a true master at reading between the lines Joe. Even if there’s nothing to read between. Was Baker ‘handcuffed’ in 2020 when the Browns went under HC Stefanski? Did Stefanski or OC Van Pelt suddenly handcuff him in 2021 when they went 8-9, despite their defense improving quite a bit?
What’s more interesting about that interview to me is what Canales is looking for in his QBs. Traits like ‘stay flexible’ & ‘exercise good judgment’ & ‘make sound decisions’ used to come to mind, but I’m not sure what folks call those traits any more.
June 16th, 2023 at 6:11 pm
My son the Browns fan blamed all of Mayfield’s issues with the Browns not only on horrid coaching but even worse ownership!!!
Carolina was a disaster to start last season. They got their act improved over the second half but nobody looked good with the Panthers early.
The Rams WERE a decent team and even despite the loss of Kupp Mayfield played decently over his brief stint there.
There are certainly plenty of reasons to maintain some optimism for this season.
June 16th, 2023 at 6:12 pm
Is this a freaking football blog or a fashion site?
June 16th, 2023 at 6:16 pm
Baker’s taking this team all the way. We are Super Bowl Bound. Oh Yeah!
June 16th, 2023 at 6:19 pm
The Bucs need to sign a solid free agent running back. If Dalvin Cook is too expensive then we should make a move for Kareem Hunt…
If this offense is going to succeed with Baker Mayfield he will need a better running back room than we currently have.
Put s. Tucker on IR with his heart condition and put R. Brown on the practice squad.
I would even consider Zeke Elliot if the price is right – not as our RB1 but as the RB2 rotational guy…
June 16th, 2023 at 6:25 pm
Been thinking Kareem Hunt too.
Baker also has a positive history with him both handing it off and Hunt catching it.
June 16th, 2023 at 7:01 pm
@ geno
Exactly and Hunt would be a cheap one year deal… Very cap friendly.
June 16th, 2023 at 7:18 pm
Just about every offense has two or three options for every play.
Canales might make it easier to realize, but it isn’t much different for the QB.
I want to see if he can through enough sand into the defensive gears to get people open in most parts of the field.
That will be real freedom for the QB, to be able to pick from multiple open receivers.
June 17th, 2023 at 1:12 am
This team is going to be a trainwreck. We get of the deep ball offense and replace it with a boring side to side offense that is going to get 3 yards a pass. So they’re going to lose AND be boring. Great combo if the idea is to start tanking so the Glazers can move the team to London when the lease is up with the stadium in 4-years.
June 17th, 2023 at 7:25 am
Bucs Win
June 17th, 2023 at 8:25 am
Someone get that guy on the TB12 method! Is that a milkshake from Dave’s Hot Chicken in his hand?
June 17th, 2023 at 5:44 pm
Alex McGoogh, Stallions when the USFL finishes up it season the Bucs should really look at him, Mayfield and McGoogh I think be a better combo. A Tampa native FIU QB and a Seattle Seahawks QB and very well known by the new OC…
June 19th, 2023 at 12:51 pm
Baker Mayfield will be dangerous this year With 31 touchdowns nine interceptions 4367 yards 69 completion percentage