Baker Mayfield Will Start The Preseason Opener
August 9th, 2023
Baker Mayfield.
Real Bucs football, or at least a close representation of it, finally returns Friday to The Licht House.
The preseason kicks off against Pittsburgh and Baker Mayfield will be the Buccaneers starting quarterback.
Joe is fired up.
Todd Bowles gave the quarterback news today.
Kyle Trask fans will say it means nothing, as Bowles has said whatever QB starts Preseason Game 1 — Mayfield or Trask — will not start Preseason Game 2. Bowles also said Trask and Mayfield each will get equal snaps in their starting roles for those games.
That sounds nice, but Joe plays in the real world.
It means something that Mayfield gets the first starting nod. Joe’s not sure what it means, but it’s something significant. Also, Joe believes Bowles’ declaration about QB playing time is a very fluid situation.
Aside from what happens on the field Friday, the next big step is which QB gets the first-team work in practice against the Jets one week from today.
Often during summer joint practices over two days, the first day is in pads and the second day is in “shells,” aka partial pads with no full hitting contact allowed.
August 9th, 2023 at 11:02 am
That is terrible for team morale, punish and bench the better player that worked very hard and earned it, only to watch the head coach override and gift it to his favorite.
Things like this will lead to a 4 win season.
August 9th, 2023 at 11:12 am
Bowles is disappointing
August 9th, 2023 at 11:14 am
Hey let’s be sensible Mayfield was going to be the starter for this first preseason game no matter what. Training camp practices are second in significance to preseason games and Mayfield was number one on the depth chart before training camp started. The gap has closed but he’s still with the 1’s. Now if he sucks for a quarter and Trask excels during the second quarter then I believe they’ll be even which might give Trask the nod for the Jets game. My gut tells me Canales’ offense will make Mayfield look competent (just need to be average in this offense) but we’ll have to see. Again good or bad Mayfield’s a proven commodity Trask has proved nothing other than he’s looked better in practice. Let’s see how they each perform this week.
August 9th, 2023 at 11:16 am
Trask has not separated himself enough to win the job.
Turnovers are killers but clearly Mayfield has more splash plays.
I don’t agree with starting Jamies 2.0 … but what the hell do I know.
Pretty confident Trask will get time this year. Mayfield always regresses to the means.
August 9th, 2023 at 11:17 am
Preseason is to see if new players can play well in the big time.
The win/loss record doesn’t matter, so now is the time to see what we can see.
Yes, he, and later Trask, will be throwing to UPS strike breakers, but it is under the big lights and a chance to shine, or fail.
Trask has done fairly well in Bucs preseason games, and that was when he had no chance of getting rid of the clipboard.
I, actually, cheer on this set-up. Put the money on the line and see who pays off. It is about time.
August 9th, 2023 at 11:18 am
Makes sense / assumed this was the plan the whole time unless one of them was just horrific to this point and the other playing amazing but per all the observations it’s been a tight race.
I just hope one of them can play at an average to high level lol. I’m less worried about who wins the competition and more worried about that.
August 9th, 2023 at 11:24 am
We want Trask!
We want Trask!
We want Trask!
August 9th, 2023 at 11:30 am
It’s Mayfield’s job to lose. Don’t blow it!
August 9th, 2023 at 11:36 am
What it means Joe is another decade of losing football. Congratulations. You win. We all lose.
August 9th, 2023 at 11:37 am
Fine. Let’s see what Mayfield has right out of the box first.
Then see if Trask can match or exceed.
When was the last time we didn’t know who the #1 was going into camp? Decades?
August 9th, 2023 at 11:37 am
Prepare to be underwhelmed
August 9th, 2023 at 11:38 am
Da Bucs Guy winning and losing isn’t the objective. Its about selling a name. That’s what this move is about.
August 9th, 2023 at 11:40 am
IrishTony what Mayfield has proven is he turns the ball over – a lot – he tends to checkdown and not throw for too many yards when not turning it over – oh and he throws a tantrum when he gets benched for poor play.
August 9th, 2023 at 11:41 am
This decision favors Mayfield. It will be harder to face Robert Saleh and the Jets’ defense than to face Mike Tomlin and the Steelers’ defense, which was much worse than the Jets last year.
The Jets had a very tough pass defense last season, and being the second preseason game they will be playing better than the Steelers will be in the opener when teams are at their most rusty.
I think this was done intentionally, to give Mayfield an easier situation so that it looks like the decision to name him the starter after the third preseason game was a natural one, when in reality it’s rigged.
August 9th, 2023 at 11:42 am
I am looking at it differently , IMHO, I believe they are giving Mayfield one last chance to prove something, personally , I don’t think the training camp results will magically change in two days, then Kyle will get the nod in the second and third preseason games and be named the season starter , that gives the first team a good run at continuity before the season begins.
August 9th, 2023 at 11:43 am
It’s simple. Picking Mayfield is the safe choice in terms of Todd Bowles career path. If he says it’s Trask as the starter and Trask fails for whatever reason the season is done and Bowles is gone. If he picks Mayfield and he tanks MAYBE Trask steps up and saves his job. When it comes to decisions as a head coach he will always play it safe. It’s who he is.
If all your decisions are made based on fear of failure you might do just enough. I loved Dungy but he was similar. Over the long haul Dungy was a better coach than Gruden but Gruden won the one game he needed to win.
August 9th, 2023 at 11:45 am
Yes, the keyboard clowns know more than the coaches
August 9th, 2023 at 11:46 am
Tony so Mayfield is a proven commodity. Here is what he has proved: that he is a mediocre QB, that he can produce a losing record, that he is the interception leader, that the Rams with an aging injured Stafford did not want him as a back-up. In that respect Trask is unproven but deserves a fair shot to prove himself.
August 9th, 2023 at 11:47 am
FLBoyInDallas rigging the game to start the lesser player sounds about right.
If they name Mayfield the starter and he dumps the bed – the fallout will be like it was from an atomic bomb because the indicators are all there pointing towards not starting the guy.
It will be like “Why did you start this guy he was the worst QB in football last season? This was an expected outcome.”
The Bucs will be the laughing stock of football… Again.
August 9th, 2023 at 11:47 am
Let’s hope BM, the O-line, and the offense looks good!!! Can they get put together drives? If so that would be 😁 good for the team. Can the defense stuff the run, get some edge pressure, and turnovers? If so they can get off the field faster than last year!
August 9th, 2023 at 11:47 am
The two QBs haven’t separated themselves but Trask has closed the distance.
This is why the pre season games are important.
August 9th, 2023 at 11:49 am
The hatred you guys have for Baker is beyond repugnant. You don’t even know what he went through the last two years following his injuries. And you have no idea of his level of talent. Hopefully he’ll prove that he’s the better QB, but I doubt that it will shut you guys up. And, oh yeah, who’s the genius who wants to bring Trey Lance into the mix? Just what this team needs, lol.
August 9th, 2023 at 11:57 am
I’ve seen a team start 0-2, a new guy come in, end up at 11-5, and win a Super Bowl.
Start at 0-4, make a switch, and go 9-4 or 8-5 you are right back around 8-9 again.
Can Baker come in and take the Bucs to 12-5 in his 1st season? He’s no Tom Brady.
Save it. I know Trask is not either.
It’s Show Time.
August 9th, 2023 at 11:58 am
Let’s be real. Mayfield has played a lot of big boy football with success (aka regular season games), Trask has not played one single regular season game from start to finish ever. Mayfield has that advantage and should get the first preseason game start and be #1 on the depth chart, at least until he loses it. I’d like Trask to develop into a great starting franchise QB for the Bucs, but he obviously hasn’t given the coaches much confidence these past 2 seasons forcing the front office to go out and get Mayfield.
August 9th, 2023 at 12:03 pm
WyomingJoe, you guys bashed Trask unmercifully until he started showing up in training camp. Then you guys backtracked, started defending Baker and now you’re blaming us for doing exactly what you did earlier in the season.
JUST WOW!
August 9th, 2023 at 12:06 pm
All I can keep thinking is that baker is going to get the shell defenses, but trask will get a chance to go against the team he’s playing in his start for the whole week. I’m not sure how that translates to what the coaching staff is thinking, but I do know that there are reasons for both guys to state their case, but I can’t help but focus on the fact that they wanted to put trask in the tougher situation. If trask does well in his start, i think he gets the nod, or should, but i’m not confident in bowles doing whats right for the bucs, it’s purely survival, so I have no idea what to expect
August 9th, 2023 at 12:15 pm
I think it’s significant that Baker will start this Friday. Trask starting against the Jets means he will get more time with the starters during the scrimmage with the Jets. They’re just getting Baker’s start out of the way as they promised. After Friday there will be no more first team snaps for Mayfield.
August 9th, 2023 at 12:26 pm
@ATLBuc
Hopefully you’re right. That would mean Bowles has broken out of his box of being ultra-conservative and actually done something that isn’t playing it safe.
August 9th, 2023 at 12:27 pm
I don’t think it makes any difference in preseason, Trask will still get some snaps hopefully with the first team. Besides all the pressure is on Mayfield with Trask breathing down his neck.
August 9th, 2023 at 12:31 pm
At a loss for words….
Smh…
August 9th, 2023 at 12:41 pm
During camp Mayfield has been throwing interceptions and making bad decisions, both factors he’s being evaluated on. He has to have a stellar game Friday along with a bad Trask start to get the nod. Will he break away from his traditional turnover prone play? We will see.
Many say that Bowles wants Mayfield to start the season. If so, why is he allowing Mayfield to test the new offensive line? Trask will play behind a line that has at least one preseason game and a week of joint practices under its belt. And he will play with rookies not playing in their first game under the big lights. Advantage Trask.
August 9th, 2023 at 12:42 pm
Gaytor bois feelings are hurt relax bois it’s the 1st preseason game
August 9th, 2023 at 12:47 pm
I don’t see the big deal. I actually think Trask has the better situation since the second game will be the more serious game. If Trask does well, he starts the opener.
August 9th, 2023 at 2:12 pm
WyomingJoe maybe they can turn chickensh— into chicken salad?
Why the hatred? The guy sucks.
August 9th, 2023 at 4:39 pm
Saw this posted on twitter like 2 days ago… but it seems Bowles didn’t announce it until today? I’m confused…
August 9th, 2023 at 5:11 pm
It is almost guaranteed we will have a losing season why? because our head coach is todd bowles he makes decisions like this only because they are safe–not better and not smarter and not fair just safer
August 9th, 2023 at 5:51 pm
Is this the real stat sheet or does Bowles has a jameis one
August 10th, 2023 at 6:58 am
Bunch of whiners and Baker haters on here. Baker has looked better, he is the most experienced and is the better QB. No favorites are being played over better players. Baker should and will be the starting QB come game one of the season. Never heard so much crying from so few people.