Offensive Line Is A Reason Kyle Trask Will Back Up Baker Mayfield In Week 1?
August 9th, 2023
A well-connected former quarterback who went to Canton last week and met with Rondé Barber, and presumably other Bucs officals, came away saying the Kyle Trask-Baker Mayfield competition is real and close.
(For those saying Barber isn’t a “Bucs official,” Joe saw team president Brian Ford call Barber a member of the Bucs organization last week.)
Joe is referring to NBC Sports analyst Chris Simms, the ex-Bucs QB. He joined PFT Live today and talked about Trask impressing and closing whatever gap existed between him and Mayfield weeks ago.
But what most interested Joe was Simms sharing a reason to start Baker Mayfield in Week 1 against Minnesota is the reality that the Buccaneers’ new offensive line may not be a group in sync to start the season.
Simms said the Bucs’ mindset might be to roll early with Mayfield while the O-line irons out its rough edges. Then if Mayfield doesn’t play well, the team can turn to Trask and he’ll have the benefit of a line playing more in sync.
Yeah, it’s just a theory (or is it?), but Joe thinks that is highly plausible.
Throwing inexperienced Trask in the fire behind a first-time offensive line — with a first-time playcaller and an offense new to the Bucs — feels like a very bad idea.
August 9th, 2023 at 4:20 pm
Makes sense, lets the run-around quarterback do what he does best, run around.
August 9th, 2023 at 4:34 pm
Joe!! I just said that in a post today. Simms is plagiarizing me!!
August 9th, 2023 at 4:36 pm
ATLBuc Says:
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 4:43 pm
So now that Baker Mayfield is the starter can we stop saying quarterback competition? Trask has been the better quarterback all camp and Baker Mayfield has more experience and has been a starter for now his 4th team and he can’t beat out a quarterback that has never been given real reps in practice and only threw 9 passes in his career. I really don’t think Baker Mayfield is better than Trask.
August 9th, 2023 at 4:50 pm
Wait a second. In all seriousness. First, the “schedule” is a reason Mayfield starts week 1. Now, the “offensive line” is a reason Mayfield starts week 1. What about the defense? Who starts week 1 because of the defense?
August 9th, 2023 at 4:56 pm
This is the bargaining phase.
It’s because of these reasons (not because he’s the better player) that Mayfield starts.
August 9th, 2023 at 5:48 pm
I agree here makes sense to me. But expect mayfield to be a baby if he gets benched.
August 9th, 2023 at 6:04 pm
In a land where football tales unfold, let me weave a new story,
Of heroic comebacks and Bucs’ glory.
Baker Mayfield, once the star, took the field that day,
But soon revealed his actor’s art, his true colors on display.
Against the Vikings, the first clash, Mayfield stood with pride,
But the Bucs soon saw through the act, his flaws they couldn’t hide.
Then Kyle Trask, the true leader, emerged with courage bright,
A hero’s heart within his chest, ready to take flight.
With a heroic comeback, Trask seized control, that very first game,
His arm aflame, his spirit ablaze, igniting Bucs’ fame.
Under the guidance of Todd Bowles, a mastermind so wise,
Trask ignited the team’s spirit, a fire in their eyes.
Dave Canales, the coordinator, weaved a tapestry of plays,
Unleashing Trask’s potential, in captivating ways.
But the tale does not end there, for destiny had more to unveil,
In the Super Bowl, Las Vegas gleamed, where legends would prevail.
Trask, the shining star, led a historic comeback with might,
His arm unleashed a flurry, turning darkness into light.
Down they were, in the final hour, the Bucs faced a daunting test,
But Trask, unyielding, stood his ground, his team he would not let rest.
With each pass, he defied the odds, his determination strong,
And in the face of adversity, he proved he truly belonged.
In the heart of Vegas, amidst the glitz and grandeur, the Bucs rose high,
Trask’s leadership, an inspiration, reaching for the sky.
A victory for the ages, etching their names in history’s scroll,
As the Bucs, led by Trask, claimed the Super Bowl’s coveted goal.
So, raise your voices, let the chorus resound, in honor of their might,
From Mayfield’s acting to Trask’s triumph, this tale has taken flight.
From the first game against the Vikings to the Super Bowl’s epic fight,
Kyle Trask’s journey, a story of perseverance and undying light.
August 9th, 2023 at 6:36 pm
You have to go with Baker first. He has played these early teams before, and that familiarity with defensive tendencies, and a new offense gives you something to maybe adjust if needed. Very happy to hear Trask showed up. Keep him on the sideline early, but active. He likely didnt even get the benefit of calling in the plays or even listen in on the real game decision making under Lefty. Trask doesnt need the added early pressure of getting this offense to go out of the gate. Will be a short leash or even an early design after the bye for Mayfield by my estimation.
August 9th, 2023 at 7:14 pm
How long will Baker play? The whole game? Same for Trask in week two. I say let them each play their whole game. Mostly starters at first, then work in number 2’s and 3’s. See how well both qbs play with backups and scrubs.
August 9th, 2023 at 7:37 pm
Mayfield the meat curtain. Wow!
August 9th, 2023 at 7:49 pm
Joe when you put it that way that makes perfect sense. New oline new play caller never started a game before that does sound like a recipe for disaster. Deff want to put trask in a position to succeed.
August 9th, 2023 at 7:51 pm
We’re gonna get annihilated lol
The tank is out of the bag
August 9th, 2023 at 7:53 pm
All baker has is bad experience except that one year his loaded team got him to the playoffs.
August 9th, 2023 at 7:58 pm
See now Cian OMalley feels about Trask just like I do about Brady…..alrhough the part about Bowlesbeing wise is absurd
August 9th, 2023 at 8:45 pm
Whose been saying this for months?
Oh yeah…me
August 9th, 2023 at 8:58 pm
Cian, I loved the epic poem! Nice! Would be amazing if it comes true. 🙂
August 9th, 2023 at 9:06 pm
All u big mouths r not real bucs fans that’s why u have always had shitty teams except 1 year with Brady & he had many top players around him .long gone now u jackass keep bashing baker u have no money for a Rodgers QB & Mayfield 1 year success is better than no year success,Brady has 1 good year 2 crap years & u trashed him he also has 20 years under his belt I remember when Brady started for n.england it took several years to get really good except when he cheats baker ain’t no cheat so screw u haters I bet u will still trash him while he keeps u in the race this year
August 9th, 2023 at 9:09 pm
U people r not bucs fans u r a bunch of jokers or u r democrats nasty!!!!!
August 9th, 2023 at 10:07 pm
You aren’t doing Trask any favors by benching him should he the better of the two quarterbacks after preseason. You have to have your first start sometime, might as well be week one. He’s been in the league long enough, time to test the waters.
August 9th, 2023 at 10:13 pm
Stu – have another one.
August 10th, 2023 at 12:34 am
If the line is an issue then the balls gonna have to come out fast. Trask saw it first had last season and has been practicing for it throughout camp. Trask has been accused of being afraid to take a shot downfield because he has been preparing for what lies ahead. Working on his check downs.
Trask has more options in a hot potato situation.
Roll to the left behind Wirfs and fire that sucker.
August 10th, 2023 at 2:35 am
Plausible? Hmm …
Thinking it through …So then you hand over a 1-4 team to Trask?
Hmm That ought to work out great for all the folks who can’t wait to tank.
Then we can get rid of the entire coaching staff half of our core players and draft the next “savior QB”.
What could possibly go wrong?
BTW this is coming from a dude who had his spleen removed after getting beaten up behind a veteran, if less than stellar line in 2006.
Go Bucs!
August 10th, 2023 at 4:26 am
Thinking it through …So then you hand over a 1-4 team to Trask?
Hmm… That ought to work out great for all the folks who can’t wait to tank.
Then we can get rid of the entire coaching staff half, of our core players, and draft the next “savior QB”.
What could possibly go wrong?
BTW this is coming from a dude who had his spleen removed after getting beaten up behind a veteran, if less than stellar line in 2006.
Go Bucs!
August 10th, 2023 at 4:46 am
Thinking it through …So then you hand over a 1-4 team to Trask?
Hmm… That ought to work out great for all the folks who can’t wait to tank.
Then we can get rid of the entire coaching staff half, of our core players, and draft the next “savior QB”.
What could possibly go wrong?
Go Bucs!
August 10th, 2023 at 6:49 am
garro Says: “and draft the next savior QB.”
Good point. 93% of quarterbacks drafted in the first round since 2000 have NOT won a Super Bowl.
August 10th, 2023 at 6:56 am
Really such a fresh idea professional football players actually having to play professional football? OMG behind an offensive line of professionals? how long have these guys been playing? WEAK.
August 10th, 2023 at 11:14 am
There is an almost endless number of factor combinations you can assemble to predict your desired outcome for this QB competition! In the end all that matters is to win games! I sure hope the Bucs do a better job of that then last season! Can you tell I’ve had enough of all the rationalizations going on here?