Will Todd Bowles Abandon The Equal Time Plan?
August 15th, 2023
Hopefully, this is not the play that defines Kyle Trask’s NFL career!
Joe has no doubt who the Bucs’ No. 1 quarterback is, but officially that title remains up for grabs.
So Joe is intrigued by the curveball just thrown to head coach Todd Bowles.
The Jets canceled Thursday’s joint practice with the Bucs. The exact reasons are unclear. That leaves only one joint practice/scrimmage day against the Jets on Wednesday. (On Thursday, the Bucs will instead head to a school field somehere in Jersey to practice alone.)
Joe has attended many joint practices over the years, including multiple trips to Jacksonville and Tennessee. At these joint practices, there are multiple periods when the first teams face each other — at the same time. No. 1 Bucs offense against the starting Jets defense, and vice versa on a different field.
Joe guesses Bowles planned to run Mayfield out Wednesday as the No. 1 QB, and then Trask would have gotten Day 2 as the No. 1 versus the Jets but with both teams in “shells” instead of full pads.
Then the QBs would split the preseason game on Saturday as previously planned, with Bowles even proclaiming Trask and Mayfield would get the exact same number of snaps.
But now what?
Would Bowles actually have Mayfield and Trask split first-team work against the Jets within just one practice? That seems like a rough go for an offense trying to find its rhythm against an unknown defense that’s practicing full-go (minus hitting the quarterback).
But if Bowles is committed to equal time, then that’s what he will do, Joe supposes.
(Fun facts: Joe’s favorite memory of joint practices on the road is Jameis Winston blasting Austin Seferian-Jackwagon after ASJ dogged it on a play with the second unit in 2016. Watching from the sideline, Jameis got after his troubled tight end with maxiumum volume and continued leaning on him as the offense was at the line of scrimmage with backup QB Mike Glennon barking out signals for the next snap. Favorite moment 1A would be Titans head coach Mike Vrabel loudly berating a national media member for not grasping that Donovan Smith and Tristan Wirfs are probably the best pair of offensive tackles in the NFL.)
August 15th, 2023 at 11:49 am
After hearing that Jensen is not practicing 11 on 11 still we now now he’s not going to be playing eRly in the season if at all. My guess is he’s done.
It’s been a calender year and he’s not even close to ready. That changes my optimism for this season to complete pessimism. Geodeke is another failed 2nd pick as is Trask. After the luxury of watching Tom Bradys every move for 2 yrs and he still looks like a rookie. Another wasted 2nd round pick.
I’ll be watching Logan Hall and Mr JTS very closely when it kicks off for real. If these 2 fail that’s 4 high draft picks pissed away. The Oline is a disaster trying to protect 2 middle of the road QB’s.
Then we have Mr Bowles in charge of everything.
Vegas knows their shyt. 6.5 wins.
Missed draft picks keeps you on the bottom looking up.
August 15th, 2023 at 11:53 am
I do think we’re gonna be a vicious defense with or without Hall/JTS contributing. Where the F is Klancey? He gonna be another porcelain doll like Russell Gage? Get your butt back to practice. The missed time is going seriously hurt his development this year. It’s a shame.
August 15th, 2023 at 12:05 pm
As long as Trask gets the start for the Preseason game it wouldn’t matter to me.
Based on what I saw the Free Agent QB’s sign for this year it would be nice for him to get something on film (hopefully good) should he get some attention when he becomes a free agent. Maybe he will get some time when Baker locks up the NFC south in Game 14. Heineke was the third highest FA signed this year @ a 2 years for 14 million and went way down from there.
After Carr and Garoppolo who were in a different galaxy altogether.
August 15th, 2023 at 12:07 pm
Won’t draft high enough to draft Caleb.
#Misfire for Maye
August 15th, 2023 at 12:15 pm
Doesn’t matter Mayfield will start and have his wife crying about him being hurt when he gets benched lol Trask won’t do any better lol
August 15th, 2023 at 12:52 pm
Either way the Bucs are going to end up with a mediocre starting QB and a solid QB2.
Trask wasn’t horrible against the Steelers. He made one bad throw and two passes were dropped by receivers. Ko Kieft dropped a 25 yard pass that would have given the Bucs a first down at midfield.
I’m not blaming Trask for the poor pass protection and Goedeke being a human turnstile gate…
I still believe it is an open competition but if Baker has one more solid performance against the Jets he will probably be the week 1 starter.
August 15th, 2023 at 12:53 pm
Hoping Hard Knocks has some good stuff from this practice
August 15th, 2023 at 12:57 pm
Is practice open to the media? We’ll find out tomorrow who gets the starters work. It should be Baker since it’s obvious he’s the opening day starter. Trask needs to work on being a better backup than Wolford.
August 15th, 2023 at 1:03 pm
After an ugly first preseason game, I am now reducing expectations. Completely holding out 15 starters was stupid when there are only 3 preseason games. Outside of one “immaculate reception” by one rookie the game was an ugly mess. Saw nothing that would predict a contender.
August 15th, 2023 at 1:28 pm
Wild Bill Says:
August 15th, 2023 at 1:03 pm
After an ugly first preseason game, I am now reducing expectations. Completely holding out 15 starters was stupid when there are only 3 preseason games. Outside of one “immaculate reception” by one rookie the game was an ugly mess. Saw nothing that would predict a contender.
^^^^^^^^^
Uh, they played mostly backups, as you said…You’re judging the whole season on this?
August 15th, 2023 at 3:33 pm
BucU Says:
“After hearing that Jensen is not practicing 11 on 11 still we now now he’s not going to be playing eRly in the season if at all. My guess is he’s done.”
Not necessarily. They know what he can do. My guess is they are being extra cautious. I doubt he needs preseason action to get ready…or heavy practice.
I also think they are trying to get as many reps as possible to the backup oline players…just in case of further injuries.
August 15th, 2023 at 3:34 pm
We held out our well known starters because we already know what they can do well. Maybe a few more starters start against the Jets…maybe. we need to see who’s gonna make the roster and practice squad more than we need to play the starters. I’m not in charge, but you won’t see LVD and probably not DW45 or Winfield, or Wirfs or Evans or even Godwin.
August 15th, 2023 at 3:39 pm
Marine Buc Says
“Trask wasn’t horrible against the Steelers. He made one bad throw and two passes were dropped by receivers. Ko Kieft dropped a 25 yard pass that would have given the Bucs a first down at midfield.
I’m not blaming Trask for the poor pass protection and Goedeke being a human turnstile gate…
I still believe it is an open competition but if Baker has one more solid performance against the Jets he will probably be the week 1 starter.”
.
I agree about Trask…and I also expected some growing pains. He is, after all, basically a rookie. Fans need to remember that. He needs to adjust to the speed of live games still…which he has had almost no chance to do.
But I do not believe it was ever an open competition. I bet if Trask comes in at any point in preseason and throws 5 touchdowns and no interceptions, Mayfield would STILL be the starter in game one.
August 15th, 2023 at 3:40 pm
My concern is that Bowles held out defensive players last week….so is he going to @#$%@# Trask over and hold out offensive starters this week?
August 15th, 2023 at 3:41 pm
Honestly, if not for Trask, I probably would not watch this week. This holding out starters gives me almost no reason to.
August 15th, 2023 at 3:50 pm
You wish Joe lol.
Trask will get his opportunity on Saturday.
August 15th, 2023 at 5:30 pm
Well Joe seems to like Baker. Must see something that hasn’t been shown on game days. I would prefer to see if trask is going to play well rather than waiting for the season to be lost. Unless having Evans and Godwin will help make baker better than his play on the field so far. Looks to me like I better stock up on beer.
August 15th, 2023 at 6:55 pm
What is it with all of the loser mentality present on this post, How can you claim to be a “FAN” of the Buccaneers? With only 1 unuseful/unneeded Preseason game and we suck, we might as well tank for the next great college rookie {QB, T, DE, LB…} to go with that new HC/DC OC… This all may come to pass, truth. But who can tell what the road is over the next hill/overpass? I am all about keeping it real. Our 2023 season record is still over that vista. With all this Team support and fortitude on display, y’all would be rough to roll with, uphill over broken roads, or traverse any rough seas. All in with a good attitude or walk the plank. Hoist the sail and move forward.
Looking forward to seeing what we can do, and what we will do with our new players and veteran players. We had a good draft, Excited to see how our team meshes with these young guys.
Good days are not always under our feet. We often have to walk many miles to get to those Good days. Best to be looking for the best in whatever type of day those feet find themselves walking.
GO!!!!!BUCS!!!!!
August 15th, 2023 at 8:57 pm
Since 76… obviously you haven’t seen what Baker can do. In 2018, he breaks Peyton Manning’s rookie TD passing record in just 13 games. Before he entered his first game against the Jets, the Browns were 1-34! The next year he has a new HC and a new OC. His third year, he has another HC and a whole new offense to learn. Yet he goes 11-5, beats the Steelers in the first playoff game, and if not for the lousy Browns defense, he would have been in the AFC Championship game. So please don’t tell me this guy can’t play! If not for his injuries in 2021 he’d still be with the Browns and I wouldn’t have to deal with whiners like you. So give him a break already.
August 15th, 2023 at 10:56 pm
Hey Bonzai I agree with you. Starters need real game time too. Just not for too long per game. I never played on a sports team that did not play their best players in the first games unless they were hurt or out of shape. Only two games before the season begins. Better give them all some game time.
August 15th, 2023 at 10:59 pm
Loved your post, RustyR. So much doom and gloom fortune-telling on here. I have seen some of our “fans” (in their day jobs) walking around downtown with sandwich boards advertising “The Apocalypse is Coming!!!”.
August 16th, 2023 at 2:29 am
I think Trask sealed his fate Friday night. At least for now. Trask would have to blow it up and pass for 5 TDs and no INTs to breath any life into this competition.
At this point the “competition” is pretty much over and I would not be buying anything from Bowles about any players.
Go Bucs!