Baker Mayfield And Third Downs
September 22nd, 2023
Third downs and messaging.
The message of the day yesterday at One Buc Palace was “third-and-manageable.”
There is a reason NFL teams employ entire staffs of media relations professionals. They are paid, in part, to make sure team employees get a crafted message sent to the local pen and mic club for distribution to fans.
Yesterday, the desired message was “third-and-manageable.” Bucs coach Todd Bowles spoke about it. And so too did Baker Mayfield.
They learned their talking points well.
Mayfield has been money on third downs this year. This is another message that was sent out to the local pen and mic club via e-mail on Tuesday allegedly so scribes and talking heads could prepare and ask questions about third downs the following day — when Bowles and Mayfield were made available to the Fourth Estate.
Bowles and Mayfield were ready with catchy soundbytes with a goal for people like Joe to distribute it the masses.
See how this works?
Mayfield has completed 87 percent of his third-down pass attempts, leading the NFL. He noted he still can still improve.
“You talk about third downs – obviously you want to get past the third-down marker – but [you want to give] your guys a chance to catch the ball in space and [miss] tackles.
“We’ve had a few of those where they catch it short and they make plays to get the first down. Just giving guys the opportunity, like I’ve mentioned before. We have a great skill group – really talented guys. My job is to distribute the ball to those guys and let them do all the work.”
Mayfield added he’s taken checkdowns on third downs, at times, to a receiver short of the sticks, mostly because that was the best option.
With escape ability, Mayfield said, Bucs receivers have turned what normally would be a fourth down into a first down by breaking loose.
So where can Mayfield improve?
“I think for us, we’ve been really good on the third-and-shorts,” Mayfield noted. “The third-and-mediums, we need some improvement.
“Third-and-longs, we’ve actually been pretty decent. It’s just about getting in that manageable area – not having the extremities and just capitalizing on those.”
If Mayfield really doesn’t have to improve much if at all, if he keeps staying hot on third down.
Joe thinks a lot of the success Mayfield is having on third downs is becuase of how the offensive line is wrecking the tired, lazy, ubiquitous cries that it’s the root of all evil — from killer viruses to unrest in eastern Europe.
September 22nd, 2023 at 12:41 pm
this whole belly aching about the offensive line, is it really that bad? at some point can we move on to a different narrative? Nobody would ever think it is as bad as viruses and talking about unrest in eastern europe? you have a terrorist state bombing and killing civilians with ukrainians fighting for the world for a free, true, and just society. that should not be discussed as a joke.
we need to move on from past fans who criticized the offensive line and jameis. jameis winston sucks and sucked. why keep bringing him up?
September 22nd, 2023 at 12:47 pm
Dan, thank god for idiots like you, It reminds me that im OK…
September 22nd, 2023 at 12:47 pm
Dan, turn off the light on your granma´s basement, and get a real job.
You are pathetic!!
September 22nd, 2023 at 12:59 pm
Dan! Where do you want to meet? I will accept your bet of $500 that the Bucs are not down 34-0 by halftime
September 22nd, 2023 at 1:02 pm
Explaining to the unwashed masses how the narrative is controlled with talking points? Writing quasi political statements like, …from killer viruses to unrest in Eastern Europe? Damn, this is a Joe I can get on board with. Now let’s go thump the eagles.
September 22nd, 2023 at 1:04 pm
Hurts has been underperforming thus far, I expected him to be the best quarterback in the NFL. Thus far he’s barely in the top 10, They just aren’t quite firing on all cylinders, can’t understand why
September 22nd, 2023 at 1:05 pm
“Joe thinks a lot of the success Mayfield is having on third downs is how the offensive line is wrecking the tired, lazy, ubiquitous cries that the offensive line is the root of all evil from killer viruses to unrest in eastern Europe.”
The offense playing better because the offensive line is blocking better justifies all the fans criticisms about the offensive line being the root cause of our problems on offense. Just like the team winning more games because Todd Bowles miraculously decided to start taking calculated risks and Baker Mayfield stop turning the ball over justifies the fans criticisms about them being the reason why we lost games. The fans were right and I’m glad they fixed it.
September 22nd, 2023 at 1:08 pm
@Beej: Iggles have new OCs & DCs.
That’s why.
Plus a hint of SB hangover, and reading press clippings and Dan’s fapping about how great they are.
September 22nd, 2023 at 1:08 pm
Dan is just another salty eagles fan. Bucs closed the link and opened their new stadium with Bucs wins. Plus haven’t lost to the birdies in a decade. Id bet the boo birds come out on Monday when they cant run the ball and Jalen gets exposed as a passer.
September 22nd, 2023 at 1:20 pm
As a counselor Dan is a pretty easy read. First he is a bed wetter. No friends because he is a bed wetter. Low self esteem because he is a bed wetter. His standard pessimistic m.o is because he is a bed wetter. Sees no optimism in life because he is bed wetter. Needs to crow look at me because he is a bed wetter.
Don’t bash Dan, Please feel sorry for him. He is a bed wetter.
September 22nd, 2023 at 1:28 pm
Dan actually likes being a bed wetter . Trolls usually do ! Kinda reminds me of pigs . Pigs are dirty Lil animals that root around in their own shat . Every time I end up reading anything Dan puts on here , I will just respond with a poop emoji . To remember anything he says is shat
September 22nd, 2023 at 1:32 pm
Please, people. Stop responding to the latest outsider idiot on this site.
September 22nd, 2023 at 1:33 pm
Dan I will meet you in the parking lot..
I would love to close your flapper
September 22nd, 2023 at 1:40 pm
“First he is a bed wetter. No friends because he is a bed wetter. Low self esteem because he is a bed wetter. His standard pessimistic m.o is because he is a bed wetter”….😂😂😂😂😂😂😂…and that’s why women laugh at his sorry ass and he’s always crying for attention….🤦….😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
September 22nd, 2023 at 1:45 pm
I can’t wait for Tuesday….(I know we’re winning this sh!t on MNF)…and i know he won’t be man enough to show around these pages.
Or….he will continue he’s bullsh!t, because that’s what arseholes do….😉
September 22nd, 2023 at 1:46 pm
because thats what bed wetters do
September 22nd, 2023 at 1:49 pm
I think Dan is on the wrong website
September 22nd, 2023 at 1:49 pm
Who is Dan? You are, perhaps, the biggest moron troll I’ve ever seen.
September 22nd, 2023 at 1:50 pm
Hey #99, don’t even bother… he’s Mom took away his money and he’s broke…😂😂😂
September 22nd, 2023 at 1:55 pm
Isn’t Dan the same ass clown who came on here and said he is a millionaire and lives a executive life? Got to be a classless eagles fan..
September 22nd, 2023 at 2:30 pm
JBF, there you go again with your straw man arguments:
“Joe thinks a lot of the success Mayfield is having on third downs is how the offensive line is wrecking the tired, lazy, ubiquitous cries that it’s is the root of all evil — from killer viruses to unrest in eastern Europe.”
Nobody I know of is saying our offensive line sucks in the two games played thus far this young season. Virtually EVERYBODY said our offensive line sucked bad last season and was a huge reason, if not the main reason, for our offense’s plummeting performance in 2022 …. like what, Joe, do you think it was a coincidence that our O line was great in 2020 and 2021, but sucked in 2022, that our offense also was great in 2020 and 2021, but sucked in 2022?
Really? You are simply being obtuse and stubborn in your refusal to acknowledge that the offensive line performance, good or bad, is the heart of every single offensive team in the NFL. Always has been, always will be.
September 22nd, 2023 at 2:42 pm
Philly fans as far South as NC don’t even see The Bake Show as a small speed bump. I’ve watched EVERY Baker-Game. He’ll be ready. The more I read up on the Sneagles, the more I see Baker having a VERY BIG Nite !!!!!!!!!!
September 22nd, 2023 at 4:17 pm
Why is anybody even commenting on screwball Dan, he’s an idiot and a bed wetter, LMAO
Danny Boy, I knew the Bucs and Mayfield where better than advertised. Before season I wagered 1k on the Buc’s going 3-0 to start, well aware of the forthcoming Monday night matchup. Locked in at 10-1 you sissy wimp. Now STFU
Let’s go Bucs
September 22nd, 2023 at 4:21 pm
Forget Dan. I’m just glad no one was whining for Trask today.
September 22nd, 2023 at 4:22 pm
Forget Dan. I’m just glad no one was whine about Trask today
September 22nd, 2023 at 4:30 pm
Ronde’ has been re activated for the game! The grounds krewe will be digging Hurts out of the turf Monday night after the D finishes their fall planting.
September 22nd, 2023 at 4:44 pm
Dan Says:
September 22nd, 2023 at 12:35 pm
Yucs are going to get exposed Monday Night Good Lordy Almighty, can you just imagine what Hurts is going to do to the Yucs, lol.. Oh man, the stadium sold out, with 40,000 loud EAGLES fand taking over and the Yuc fans looking around all stupid like why are we down 34-0 at Halftime, hahaaha.
And if anyone doubts this, be a man take your weekly shower and meet me in the parking lot and bring 500 cash and bet me
_________
I’ll meet you in that parking lot and I’ll be beating that $500 out of you. You’re a clown. A child with no accountability. Come show up with that money and I guarantee I’ll be taking it home with me.
September 22nd, 2023 at 4:52 pm
Dan is like most typical Philly fans.
So years ago I had season tickets to the Lightning back in the days when they sucked.
The Flyers were in town, my wife couldn’t make the game and so I sold the ticket out front to a scalper who alas sold it to the typical arsehole Philly fan.
The “Philly fan” lived in Port Richey for the past dozen years. I asked him if he ever heard home is where the heart is why did he still root for Philly against Tampa. I grew up in Cincinnati and root for the Bengals but NEVER against the Bucs. My heart is in Tampa Bay.
So the back and forth continued. If you’ve ever had season tickets to a team you realize that you become friends with the dozen or so fans around you who also show up to all the games. You get to know them over a long season.
Philly fan keeps running his mouth and I finally shut him up with…OK you’re right the Lightning suck right now so I’ll give you scoreboard. Since your down here using our roads and infrastructure you clearly can see why all of us claim “scoreboard” on great places to live. Philly SUCKS right which is why you’re down HERE!!!
That did the trick. He stood up like let’s get it on, I stood up, but before any action a half dozen other guys stood up around him. He sat the eff down!
I’m not sure but his name might have been Dan.
September 22nd, 2023 at 4:58 pm
Again guys….ignore DANiella… she’s in a long period so she’s salty AF…..😂😂😂😂😂
September 22nd, 2023 at 5:54 pm
Bucs are going to win this game.
September 22nd, 2023 at 5:56 pm
Dan advise do not mess with agent 99. He will get u with his cleated shoe phone.
September 22nd, 2023 at 7:44 pm
Cody Mauch is playing like a veteran – like a dominant veteran.
What a score – Licht has done it again.
September 22nd, 2023 at 7:46 pm
Dan…
N- you gay
September 22nd, 2023 at 8:36 pm
Yes, Dan is a “happy” caballero – not an hombre.
September 23rd, 2023 at 6:22 am
Please stop feeding the Trolls!
Your metaphors need some major rethinking sometimes Joe.
Go Bucs!