Baker Mayfield Gives Bucs A Fighting Chance
September 13th, 2023
Baker Mayfield
To suggest professional NFL observers who don’t have a zip code located in Florida are skeptical of Baker Mayfield would be like saying it gets breezy near the eye of a hurricane.
Joe noticed one of the many power rankings pumped out weekly during the football season has the Bucs in the low 20s, below the Vikings — who the Bucs just beat!
The Mayfield Hate runs deep.
Garrett Podell of CBS, while giving Mayfield his props, seems to be in the Bucs-will-suck-with-Mayfield camp. If Mayfield continues to play scrappy with solid numbers and no turnovers like he did Sunday in Minneapolis, Podell adds, you may not be able to rule out the Bucs as an NFC South contender.
Podell mentioned how, if the Bucs do win the division, they will “shock the world.”
(Joe remembers long-time college football savant Beano Cook responding to a question if Michigan will win the national title and “shock the world,” Cook shot back, “Pearl Harbor shocked the world!”)
Yeah, there is just no way a former No. 1 overall draft pick who has a playoff win under his belt in his short career could ever lead a team to a lousy division title.
The bias and hate is very real, folks. And it lingers.
September 13th, 2023 at 1:58 am
I think it helps motivate this team too. It’s bulletin board material. I hope that we win enough games to earn national props this year, without dropping the chis off their shoulders.
September 13th, 2023 at 1:59 am
chips off their shoulders.
September 13th, 2023 at 2:58 am
team’s got dudes!
coach got ballz!
#NuffSaid
September 13th, 2023 at 4:17 am
Justin Fields sure seems like he’s just too much of a mad scrambler with questionable judgement. Keep him contained and we have another 2/0 start.
September 13th, 2023 at 5:42 am
Lol. Still overreacting over one game. If the defense plays like that any QB that that doesn’t turn it over gives them a chance. More plays will need to be made in many games. We’ll see. Don’t crown him this week then roast him next. Settle in
September 13th, 2023 at 6:23 am
Remember this guy took Cleveland to the playoffs. Enough said. The Bucs are lucky he was available after the Brady era. Go Bucs!!
September 13th, 2023 at 6:54 am
The black and blue Bucs.
September 13th, 2023 at 6:58 am
Mayfield may never be one of the top 5 QB’s in this league, but that’s cool with me. His attitude is contagious though and it seems to be rubbing off on the entire team.
September 13th, 2023 at 7:02 am
He sure out played the hyped Josh Allen. This system fits Mayfield,Canales fits Mayfield. We tend to throw things away to quickly. We forget these QBs are only 22 years old when they come out. I know I was a real man at age 28, at age 22 you’re just not there yet. This could be Baker’s time. Like Gannon, who was older found Gruden, and it clicked. Everyone thinks they know what Baker is, but I think that book will be completed this year. After 6 years in the league, and at age 28 we’ll see who the real Baker is. I’m hoping he succeeds.
September 13th, 2023 at 7:07 am
@Truth be told
“Remember this guy took Cleveland to the playoffs”
So did Tim Tebow. Both are 1-1 in the playoffs.
September 13th, 2023 at 7:24 am
I like to think that in the off-season Baker and Coach Bowles shared a beer, realised they’re both in the last-chance saloon and decided they’ve both gotta go all out to save their careers.
September 13th, 2023 at 7:36 am
One game is just one game, so we cannot draw many conclusions from one game. It was a good win, and Baker Mayfield did his part, but as always, it’s a team game. One can also say that the defense won the game with the three takeaways, including spoiling a certain touchdown by the Vikes with an INT at the two yard line. One can also say that special teams won the tame, with the excellenting punting, the excellent punt and return coverage, and of course scoring the game winning field goal from 57 (!!!) yards.
Of course the Bucs can win with Baker Mayfield under center. And of course, as proven last season, the Bucs can lose with Tom Brady under center.
It’s a team sport – all the ridiculous focus on quarterbacks is media and fan driven – certainly not fact driven.
September 13th, 2023 at 7:40 am
Oh, and of course, one can also say that coaching won the game, from both the DC and the OC who made great adjustments starting with the final drive of the first half through the end of the game, and the head coach who made gutsy calls to go for it on 4th down.
And what about all those offensive line guys who kept Baker Mayfield safe against one of the most aggressive defenses in the league? And players who stepped up to make big plays when they were most needed, like Izien’s interception at the 2 yard line, great receptions that kept the chains moving when we needed to kill the clock in the second half.
It’s a team sport, a group effort.
September 13th, 2023 at 7:54 am
I’ll agree that the coaching is night and day different from last year, and hope that Bowles over conservative approach has changed.
Also, adjustments on offense after figuring out what they started with wasn’t working. Refreshing change over Byron ‘we do what we do’ Leftwich’s unimaginative, ignorant approach.
September 13th, 2023 at 7:55 am
Wow, wining makes everything perfect. The Vikes win that game the narrative is different. Everyone would be talking about how bad the offense is and how baker blow chunks. Let’s give it 4 to 6 weeks to tell what this team is all about.
September 13th, 2023 at 7:56 am
I love the trolls who pop up on JBF to try and throw shade on Mayfield, Bowles an/or the Bucs. I suspect many chose the Bucs in a survivor pool. Lots of bitter people out there who picked teams like the Bucs and Rams to be locks for losing on week 1. Newsflash trolls, the Bucs won, yes it is only one week but Mayfield played with a lot more heart and determination than some of the qbs which people probably have as their qb1 on their fantasy team. Dude played with conviction and gave it 110%, no sense being a wet blanket unless you really hate Mayfield or lost some coin thanks to the Bucs this past weekend.
September 13th, 2023 at 7:57 am
All that’s true enough, but if the QB sucks, you lose every time
September 13th, 2023 at 8:06 am
Both Mayfield and Bowles are off to great starts!
I hope they both keep it up, and show just how stupid the haters really are.
Go Bucs
September 13th, 2023 at 8:14 am
Baker played well and was rank #11 for QB rating for week 1. I’m totally comfortable with his overall play on Sunday. No turnovers and only three penalties is the real story here! It was smart, disciplined football that won.
September 13th, 2023 at 8:16 am
I’ve seen a couple articles at USA Today and NFLRumors that Kyle Trask to the Jets is a possibility, they liked what he did against them in preseason. Any chance of that?
September 13th, 2023 at 8:33 am
BARF
1 game. If he throws 2-3 INTs next game, y’all will be yelling “He’s the worst!”
Fickle, short-sighted commentary.
Let’s give it a bigger sample size. Like a season.
September 13th, 2023 at 8:43 am
The Bbucs are a VERY physical team and deserved the win. I cannot overstate how great the special reams played in this game. The kick coverage was not only outstanding but the sheer physicality of their tackling was so impressive. Football is a physical game and if y ou eliminate the skill players from both squads, the Bucks showed up an literally beat up the Vikings.
September 13th, 2023 at 8:48 am
I have to give BM props for heart and guts. He played with both and the whole team responded. Next week will tell us just how good the Bucs are. Hey joes: did Dungy’s HOF D ever pull a snatch interception like what Izien did Sunday? I don’t recall it.
September 13th, 2023 at 9:06 am
Hodad makes a good case that a more mature Mayfield hooking up with an OC that fits his style, like Gannon/Gruden, can create something positive.
It is only one game, an overall impressive one at that. And while it exceeded my low expectations, I’m looking forward to the next game to get a hint of what this team might be.
So far the Mayfield Experiment has positive results.
September 13th, 2023 at 9:10 am
Always a chance.
September 13th, 2023 at 9:12 am
Would have to guess yes. But none jumps out currently.
Didn’t the good Dexter Jackson have sort of a similar pick in the Super Bowl?
September 13th, 2023 at 9:41 am
Dexter Jackson? Probably. Thanks for the answer.
September 13th, 2023 at 9:43 am
Regarding Trask to the Jets, I heard a segment on SiriusXM where Rick Spielman was laying out how the Jets could/would comb all the PS QB’s. Trask was also brought up and said, “Yeah, it’s possible – a trade COULD occur from any team, but getting Trask would probably take a 2nd round pick, and the Jets just lost their 2nd round pick because of AR going down so early in season – no incentives were met.” Something to that effect. Spielman made it sound like the Jets are really, really screwed right now.
But yeah, sounds like it’s possible that Trask to Jets could occur. If I were the Jets, I’d look at Wolford.
September 13th, 2023 at 9:47 am
What Izien did sorta reminds me of what Butler did in the Super Bowl on the Pats vs the Seahawks.
September 13th, 2023 at 10:18 am
The hate for Baker is irrational, especially since he played for two teams last year that were in disarray. Take a look at how the top hyped QBs did in week 1:
Maholmes, 2 turnovers LOST!
Allen 4 turnovers LOST!
Herberts LOST
Burrow, Awful! LOST!
All three first round draft picks LOST!
Mayfield, 15 for 19 in second half.
Remember though, every week is a new week in the NFL.
September 13th, 2023 at 10:30 am
There is a lot more season to go before it really means anything. Individual games, meh. It is the final W/L record that matters.
I agree Baker might be better right now. His scrambles will be necessary until the O-line gets in tunes. That includes run blocking, because right now it looks like doormat views again.
How can the Jets afford Trask? They have no draft equity, their 1, 2, and 4 picks belong to GB, and they have a huge dead money pile. Forget it.
Besides, Trask is still integral to this team. Baker started 1-0 for the Panthers, then lost the next three.
If the O-line, running game, D-line, and soft CBs get fixed, he might finish the season if Baker isn’t 3-1 at the bye. I think the Eagles will bounce the Bucs so badly that the N.O. game will be a shaky effort by the Bucs.
September 13th, 2023 at 11:14 am
“If Mayfield continues to play scrappy with solid numbers and no turnovers like he did Sunday in Minneapolis, Podell adds, you may not be able to rule out the Bucs as an NFC South contender.” – Joe
The ‘no turnovers’ thing had no chance of happening. A good defense will pick off all those tipped passes.
And for nearly half of the game, Mayfield was absolutely horrible.
First game buildup led to very high effort by the other players.
Just a reminder…Jameis had an even better first game.
September 13th, 2023 at 11:34 am
SlyPirate Says:
BARF
1 game. If he throws 2-3 INTs next game, y’all will be yelling “He’s the worst!
But then there will be the one’s saying “look at what Cousins and Allen did in week 1”. Bake only had two picks.
A 150 lifetime bowler might roll a 260 but then there will be some stinkers to bring it back down to the 150 average. Really can’t base it on one game like you said. Problem is I can’t tell whether his first game was a 150, 130, or a 170. By no stretch of the imagination was it a 260.
If 300 is the Greatest and 150 is Pretty Good perhaps someone can give me the Baker Number so I determine if I will see better or more of the same. All I can judge it on as of now is One Great Season and everything else.
Some teams are working with a lot less than Mayfield. Fortunately the Bucs will be seeing many of them this season. Some twice. None are sure bets though.
Media that had the Bucs at 6-11 have already had to adjust their predictions to 7-10. A couple more surprises and they are 9-8 and in the hunt.
September 13th, 2023 at 11:36 am
Hate is a strong word.
Maybe more a projection of the presenter than reality?
All things possible. Here’s to the Bucs continuing to shine brighter than any generic odds!
Go Bucs!!
September 13th, 2023 at 11:50 am
What’s happened to you Bonzai. I swear it’s like the invasion of the body snatchers. Jameis Winston? His W-L % is WORSE than Mayfields.
Did JW ever get the Bucs to the playoffs? Did he have playoff talent around him or was he on a spitty team like Carolina or the Cleveland Browns.
It’s almost like he pisssed in your Wheaties and it’s personal Bonzai because you are no longer making football sense.
September 13th, 2023 at 12:11 pm
Good point Buddha. The hate is strong here. From the guys who trashed Baker on here from day one to the JBF admin, the cult of Trask is strong here.
September 13th, 2023 at 1:34 pm
Kinda stupid of Baker to say out loud he figured out the Vikings Defensive call signs. Now. future teams will be completely aware of his astuteness in games. Always keep opponent finding under your belt Baker. ESPN and all of the major talk shows are screaming about what you figured out. Other teams will now ensure you see nothing.
September 13th, 2023 at 2:17 pm
Nobody is crowning Baker as a savior. I keep hearing it’s only one game, it’s only one game. Yeah it was and we’re cautiously optimistic. Is that allowed in here? These guys are still learning each other on offense. Give him a little break.
September 13th, 2023 at 2:27 pm
In all fairness to the critics, I looked, and Mayfield averaged only 5.1 yards per pass attempt against the Vikings secondary, which has been reported here as being weak. 5.1 is pretty lame in the NFL.
September 13th, 2023 at 2:28 pm
@mike johnson…. he did not say out loud to anyone but his own team. His running back spilled those beans.
September 13th, 2023 at 2:45 pm
Mike
If you think other teams haven’t already figured out what “beans” were spilled let me assure you that NO secrets were divulged.
The Bears DC has probably viewed the game tape about a dozen times right now. He’s a professional. He can SEE from the game video what Baker accomplished and exactly how. The only question they may have is if Baker figured it out or if it was Canalas…they could care less…they will be making sure not to tip their D’s tendencies…or at least they will try.
It’s always a chess game.
September 13th, 2023 at 3:00 pm
“Charles Says:
September 13th, 2023 at 2:27 pm
In all fairness to the critics, I looked, and Mayfield averaged only 5.1 yards per pass attempt against the Vikings secondary, which has been reported here as being weak. 5.1 is pretty lame in the NFL”
And that number would be significantly better if mr ‘pay the man’ could catch those passes that hit him in the hands. Nevermind Otton’s butterfingers or Keift. If those plays were designed to go to Keift, they need to be flushed.
Blaming Baker alone is idiotic.
September 14th, 2023 at 11:00 am
I said before the season I would taker Baker over Cousins, carr, and about half the qbs in the league..hope it proves to be true. Cousins simpy cant make the plays you need to win tight games..mobility, arm strength, etc
September 14th, 2023 at 2:02 pm
The eye of the hurricane is calm numnutz