Rondé Barber: “Complacency” Issue Hurts Baker Mayfield
October 29th, 2023
“Complacent” – marked by self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies : marked by complacency : SELF-SATISFIED.
Joe is not big on publishing Merriam-Webster dictionary definitions in this space, but Joe did so above in the interest of clarity.
Bucs legend Rondé Barber jumped on the Buccaneers Radio Network last week and said he thinks quarterbak Baker Mayfield has an issue with his in-game mentality. It’s too inconsistent.
“Baker’s a guy that likes riding that gamer feeling,” Barber said. “We have to find a way to get Baker to feel that way the whole game. Because when he does, when he feels like he’s that underdog or there’s adversity against him, he proves you wrong. He always does.”
“… He’s got to fight complacency. That’s what I’m trying to say. When he gets complacent, it’s not the same Baker.”
Hey, who is Joe to argue with Barber on this point? Also, Barber said he’s gotten closer personally to Mayfield. “I’ve just gotten to know Baker and I like him a lot. I think he’s awesome,” Barber said.
Joe’s not sure how Mayfield could lose the underdog feeling Barber referenced.
Was Mayfield riding that high after the Bucs started 3-1? Maybe. Joe sure hopes not. It’s not like the Bucs had knocked off big-time teams.
Regardless, Mayfield is the starting quarterback and Barber says Mayfield is capable of great things if the Bucs find him a running game.
Barber said Tampa Bay’s play-action game will work better if the Bucs can run, in part because it will help “clearing windows for Mayfield,” as in throwing lanes so he has fewer passes batted down.
Barber is not against the Bucs passing a lot more on first down, he says, if that can help the Bucs avoid 3rd-and-7 (or longer) situations.
“If you give [Mayfield] 3rd-and-7 [or longer], the defense, their entire playbook now opens,” Barber said.
October 29th, 2023 at 11:10 pm
The entire team are underdogs with this listless, underachieving coaching staff.
October 29th, 2023 at 11:18 pm
Baker is not getting it done, is anyone surprised? He’s been inconsistent throughout most of his NFL career.
October 29th, 2023 at 11:19 pm
I don’t see it as complacency, I think Baker responds to criticism or challenges with a chip on his shoulder. He seems to like running the ball and doesn’t seem concerned with getting hit and likes to show how tough he is. These are good traits and I agree with Ronde’ that Baker plays a little better with this attitude. I’d like to see Baker scramble a little more.
The problem is that Bowles, and by extension Canales, is preaching no turnovers. Baker is then indecisive with happy feet, second guessing his first read, and won’t throw on timing.
October 29th, 2023 at 11:22 pm
I agree. It’s the coaching that needs to shaken up! We have talent here.
October 29th, 2023 at 11:28 pm
I really think BM being a Heisman winner and 1st RD pick has been a blessing and a curse. The dude needs to put that in the past and go back to being that walk on that had nothing to lose and everything to gain. Stay away from the media, etc. and focus on football. This is his last rodeo.
October 29th, 2023 at 11:31 pm
I have to disagree with Ronde on this one. I don’t think Baker is complancant. I think he just isn’t a very good quarterback. You know, something we can pretty safely assume after he was literally the worst QB in football the previous two seasons, and he’s managed to lead this offense to 16 points per game.
I understand that Bowles likes safe QBs – and that’s great and all, but in the NFL you win by scoring points, not by winning the turnover column on the stat sheet. The Bucs are +8 in turnovers, in what has to be one of the best ratios in the league, but their offense is doing nothing. A lot of those 16 points per game are coming off turnovers deep in opposing teams terrority.
Baker is another Mike Glennon, but somehow is managing to put up even less points. Not only have the Bucs lost 4 of 5, they’re boring. The NFL is about entertaining people, and this team is not entertaining in any way. Sort of like how they were when Mike Glennon was the starter – except Glennon was still a young guy so we didn’t know for certain yet that he’d be Mike Glennon.
October 29th, 2023 at 11:32 pm
There is simply to much Tony Dungy offense on this Bucs offense.
Canales chose to run and run be damned.
Which was why Tony Dungy was fired so the Bucs could at least win one Superbowl. Dungy may have cost the Bucs at least one or two more Super Bowls by running the ball on first down.
How about pass to set up the run.
Canales has the Dungy cancer. Fire me then you’ll win it all.
Unless you have Peyton Manning run your team and make you a Hall of Fame right which Tony Dungy has no right to be.
October 29th, 2023 at 11:45 pm
Hammerhead Says:
October 29th, 2023 at 11:32 pm
There is simply to much Tony Dungy offense on this Bucs offense.
————-
Uh, no.
The NFL was not yet purely a passing league at the time, and the Bucs offense was literally built to run the football. You had Mike Alstott and Warrick Dunn, and pre-Keyshawn a bunch of garbage WRs and Trent Dilfer at QB. With that offense, you had to run the ball.
Oh, and you had one of the best defenses of all-time. This defense is better than people here claim, but they’re not one of the best defenses of all time.
As for Canales, the guy was the Seahawks QB coach (note they’re 5-2 and don’t seem to miss him), who was just demoted the year before that. He’s not the one to blame here, and on the surface I don’t think he’s doing that poor of a job. But it’s Bowles yelling at him to ‘run the ball’ every game, even when the team isn’t good at it and is literally made to pass the ball.
But even more to blame is the play of Mayfield. Since that Saints game, he’s been terrible. He’s missing guys all over the place, and now that he’s lost confidence, he’s turned into the Checkdown Charlie he was the previous two years on tape. Baker had his version of a hotstreak to open the season, and now that is over, and we’re going to get this Mayfield until he’s eventually benched. Sure, he might have another game where he’s half-way decent, but we have tons of tape on Mayfield and everyone knows what he is. And that’s a middle of the road backup QB.
What the Bucs should do is try to trade him to the Vikings. Maybe after he beat them they’ll give us something of value for him. I’d take anything.
October 29th, 2023 at 11:47 pm
The Tony Dungy disrespect will not be tolerated.
October 30th, 2023 at 1:07 am
He is the last person to ever have complacency again.
He is trying to resurrect a bust career.
He is a bust. He is still a bust.
Jason Licht fails again. No more Brady lotto tickets for JL.
Please flush Bowles and Licht. They are part of the rot.
FLUSH!
October 30th, 2023 at 1:14 am
Joebycsfan.com/2023/
You know what. My dad knows football. I’ve won awards and have cried when Gators lost to dogs in 1971 listening on the radio on Banyan Street Boca Grande.
I’ll tell you this. Tony Dungy had to be fired for the Bucs to have the best winning percentage in the history of the Superbowl.
Add in Trent Dilfer winning a Super In Tampa as the Bucs did then it’s a perfect time to piss off Falcons fans.
With that said am more concerned about Saints.
October 30th, 2023 at 1:21 am
Yes, I believe he was for sure, really ‘smelling’ or loving HIMSELF, with that big 3-1 record… And, with how the ‘national’ media had then, started paying just a smidgen of attention. He really ‘thought’ he had done something there… He was VERY pleased with himself, 💯!!!! He should’ve KNOWN better. If you go back and watch, you’ll see that he’s missing WIDE Open Receivers constantly… And, by the time he DOES see them, it’s too late, so he’s just checking it down. A lot of the time, he never sees them at all… He wants to just stand back there, literally 3-4 feet behind a bunch of 6’6”-6’7” guys for some reason, when he CAN’T Even See The Field (much less get a pass off)!!!! He had at least, ‘FIVE’ Balls that could’ve been Intercepted against the Bills, & at least 3 of those SHOULDA BEEN… One or two, were 💯’no-doubter’ Pix-6’s, too!!!! If, only a couple of those Bills Defenders would’ve had ANY kind of ‘ball-skills’ whatsoever… You know now tho, WHY they are “Defensive Backs” LoL. Got hands made of BRICKS… Can’t Catch Jack Shlt. Maybe, Trask will hit those guys… He did during Preseason!!!! At least, he’s tall enough to first, be able to SEE THEM. It’s the same story as when Ol’ Bake was in Cleveland… Can’t score and can’t move the ball. Extremely, BORING and just hard to watch.
October 30th, 2023 at 1:39 am
And, look at all of these other ‘backup’ QB’s around the league this year, coming in/starting and playing well, while taking full advantage of their opportunities… I mean, help… You gotta at least give this kid a CHANCE and see what the help he can do!!!! What good is it going to do to just leave him there rotting, while SITTING on the fricken BENCH!? Look at Will Freakin’ LEVIS!!!!
October 30th, 2023 at 2:28 am
To the people endlessly putting all the blame on the coaches. Are all of Baker’s previous coaches to blame for his career long inconsistent play? Truth is, this is Baker’s high water mark, everybody with a brain and (preferably) eyes that work knows this.
October 30th, 2023 at 2:56 am
Bakers biggest achievement is setting the record for second chances despite being one of the most mediocre quarterbacks in the last five years.
October 30th, 2023 at 2:57 am
Hate to say it but I disagree with Ronde on the whole underdog thing with Baker.
He simply is not a QB who can carry this team. Can we win with him? Yes! But we need the rest of the guys to step up and make plays Canales and Bowles too. We also need to find a way to keep these refs from costing us games (Jason)(Glazers) with their lame BS flags!
Go Bucs!
October 30th, 2023 at 3:21 am
Bowels has his fingers all over this. Play calling is the same as it was with Leftwhich which helped neuter Brady, who didn’t do much last year. Bowels needs to go,if not it don’t matter who the qb is. And forget about Caleb, he is a diva
October 30th, 2023 at 4:54 am
More like he just isn’t that good.
October 30th, 2023 at 5:02 am
Excuses he been this way but hey keep making excuses!
October 30th, 2023 at 5:56 am
One trick yep!! Absolutely this is a radio ran team this is exactly what he wants from his teams he thinks 1950s football wins games. Brady played 22 seasons his only losing season was under radio
October 30th, 2023 at 6:06 am
Right now all the Buc’s coaches suck!
October 30th, 2023 at 6:28 am
Baker is just not good. One could call him a bust but that’s unfair to him cause shouldn’t have been drafted in the first 3 rounds anyway. Those that had a 1st round grade on him has no business scouting QBs. It is unfair to the rest of the team to continue to play Maybefield just because someone wants to prove they can do the impossible and turn Barkers career around.
October 30th, 2023 at 7:01 am
“Complacent – marked by self-satisfaction”
You can’t blame Baker, really. I mean, after reading all the love letters in the Tampa Bay media about his moxie and charm and swagger and goosebumps, and add to that the likelihood that he was promised the starting job, it was only natural for him to be complacent.
October 30th, 2023 at 7:13 am
Rod Munch Says: “What the Bucs should do is try to trade him to the Vikings.”
THIS! We’re going nowhere, man. Play Trask with Wolford as the backup, see what each has or doesn’t have, and know exactly what we need and don’t need going into the 2024 draft. Nah. We’re the Bucs.
October 30th, 2023 at 7:26 am
Will Levis was a lousy second-round backup who hadn’t played a down in the NFL and was lights-out yesterday with 4 TDs and a passer rating of 130.5. Hmm.
October 30th, 2023 at 8:24 am
Well if Baker is complacent he needs to find a new career. I think Baker played well for him last game. No interceptions and two TD,s. The problem was the Bills were running up and down the field. When stops were made the Bills punter was unbelievable pinning the Bucs inside the 10 at least 3 times. Then drives were stopped by offsides and holding penalties. Still the Bucs could have won on a walk off TD if the Bucs hands team had kept their eyes on Baker to see where he was throwing it. I recall Baker had a hail maryTD with the Browns to Donavan Peoples Jones.
October 30th, 2023 at 8:32 am
Thanks Mr. Barber. RB Jason?
October 30th, 2023 at 10:33 am
garro Says:
So…….all TB needs is a great QB and they’d be unbeatable?
They’ve got every other facet on lockdown, yes?
October 30th, 2023 at 11:06 am
Baker haters out in full force. He’s the 15th ranked QB (NFL QB index). So he’s slightly above average which means he’s not garbage. He’s not going to carry the team but he does enough to put the team into position to win. However, some of the play calling could be better and the offense also has to step up as a whole (drive killing holding and false start penalties, WRs rounding out routes, pourus O-line, and dropped passes). Sure he’s made some boneheaded plays but he’s still playing pretty good overall. I’m thinking a lot of folks would rather have the Bucs tank this year instead of trying to win the south.
October 30th, 2023 at 11:07 am
power sweep Says:
Did you watch the Tennessee game?
Levis had ALL DAY to throw. That helps man, no?
Also, you have to respect Derrick Henry
He’s a lil better than what the Bucs run out there man
Ffs, yall some miserable Myers
Why was Brady 8-9 last year? Cuz he sucked???
October 30th, 2023 at 11:21 am
The GOAT went 8-9 with this squad last year and avgd 18 pts per game
With Mayfield they are averaging 17 pts per game
With Trask, that’ll probably increase to at least 28 points per game👌
October 30th, 2023 at 11:21 am
Why is baker getting all of the blame, the whole offense as a whole needs to accept some blame. Interior offensive line is a mess, false starts and holding penalties are a issue, coaching is a problem, get baker on some roll outs and get him out of the pocket, and lastly get a running game, teams know the Bucs can’t run so they play all their players 4 to 5 yards back. And lastly defense needs to quit with the soft coverage. Defense has played good for the most part and made some real good splash plays but could be better. Baker deserves some blame yes but he’s getting killed by everyone and is getting all the blame and he shouldn’t be
October 30th, 2023 at 11:41 am
NO LONGER A BAKER FAN …
Watch the games again. You’ll see a lot of people open. He gets too excited. He’s trying to process too much and forgets to throw the ball. I honestly feel the team should try Trask. He’s calmer and taller. Trask will complete more passes.
October 30th, 2023 at 12:49 pm
I would agree that Baker is trying to go too fast. Canales talked about it before saying he wanted Baker to be smooth, not fast. He gets jittery and doesn’t let the play fully develop before moving to his next read. Other times the open receiver does not appear in the throwing lane because the O-line is getting pushed around. Trask fans will say he doesn’t need those lanes since he can see over the line which is true. However, Trasks lack of mobility won’t suit him when the pocket is collapsing in on him. I think Trask would have problems with this O-line in front of him, lack of a running game, and general lack of experience. If the Bucs are 4 games under .500 by December then I think we’ll get a peek at Trask but not while the Bucs are in contention.
October 30th, 2023 at 12:54 pm
Trade Trask for Derrick Henry before Tuesday. Accomplishes 2 things. Bucs get help in the running game and the insane put-in Trask nonsense stops. Those Trask fans can go burn up the Titans fan sites.
October 30th, 2023 at 1:55 pm
SlyPirate, no one is calm no matter how tall you are when the pocket is collapsing and a ton of steroid crazd flesh is about to smash you into the ground.
October 30th, 2023 at 2:03 pm
I am not sure the Titans are interested in Trask today.
The play calling sucks. Roll him out more. Go uptempo every few possessions. He is hyper and needs constant engagement.
October 30th, 2023 at 2:05 pm
with BA as HC ; bucs scored in the high 20’s .. With Bowles as HC ; we cant get to 20.
with the obvious exception of QB , the rest of offensive side of the roster is not that different in ’23 versus ’22 –Evans, Godwin ,white, the O-line ..
In ’22 bowles inherited the roster pretty much . This yr -its His roster . He replaced Brady with his guy -Mayfield .
Its all on Bowles …….
October 30th, 2023 at 3:57 pm
Arrrg!
October 30th, 2023 at 4:22 pm
For educational purposes, the QB school on YouTube does a great job breaking down Baker’s good and bad plays as well as pointing out deficiencies in the scheme Canales has implemented.
October 31st, 2023 at 12:36 am
Try Trask. Baker is a bust, everyone in the league knew that but the Bucs. Trask had the 5th best numbers in SEC history with not much around him. You would never know unless you tried him. I guess these coach’s do not have a clue?