“It’s Not As Pretty As When Tom Was Here”
December 20th, 2023
“Kyle, Todd still has my back.”
Joe must have overlooked the beauty of the 2022 Bucs offense.
It was so aesthetically pleasing, Todd Bowles fired his offensive coordinator.
Joe is one part confused and two parts sarcastic. The Bucs averaged 19 points last season with the worst running game in the league and without a receiver posting huge numbers. Chris Godwin and Mike Evans combined for 9 touchdowns in 2022; this year they have posted 12 (combined) with three games to play. And the Bucs are scoring more points this season.
Despite those realities Todd Bowles said today that the offense with Baker Mayfield is not as pretty as when Tom Brady was in the house.
Bowles lauded Baker Mayfield for thriving in a new system with a lot of new players, and for winning over new teammates. And Bowles thinks Mayfield was in a brutal spot among the Bucs faithful.
“He was in a lose-lose from a fan ballot standpoint to begin with and he didn’t try to win the fan ballot. He just put his head down and he worked and he won the team over, which is what was great about it,” Bowles said. “And he’s doing things his way and we’re doing things our way. And it’s not as pretty as when Tom was here, but we’re scrappy and we’re pulling them out and we’re getting things done.”
Joe was intrigued by all this chatter because it speaks to how coaches and executives are often out of touch with fans.
Mayfield was not in “a lose-lose” situation with fans when he took over as starting quarterback. Kyle Trask wouldn’t have been, either. And neither was offensive coordinator Dave Canales.
Fans want wins and they want a thriving offense. The Bucs did not deliver those last season, even with The Goat on his last hooves. The quarterback after Brady was always going to win with the fans as long as the team posted wins and the offense was at least average.
Bowles stopped short when asked if he wanted Mayfield to be his quarterback next season. He said he’s focused on beating Jacksonville. “But I do love where he’s at,” Bowles said of Mayfield.
December 20th, 2023 at 1:09 pm
I hope we get to play Miami in the Super Bowl…think of it Bowles…Super Bowles in the Super Bowl. It is gonna be great. I bet Winfield is Super Bowl MVP. We have a new GOAT Bakefield wins his First of many to come. This is it. Bowles will outshine Shula and Lombardi. I never expected this to happen. What a turnaround.
December 20th, 2023 at 1:19 pm
Yep, lots of media attention and positive calls by the refs because the NFL holds up their heroes. You’ll get media attention with Mayfield because a significant chunk of fans and talking heads despise him and want to see him fail. Another chunk think he’s pretty entertaining and not too bad at QB. Not much in between, people don’t “like” or “dislike” old Baker; its love or hate. But he’s not an A-lister, the dicey calls will always go the other way
December 20th, 2023 at 1:25 pm
Personally I like the dude. He’s normal sized, won’t back down, makes some funny commercials and is sort of a dork. Not athletic enough to do Mahomes kind of things but by God he’ll win the angry run award. Sort of like the Dick Butkus of quarterbacks, LOL
December 20th, 2023 at 1:35 pm
Grover….lol omg you really got me laughing.
December 20th, 2023 at 2:07 pm
4th time in career, Conference Offensive player of the Week
🤡 fans: “Ima need to see that EVERY week “
December 20th, 2023 at 2:21 pm
Joe,
Bowl does not answer that question because Toilet Bowl won’t be around to keep Mayfield. Mayfield won’t be around any way. Why ? He is a trash qb who know he is not capable of wining big games to Super Bowl. Bucs will trash both of them and start with young players including drafting a qb to compete with Trask. Otherwise Trask will be gone to a new team where he can compete in a real training camp not the mock one by the Toilet Bowl.
December 20th, 2023 at 2:33 pm
No one is going to hold Tom responsible for what Leftwich did to the offense last year.
December 20th, 2023 at 2:34 pm
Isn’t Baker NFC player of the week?
December 20th, 2023 at 2:57 pm
I’m really starting to come around on Baker Mayfield he is definitely improving and he showed me he can make all the throws needed to be elite in this league. For the fist time this season he’s hit those one step separation shots to the receivers and opened up his game that’s the way he needs to play every week. I’m not saying he needs to be NFC OPOTW every week I’m just saying he needs to hit those windows every game and he will be elite. He showed he can be.
December 20th, 2023 at 5:14 pm
So, my take here is I think we get insight into where the friction was last year. Todd didnt really want Brady there. Conflict about scheme and plays trickled out on to the field, and everyone blamed the OC. Sounds like it really was Todd pushing his agenda on a team that wasnt ready to do what he wanted. Something wasnt right last year and now we get better understanding. Todd wasnt going to be pushed around by 7 time superbowl winner! He showed everyone who was boss, didnt he!!!!😂😭🤣😭😂😭🤣😭😭😂🤣🤣. More will creep out with time. Guaranteed!!!
December 20th, 2023 at 5:49 pm
Mayfield will have suitors next yr, namely Rams. Lot of BM TB comparisons lately, I checked it TB’s 2007 season is the best season all time, has about 5-6 in top 50,
Peyton manning also all over best ever, regardless,
Buc’s playing well, look for Rams to thrash Saints tomorrow. Need to get this W.
David, ur an idiot
GO BUCS
December 20th, 2023 at 6:39 pm
Am I the only one that remembers Godwin was coming off ACL surgery and either didn’t play or was never 100% last season? He is your offensive difference maker and the coming of age with White is a huge improvement. I am not sure it was cleaner with Brady, it looked more like square peg into a round hole. Bowles saw the O this way Brady saw it the way they won the prior two seasons. End result 5 less wins. Coach of the year!!!
December 20th, 2023 at 7:56 pm
I got news guys, if they revert back to mediocrity in the next three games Baker including coach Bowles won’t be here. Of course then the conversation focuses on a new head coach, quarterback and then draft. Yes in that order.
December 20th, 2023 at 9:35 pm
Bucs will go 9-8 butt I’m hoping it will be 10-7
December 20th, 2023 at 11:36 pm
I won’t even say coach speak about Bowles anymore.
He now gets his own personal label. Bowles speak… That is just wrong on so many different levels it is pathetic.
Geez!
Go Bucs!