Stability The Key To Baker Mayfield’s Success
December 26th, 2023
Stability breeds success.
You have to admit, a guy some thought was the worst quarterback in the NFL last year playing strong football and leading his team to just one win from a division title is a helluva story.
Former Super Bowl-winning general manager Scott Pioli doesn’t believe Baker Mayfield succeeding with the Bucs is an accident.
Pioli appeared on “Good Morning Football” today, seen weekday mornings on NFL Network. There, he explained why Mayfield struggled for much of his NFL career and likely why he’s settled in so nicely with the Bucs.
“When you look at Baker Mayfield and how he came into the league in 2018, he came in on a bad football team,” Pioli said. “Three head coaches in his first two seasons. Three offensive coordinators in his first three seasons.
“That does not allow for a player to develop.”
Then Mayfield goes to Carolina, which was (and is) a total trainwreck. His brief time with a good coach (Sean McVay) and the Rams may have saved Mayfield’s career.
Mayfield comes to Tampa Bay, a playoff team, surrounded by all sorts of talent; few quarterbacks have comparable targets.
Pioli explained Mayfield may be on a team that has the most stability and least chaos he’s ever experienced. Pioli believes that is the secret sauce.
“Is he a Josh Allen or a Lamar Jackson from that football class? No,” Pioli said. “That doesn’t mean he can’t be a good football player in the National Football League, which is what he is showing he can be right now.”
If Mayfield can extend that streak of good football one more game, Joe is confident your Bucs will be NFC South champs Sunday night, baby.
Baker Mayfield is on his 4th #NFL team in 3-yrs – @JasonMcCourty asked why I think things are clicking for him this year w/ the @Buccaneers #GMFB pic.twitter.com/DZSf5sGRve
— Scott Pioli (@scottpioli51) December 26, 2023
December 26th, 2023 at 11:09 am
So much hype about a player in a span of only a few weeks.
I’ll buy into the Hype if he continues this into the Playoffs……
keyword “IF”
December 26th, 2023 at 11:10 am
Baker has a pretty good OC as well. They are on the same page and Baker has been humbled by all of the crap he went through last year. But Cleveland did give him the shaft. The payback came to Cleveland this year. Karma is a tough one.
December 26th, 2023 at 11:35 am
Nobody but a few lazy sports “journalists” and uninformed football fans thought that Baker “was the worst quarterback in the NFL last year…” If a lie gets repeated often enough, it somehow becomes fact. Baker was badly injured in the second game of 2021 season and tried to play through the injury because that is what he does. He got the shoulder fixed at season end 2021 and the Browns signed Watson to a ridiculous contract in 2022. I have said here and I will say again, Baker first six year stats playing for bad teams are equal to Brady first six years. This includes playing for awful Browns teams and a short stint with the pathetic Panthers. Quit the nonsense that Mayfield is substandard. It should be obvious to any fair observer that he has a rocket arm, great leadership and an unreal competitive streak. John Dorsey who selected him for the Browns was same guy who selected Mahomes earlier for Chiefs. Dorsey really knows football talent. He was right on both Mahomes and Baker.
December 26th, 2023 at 11:37 am
@ Jake
I wouldn’t call the “OC” “Pretty Good”………but I do give him credit for developing an offense that enhances players abilities.
I think the OC has learned alot huring his first year and has made the necessary adjustments to make the offense work now and I believe we are now seeing “everything” coming together, including Mayfield grasping the system.
I think there’s three things that are making the offense click the most:
1. Mayfield finally understands the new offense
2. The Offensive line is playing well together
3. They are using Rashad White more of receiving back than traditional RB
I think because Baker has that receiving back check down option, that he’s way more comfortable sitting back in the pocket waiting for receivers to open up downfield similar to what Brady using to do with Leonard Fournette.
December 26th, 2023 at 11:39 am
Baker is not pressing. He is taking what is given to him and always has an outlet (White). He is an above average matador/scrambler.
December 26th, 2023 at 11:44 am
Give him time to process. He needs to process quickly, if not the offense is deemed useless. Baker is humming along with his teammates and that is a testimony of his studious way. He has immersed himself within the playbook and this community. When the pocket collapses, even with all of his weapons, he is now starting to scramble. This can be dangerous for opposing defenses. Slow it down, beat the man in front of you and we can continue to win. The ball bounces weirdly, take advantage gentlemen, take advantage.
December 26th, 2023 at 11:58 am
There are 10-12 teams that would take that “substandard ” aka “worst” NFL QB tomorrow!
December 26th, 2023 at 12:10 pm
TheBucsAnthem Says:
December 26th, 2023 at 11:09 am
So much hype about a player in a span of only a few weeks.
I’ll buy into the Hype if he continues this into the Playoffs……
keyword “IF”
—
Sad to see the negativity and doubters are coming from a website meant for so called fans of the team. I frequent Reddit’s buccaneers thread and it’s much more positive.
December 26th, 2023 at 12:11 pm
It’s almost identical to 2020, where Baker had a new coach and system. First 8-10 games were up and down learning the system. Then the browns had a late bye week and baker torches everyone the last 6 games, including 2 playoff games. It takes time for the team to all get on the same page, and used to each other. I also think play calling the past few weeks has been way better.
I wouldn’t want to be Dallas right now.
December 26th, 2023 at 12:29 pm
2023 Stats thru 16 games
Mayfield Mahomes Stafford Prescott
CMP% 64.3% 66.9% 62.0% 68.4%
YDS 3598 3938 3648 3892
TD 26 26 23 30
INT 8 14 9 7
Rating 96.2 91.7 93 104.2
Going to keep putting this data out there for the chronically uninformed who comment on these pages pretending to know something about NFL quarterbacking. Mayfield doesn’t make excuses and holds himself accountable. Past time for the Baker Bashing Brigrade to hold themselves accountable. Oh, and Baker has had in 6 years, 6 new coaches and 6 new OC’s.
December 26th, 2023 at 12:42 pm
WHY IS BAKER HAVING SUCCESS?
Johnny Football won the Heisman (then busted). Jamies threw for 5K and Pro Bowl (then busted). TB12 was “washed” then won a Super Bowl. Mayfield was a bust and now is is a legit NFL starter.
DO YOU SEE A COMMON THREAD?
Mayfield isn’t as successful as people believe. He has Evans. Don’t resign Evans and Baker will revert.
December 26th, 2023 at 1:02 pm
He’s had two great games in a row, before that he was trash for a month. He needs to keep up the good play, and if he does so, he’s going to get himself a huge payday. But this is the time of year to get hot, so hopefully he can keep it up.
December 26th, 2023 at 1:54 pm
Josh Allen has a lot to prove. 4-4 in playoffs and everyone regards him as elite.
Justin Herbert is another one. Has yet to make the playoffs, yet considered all world.
Maholmes is the only truly elite QB in my opinion. In a class by himself. Several others have made it to the Super Bowl but they have not won (other than Wilson who has been gradually declining the past few years.
We’d all be better off to ignore the noise about quarterbacks and focus on the whole franchise.
December 26th, 2023 at 2:18 pm
As the Bucs figure it all out, it’s interesting to see the top teams in the NFC currently aren’t looking as unbeatable….the playoffs are going to be fun and hopefully surprise everyone.
December 26th, 2023 at 2:20 pm
Gipper Says:
December 26th, 2023 at 12:29 pm
2023 Stats thru 16 games
Mayfield Mahomes Stafford Prescott
CMP% 64.3% 66.9% 62.0% 68.4%
YDS 3598 3938 3648 3892
TD 26 26 23 30
INT 8 14 9 7
Rating 96.2 91.7 93 104.2
Purdy 68.8 4050 29 TD 11 INT (4 in 1 bad game) rating 112.2
875K and 1 coach. 2-1 in playoffs. Division Championship and took team to NFC Championship Game. On his way to a second Division Title in 2023
Players get coaches fired and Mayfield should not get a pass for his part.
Mayfield is lucky to be making up to 8mil.
Most 1st round picks don’t get the chance to suck their way to second and third chance to start.
Canales Xeroxed 49er Playbook and Ravan’s just printed a Blueprint to beat it. Let’s see how the next 3 games go (if that) before reigning him King. Right now he has 1 Playoff win.
Maholmes, Stafford and Prescott don’t just scuttle for first downs in a panic they extend plays and make big boy throws.
BTW. Maholmes has 2 seasons worth of passing more than Mayfield in 8 fewer games and about 900 more rushing yards. Do we need to mention W/L comparison?
Will mention a few Superbowl appearances and MVP’s.
Flacco is on a pace that would be 5554 and 42 TD in a season. Over 100 yards more per game.
Might want to keep Mayfield in his league with guys like Darnold.
December 26th, 2023 at 2:44 pm
TheBucsAnthem Says:
December 26th, 2023 at 11:09 am
So much hype about a player in a span of only a few weeks.
I’ll buy into the Hype if he continues this into the Playoffs……
keyword “IF”
———
Wake up out of your day dream. See anyone in the media – local or national caring about what you think?
Nope
NO one cares abouty your IF or your buy. However don’t even bother with the “we” later on. We’lll kick you off the band wagon on sight.
No haters allowed .
December 26th, 2023 at 2:51 pm
Rod Munch Says:
December 26th, 2023 at 1:02 pm
He’s had two great games in a row, before that he was trash for a month. He needs to keep up the good play
——
MUSH! !! maks an apperance just to say he was here – his now least favorite place.
It must trully suck these days to be a Kyle Kult loyalist
December 26th, 2023 at 3:38 pm
I think the haters on this site need a group hug.
December 26th, 2023 at 3:47 pm
IF he does not re-sign with Tampa Bay, I fully expect the Steelers to make a run at him… and for him to be the Browns Bane for many years to come. But I think he’ll re-sign with TB.
December 26th, 2023 at 5:11 pm
D Cone,
You have a lot of your giant ego invested in your Hate Baker campaign so you deny the facts right in front of you. Facts matter more than your lunacy. Have a feeling that the 49ers have a pretty solid team to support lower draft pick Purdy. The Panthers don’t have much of a team to support #1 pick Bryce Young and he has struggled. You wouldn’t know much about football after spending your high school years in the marching band.
December 26th, 2023 at 5:34 pm
D CONE: You still don’t get it, do you? Whether it’s Mahomes, or Jackson or Allen, they all came from a STABLE FRANCHISE so they had time to develop. Plus, all of those franchises had strong teams before they were drafted. Mayfield, by contrast, inherited a team that was 1-34 before he played in his first game. Not exactly a STABLE environment. Then he leads them to the playoffs (first time in two decades +) gets injured and then shipped off to an even WORSE TEAM, the Panthers.
What kind of stats do you think Mahomes, Jackson and Allen would have put up under those circumstances? But guess what? Baker more than held his own. So shove your sarcastic comments…
Keep winning Baker.
December 26th, 2023 at 7:10 pm
D Cone doesn’t seem that bright, does he?
December 26th, 2023 at 9:24 pm
Dcone: You sound like a Sean D-Rapiist fan
December 26th, 2023 at 9:45 pm
Mahomes just got beat by the Raiders. KC is 1 win better than the Bucs. Of course we only we don’t hold only Mahomes at fault for losing just Mayfield.
December 26th, 2023 at 10:16 pm
D Cone needs to change the name to D Bag!! If you can’t behind a team on a winning streak then you’re just pathetic. Go back and watch your favorite movie, Bambi. Listen to Thumper’s dad. “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothing at all!”
December 26th, 2023 at 11:19 pm
WyomingJoe Says:
December 26th, 2023 at 5:34 pm
D CONE: You still don’t get it, do you?
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They ae not going to WH. If we even won a SB it would be – “well it was an off year for the SB lets see if he can repeat it because that was just a hot streak and we know how inconistent baker is ”
Thats why I dont even try much anymore. I just make fun of them.
December 27th, 2023 at 2:29 am
Look I get it! Baker is playing good football the last two weeks. He is our starting quarterback. I wish him all the best going forward. The talking heads are lavishing praise out the ying yang. That is what they do.
Prior to the last two weeks… Not so much on either count.
I’m just going to keep it in perspective. Are we a better team than we were three weeks ago? I think so, and I hope we can continue to play well as a team. I believe Baker can be a good to great QB! But all the talking heads can mislead us fans into thinking he is the next Patrick Mahomes. He is not…yet.
Go Bucs!
December 27th, 2023 at 2:49 am
BTW although we are officially a playoff team from last season. If you had asked me if we were a “stable franchise” 4 weeks ago my answer would have been a big time no. Not at that time.
We backed in to the playoffs last year. Bowles on the hot seat, QB playing for his career, ILB causing major issues, rookie OC not looking like a keeper, high draft picks not looking like starters, free agent additions stinking it up, and rookies playing everywhere. Perspective.
Go Bucs!