J.J. Watt Respects Baker Mayfield
June 12th, 2024
J.J. Watt explains.
One of the greatest defenders to ever play the game doffed his cap to a man who, sadly, not all Bucs fans have yet accepted.
As the Bucs were in the midst of curb-stomping the Eagles in the wild-card round of the playoffs before a national Monday Night Football audience, one of the ultimate warriors of the NFL, the great J.J. Watt, took to Twitter to give props to Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Watt, as a defensive guy, noted how difficult it is for Mayfield to have had the success he has had at Cleveland and with the Bucs while experiencing so much turnover with head coaches and teams in his six NFL seasons.
He’s right.
And what Watt didn’t mention was Mayfield has experienced a full revolving door of offensive coordinators.
And let’s be real here: If the Bucs advance to the division round again, or surge deeper into the playoffs, and Mayfield has a strong year, are we really to believe that new Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen will be around in 2025? Unlikely.
NFL owners covet offensive coordinators who show they can improve offenses and quarterbacks. They want those guys as head coaches. Always remember and never forget, even if it gives you irritable bowel syndrome, in the NFL it’s all about the quarterback.
That’s why people buy tickets. That’s why people watch on TV. That’s why teams win. That’s all there is to it.
Given Coen’s background — he’s a disciple of Sean McVay — that increases the odds that Coen will be targeted by teams as a head coach if the Bucs have a good offense.
Unless Bucs coach Todd Bowles surprises everyone and retires, Mayfield will have the same head coach next year. But a seventh offensive coordinator in seven seasons? That’s entirely possible.
8 Head Coaches in 6 years for Baker Mayfield is crazy.
Extremely difficult for anyone to be successful with that kind of turnover/inconsistency in leadership, scheme and coaching philosophies.
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) January 16, 2024
June 12th, 2024 at 4:50 am
Serious talk from JJ. I was fortunate to see him many times in his prime, unstoppable and came through during Harvey.
The stupid “revert to mean” and “decline from best season “ talk is from people who forget that Baker has had so many OCs. Nobody knows how Baker will play this year but I can find reasons for him to have a better season.
June 12th, 2024 at 5:33 am
Yeah JJ Warr, let’s act like Maybefield didn’t have anything to do with having 8 Head Coaches in 6 years.
June 12th, 2024 at 5:49 am
Since 2022, every single NFL team has replaced their offensive coordinator. Look it up!
Brady won the Super Bowl with Lefty his first year here.
Mahomes won with a new OC last year.
Nowadays, you’re lucky to get 2-3 years from an OC. I believe you just wrote that, Joe. They either move up the ranks or get fired.
So let’s not start, after claiming the good ones are quickly gone, using the “he’s had so many offensive coordinators” as an excuse—comes off as an elongated oxymoron.
Every quarterback has the same problem.
June 12th, 2024 at 6:04 am
I value the opinion of JT O’Sullivan & Kurt Warner as former QBs who, instead of being the “I like Mayfields attitude” type guys, they’re more “if he can clean his conduct up in the pocket he’d improve as a QB” type guys. To me, I just always find it funny that the first thing people talk about Mayfield as a player is his demeanor attitude and not that 1 part of his athleticism that makes him interesting to watch because there’s no calling card arhwlticlexqlly
June 12th, 2024 at 7:07 am
“Unless Bucs coach Todd Bowles surprises everyone and retires,”
Yep he’s not going to retire this season or even after the season unless the Bucs truly surprise and win another SB or Todd has health issues.
Having said that however, IF the Bucs win 10 or more and another Division Title it’s not hard to imagine the Glazers getting with both Todd’s and trying to work out a deal where Coen gets rewarded with $$$ and a promise to be next in line when Todd does call it quits.
Could be a win win for Coen and the Bucs guaranteeing some continuity both in the OC and HC positions.
@JA
“Since 2022, every single NFL team has replaced their offensive coordinator. Look it up!”
Wow the lengths you Baker haters go!!! I don’t need to look it up I’ll take your word. So what? Have the Bengals, Chiefs, Bills, Eagles had new OC’s every year? Have their QB’s played for multiple OC’s in a single season?
The bottom line is you’re not challenging Joe or Baker supporters here. You’re asking us to take your negative opinion over that of JJ Watt!!!
Sorry but I do not respect a negative poster here more than an NFL future HOFer. Nor btw do I expect anybody to respect my OPINIONS more than NFL coaches and players. I also give Joe benefit of the doubt simply because he spends FAR more time than any of us on a more intimate basis with the Buc’s franchise.
June 12th, 2024 at 7:12 am
JA says. Every QB has the same problem.
Name one that has had so many? I will wait for your response, which you will not have a valid one
June 12th, 2024 at 7:17 am
Todd needs at least 10 wins to keep his job, especially with this roster.
June 12th, 2024 at 7:29 am
Joe … ‘Given Coen’s background — he’s a disciple of Sean McVay — that increases the odds that Coen will be targeted by teams as a head coach if the Bucs have a good offense.’
Good point Joe, but there’s a huge difference between being an excellent coordinator & being a great head coach. I was impressed with BA in that he figured that out after Arizona & was a very different HC here IMO (took more of a CEO approach?). The key is to have GRRREAT people working for you (coordinators, assistants, etc), to be supported by great owners AND a great front office, and to stock the team with great players & leaders. And even then your odds of winning it all are just OK.
I was totally surprised when Carolina picked Dave Canales to be their new HC. Some owners seem to value experience, others always seem to be looking for the 1-hit wunder-kid to lead them, and usually dual-hat them as the HC AND OC. Mammoth mistake IMO, except for those very few who are truly gifted in terms of multi-tasking. And even then, they only succeed IF they surround themselves by top quality people who can operate almost totally independently. Jon Gruden & Monte Kiffen? Bruce Arians & Todd Bowles? (What you wrote the other day about BA saying that he rarely went into Todd Bowles’ office (paraphrased) comes to mind).
June 12th, 2024 at 7:31 am
More excuses, it’s also hard to improve as a player when the first time you’re working with a QB coach in your own time is 4 years into your professional career especially when you’ve likely never been one of the best athletes on your team ever. If you cannot rely on physical talent in this game you better damn well be a technician at your position that’s what makes greats great, the dedication to THEIR craft not the people around them making their jobs easier.
June 12th, 2024 at 7:32 am
Dave Pear … One day you MIGHT come to understand that Todd Bowles’ talent for DEVELOPING players has been critical to the results this Bucs’ team has achieved since 2019 when he came here. I’m not holding my breath though.
June 12th, 2024 at 7:39 am
Wow!…Every now and then I need to glance at that picture when I think about straping on a helmet. Because my brain lies to me about my age.
Ouch!
Go Bucs!
June 12th, 2024 at 7:41 am
Baker’s uneven play has a lot to do with him having rotating OCs.I tune in to games to watch the entire team. Tuning in to watch the QB is a ridiculous statement, unless you’re a novice. In Baker’s case I honestly focus on who on the team will have a breakout game in order to win, despite Baker’s mediocrity.
June 12th, 2024 at 7:43 am
It’s not just the QB who had to learn a new offense. The entire offense has to. It’s why I am not confident in a strong start this season (and likely why the Bucs offense didn’t start looking better until the final third of last season).
June 12th, 2024 at 9:01 am
BakerFan——
Name one quarterback that was on four teams in the span of a year and a half?
So that’s four right there. Perhaps if Mayfield was not released by Cleveland, Carolina and not resigned with the Rams and signing with the Bucs, his number would be far lower.
Seldom, if ever, do OC’s follow their QB’s to other teams.
So four coordinators were a direct result of him moving from team to team in such a short time.
June 12th, 2024 at 9:01 am
That photo of J.J. Watt exemplifies the game of pro football. Wake up NFL the fans don’t want your league to turn into ladies soccer.
June 12th, 2024 at 9:06 am
Does anyone envision a chest strapped Wilhemina model bursting on the scene as the next greatest field goal kicker ? Goodell might.
June 12th, 2024 at 9:10 am
This will Bowles’ 8th season as a HC. Coen will be his 7th OC over that period.
June 12th, 2024 at 9:14 am
Instead of a handshake and a slap on the back all the new draftees get a joyous tearful hug from dear old uncle goodie when they achieve their dream. I wonder what the Duke would say about that.
Dick Butkus and Ray Nitschke are rolling over.
June 12th, 2024 at 9:15 am
Instead of a handshake and a slap on the back all the new draftees get a joyous tearful hug from dear old uncle goodie when they achieve their dream. I wonder what the Duke would say about that.
June 12th, 2024 at 9:41 am
Wow, the picture of JJ really says it all. I respect what JJ says, good guy and player. He is absolutely right about Baker. Eight different head coaches in six years and he has persevered!
June 12th, 2024 at 10:05 am
I can see it now. The players union will require rubber duckies in all the ice tubs.
June 12th, 2024 at 10:28 am
Every time I see this photo it reminds of the time Will Gholston said Logan Hall (Who) is more athletic than JJ Watt. ROTFL
June 12th, 2024 at 11:35 am
On the other hand Vikings only paid to see JJ not cousins that’s why he’s with the falcons
June 12th, 2024 at 5:16 pm
For all us old guys that played sports in our “yute” (My Cousin Vinnie) and speaking only for myself, I Iooked up to the real badasses ’cause I wished I could have been gifted in that way. Question… was LT the last real badass ?
June 12th, 2024 at 5:35 pm
The father of a good friend of mine (may he RIP) Edward Joseph Britt played for the Washington Redskins and Brooklyn Dodgers and I think Detroit Tigers in the 1930’s. He was a real badass. Google him. My friends aunt (Eddie Britt’s sister) was the nurse for John Wayne when he had lung surgery at Mass. General Hosp. in the 70’s. They are all gone now so I can say these things. They should be remembered.
June 13th, 2024 at 10:15 am
Yeah JJ Warr, let’s act like Maybefield didn’t have anything to do with having 8 Head Coaches in 6 years………… Who ever write this is the biggest moron ever on this me board. Where are those crappy coaches he had in Cleveland now? They’re not anywhere near an NFL team. Freddy Kitchen is a QB coach in college.
June 14th, 2024 at 1:31 am
hue jackson was 2-34 before baker got drafted by cleveland lol. it seems pretty clear why he got fired. freddie kitchens was so bad at coaching that he could not even get a play call in before time expired about half the time. seems pretty clear why he got fired as well, and it wasn’t because of baker. and matt rhule was arguably the worst coach in the nfl. the panthers were the worst team in the nfl before baker was traded to them, and they were the worst team in the nfl after he was released.
two of those coaches got fired mid-season and the teams just had temporary coaching staff until they could do a search. it’s laughable how triggered the trask cult is by anyone having anything good to say about baker.
also..whoever mentioned all of the top teams that got new offensive coordinators since 2022 like that’s the same thing as getting a whole new coaching staff almost every year, and sometimes twice gtfoh.