Baker Mayfield Still Has It
July 25th, 2024
Gave Johnny Football vibes.
One thing Joe noticed so far this week as Bucs training camp opened several players bringing the juice to practice.
Chucky would have loved that.
One guy who you would expect to bring the juice is Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield. And one play summed it up today.
In fact, at the risk of possibly ticking off Mayfield (this is not Joe’s intention), for a moment there today at One Buc Palace, Joe thought Johnny Football was on the field for the Bucs.
One reason Johnny Football was so popular was that he redefined fun and excitement in football. The guy had college football viewers on the edges of their recliners 10-plus years ago when he played for Texas A&M. You literally did not know what Johnny Football would do next but you knew it would be fun and exciting.
Now Mayfield coming from the Big XII and Oklahoma would probably puke reading Joe comparing him to an Aggie quarterback. But that’s just what came to mind for Joe watching Mayfield score a touchdown in one of the final plays of practice today, a two-minute drill.
Mayfield dropped back and the offensive line caved in. Mayfield stepped back to avoid the rush and then it was a jailbreak.
Mayfield initially tried to run to his right. He didn’t get very far. There was a wall of Bucs defenders waiting.
In a play that reminded Joe of Johnny Football (and Joe could also hear in his ears Curly Howard yelling, “Whoob… whoob… whoob… whoob… “) Mayfield did an about-face, quickly turned around and ran left.
Mayfield then began a big, sweeping, looping run to the left sideline where he outraced Bucs defenders and raced across the end zone right at the left pylon for six.
Now that’s entertainment!
As Joe stated, it looked just like Johnny Football, though Joe is sure Mayfield did the same thing before at Oklahoma.
Mayfield has slimmed down this offseason. He looks nimbler. Does that mean he will run more and use his legs? Was today a precursor as to what to expect this fall? Joe can’t answer that.
But in an underwear football practice on Day 2 of training camp, Mayfield and his wheels sure were fun to watch.
July 25th, 2024 at 3:45 pm
Jose still not giving up on Johnny Manziel.
July 25th, 2024 at 4:31 pm
Scramble play in training camp for a TD?
To an outsider it seems like a blown play with higher probability of injury.
Glad you were amused, Joe. TB12 (a savvy vet) would have thrown the ball away. I would rather read, Baker has matured and learned to did the same.
July 25th, 2024 at 4:31 pm
Agree that Bake looks very quick out there. Some great throws today but he still needs to get the ball out quicker. Does Coen want him to get the ball out quick or to practice going through his progression?
July 25th, 2024 at 4:45 pm
Hey guys, it was a two minutes drill. That’s the time to take a few chances if you’re behind a few points.
July 25th, 2024 at 5:36 pm
Speaking of Gruden, he would’ve loved to coach Mayfield. Chucky, and Baker would’ve been fun.
July 25th, 2024 at 6:01 pm
Let’s see. You b!etched because we couldn’t score the td and settled for. field goals. So he makes sure he will possibly be able to get it done practice or not. And that’s not good enough. Some people are not going to be satisfied with anything he does.
July 25th, 2024 at 6:02 pm
Wiston PTSD is why this article won’t get many comments. We don’t want fun and excitement. We just want Baker to continue managing the game. The people around him will win it so long as Mayfield doesn’t lose it.
July 25th, 2024 at 6:27 pm
Sorry, WiseCrack, I want Mayfield to be a game manager and more. I want him to be a true “Field General” as well. Let Baker be Bake to a large degree over time.
Go Bucs!
July 25th, 2024 at 6:30 pm
I’ll leave a comment. Football is a violent game. One guy needs to be tougher and more fearless than the next guy. Some of you fans are getting too soft. Too bad they didn’t have YouTube when the Gladiators played in full stadiums.
Bake needed to score points (even knowing he wouldn’t get hit) and he did.
July 25th, 2024 at 7:02 pm
Seems to me BM6 was doing what he did last season, when the game was on the line and he needed a play and the play broke down… he used his legs and sometimes even a stiff arm.
July 25th, 2024 at 7:05 pm
That’s the kind of play that can fire 🔥 up the team!
July 25th, 2024 at 7:19 pm
I saw TB12 do an interview. He said he “loves” to throw the football.
Baker loves to PLAY football.
July 25th, 2024 at 7:29 pm
Like Brady would have had an option to run, LOL
July 25th, 2024 at 7:37 pm
Without Evans catching going up and catching “Johnny Football’s” wing and a prayer passes, “Johnny Football” would be unknown.
July 25th, 2024 at 7:46 pm
In the immortal words of Jim McMahon when he threw a touchdown and Mike Ditka nearly strangled him because a run was called, McMahon said to Ditka, “Should I tell the refs to take the points off the board?”
July 25th, 2024 at 8:26 pm
Baker is a Stud and we lucked out that the match with him and the Bucs transpired. We now have a Franchise QB for the foreseeable future. Let’s get Baked! Go Bucs
July 25th, 2024 at 8:43 pm
Sly, just like Tom can do things Baker and every other QB can’t, there are also things Brady can’t do that Baker and many others can do, run.
July 25th, 2024 at 10:46 pm
Save it for the season Bake we cannot afford to lose you to injury
July 26th, 2024 at 4:28 am
“Mayfield then began a big, sweeping, looping run to the left sideline where he outraced Bucs defenders and raced across the end zone right at the left pylon for six.”
I feel as though I was there and this is music to my ears! Can’t say it enough. We were lucky to get Baker. Now we shall see who his number one backup QB is. Still thinking it could be Wolford.
July 26th, 2024 at 8:18 am
Just stay healthy. He should barely play in the pre season which is just 3 now. The battle should be for QB2 and finding a better inside RB.
July 26th, 2024 at 8:48 am
“Wiston PTSD is why this article won’t get many comments. We don’t want fun and excitement. We just want Baker to continue managing the game. The people around him will win it so long as Mayfield doesn’t lose it.”
This, just because you play the most important position doesn’t mean your the best player/athlete on the squad. Just get it to the guys who are who actually make plays and don’t get hurt trying to make tackles after turnovers, again.
July 26th, 2024 at 9:27 am
people saying the smart thing is to avoid injury, but baker wouldn’t be baker if he didn’t play like this!
July 26th, 2024 at 10:25 am
Baker still has it,has what,
Leading bucs to 1 win over 500
Win game was on the line throwing ball to Detroit linebacker. I for one hopes he doesn’t still have it, his attitude, I’m having fun, no matter if the bucs loose.
Do something new this year BE A CONSISTENT WINNER, then the fans will have fun