“It’s Still A Competition”
August 12th, 2024
Fighting for No. 2.
Last year at this time, Kyle Trask was in the midst of a publicly proclaimed competition to start at quarterback.
Anyone with a lick of common sense knew the only way Baker Mayfield wasn’t going to start Week 1 for the Bucs was if Trask morphed into Dan Marino. He didn’t.
It seems Trask is in another competition this summer. But this one is not for a starting gig. Unlike last year, Trask is battling John Wolford for the No. 2 quarterback gig. That’s the word (again) from Bucs coach Todd Bowles.
And Bowles also noted yesterday there is no guarantee the No. 3 quarterback makes the cutdown for the final-53 later this month.
“It’s only one game,” Bowles said, noting he has not come close to making a decision yet on who wins the No. 2 quarterback job. “[Trask and Wolford have] two more games to see how this plays out.
“They both made some good plays, they’d both like to have some plays back, obviously.”
Bowles said he wanted to see Trask rifle the ball more. Wolford, who mostly has had an awful training camp, got props from Bowles for performing under pressure for a game-winning drive late.
“It’s still a competition,” Bowles said. “There’s still two games to go. It’s still close.”
Then, Bowles briefly discussed roster building with his quarterbacks, adding he’s “not sure” if the team will keep two or three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster.
August 12th, 2024 at 9:06 am
Best bet is to cut Wolford and retain him on the PS. If you cut Trask I think he bolts for a different team and then you have to find someone else who doesn’t know the system.
August 12th, 2024 at 9:06 am
Just stop. There is no competition. Trask is number 2. Stop trying to create controversy where there is none.
Maybe focus on moving deadweight like JTS and upgrading LB.
August 12th, 2024 at 9:06 am
Overall, I thought Trask looked better. Wolford seemed spooked in the pocket.
August 12th, 2024 at 9:13 am
It would make sense for Bowles to put the screws to Trask to bury him on the depth chart in case Mayfield got hurt.
If they drop him to #3 they should just release him so he can catch on somewhere else.
August 12th, 2024 at 9:22 am
I like trask but i think they should trade him while they can. Dallas, NYG, NYJ, AZ, LV, and LAR could be destinations.
August 12th, 2024 at 9:35 am
I would pick Wolford if based upon the game yesterday.
August 12th, 2024 at 9:45 am
“They both have two more games.”
Todd is proclaiming the worthless preseason games will determine who backs Baker and who is looking for a job .
Worthless preseason games my arse. It might also be that QB2 isn’t even on the Bucs roster right now. Zero TD passes from the QBs on Saturday night.
August 12th, 2024 at 9:49 am
Trask has served his value….or not……it will be interesting to see what happens to him…..will he get a contract as a backup for the Bucs? Will another team come after him as their backup…..I doubt he starts unless due to an injury.
He never really truly had a chance. Too bad.
August 12th, 2024 at 10:03 am
One thing I noticed about Trask’s play was that he seemed to throw receivers into danger several times. I noticed it because Brady once talked about being careful not to do this.
August 12th, 2024 at 10:08 am
What is meant by “Trask never really had a chance?”
How about the reality that his own play, his own performance, has him exactly where he belongs? Jesus Christ.
“We never got to see what we have in him.”
Because those who get paid to, have.
August 12th, 2024 at 10:31 am
Trask is a higher draft pick, and while he had moments where he moved the ball against a first team defense, it was a vanilla defense. He should have looked better.
Wolford looked spooked early on, and scored a TD late in the game, but it was against back-up’s, AND a vanilla defense (but utilized our own 3rd string talent to do so).
Overall, it was tight, but Wolford showed better command of the offense and scored under pressure to win the game.
Wolford is in the lead because he has experience, command of the offense, and did his job under pressure.
Did Trask show enough for a 2nd rounder in a contract year?
Not yet. He had better talent during his reps and had mixed reviews.
August 12th, 2024 at 10:34 am
Dear Lord just please cut Trask already……….He was a great point guard on a very talented offense in college with 6 receivers and two Rb’s that have played in the NFL. He needs to go for Pete’s sake. Don’t know if he will go somewhere else or not, don’t care. Just end this already, never seen a dude so crucified and all the while never being a bad teammate, losing any games, getting arrested, accused of sex crimes, or repping the Bucs in a negative light. Keep Wolfy and roll the dice that Baker will not regress/get hurt and LFG.
August 12th, 2024 at 10:34 am
This sounds like a Bowles coaching move. Trask is obviously better and made some great throws. I hope he leaves though and gets a chance to start somewhere. The Bucs love letting QBs go to be successful elsewhere
August 12th, 2024 at 10:45 am
Steve Smith said of Trask: ” he’s out there throwing concussion protocol passes”
August 12th, 2024 at 10:52 am
I highly doubt they will cut Trask, that will be admitting failure by Licht for taking him so high in the draft. But he is in his final year and Trade value is zip. Been a good citizen and team mate. Somewhat surprise they will not keep 3 on the roster. For those that think he could be a starting QB, why is his trade value at zero? What to do?
August 12th, 2024 at 10:52 am
Coach Bowles comment says a lot. ”Unsure if the team will keep two or three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster.” Yikes. Coen worked with Wolford before at the Rams so there is that. Is Bowles thinking of a possible trade for Trask? I thought Trask did okay against the Bengal, and Wolford too.
August 12th, 2024 at 11:01 am
There is no trade value in trask if he doesn’t make the team they will just cut him.
August 12th, 2024 at 11:07 am
At least the ball that got picked on Trask was in the ballpark of the Receiver and with a little fight Miller could have taken it away or at least knocked it down. Defensive Back made a Great play on the ball and that play could be the one that lands that 5th round pick a roster spot.
Trask’s Pick was not one of those throws 3 feet over the receivers head and 4 yards too long that are picked by the centerfielder.
Certainly wasn’t one of those one’s six yard check downs that hit the linebacker between the numbers.
Trask threw passes to Miller, McMillan, and Jarrett that were right on target and hit the receivers in stride. He also drove the team to a 1st quarter TD which is something the Bucs sure could use more of this season and lacked last.
Trask will be fine at Tampa or anywhere else he ends up. Rams backup threw 4 picks and one more voided by a penalty, made a good throw on the last play of the game winning drive extended by another penalty and McVay was all smiles. Doubt he would want Wolford back if he was released.
Trask might not have value to the Baker Bois but I wouldn’t count him out by any of the stretches on this site.
August 12th, 2024 at 11:09 am
So , Kyle and John are in a “ competition” for a backup job to Mr. Consistently Inconsistent who has thrown the most interceptions in training camp, again! Following a year where he barely averaged more than one point more per game than the opposing teams he faced ,(any regression at all and We are sunk!) but he does not need to compete with anyone because he will, once again, be gifted the starting job just because !
August 12th, 2024 at 11:18 am
What’s the real difference between 2 and 3? A few more snaps in practice. They can divide those up. Baker is injury prone. The Bucs will keep both guys. I don’t see this as being that big of a deal.
August 12th, 2024 at 11:20 am
Silly discussion. Since NEITHER has proven they can be a consistent starting NFL QB yet, the Bucs aren’t about to throw all their eggs in 1 backup basket and cut the other. Besides, some of the players who made the roster last year (like Richard LeCounte with his 4 S/T snaps total) didn’t really contribute all that much. At least the 3rd QB can run the Scout team.
August 12th, 2024 at 11:20 am
JD Still, if you believe the horse manure you type then you should be loudly calling for the personnel evaluators and coaches of the Bucs to be summarily fired for incompetence and worse, sabotage.
Somehow I trust the millionaire pros who get fired if they lose. A Trashkophile, not so much.
August 12th, 2024 at 11:36 am
Dave :Horse manure is real even if you choose to ignore it , deny it , pretend it isn’t and make excuses for it , it is still real, and as long as the Powers that be have gaggles of unquestioning sycophants , such as yourself , they see no need to change, they will still make money , after all, perception is a good substitute for reality, until it isn’t .
August 12th, 2024 at 11:50 am
So we drafted a player with the No. 2 pick who isn’t even going to start and never has even when the player in front of him played when he was physically injured.
In every city other than Gainesville and Tamps this clown would be considered a bust.
August 12th, 2024 at 11:55 am
Harold, read your comment. You just described yourself. Moron.
August 12th, 2024 at 12:13 pm
I believe Trask should get a half game with the starters, so we can see a little more than him under duress constantly. I can tell you when Baker Mayfield was hurt last year he wouldn’t come out of the game for any reason, even if his play hurt the team. I wonder why.
August 12th, 2024 at 12:24 pm
Can’t wait until JD Stillborn gets a job with the Bucs so he can lobby for the incompetence and saboteurs to all be fired.
What a maroon.
August 12th, 2024 at 12:30 pm
JK
Steve Smith always says a lot of stupid $hit.
August 12th, 2024 at 1:08 pm
Keep Wolford and trade Trask. He’s never gonna pan out.
August 12th, 2024 at 1:21 pm
Jmarkbuc………I’m sure he’s nowhere near as knowledgeable as you
🤡
August 12th, 2024 at 1:56 pm
Defense Rules Says:
August 12th, 2024 at 11:20 am
Silly discussion. Since NEITHER has proven they can be a consistent starting NFL QB yet, the Bucs aren’t about to throw all their eggs in 1 backup basket and cut the other. Besides, some of the players who made the roster last year (like Richard LeCounte with his 4 S/T snaps total) didn’t really contribute all that much. At least the 3rd QB can run the Scout team.
^^^^^^^^^^
Agreed, Defense Rules.
August 12th, 2024 at 2:08 pm
Trash had the benefit of having several starters to rely on. I thought they both looked pretty good, and better than expected on both fronts. By the way, to those people saying that Trask wasn’t given a shot to start….. That I’d ridiculous.
August 12th, 2024 at 2:33 pm
JK
Sorry, didn’t realize you were intimate with Smith.
Better Ice up Son.
August 12th, 2024 at 2:38 pm
This just in fron espn:
Bucs trade Trask to Kansas City for Patrick Mahomes and every 1st round pick they will ever have.
The man played a half of football against future insurance salesman and a very potent run game and generated 7 points
August 12th, 2024 at 2:52 pm
Jmarkbuc: I respect him a hell of a lot more than, say,……..your sorry ass
August 12th, 2024 at 3:17 pm
Steve Smith is truly a dumbass… Anyone who thinks he’s anything more than a moron who played receiver at a high level once upon a time is probably also a moron.
It’s hurts my brain listening to him try and analysis the game and do play by play for Carolina.
I have more respect for Harold than I do Steve Smith 🤣
August 12th, 2024 at 3:31 pm
JD . Well said bro I’ve been saying Baker Mayfield was a business decision not a football decision. As long as the bucs front office know that the only thing they have to do is bring in names rather they play good or bad they will make money because that’s mindset of our fan base. They don’t care about building a dynasty or becoming one the best franchises like Pittsburgh, Green Bay, New England and the Chiefs. And you ain’t building nothing with a quarterback like Baker Mayfield he’s just a moment for right now. And his contract shows what kind of quarterback he’s been in his career. I hope he can at least get us to the NFC Championship.
August 12th, 2024 at 3:34 pm
The man played a half of football against future insurance salesman and a very potent run game and generated 7 points
Exactly 4.1 better than the 1st quarter points Mayfield averaged over the entire season? Future Insurance Salesmen on both sides of the ball. Is Tampa exempt from that mind set?
Two out of three drives into Scoring Range with one blown FG.
Just a refresher. Mayfield’s 1 quarter scoring in 2023 was:
3-3-0-0-0-7-0-10-0-0-3-7-3-3-3-0-0. Mac Jones kind of numbers.
August 12th, 2024 at 4:03 pm
Fan of the South … ‘The man played a half of football against future insurance salesman and a very potent run game and generated 7 points’.
Not sure from your comment whether you’re talking about Trask or Wolford, but based on the preceding comments, I assume it’s Trask. What I saw was the Bengals waltz out their 1st team (Burrows & company) & they scored a TD. I’m assuming that the Bengals also gave their 1st team defense a series or two. Bucs didn’t; we went with our #2 team from the git-go.
Trask made a few meh throws early-on (couple of dump-offs?), but then started hitting some. Overall, I thought he was moving the team pretty good … for a 1st preseason game. Thought that Wolford also did a decent job of moving the team. Keeping BOTH of them is cheap insurance.
Last year, NFL owners approved a bylaw allowing teams to dress a third quarterback on game days WITHOUT using an active roster spot (he does have to be on the 53-man roster though). The new rule will let teams dress 48 players for contests plus a third signal-caller. Kind of a freebie?
August 12th, 2024 at 5:27 pm
AwwwwwwwGoneGator Boi in a bad mood cuz his idol Trask still ain’t getting the love
He sucks 🤡, and I dare you to call Steve Smith or myself a moron to our face
August 12th, 2024 at 7:20 pm
Trask is our backup QB. No controversy. No competition.
August 13th, 2024 at 7:05 am
At this point, trask us working to keep his career alive.
Wish things were better fir him.
August 13th, 2024 at 10:28 am
“Awful training camp”… Wolford and trask have thrown the same amount of interceptions. Baker has thrown three more than both.
August 13th, 2024 at 4:04 pm
Baker playing hurt showed his confidence in his backup’s ability to finish out the game. I don’t see either backup getting a contract extension when the time comes. They’ll keep both this season and look for something else next off-season.
August 14th, 2024 at 8:36 am
Jd still says does jD stand for just Dumb