Was Last Year The Real Baker Mayfield?
August 15th, 2024
Doesn’t need to be a hero.
You’ve heard it before and several times weekly if not daily for years. The NFL is a quarterback league.
If you have a quarterback, you will do well. The bean counters who never step on a practice field will do even better.
Don’t have a quarterback? Good freaking luck. As Joe likes to type, even when it’s not about the quarterback, it’s about the quarterback. That’s the NFL in the 21st Century.
So last year Baker Mayfield had a career year. He’s a major reason the Bucs scared the hell out of the Lions on the road in the divisional round of the playoffs.
So when looking at the NFC South for the 2024 season, former Giants and Eagles beat guy and NFL columnist Matt Lombardo seems to think if Mayfield can replicate last year with a(nother) new offensive coordinator, the Bucs could be a very tough out.
Will the real Baker Mayfield please Stand Up?
The biggest question facing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2024, and for the next three seasons, is whether Baker Mayfield’s electrifying 2023 campaign was an outlier or the result of finally having elite weapons and quality coaching around him.
After all, prior to landing in Tampa last offseason, and the quarterback-friendly confines of Dave Canales’ system with elite receivers like Mike Evans and Chris Godwin around him, Mayfield averaged 3,257 yards with 17 touchdowns to just under 11 interceptions per season.
In his first season leading the charge for the Buccaneers, Mayfield completed a career-best 64.3 percent of his passes for 4,044 yards with 28 touchdowns to 10 interceptions.
Joe understands it’s stylish for Bucs fans to slam former Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales. Look, Joe did not like his fetish for running the ball up the middle and forcing non-power running backs to be power running backs, especially since the Bucs offense was built to throw. Trying to jam square pegs into round holes has never worked.
Still, Canales’ track record with reclamation projects at quarterback is earned. And Mayfield had a career year with him. That wasn’t an accident.
Joe has a hunch Mayfield will be fine with new offensive coordinator Liam Coen. Remember, it was Coen who helped rescud Mayfield from the abyss with the Rams after Mayfield had been thrown overboard by Carolina.
It was Coen who helped set the table for Mayfield to have success with Canales. With the Bucs’ weapons, Mayfield doesn’t need to be Dan Marino.
A little diversity on offense — something Canales wasn’t overly excited to exhibit — can go a long way to help both Mayfield and the Bucs.
August 15th, 2024 at 11:42 am
“He’s a major reason why the Bucs scared the hell out of the Lions on the road in the divisional round of the playoffs.”
so scared they opened and closed the game with gifts from Mayfield
August 15th, 2024 at 11:48 am
Dude Says:
August 15th, 2024 at 11:42 am
“He’s a major reason why the Bucs scared the hell out of the Lions on the road in the divisional round of the playoffs.”
so scared they opened and closed the game with gifts from Mayfield
Yes…. your boy Evans not fighting for a pass that true HOF’ers said Evans needed to go for that ball and Otten running a bad route that put his defender within 2 yards of Godwin. You mean those 2 interceptions. See how it works DUD.
August 15th, 2024 at 11:50 am
I’m sure he will be fine.
August 15th, 2024 at 11:50 am
1000% Disagree with Teams Needing a Franchise QB
NFC Playoff QBs:
Purdy
Stafford (36 yo)
Hurts
Prescott
Goff
Love
Baker
Every playoff QB in the NFC is a lower round pick or a castoff. Love is the only 1st round QB that has been retained by his original team. The 49ers made the playoffs last year because they had the best defense and roll players in the NFC.
How do you know a team will not compete for a Super Bowl? They overpay their QB and cut talent.
August 15th, 2024 at 11:51 am
I love how people who think last year was some anomaly forget he won the Heisman and led a lousy Cleveland team to the playoffs.
August 15th, 2024 at 11:53 am
Harold Says:
August 15th, 2024 at 11:44 am
Baker Mayfield is a 6 foot stooge who can’t see over the offensive line, He stinks, has stunk and the only reason he had a decent season was to get paid, mission accomplished, this year you will see the Baker who completes 48 percent of his passes, throws 30 ints, perhaps 15-18 TD passes,will be benched by the 9th game for one of the crappy backups, Bucs record this season 4-13
————————-
Harold has been eating too many purple crayons.
August 15th, 2024 at 11:55 am
LFG
August 15th, 2024 at 11:58 am
Lets Bake!!!!
August 15th, 2024 at 12:10 pm
“Yes…. your boy Evans not fighting for a pass that true HOF’ers said Evans needed to go for that ball and Otten running a bad route that put his defender within 2 yards of Godwin. You mean those 2 interceptions. See how it works DUD.”
Yes your boy also gave the ball away on the potential game tying drive from a clean pocket because, even back to his time with the Browns opposing DCs(especially the Ravens & Steelers) knew if you can show pressure pre-snap, but bring it from another spot in the box your boy would force throws anticipating the pressure. Problem is, those throws are hardly ever good throws lol
What has Baker Mayfield gotten better at since being in the NFL? And does he still swear he doesnt need a throwing coach to perhaps fix the fact
August 15th, 2024 at 12:10 pm
Harold, this post was about Baker, not jameis. And by the way, if you want to be a troll, and you obviously do, bring something to the game. That was entirely lame.
August 15th, 2024 at 12:13 pm
“I love how people who think last year was some anomaly forget he won the Heisman and led a lousy Cleveland team to the playoffs.”
None of that matters, and no bucs fan gives a rip about getting the Browns to the playoffs.
They got to the playoffs last year starting 5 different QBs also matched their best win total w/Baker starting lol
Oh and Flacco won comeback player playing 5 games when Baker had a whole season lol “career year” which was as good as Jordan Loves’ first year.
It pains me seeing Bucs fans lowering the bar just so Mayfield can clear it lol
August 15th, 2024 at 12:17 pm
I saw *ZERO* last season that gave any indication that the Mayfield we saw was not the real Mayfield.
He’s not the archetypical 6’4″ drop-back quarterback, but he has a strong arm, smarts, mobility…and passionate in-your-face guts.
I like him. He vaguely sort-of reminds me of Brett Favre.
August 15th, 2024 at 12:19 pm
I think last season was exactly who he is. Up and down. Inconsistent. Inaccurate. Middle-of-the-road. Maybe, just good enough in the right system with the right team and roster. Slow at making decisions due (I think) to not being able to see the field and struggling to find throwing lanes. Now, that he finally got paid, we’ll see…
August 15th, 2024 at 12:26 pm
I believe there are a handful of lower tier guys out there, & another handful of backups who could have similar seasons as Baker did last year, if they had Mike Evans and Chris Godwin to throw the ball to. I don’t believe there is a huge difference at all, in talent, & etc. BUT, I definitely do NOT discount Baker’s moxy and leadership within the locker room, etc. with THIS TEAM.
August 15th, 2024 at 12:27 pm
This will be Baker’s 2nd season with the Bucs. He is going to be even better. He has played on three different teams before us. Got to give him so much credit. Yes, he plays with a chip on his shoulder, and that’s a great thing. Browns error in judgement was our win. So glad we have Baker.
August 15th, 2024 at 12:33 pm
In other word, I don’t believe he is “special,” & he doesn’t scare me. Well, as a Bucs Fan…
August 15th, 2024 at 12:36 pm
Hey!Harold! S.T.F.U.!
August 15th, 2024 at 12:53 pm
Joe … ‘With the Bucs’ weapons, Mayfield doesn’t need to be Dan Marino.’
You’re showing your bias Joe. Bucs went 9-8 last season, and only made the playoffs because we held the 2-15 Panthers to under 10 points in that last game. We had a winning record last season MORE-SO because of our #7 ranked defense and our superb Kicker & Punter than our #20 ranked offense. IOW our offense was middle-of-the-pack, BUT … that was ‘good enough’ to get us into the playoffs given the others aspects of our team.
To their credit, JL & TB faced that reality this off-season and adjusted. Bucs SHOULD have an improved OLine AND running game as a consequence of upgrades they made. Our defense SHOULD be able to once again rank in the Top-10. Baker will benefit from all of that and SHOULD do even better in 2024. He’s a leader & a good game manager IMO, but if he succeeds it’ll be because of the TEAM around him, just like every other QB. Yup, even Dan Marino.
August 15th, 2024 at 12:53 pm
Fully expect Baker to exceed last year’s performance.
> 4500 yards passing, 30 TDs. With a run game that can beat 4ypc average, the offense should be able to average 25ppg. That should be enough for 11 wins.
LFG
August 15th, 2024 at 1:05 pm
I suspect Dude (and other Baker haters) got all excited when they saw another.. is Mayfield good or does he suck (?) article/thread. 🤣
August 15th, 2024 at 1:11 pm
Heyjude, nice post. I think Baker is the best QB we could have, this year. He will be even better this season if he continues to work hard. There is little value in cutting him down when he needs our support just like any other team member if you are a Bucc’s fan.
August 15th, 2024 at 1:17 pm
Let’s be fair, the Bucs defense ranked in the 20’s as far as yards allowed, third down defense, and turnovers. Those stats often times makes it difficult to score, especially if you have the worse rushing offense in football. Mayfield is a good, not great QB, certainly good enough to win. Faulting him for the 1st interception against the Lions is very unfair.
August 15th, 2024 at 1:18 pm
Thank you, Crickett. You are exactly right. We are all Buccaneer fans and stand behind them. We do get impassioned at times but we all want the same thing.
August 15th, 2024 at 1:36 pm
I wasn’t enthusiastic about Baker coming to Tampa but to have the season he had last season with the 32nd best running game in the NFL and to win over the locker room as he has shows Licht made a great decision bringing him here and bringing him back for at least a couple more years. I’ll gladly eat some crow.
With an improved o-line, an improved RB room, and an upgraded OC, the offense is going to take a giant step forward. If they stay mostly healthy this group will grow into a Top 10 offense. I’ll say Top 5 next season if they resign Godwin and draft a great TE.
August 15th, 2024 at 1:49 pm
BucsFan96 articulates it as well as could be.
Spot. On.
Thank you.
August 15th, 2024 at 1:58 pm
“I suspect Dude (and other Baker haters) got all excited when they saw another.. is Mayfield good or does he suck (?) article/thread.”
Only for reading the comedy it inspires in comments like this:
“Let’s be fair, the Bucs defense ranked in the 20’s as far as yards allowed, third down defense, and turnovers. Those stats often times makes it difficult to score, especially if you have the worse rushing offense in football. Mayfield is a good, not great QB, certainly good enough to win. Faulting him for the 1st interception against the Lions is very unfair.”
This is hilarious, because when you win back to back games your QB completes 48% of his and turns the ball over twice, yea sure it’s all that stuff mentioned in that comment that made that possible. Yet I can say something factual like between week 2 & week 18 our offense turned the ball over in 11 of 13 games and you humps will call that factual statement hate because you like your blind optimism lol
August 15th, 2024 at 2:29 pm
It’s a Quarterback League but it’s also a Copy Cat league that puts it’s Franchise QB’s up at the top of the Market with new contracts and extensions.
New Contracts and Extensions in 2024
Guaranteed Money. Lawrence 142, Goff 113, Love 100, Tua94, Cousins 90 and Mayfield 50 (although the source had it at 40).
Looks like Baker came up a little Short.
August 15th, 2024 at 2:36 pm
Mayfield is the 2024 starting QB for the Tampa Bay Bucs and has a 3 year contract. If that makes you angry, or sad, or whatever, then thats too bad – sucks to be you.
For the ones who have a little more faith in the front office, coach’s, players and Baker in particular….. its a great time to be a Bucs fan.
Screw the haters…
Lets Go Bucs
Lets go Baker
August 15th, 2024 at 2:56 pm
“For the ones who have a little more faith in the front office, coach’s, players and Baker in particular….. its a great time to be a Bucs fan.”
LMAO, grow up. Just because I don’t have some unrealistic view of a mid-tier QB doesn’t make me any more or less a Bucs fan than any other Buc fan lol nor does it make me emotional about it, but I can tell from your musings on this site your FB-IQ is as high as Midfields’ ceiling
August 15th, 2024 at 3:10 pm
Something factual, like the 16 weeks between weeks 2 & 18, the offense turned the ball over in 11 of 13 games?
August 15th, 2024 at 3:13 pm
Dude- the fourth paragraph of your earlier post “This is hilarious…”. You may want to give that a quick proofreading and edit. I can’t understand one damn bit of it. Perhaps if you want to make a point you’ll write about it in the first paragraph. Before your brain gets all jumbled up. Just saying.
August 15th, 2024 at 3:24 pm
Pretty pathetic to crucify Mayfield with the season he had with a GARBAGE run game last season. How does that not merit some respect here?
Also insisting he’ll regress because last season was an outlier makes me wonder if you’re Bucs fans or just BM haters.
August 15th, 2024 at 3:29 pm
He hasn’t had the same offensive coordinator in now his 7th season as a pro..7..this dude is so smart..he can pick up anybody offense and run it..this is only his 2nd season with the same recievers..why do you think they made sure..they resigned everyone .they know what they got..this year is going to be special..if they can get just a little bit out of the running game..they will smoke everyone..
August 15th, 2024 at 3:37 pm
True that Andy. Baker has been on four teams including the Bucs. He has done much better than most would with all these changes. And he has a good attitude and is well-respected.
August 15th, 2024 at 3:45 pm
Well respected by the people who matter most, in any event.
August 15th, 2024 at 3:45 pm
Hmmm.
@Dude – what’s up? You act as if I was directing that at you specifically.
Your response (stating you don’t get “emotional about it”) seems just a little emotional to me 🤣.
You took my comment as a personal attack, You got defensive, and then you tried to put me down…tsk tsk.
Might want to save some of that negativity and defensiveness for later on…. I’m sure you’ll need it 👍🏼
I’ll take your comment about my football -IQ as a compliment – lol – even though it’s not an actual thing and you certainly didn’t mean it that way.
August 15th, 2024 at 5:17 pm
The endless griping about one, specific interception seems kind of wacky. If quarterbacks could choose when to be intercepted, presumably they’d go with never.
August 15th, 2024 at 6:11 pm
Last year Baker had sort of career stats, but was not his best necessarily. His ’20 season, playing as leader for for a team (browns) which was still trying to be a grown-up, was proabably his best. His stats then were slightly lower because 1) he did not have a team like the Bucs around hime, and 2) the Browns thought so much of their run game that they called runs well more than made sense. If you want to see Baker at his best, look at the week 7 Browns v Bengals tape. Not only did he throw 5 tds, he kept willing his team back, culminating in that corner laser to win the game. Now that his challenge is to be the best on a good team, I think we’ll see a Mayfield fulfilling his origin draft promise.
August 15th, 2024 at 6:26 pm
If Bake has an average year (less stats than last year, better run game), the Bucs will be fine.
Coen needs to dial up ~25 ppg this season and Bowels needs to keep the D consistent if they intend to reach the SB.
Very doable, let’s see
August 15th, 2024 at 6:31 pm
Long time posters here know that I came over to the Bucs with Baker. I’m continuously amused by the Baker-hater negativity. You Baker haters come off like a bunch of spoiled brats!
I’ve really enjoyed my brief tenure as a Bucs fan. This is a quality organization with quality ownership! I knew Bake would thrive here. If you brats are looking for Mayfield to regress this year — you’re going to be monumentally disappointed!
I’m up here near Syracuse (excited to see Tucker’s progress in the new offense as well!). My Sunday Ticket bill is paid up and I can’t wait for the opener.
Last season — remember all the talk about it being a “rebuilding” year for the team and the predictions of two or three wins? Hmm, I wonder what made the difference?
Last season was just a preview to something great that nobody expects this year.
Get ready. Strap in tight because it’s going to be great season! I’m just sorry that the haters won’t be savoring it as much as many other Buc fans!
Go Bucs!!
August 15th, 2024 at 6:36 pm
Well….for what it’s worth….I think this season will be more about getting everyone gelled together into a cohesive unit while establishing the offense and continuing to identify the defense personnel needed (whether currently on roster or not) to facilitate a major run for the roses in 2025.
Call it a 17+ game dress rehearsal for the Broadway production…..and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Godwin back next year to maintain the continuity.
Just my thoughts…..
August 15th, 2024 at 6:47 pm
Joe censored me again.
Joe, will you tell me why? Is it because I told the Baker-haters they were “spoiled brats” that were going to be disappointed this season?
August 15th, 2024 at 6:51 pm
ExB2:
Joe don’t know; Joe boldened to Go ogle or some entity like that.
Interweb sucks in many ways, get over it (or around it), you’ll be happier
August 15th, 2024 at 6:51 pm
Joe’s not gonna answer me. I’ll take another crack at getting my two cents in:
“Long time posters here know that I came over to the Bucs with Baker. I’m continuously amused by the Baker-hater negativity. You Baker haters come off like a bunch of spoiled brats!
I’ve really enjoyed my brief tenure as a Bucs fan. This is a quality organization with quality ownership! I knew Bake would thrive here. If you brats are looking for Mayfield to regress this year — you’re going to be monumentally disappointed!
I’m up here near Syracuse (excited to see Tucker’s progress in the new offense as well!). My Sunday Ticket bill is paid up and I can’t wait for the opener.
Last season — remember all the talk about it being a “rebuilding” year for the team and the predictions of two or three wins? Hmm, I wonder what made the difference?
Last season was just a preview to something great that nobody expects this year.
Get ready. Strap in tight because it’s going to be great season! I’m just sorry that the haters won’t be savoring it as much as many other Buc fans!
Go Bucs!!”
August 15th, 2024 at 6:52 pm
*beholdened
August 15th, 2024 at 6:56 pm
Agree with mtn that Baker doesn’t have to have a better year. But I don’t see why he wouldnt.
I do believe he’s under more pressure since getting the new contract and all the publicity/talk.
He’s got to understand that he’s in the best spot he could be and there are no more excuses. Surely he knows there are many projecting him to fail.
But…. Assuming Coen is the real deal and we can avoid major injury issues I expect him to excel.
August 15th, 2024 at 7:11 pm
^^mtn^^: Okay, but I don’t know why my participation has been black-listed. I don’t write anything offense or vulgar. Nobody wants to see this space muddled by my complaints, but I’m frustrated because this has happened multiple times and I have no idea why. And — despite multiple requests — Joe won’t respond.
August 15th, 2024 at 7:26 pm
Tried to respond to that and it got bounced too! Joe’s program is faulty. Google and the “Interweb” have nothing to do with it.
August 15th, 2024 at 7:35 pm
Anyone else just concentrate on players #70 & #62? In the Bengals’ pre-season game?
One of them appeared to be, or was, so out-of-shape it was cringeworthy; the other player kicked-a$$ to an extent not seen since early training camp of the GOAT’s last year before retiring as a Buccaneer.
Speakin’ of Tom Brady, he was the best in history at that important “shift” a quarterback needs to make from target “A” to “target “B” for common and obvious reasons throughout any particular game; Brady could see the whole field at once and get rid of the ball with a career average of just 2.3 seconds; he could do this since the very day he took-over for the injured Bledsoe, well over twenty years ago.
Now, give that quarterback Ryan Jensen @ Center, and what happens? Another Super Bowl!
That’s how important that Offensive-line position, Center, is.
How about, Baker, with Hainsey? Knocked-down passes, so relentlessly pressured a target “A” OR “B” better have great hands. And they did, for over 4,000 yards and a more than respectable payoff performance.
Will Baker be better with Graham Barton this year?
Whaaah! haha!
Of course he will! DUH!
(
August 16th, 2024 at 10:04 pm
Even more fangirls are coming out of the wood work. I’ve never seen a middling qb have such a cult following of teenage school boys as I have seen up here with Mayfield. What are you clowns going to do when he retires? He has never put together back to back good seasons and you make excuses for him. Last year he did have some pretty good stats but some of that was smoke and mirrors. He sucked the first half and when the game was lost and the defense went shell he got some stats. I can’t love a qb who can’t read defenses at the line and can’t play a full game well. Had enough of Winston. Well this is his time for an off year and I hope for the Bucs sake he doesn’t have one. Unlike you Baker loverbois I’m a Bucs fan first and won’t quit them behind a certain player no matter how much I like them.
August 18th, 2024 at 11:56 pm
Actually, Baker played well even in the losses. That’s why he was supported throughout the season. Then, he closed the deal with the winning streak at the end of the season that even impressed the mainstream sports media. Then the strong playoffs. What’s not to like?