From Dink-And-Dunk To Soft-Toss
November 13th, 2024
Primitive passing game.
It’s pretty well established that the Bucs have been running a dink-and-dunk offense. Generally, this type of offense leaves a bad taste in Joe’s mouth.
But how can Joe kvetch about an offense that works?
Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen had done a strong job. But last Sunday’s game? Yikes. It was less than dink-and-dunk. More like underhand softball.
Baker Mayfield threw at targets beyond 20 yards just twice against the 49ers. Neither was a completion.
Mayfield only connected with wide receivers four times all game long.
But how much did Coen dial back the offense? Mayfield had just one completion over 10 yards. Just one! Seven of his 11 completions came behind the line of scrimmage.
Was this because left tackle Tristan Wirfs got hurt? Was this because Coen got spooked that Nick Bosa would run wild? Was the 49ers’ secondary locking down receivers that much?
Or, is it what Joe believes, that the Bucs only having backup receivers finally caught up with them?
November 13th, 2024 at 9:11 am
Could it also be that Faker is just a dink and dunk QB?
He has two +40 yard passes this year.
If not for a hall of famer and a pro bowl receiver, his numbers go way down.
Sunday was just more proof that he’ll never carry a team to a title.
Couple that with Bowels wide open defense and you have a recipe for mediocrity.
It’s a Bucs life!!!
November 13th, 2024 at 9:25 am
Are the WRs really that bad ?
November 13th, 2024 at 9:40 am
Last Sunday’s game had errors. For sure. But we almost did win and the refs were not doing us any favors early in the game. We are almost winning these games without Evans and Godwin, plus other injured players. Wirfs getting hurt was bad too. Baker and Bucky played with sore toes. We have had bad luck. Luck has a lot to do with it too. We can come back strong and win most of the games ahead.
November 13th, 2024 at 9:49 am
The offense is not the problem.
November 13th, 2024 at 9:52 am
Sure isn’t. It was due for a bad game. Eh, Coen can’t be perfect.
November 13th, 2024 at 9:55 am
If the defense were even just a tad better….
November 13th, 2024 at 10:05 am
BallChickadee75 – if not for Evans and Godwin his numbers go way down. You’re a genius. Proof he’ll never carry a team to a title? Absolutely you’re a genius.
November 13th, 2024 at 10:11 am
Joe football players know that a football field is just over 53 yards wide. So do you. Some throws behind the line of scrimmage have to be rifled 20 plus yards and anyone who has ever played football knows those throws are tougher to make than most downfield throws. This dink and dunk is an easy narrative to push. But it’s a false one.
November 13th, 2024 at 10:14 am
The offense’s job is to score points and not give the ball away. Bucs are 5th in scoring offense and 28th in scoring defense, so Baker’s long balls aren’t the problem.
I do agree that the long balls aren’t good and Baker hasn’t been productive with the long ball this year AND last year. Not a strength of Baker. Coen knows Baker’s not great with the long ball and doesn’t call those plays. However there is value taking the shots, even if not successful, as it forces to safeties deep to set up the mid-distance throws.
Still, the long balls are way down the list of problems.
November 13th, 2024 at 10:14 am
You are right Joe about one thing though. It’s hurts having receivers who you haven’t practiced with enough and who wouldn’t be starting on many division one college teams.
November 13th, 2024 at 10:46 am
WRs are open on some of those plays Mayfield isn’t throwing the ball to them. He’s playing as if he’s worried about being replaced as a QB. He looks at on one read and if that read isn’t there he panics hence all the backs and close TE throws. Miller was open against SF on plays and Mayfield wouldn’t throw him the ball.
November 13th, 2024 at 11:14 am
Baker IS good, better being able 2 throw long balls…BUT, think Coehn panicked sme and Ur Wr have 2 Not drop catches and run routes rite so they can catch them, ugh
Its Actually Hurting our chances 2 win by making Baker have 2 throw Only shorter passes
C’mon Mike..get better quick!!!
November 13th, 2024 at 11:43 am
@Kenton
His record as a starter is all the proof you need.
Dink and dunk passers are going to have a higher completion percentage due to low difficulty of throws.
But that becomes predictable and not a recipe for long term success.
He’s perfect for this HC and this division.
He does have a great attitude, work ethic, and toughness. Without question.
I’m looking at the big picture. I just don’t see a Superbowl out of him.
November 13th, 2024 at 12:59 pm
If you are expecting a QB to “carry” a team, you assembled the wrong team. It’s a TEAM. Look at KC. There were a couple of years where I would concede that Mahomes “carried” the team with nearly inhuman play. The Chiefs are undefeated this year, but Mahomes isn’t “carrying” them. He is a superior quarterback who inspires his team, but he doesn’t carry them.
The Bucs have won two Super Bowls. Brad Johnson did not carry the Bucs to victory. And, while TB12 brought kick inspiring ass leadership and precise play, but he did not have the physical skills to carry the team to victory. Look what happened the next year after Antonio Brown melted down. They no longer had quite enough pieces to make the team that they needed, and even TB12 could not “carry” them to victory.
November 13th, 2024 at 1:02 pm
Brady became the GOAT mastering the dink and dunk offense.
November 13th, 2024 at 1:07 pm
Baker has an absolute gun and authorities Tom Brady and Josh Allen say so. The pass that ME13 was injured on was absolutely perfect 45 yard deep ball that hit ME right over the shoulder in the hands. More impressively, Baker throw deep seam route bullets 30-35 yards. To throw deep you need time that O line was not providing early season without Goedeke. Now Baker is throwing to JV wide receivers. Finally, Baker holds the unofficial record for longest distance pass n NFL. He threw one 75 yards for the Browns back in 2020 or 2021. All you couch potatoes relax, if Baker could play against Bucs defense, you would see him air it out. He would get 5-6 seconds to throw and you would see not only his strong arm but his accuracy.
November 13th, 2024 at 1:09 pm
toopanca is right! And this team is close.
November 13th, 2024 at 1:22 pm
Gipper says:
“If Baker could play against Bucs defense, you would see him air it out. He would get 5-6 seconds to throw and you would see not only his strong arm but his accuracy.”
Hahahahahaha
Any QB from a high school team would look fabulous against this defense.
And you’re proving my point. He’s great against mediocre opponents.
But he has not yet won the big game against even talent or above level talent when it really matters.
I suspect he never will. But that’s OK. He fits right in with what this team is comfortable doing. Winning less than half the time and losing nearly all one score games.
Some would call that a pattern of behavior.
November 13th, 2024 at 1:45 pm
BallHawk75,
Somehow I think Josh Allen and Tom Brady have more credibility than you when it comes to Mayfield. Go have another beer.
November 13th, 2024 at 1:57 pm
Give it up BallHawk, no matter how much you lobby out here, the Bucs aren’t going to slit their own wrists by starting the rubber armed slow footed Kyle Trask.
November 13th, 2024 at 2:02 pm
Bullhuck75 you are such a genius to see thru the bull the experts that cover and play in the NFL…yep Baker is definitely keeping this team down. I bet you spend your days turning down offensive coordinator jobs. Thanks for stopping by and setting everyone straight…said no one
November 13th, 2024 at 3:21 pm
COEN?????
This isn’t on Coen. I see many routes with WRs running deep, it’s due to MAYFIELD not able to complete those passes.
This isn’t on Coen. It’s on Mayfield.
November 13th, 2024 at 3:34 pm
Just watched a video of all 26 of Mayfield touchdowns this year. Any of you naysayers should feel like proper fools if you watch it.
November 13th, 2024 at 6:46 pm
What a disaster. Just as I predicted. We put all our marbles on a small .500 career journeyman quarterback and wasted 2 seasons playing him and getting .500 small-ball with no eye to the future. Next season, Trask will be 💯 bye-bye, gone to greener quarterback pastures, without us knowing a damn thing about him, and Mayfield will be hanging around, getting round, and collecting his boo koo bucks. What a dumpster fire One Bucs Place is!
November 13th, 2024 at 8:36 pm
Only having backup WR healthy is one of the bigger problems. What Joe believes.
Baker has the intangibles and most of, but not necessarily all of the elite tangibles to “carry” the team to a Superbowl. Build a team around him and he could do it. He has the desire to win of a John Elway in my opinion. Or a Fran Tarkington if you will.
November 13th, 2024 at 8:51 pm
Churrasco – admit it. You didn’t watch the replays of his 24 td passes and 2 td runs of the first half of the 2024 season did you? That with his passing yards and completion percentage through 9 games is unmatched by the majority of hall of famers at the QB position. And his leadership skills are there. I’m pretty sure ( I’d bet my house on it) that Kyle Trask couldn’t match those numbers.
November 13th, 2024 at 10:24 pm
Kenton you know nothing of what Trask could do because he’s never been gifted the starting role like Baker has been. Trask was stuck behind Brady and then because Blowles gave Brady his 1st losing season in 20+ seasons he chose Baker to save his job. Baker has done some good things here and he’s a baller and a leader but he’s had some questionable play and his height is a reason he’s not accurate down field and can’t throw inside slants and crossing routes. He has happy feet and gets nervous when his first read isn’t open and the line gets pushed back near him. You fanbois get so bent over when anything is said bad about him it’s funny
November 13th, 2024 at 11:33 pm
David BigBucsFan99. First thing I want to say I think Kyle Trask could fill in and win games for this team. And if he gets the chance I’m sure Baker will be his biggest cheerleader. Remember though Baker wasn’t gifted the role. Every single football decision maker within the organization saw after one practice that Baker had quicker feet, a stronger arm, and more leadership qualities. Which they knew. Oh yeah, he’d been an NFL starter for 4 years. 1 year with 2 teams. 2nd team was the Rams with Liam Coen. Wonder how the Bucs interviewed Coen? And why Coen wanted this job? Coen was an excellent QB. Gatorade player of the year and 4 year college starter. He is here because he wanted to work with Mayfield. He saw a Super Bowl worthy QB and the makings of a special team. Mayfield wasn’t gifted the job. He’s just much better. Beyond a shadow of a doubt.