What Can Kyle Trask Do?
February 4th, 2022
Bucs QB Kyle Trask.
As we stand here in the early days of February, the greatest mystery of the Bucs is quarterback Kyle Trask.
He’s the only quarterback on the roster for the 2022 season. The Bucs purposely decided after they drafted Trask in the second round last year to use this season as nothing more than a developmental year. He was never on the active gameday roster.
So aside from his preseason appearances facing Dunkin’ Donuts managers, pipefitters and rental car agents, no one has seen what Trask did from September through January with the exception of Bucs employees. Only those select folks know if Trask has developed at all, much less developed enough to walk in the shoes left behind by the greatest quarterback of all time.
BSPN draft analyst Todd McShay decided to go over his notes on Trask coming out in last year’s draft to see if there were any signs suggesting Trask could take over the Bucs offense for 2022.
One element McShay remembered was how Trask was able to elevate the Gators when he stepped onto the field.
He can pick teams apart
I still remember when Trask came into Florida’s game against Kentucky in September 2019 , which I saw live. The Gators were losing 21-10 in the fourth quarter, and starting QB Feleipe Franks got injured. Trask came on and seemed to instantly upgrade the offense. An 8-yard pass to Van Jefferson . A 14-yard gain on a throw to Josh Hammond . Two more passing plays to Jefferson, totaling 32 yards. He had the offense moving, and everything was clicking. The ball was going where it needed to go and on time. Florida scored on that drive, along with two of Trask’s three other possessions, and it won the game 29-21.
Trask had been a backup his entire life, sitting behind D’Eriq King in high school and Franks in college, but he seized his moment. His precision of him operating that offense showed how well he prepared. With some time and space, the 6-foot-5, 236-pound quarterback can distribute the ball well and get through his progressions from him.
Time and space. Well, the Bucs do have one of the league’s best offensive lines. So Trask will have time and space to succeed.
Look, it is unreasonable to think Trask wouldn’t have a learning curve if he were handed the keys. Can the Bucs afford to have a quarterback learning on the job with so many talented veterans and a Super Bowl window that will shut all too soon? Will that window still be open by the time Trasks learns the ropes?
If Trask is named the Bucs quarterback and Chris Godwin and Playoff Lenny bolt, Joe wonders if that may be a sign of what to expect from behind center?
Enjoy Thursday’s Ira Kaufman Podcast.
Enjoy Thursday’s Ira Kaufman Podcast!
February 4th, 2022 at 5:26 am
There’s a good chance we could lose Godwin and Gronk. Which makes working with our stable of receivers and drafting a TE in the 3rd all the more important. Trask did well in college with a good tight end. I know you can’t compare any available TE in the draft to Pitts. But there must be a good blocking one to be had. It would be a start.
Give this kid a fair chance to succeed. Could he be worse than Winston?
February 4th, 2022 at 5:44 am
Oh Joe, you were doing soooo good, right up until that last paragraph. IF Godwin & Fournette bolt, it won’t be because of Trask; it’ll be because some other team made a more enticing offer. That’s not on Trask; that’d be on the Bucs’ hierarchy.
The two lines in your piece that made the biggest impression on me were …
‘One element McShay remembered was how Trask was able to elevate the Gators when he stepped onto the field.’
AND …
‘He can pick teams apart’.
Give the kid a fair chance to show what he can do. IF the gamble pays off, we just struck gold.
February 4th, 2022 at 5:55 am
I was at the 2019 UF homecoming game in which Trask came in for Franks and almost led a comeback against Drew Lock and Missouri.
I remember looking at my buddy and saying “uhoh! The backup is in!”, and all he did was go in and calm the offense and operate proficiently.
He may not wow you, but he plays smart.
If this were the 1990’s, Trask would’ve been evaluated much higher (big pocket passer).
Go Bucs! Hope he develops into our first ever drafted and extended QB.
February 4th, 2022 at 6:14 am
Stop the melodrama Godwin isn’t going anywhere no matter how many times you write it.
February 4th, 2022 at 6:14 am
* 2018 UF homecoming.*
(The moment you realize we’ve been in quarantine for almost two years 🤯)
February 4th, 2022 at 6:32 am
Trask was the Bucs backup plan, They have to try it to see if they like it. Getting under center and running an NfL style offense is a big adjustment from a spread offense. The real question is have the Bucs done enough to prepare him for the
starting role. BL had Brady’s respect and has said he has learned a lot from him.
That’s gives me some hope that if Trask is good enough to learn and develop
under him.
February 4th, 2022 at 6:38 am
Trask had good results, TD:Turnover Ratio. Hopefully he learned a ton last year and is ready to challenge for a spot. It would be awesome to have solid QB play on a rookie deal. That would allow us to pay some FAs (hopefully a CB and OLB).
February 4th, 2022 at 6:42 am
Let’s just pray that we bring in a top notch free agent QB. Trask lacks leadership skills and has a noodle arm.
February 4th, 2022 at 6:52 am
Here comes the noodle arm crap again.
February 4th, 2022 at 7:19 am
Sadly, the man that opened the super bowl window closed it when he retired.
February 4th, 2022 at 7:43 am
Trask lacks leadership skills and has a noodle arm.
———————
How about giving the guy a couple of games with the first team? I think the Bucs scouts, coaches and GM know a little more about football than us fans.
February 4th, 2022 at 7:48 am
Oh boy, the guy rode the bench behind Feliepe Frank’s? Bucs you have a problem.
February 4th, 2022 at 7:51 am
For all of you noodle arm critics, Winston was a gunslinger. Gunslingers always throw up pics. Im so glad he’s gone forever. Trask is known for his accuracy.
Yeah, lets go pick out a washed up FA loser and expect a TB clone.
Bucs don’t have the money to keep our own FA’s and get a QB.
February 4th, 2022 at 7:54 am
Give the kid a chance. If players don’t want to be here because we’re giving the kid a chance then good riddance.
February 4th, 2022 at 7:55 am
Godwin is critical. Gronk would be great to have. Jensen could be a big help to the young man. Let’s hope the young man doesn’t get “shell shocked”. Regarding his arm, they have said much of his issue has been mechanics. Seems he had lousy footwork. And he has been working in the weight room. I think calling it a “noodle arm”, is pretty far fetched.
February 4th, 2022 at 7:59 am
Trask would give us extra cap space, and to be fair Brady looked like a rookie his first game here so give the kid a shot.
February 4th, 2022 at 8:14 am
They spent a year working on his throwing mechanics and footwork. He had the opportunity to learn the playbook without real distraction. I liked him in college. He was good, his numbers show it. It was done right with him, too many guys have been thrown into the fire as rookies and failed. The jump from College to Pro is huge and he’s had a chance to learn what it is to be a real QB in the NFL. Please no washout FAs, no trading for some disgruntled guy from another team.
February 4th, 2022 at 8:21 am
Would liked to have seen Trask play a little during garbage time instead of Gabert just to give him a little exposure.
February 4th, 2022 at 8:23 am
Negatives: Mechanics, particularly his sloppy footwork. And of course he’s totally unseasoned in real NFL games, where the action develops at a much faster rate than anything he faced in college, the defensive coverages more complex, and those defenders can move before the snap which leads to more confusion. He better know that playbook, and he better study lots of film.
Positives: I like his intangibles, he’s a fighter. He’s going to need while staying unflappable. The NFL ruins lots of young QBs who simply weren’t ready to start.
February 4th, 2022 at 8:30 am
Don’t worry kids he once beat Kentucky while playing at Florida…
Kentucky has beaten the gators 3 times since 1980! during that time Florida had a 30 year winning streak!
The guy’s a wasted 2nd round pick that’s played so poorly the Bucs kept 4 QB’s on the roster. Imagine if that pick had been used on a receiver, edge rusher or RB something we needed at the end of the season.
How many reps do you think QB4 gets in practice?
Folks there are to many careers at stake at one buc place to roll the dice on that guy. They’re going to bring in a QB that’s proven he can play and they’re going to have to pay $ and maybe some draft picks to get him.
February 4th, 2022 at 8:44 am
Listnfrmafar … ‘Oh boy, the guy rode the bench behind Feliepe Frank’s? Bucs you have a problem.’
If that’s as much as you know about Kyle Trask, then it’s probably YOU who have the problem. If you check the UF record books, Trask replaced Franks in 2019 (when Franks got hurt as I recall) & led them to a 11-2 record under Dan Mullen. Franks left in 2020 (to go to Arkansas) & it was Trask’s team as they went 8-4, still under Mullen (with Trask throwing for almost 4300 yds in only 12 games). Jones (and Richardson) replaced Trask in 2021, and the Gators went 6-7, mostly under Mullen. Well, except for the last game … Mullen was canned.
Maybe it was Mullen who had the real problem in not recognizing that Trask was significantly better than Franks all along.
February 4th, 2022 at 8:51 am
Why draft him and sit him?……..we need the cap space……we need to sign other players….we need our draft picks…..start Trask….makes sense.
February 4th, 2022 at 8:52 am
Anthem the troll called Brady noodle arm before he even threw his first pass as a Buc. Here’s hoping that Trask has that same noodle arm.
February 4th, 2022 at 9:08 am
Bring Gabbert back on a very cheap deal and let him and Trask compete for the starting QB job.
The Bucs can’t afford to bring in Teddy B or Jimmy GQ if we want to sign free agents like Godwin ($18 mil), Davis ($15 mil), Jenson ($10 mil), Whitehead ($8 mil), Fournette ($6 mil), Suh ($6 mil), Cappa ($6 mil), plus about 15 others.
February 4th, 2022 at 9:19 am
Back up in College – came in and led his team to a come back win – poised and accurate – elevates the players around him – well prepared – seized the moment, took his chance…
Where have I heard that before?
February 4th, 2022 at 9:27 am
I think 21 years or so ago, all the experts were looking for a quarterback for a team in the Boston area, and no one wanted it to be the kid they drafted in the 6th round. Odds are against Trask being successful based on history of quarterbacks, but he has some great offensive minds teaching him, size, strength. Might be a good roll of the dice.
February 4th, 2022 at 9:40 am
Hold a clipboard!
February 4th, 2022 at 9:41 am
Nobody gives a damn what Trask did in college. College stats are irrelevant for the NFL
February 4th, 2022 at 9:47 am
I found an article over at SI. They wrote:
‘Aside from his preseason game-winning drive in Detroit, Brady did next to nothing else memorable on the field as a rookie, squeaking onto the active roster when coach Bill Belichick made the unusual decision to keep four quarterbacks.
(…)
Despite his best efforts Brady remained a glorified practice squad player most of that season, taking snaps sparingly and staying home for away games.’
February 4th, 2022 at 10:01 am
In college , Brady sat for his freshman and soph more years. Just like Trask had to . Brady was a sixth round pick, had to sit while Drew Bledsoe was a star starter, and didn’t see the field until Bledsoe blew up his knee. Brady was never known for his powerful arm, scrambling talents, but he played smart and played well…even with his so called weak arm…
Trask is 6’5″ 235…he’s a big boy, and can make all the throws. Trust the QB coaching staff to properly develop him. He has the benefit of not being thrown to the wolves with out being properly prepared. The o-line will have his back and give him the opportunity to show why he was a second round pick
February 4th, 2022 at 10:09 am
Anyone who doesn’t see trask as the bucs desperate attempt of picking a qb a year early is naive. Give some credit to the front office that is currently in place. Trask ceiling is just as high as any qb in the 2022 class and for the 2022 season his floor is higher than any qb in this class as well after learning the system for a year. That’s not to say he is any good bc I’ve already dubbed him Kyle Trash. It’s just the smart move to start the process so that you can ditch the draft bust more expeditiously if it doesn’t pan out. The possible 2023 qb class is where things get interesting and the optics seem better when you don’t draft QBs with premium draft capital in back to back years
February 4th, 2022 at 10:12 am
Arm Chair Scouts out in full force predicting the future. “Trask Sucks” why, because you’re an FSU fan? or Because you know more then Bruce Arians and Jason Licht?
Bruce Arians has worked with /and coached Peyton Manning, Andrew Luck, Kurt Warner, Tom Brady and Big Ben. You think Bruce doesn’t know QB talent when he sees it? You know who drafted Brady? You know who scouted Brady in college? Jason Licht. Jason was scout with the Patriots when Brady was drafted.
Please stop acting like you know more then these guys.
February 4th, 2022 at 10:56 am
I liked Trask, even more after seeing him out play Mac Jones. Trask didn’t lose that game, his team was inferior to the Tide.
They kept a cap on him all season for a reason, maybe he was good enough that he could be a threat to Brady about those bad games, a ghost of the JW inferiority complex.
In the end, I don’t think it matters, the Bucs can’t afford an expensive free agent, nor can they afford a trade for a high powered QB. There are too many geriatric players that need draft rookies behind them.
We can not, at this time, look like the Rams will look soon, they have no first round pick for at least six years.
Our Stupor Bowl window is closed. It is time to start opening a new one. First step is to see how Trask can play, He was impressive in college, until all of his receivers decided not to play the Bowl Game.
February 4th, 2022 at 11:05 am
The knock against the Bucs last few qbs before Tom was interceptions and could not read defenses…
Trask college days showed that he can be trusted with his throws to protect the ball and he did it against the best defenses in college every week because of an all SEC schedule… that is a better resume coming out of college than nearly all other 1st round picks (other than Mac Jones of course)…
February 4th, 2022 at 11:14 am
Ok DR, if Trask us your second coming, why didn’t he take Gabberts back up position? One would think if you’re drafted as the potential future one would want him to learn from the best and not be QB4. The team must view him as a bust.
February 4th, 2022 at 11:18 am
Personally I don’t understand the people who think he just throws to an open receiver or doesn’t have a strong arm. He was very accurate, his arm was plenty strong enough, he threw to the correct receiver most the time, and was able to put it in tight windows quite a bit. His biggest advantage is he reads the field and goes through his progressions.
We have no idea where he is at right now but everything pointed to him being pretty damnn capable of being an NFL caliber quarterback. With some good receivers and the O-line that he has, he could be very good. He showed signs of that in preseason, but the reality is we have no idea at this point unfortunately.
If there is a real good option to bring in for two years with Trask being the back up and getting more and more playing time, I’m all for it. If there isn’t gotta go with him.
Personally I think Deshaun Watson might be an option for somewhat cheap at this point. I just have no idea what’s going on with his legal issues and how bad all of it really was
February 4th, 2022 at 11:20 am
I would like to add that Trask has had to fight his butt off for everything he’s ever gotten in his football career. That builds an extremely solid foundation, work ethic, and commitment.
February 4th, 2022 at 11:27 am
What is so complicated about The Bucco Bruce Offense it takes a year to learn? I keep hearing this. Give Trask a chance. Hire a cheap vet for backup.
February 4th, 2022 at 11:33 am
@ David
I agree with your take on Trask.
I disagree with your take that Watson would be a “cheap option”…
Watson will earn $40.4 million dollars next season.
That is not cheap. Plus we will need to give up draft picks to Houston.
No thanks.
February 4th, 2022 at 11:41 am
Trask is a gamer… I’d imagine they’ve been trying like hell to clean him up in practice. His pro day was not very impressive, but his film is. He seemed to have total command of that offense. He doesn’t stare down receivers and he’s pretty darn accurate. He does not have a rocket arm but it’s far from a “noodle”.
There are no more Tom Brady’s out there and our cap situation has no room for a 20+ mil QB right now. I’d be fine with bringing in Bridgewater if he’s cheap enough, but I’d still like to see Trask get a fair shot.
February 4th, 2022 at 11:55 am
I get this feeling somebody out there is gonna give Godwin an offer he cannot refuse. I also think Gronk is on the fence and may hang it up. We won’t know what we got with Trask until Bruce throws him out there in preseason. Its probably gonna be Gabbert and Trask. Winston ain’t comin back here. Although he would be our cheapest option. Hope I’m wrong fellow Buc fans but we might in for some very lean times. What a pity. We got so use to winning.
February 4th, 2022 at 11:58 am
Trashk is not NFL caliber. He’s Danny Wuerrful with a bigger arm. He stares down his number 1 option and often throws to it in doube coverage or worse. He is bad at reading post snap adjustments, and terrible under pressure.
Trashk might be able to beat out someone like Goobert, but it’s unlikely he could even beat out someone like Grappleblow or Buttwater.
Thanks, Todd.
February 4th, 2022 at 12:20 pm
Im willing to go with Trask but also draft another QB….a QB who can tuck it and run but also hit some dimes. I know he’ll be gone by the time we pick but Sam Howell will allow our offense to be more creative. Draft him and use both!
Trask and Howell will give DC’s a lot of problems.
February 4th, 2022 at 12:22 pm
Trask has beeen sheltered, mentored and trained for a year. Time to see what he’s got. At least he got that benefit. Heck, we threw Jameis to the wolves and he did ok. Just hope this kid can play. Problem is though, he gotta tough it out in Bruce’s No risk it, no biscuit Offense. Gabbert will start and then Trask will get his shot. Hope we keep our O line together. Our QB’s are gonna need them. Hopefully Playoff Lenny returns to take some pressure off these guys.
February 4th, 2022 at 12:46 pm
As I said in a different thread, I think Trask is Brady approved and in fact there is no doubt in my mind Brady was consulted by JL on the QB pick.
My belief is Brady was only going to play two years from the get go and the Bucs wanted their next QB to be around TB12 to see how it’s done. Now that said, no one except the Bucs knows what that has looked like, whether Trask has been able to digest the playbook and frankly how he has looked in pro style offense how he breaks done video and in practice as per @Joe, the real practices are closed to the media.
The best way to know if you have a good quarterback is surround them with good players and see what they can do. If you don’t you just may be wasting talent- see Stafford for years at Detroit
February 4th, 2022 at 12:50 pm
Anyone calling Trask a new alarm should take up professional knitting is your favorite sport. Anyone saying he lacks leader ship skills has clearly never ever followed what happened to the gators once Trask over. But that’s OK just keep the stupid takes coming. They are hilarious
February 4th, 2022 at 12:56 pm
All yall Trask haters please explain to me how yall know he can’t be a good quarterback in the NFL?? Because yall would have got rid of or kept Wilson, Brady, Dak , Steve Young, on the bench at least give him a real chance before you make your opinion about Trask because you don’t have no real proof of him not being able to ne a good quarterback in the NFL!! JIMMY G IS NOT A GOOD QUARTERBACK!!
February 4th, 2022 at 1:05 pm
Kyle Trask is a lowly second rounder and cannot succeed in the NFL. He could succeed in the NFL only if he had been a second rounder like Brett Favre or better yet a sixth rounder like Tom Brady. /s
February 4th, 2022 at 1:07 pm
Why in the heck would you put my comment in the corner Joe?
February 4th, 2022 at 1:13 pm
Listnfrmafar Says: “Ok DR, if Trask us your second coming, why didn’t he take Gabberts back up position?”
Because in 2021 the Bucs had a team that could make a legitimate run to the Super Bowl and the Bucs weren’t going to risk it with a rookie. The plan all along was to have Trask learn and have an experienced quarterback ready in case a guy named Tom Brady had to miss games. Like backup veteran Earl Morrall stepped in for an injured Bob Griese for 10 games and saved the Dolphins’ season and they won a Suoer Bowl that year. But then the Dolphins were coached by guys who knew football, not by idiot football fans like you.
February 4th, 2022 at 1:39 pm
If Gronkowski is gone, that ups the chance that Howard is kept.
February 4th, 2022 at 1:40 pm
Give Trask a break. Lets see what he can do before writing him off.
February 4th, 2022 at 1:47 pm
@What Can Kyle Trask Do?
————————
everything that JW was expected to do, and much more.
BUT, for that to happen, a new OC,DC and obviously HC is imminent.
February 4th, 2022 at 2:13 pm
“Trashk is not NFL caliber. ”
That’s so clever, must be an FSU fan, bashing two UF qb’s in the same paragraph. Classy.
February 4th, 2022 at 4:06 pm
The only reason why Gabbert was the back up quarterback is because he’s BA friend and if yall can’t see that Gabbert didn’t have to compete for the number 2 because of his friendship with BA that’s why it wasn’t because he earned it . It was already given to him because of BA ..
February 4th, 2022 at 4:21 pm
I won’t listen to Listnfrom afar until he stops writing “should of”. His thoughts are usually as off as his written word. NO one has seen Trask play an NFL game and so any ideas of his incompetence are categorically uneducated. I will mention that some excellent “football minds” were consulted upon his draft. I do wish someone would surreptitiously consult a few veteran players about what they think of him in practice, though. They could remain anonymous..:D
February 4th, 2022 at 5:51 pm
crazybucs_CL Says:
February 4th, 2022 at 1:47 pm
Might wanna put down the meth pipe and look up the definition of “imminent.”
February 4th, 2022 at 7:22 pm
Test
February 4th, 2022 at 8:27 pm
Trask doesn’t have an NFL skill set. Doesn’t have elite arm talent. Needs an incredibly clean pocket to be effective.
The fact that the coaching staff has seen him for a year and still don’t want to play him next year is unbelievably telling.
February 4th, 2022 at 8:54 pm
For all you guys saying he was a bench warmer…so was TB 12! Just a thought!! I love to listen to some dudes that sit on the couch and eat Twinkies talk like a NFL coach. Food for thought while you’re sitting on your couch eating your Twinkie realize these guys get paid millions of dollars to make decisions.
February 4th, 2022 at 8:54 pm
For all you guys saying he was a bench warmer…so was TB 12! Just a thought!! I love to listen to some dudes that sit on the couch and eat Twinkies talk like a NFL coach. Food for thought while you’re sitting on your couch eating your Twinkie realize these guys get paid millions of dollars to make decisions.
February 4th, 2022 at 9:59 pm
PassingThru, I mostly agree with how you see Trask. The question is, what has he done since last preseason to improve those weird mechanics? How much if any time has he spent with Brady learning fine details? How is his decision making right now, and does it translate physically to compensate for his odd footwork and throwing motion?
He’s comparable to Mac Jones, who somehow has a halo while Trask gets dismissed. Trask is a tough kid, and he’s 6-5 240. His arm is not weak. Some balls get away from him or are errant. Let’s not forget he was at one time high in the Heisman odds, had a high TD-to-INT ratio, and a 70% completion percentage.
I think he deserves a look and a short leash, and Bucs should have a backup plan in place if he fails.
February 5th, 2022 at 7:08 am
Suh will bolt.
JPP will bolt.
Gronk will retire.
Lenny will retire.
Godwin isn’t going anywhere.
Jones will be the starter.
OJ Howard my be cut.
February 5th, 2022 at 9:14 am
Give Trask a shot. Bring Godwin back and go out n get a TE. Retain Jensen and cappa bring back Lenny and trask will have good resources to use. Sounds like he knows how to prepare before he sat under Tom Brady now that he got to learn from TB12 he should be even more prepared. Give him a shot bring back our guys and I believe this steam will make the playoffs. Also we need to revamp our DLINE
February 5th, 2022 at 9:59 am
What can he do?
The Bucs the top draft pick in 2023!