Kyle Trask Looks Sharp, But…
June 2nd, 2022
Bucs QB Kyle Trask.
Joe feels for Bucs fans. Truly.
Joe gets calls from Bucs fans wanting to know how Luke Goedeke looks or Kyle Trask or Rachaad White. But Joe always has to point out why there is no clear picture to report.
It’s underwear football season and Joe always begins practice notes with a reminder that underwear football is really flag football without the flags. To be perfectly blunt, it’s not football.
Underwear football is when career nobodies like Tommy Streeter and Kenny Bell look like Pro Bowlers. What you see very likely may deceive you. And the Bucs this year are only permitting media to watch 30 percent of the OTA practices.
Breaking down players in underwear football is like judging a baseball hitter from batting practice. Of course a guy is going to launch balls into the bleachers or the power alleys when old men are throwing him pieces of meat at 50 mph.
That is underwear football. No pads, no hitting, no blocking, no tackling. This is why fans rarely read about runs in underwear football. Coaches don’t call for a run because there’s little point.
So this week when asked how Bucs backup quarterback Kyle Trask is progressing, Bucs coach Todd Bowles said he likes what he sees, but… it’s underwear football.
“Well, his accuracy has been good,” Bowles began. “Again, we’re in shorts and t-shirts. So, they know they aren’t going to get hit – the accuracy is going to be good from every quarterback.
“But, he’s picking up the scheme well – he’s making all the right reads right now. We’re getting to see him in some competitive periods that are making him make some quick decisions, and we like what we see.”
If Trask wasn’t making the right reads last year, is that possibly why he wasn’t activated for a game?
Joe will say that in the first couple of underwear football practices open to the media, there was little difference between Blaine Gabbert and Trask.
Trask seemed to throw fewer bad passes but Gabbert’s good passes were maybe a wee bit better than Trask’s.
On Tuesday, Gabbert looked damn good, maybe the best Joe has ever seen from the journeyman quarterback. And for a brief moment on Tuesday, Joe wondered if the Gabbert that Bucco Bruce Arians crowed about for the past three years was the quarterback on the field?
But once again, it’s underwear football.
June 2nd, 2022 at 12:19 am
“We like what we see.” Encouraging words from the Coach. I realize it could all be coach-speak, but I don’t think it is.
First, although I don’t know the man, Bowles doesn’t seem the coach-speak type of coach. Also, there are many times when asked about a player’s performance, coaches and GM’s often speak in deliberately ambiguous language which by itself tells the story. This wasn’t done here.
I’m one that hopes they get what they were hoping for with Trask, and perhaps they’re starting to see some of what made them want to draft him in the first place.
June 2nd, 2022 at 12:23 am
I’m skeptical if he’ll see the end of his rookie contract with the Bucs. I hope he’ll at least be in consideration to start after this season.
June 2nd, 2022 at 12:49 am
if its a draw you take Trask! Gabbert has no up side period!! fools
June 2nd, 2022 at 1:06 am
If Trask can’t take the reigns next year, may be time to move on… 2 years under Brady?? 2 years to practice and hone his craft? Better knock it out bro, I have faith in you
June 2nd, 2022 at 1:30 am
I have faith too.
He sat and learned at Florida and had one ok season then 1 stellar season.
Even if it takes a year, it’s worth it.
Very few go to the Promised Land their 1st year playing.
June 2nd, 2022 at 1:58 am
Gabbert had good games as a 49er and before. He’s capable of that. But a good NFL starter does it consistently, not erratically. As for Trask, even the most optimistic reports suggest he’s slow to learn and seems never to arrive. He deserves more time. After all, Mahomey was a backup for quite some time before he was good enough. But the leash is getting shorter.
June 2nd, 2022 at 3:04 am
Have nothing against the kid but good Lord he looks like the second coming of Trent Dilfer in that pic smh…
June 2nd, 2022 at 5:45 am
If Lefty takes a HC job next year he probably takes Blaine with him. Whether he goes to a team that has a QB or not, having Blaine gives him someone who knows the system inside, out. So Trask better get himself ready for next season. He’ll be the only QB we have under contract for next year.
June 2nd, 2022 at 6:04 am
Joe … ‘If Trask wasn’t making the right reads last year, is that possibly why he wasn’t activated for a game?’
I’m envious of your ability to read between the lines Joe, even when there’s nothing there. Bruce Arians chose Blaine Gabbert as his backup QB … end of discussion far as BA was concerned. Trask’s job was to sit & learn. Hopefully he made the best of it. I’m rooting for him to take the reins after TB12 retires (again) and to do very very well.
June 2nd, 2022 at 7:06 am
Gabbert recent career has been all underwear football hes has plenty of practice experience at underwear football so he should be good at underwear football but remember its underwear football.
June 2nd, 2022 at 7:43 am
I watched a recent interview with him, maybe it’s his personality, I don’t know, but he doesn’t project confidence or leadership in his answers
June 2nd, 2022 at 7:46 am
I hope one of these guys pans out. Hopefully, we’ll be #32 in next year’s draft. So we’re either going to have to mortgage the team in the way of future draft picks to move up and grab a top tier QB or spend a bundle on one in FA.
June 2nd, 2022 at 7:54 am
Let Kyle cook.
June 2nd, 2022 at 7:59 am
Imo, Gabbert is about where Tannehill was at the end of his time with the Dolphins. Everyone thought he was a benchwarmer at best
June 2nd, 2022 at 8:08 am
Starting the answer off with “well” should be a tell
June 2nd, 2022 at 8:36 am
PSL Bob moving up to get a top tier QB would be a waste of draft picks I can’t remember a QB the Bucs ever developed. They had to go elsewhere for success. Young,Williams, Dilfer, Testerverde etc.
June 2nd, 2022 at 8:38 am
I look for a Bowles/Donald reunion!
June 2nd, 2022 at 8:47 am
I will hold my judgement until pre-season even though that’s not entirely fair since he will be playing with the 4th string, but I would like to see how he has progressed since last pre-season.
I think that’s about the only reason this year why I will watch those games.
June 2nd, 2022 at 9:09 am
PSL Bob … ‘So we’re either going to have to mortgage the team in the way of future draft picks to move up and grab a top tier QB or spend a bundle on one in FA.’
Mortgage the team? Spend a bundle? Somehow I can’t see eitheer happening. Bucs are currently #31 in the NFL in terms of salary CAP already allocated for 2023 … our active contracts are sitting at $278.8 mil for 2023. Our projected adjusted salary CAP is $218.2 for 2023, meaning that we’re already OVER by $60.6 mil. (Oh and that doesn’t include Dead CAP, which is rather large in itself). Unless we want to strike a deal with the Mafia, we’re not mortgaging anything or spending bundles next year Bob. Quite the contrary.
The good news in all this is that our nemesis, the Saints, are sitting in #32 position … OVER in their 2023 salary CAP already by $68.5 mil. And oh ya, the Panthers are sitting in #30 position … OVER in their 2023 salary CAP by $36.8 mil. At least the NFC South is fairly consistent.
June 2nd, 2022 at 9:35 am
Defense Rules not to mention 30 free agents Dean,Murphy-Bunting and Mike Edwards plus three back up defensive backs. Bowles can cruise this year but next year whole another ball game.
June 2nd, 2022 at 9:41 am
I still think Brady specified Gabbert as back-up. He doesn’t have to worry about Gabbert, he might have to worry about Trask.
I would rather have a consistent QB that wins, than a QB who ranges from hot to cold, and peaks twice a season with really good games.
June 2nd, 2022 at 9:50 am
Yeah whatever. Yawn.
Please, Tommy, please don’t get hurt!
June 2nd, 2022 at 9:58 am
Most of you want to cut Trask without seeing him play in one regular season game. He crushed it his last year at Fla. He should be the backup this year not Gilbert. This will be Brady’s last year as next year he will be working for Fox. Gilbert is not a starter or someone would have signed him when he was a free agent this year.
June 2nd, 2022 at 10:08 am
I don’t think Brady is worried in the slightest about his backup. I hope Trask wins the #2 seat for the experience. I would think coaches want him there as the #2. I don’t think Gabbert is teaching Brady anything on the sideline do you?
June 2nd, 2022 at 10:20 am
Scott Says:
June 2nd, 2022 at 12:49 am
if its a draw you take Trask! Gabbert has no up side period!! fools
————–
Hmmmm, great size for the position. Excellent arm, fantastic mobility, knows the system backwards and forwards AND younger than Rich Gannon (as well as bigger, stronger, faster) was when his career took off with the Raiders… but no upside? I’m not sure you know what that word means.
June 2nd, 2022 at 10:26 am
Will Levis!
Yeah we’ll have to trade up, deal with it!
June 2nd, 2022 at 10:56 am
I said it when we drafted him.
Wasted Pick. We needed to draft a CB, not a QB.
I would LOVE for Trask to prove me wrong. But he wont.
Doesnt have the arm to throw out routes in the NFL.
June 2nd, 2022 at 11:02 am
I guess it’s better than looking bad in the same setting
June 2nd, 2022 at 11:24 am
There’s absolutely no rush for this kid to play. We got TB12. Blaine well is Blaine a back up that knows the offense really well n has a lot of weapons to choose from. Trask can sit back learn from the GOAT n a journeyman which has its pros n from a great staff that has track records of developing talent. Maybe his 1st year starting won’t be greatest which will be ok so maybe 2 years of starting full time will tell if he’s our guy. Patients trask has 1 more year to sit watch n hone his craft
June 2nd, 2022 at 11:34 am
Did Packers fans opine that Aaron Rogers was a bust because he couldn’t unseat Favre?
June 2nd, 2022 at 12:22 pm
Seriously. Get me at least to mandatory mini camp. Throwing an accurate pass with pads on against a defense you don’t practice against (in the regular season) is a hole new level. MOVE FASTER SEPTEMBER!!!
June 2nd, 2022 at 12:42 pm
I get the impression that Bucs and Bucs coaches are so overwhelmed in shock and awe with Brady that for the last year, Trask was the forgotten man.
June 2nd, 2022 at 12:50 pm
This may be superficial but the few times I have seen Gabbert in a game he did not look confident or dynamic
Kinda blah. If Trask shows abilty and hustle he may more lokes. At least in preseason. Lets see what he’s got in game time situations. Hope he surprises
June 2nd, 2022 at 2:23 pm
Trask is a football player. He will have a good future in the NFL.
June 2nd, 2022 at 4:27 pm
Back at the Gators while sitting at the bar I was always shaking my head at FRANKS and found myself screaming out put TRASK IN!! I knew once Trask finally took over my GATORS were on their way to a better season. Trask could not have asked for a better place to be for his final level than under Brady! I hear you all but let Trask soak it all in from the GOAT and then whether he stays or goes he will be ready when his time comes. Patience is KEY!
June 2nd, 2022 at 9:55 pm
I understand they wouldn’t allow Trask to compete for the starting job due to TB12 stats. However this is a joke, drafting a qb in second round and wondering if he is going to compete as qb2. If this is the case then why Bucs even drafted a qb. Bucs need to stop all these non-sense and give any remaining snaps to Trask as qb2. We all know Gabbert is done and while no other team is interested in him. He didn’t look good in last pre-season and if Tom goes down the season will be over with Gabbert anyway. The question is why TB12 is calling the shots as who will be his back up ? If TB12 needs Gabbert to help him to read defenses then he needs to go back to his retirement.
June 3rd, 2022 at 8:04 am
If the Bucs had drafted Justin “Sack” Fields instead of Kyle Trask, Joe and the Jameis Fans (sounds like a good band name) would be squealing like little girls at how great he is looking instead of trying to diminish him with repeated juvenile references to “underwear practice”.
June 3rd, 2022 at 9:45 am
All I am saying, is give Trask a chance. Remember, Brady was not a super star coming out of college. Some guys grow and mature into dam good players while some college “super stars” bomb out in the bigs.