Former NFL Coach: Good Baker Mayfield Could Get Bucs Over .500
May 29th, 2023
“Mangenius” on Baker Mayfield.
A guy who coached the Jets and the Browns and worked with Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht in New England thinks Licht made a savvy gamble in signing Baker Mayfield.
Eric Mangini, now working for The33rdTeam.com, believes Licht may have stumbled upon a winner. While acknowledging Mayfield is inconsistent, Mangini said it was smart for Licht and the Bucs to roll the dice.
… I’m cheering for Baker Mayfield in Tampa, but it’s been up and down since he left Cleveland. If he hits it right, that could go in a positive direction. But how much over .500 will it be?
As down as the NFC South is, if Mayfield gets the Bucs over .500, Joe thinks that represents the Bucs having a great chance to win the division for the third straight season.
Joe has often typed the following and nothing has changed Joe’s mind: If Mayfield has a solid year and the Bucs make the playoffs, Mayfield is your Bucs quarterback for at least a few years to come.
If Mayfield shats the bed, no harm, no foul. The Bucs draft a quarterback next spring.
May 29th, 2023 at 1:30 am
…and I could hook-up with Gisele as she’s on the rebound. Anything is possible.
Oh wait, no it’s not.
May 29th, 2023 at 2:19 am
It’s gonna be Kyle Trask Joe. I don’t know why you insist on spending propaganda!!
May 29th, 2023 at 2:40 am
Saints will have 10 or more wins this year unless Carr goes down.
Mayfield getting us to .500+ wouldn’t be good enough. If we cant get 10+ wins, I’d rather get 2- wins and get a #1 pick.
Or…
…if Trask is put in by, say, game 7…then if he looks good enough to start next year, keep on trucking and let him grow.
I am 100% sure that Mayfield will fail…and anything less than 10 wins is a fail for him.
Trask on the other hand won’t be named the starter until later…plus he has less experience…so he would get a little leeway if he goes .500 in games he starts. Or if the losses are not his fault.
May 29th, 2023 at 2:41 am
Honestly, I think Trask may surprise a lot of people. But Bowles won’t give him the starting role in game 1.
May 29th, 2023 at 2:43 am
Rod, I wouldn’t be surprised if Tom and his exe got back together.
Football came between them, and now he’s retired.
May 29th, 2023 at 3:45 am
With a good line I agree, which I don’t think we have.
We need a slot receiver and no wideout to get hurt as we have zero depth.
Tight end? I mean we drafted some guys but they are young and unproven.
So when you make that comment it does depend ion the team around u.
Put Baker on the Eagles and he is a playoff qb all day.
May 29th, 2023 at 5:13 am
Buccaneer Bonzai, I would bet that it wasn’t just football, it is never that simple.
May 29th, 2023 at 6:01 am
Bonzai … ‘Honestly, I think Trask may surprise a lot of people. But Bowles won’t give him the starting role in game 1’.
I also think that Trask will surprise a lot of people. No idea who’ll be our starting QB come Game 1 Bonzai, but I do believe that there’ll be a honest-to-goodness COMPETITION going on for the starting nod this preseason. If Mayfield gets the starting nod, it’ll be because he earned it, not because Bowles is afraid to start Trask because he’s less experienced.
May 29th, 2023 at 6:19 am
DestinJohnny … You make an excellent point about the team AROUND whoever the starting QB is. If our OLine can provide adequate protection time, I’m convinced that either QB could be effective. Injuries will obviously play a big part in that, just like they did last season. Unfortunately can’t control that.
What we can control is putting the best Starting-11 on the field at all times. Bucs have a lot of talent in various position groups, but much of it is unproven. and they really only have about 2 months to get that unproven talent up-to-NFL-speed. There’s a LOT of teaching AND learning AND evaluating to be done between now and our 1st game on Sept 10th.
May 29th, 2023 at 6:50 am
I love you occult of Trask people, thanks for the belly laugh so early the day!!
May 29th, 2023 at 7:38 am
This article is right on. It’s obvious if Mayfield has a good year he’s going to be our quarterback for the immediate future. At least several years. If he craps the bed they’re still looking.
May 29th, 2023 at 7:40 am
BA’s Red Pen
Where were you last year when Leftwich and Brady were stinking the place up?
May 29th, 2023 at 7:55 am
Good call.
Option C may include Baker is sweet for 8-10 games and is injured in which case I would think management drafts a QB as well and not extend Baker.
May 29th, 2023 at 7:59 am
Ryan Tannehill was considered a bust, right up until the Titans threw in the towel on Mariota
May 29th, 2023 at 8:31 am
“If Mayfield shats the bed, no harm, no foul. The Bucs draft a quarterback next spring.”
He’d have to leave quite a “load” in that bed for one of the premier qb’s to be a realistic draft possibility.
And for some perspective, consider where Mayfield was drafted as we now ogle the exact same thing. Scratch off lottery tickets.
May 29th, 2023 at 8:36 am
In Licht I TRUST!
Go Bucs!!!
May 29th, 2023 at 8:53 am
Hey Dungy, so was Burrow and Trevor Lawrence. Now they look like contenders for the next decade. I’m assuming you haven’t gotten far in life with that attitude. You gotta keep trying to hit a home run at the QB spot. I would love to be making deep runs in the playoffs for the next decade. Appreciate what Brady did, but I would love to see us draft a guy who actually loved our city and the franchise succeed for a dozen plus years.
May 29th, 2023 at 8:56 am
Joe says;
Joe has often typed the following and nothing has changed Joe’s mind: If Mayfield has a solid year and the Bucs make the playoffs, Mayfield is your Bucs quarterback for at least a few years to come.
If Mayfield shats the bed, no harm, no foul. The Bucs draft a quarterback next spring.
Joe, did you go to FSU? Not trying to start a fight, just curious. It just seems that all of the posters that either totally dislike Trask and anything Gators or just pretend he is not even on the team, have stated an affiliation with FSU!
May 29th, 2023 at 8:56 am
I’d like to see Trask at QB. I’m curious. But, I don’t believe for one second he will be the starter for the first game. Mayfield has more experience and has the type of personality to quickly win over the locker room. Baker would have to really perform poorly before we see Trask.
May 29th, 2023 at 9:12 am
The key to QB success rests on the defense.
If the D catches on fire, either QB could be a Shaun King…who never was spectacular but managed the game well enough for wins.
Neither QB can carry a team like Brady, and unless the D collapses won’t have to.
May 29th, 2023 at 9:20 am
Premier QB’s tend to be drafted by really 5hit teams who didn’t need a QB so much as a complete overhaul of their coaching and management.
Far too often the high “bust” rate is due to the team as opposed to the “NFL” readiness of said premier QB.
Baker was drafted by the Browns (no further commentary), then went to the tanking Panthers, and from there to the (severely) hung over Rams.
Now here, he is surrounded by talent. Some proven, some still wet behind the ears. And a coaching staff that some of us have strong doubts about.
For purely fanselfish reasons, I hope he blossoms here and proves he was worth that #1 pick in the draft. On the other hand, I’d be just as happy to see Trask beat him out and carry this team deep into the play-offs.
That pesky doubt about the coaching quality still keeps buzzing around my head though. Much more concerned with them proving me wrong at this time.
May 29th, 2023 at 9:47 am
@ gp
Spot On!
May 29th, 2023 at 10:11 am
Maybe a good Baker gets you to .500. Maybe a better Trask wins you the division. I’m not counting Trask out. Assumption is the mother of all F-ups. If you believe in Licht, then you should believe his plan was for Trask to develop behind Tom Brady for two years, then get his shot. That time is now. Baker will be a good back up, and if Trask fails, hopefully he can come in, and save the season. Licht is hoping that won’t happen, and he’ll look like a genius using the last pick in the second round two years ago. Trask will be the opening day starter.
May 29th, 2023 at 10:41 am
Joe is terrified of Trask proving Joe wrong and is seeking affirmation from outside characters who know little to nothing that Tiny Baker will keep Trask off the field.
May 29th, 2023 at 10:55 am
“You gotta keep trying to hit a home run at the QB spot.”
Wrong.
You gotta be smart with the draft capital you have, pounce when trade opportunities are favorable, and listen to the advice of both colleagues and foes. Qb position is the most important one, but you don’t go reaching for it in the draft no matter what. Enjoy your super hero movies.
May 29th, 2023 at 11:02 am
This Baker-Trask thing is approaching the COVID misinformation status.
1. The concept that the coaching staff will sabotage Trask’s chances is beyond stooopid.
2. The concept that a fan favors one or the other is totally expected.
3. The concept that talking-heads predict one over the other is also totally expected. That’s what they do.
4. In reality, no one is sure at this point is sure who, if either, wins out.
I predict that Mayfield starts and takes over the QB position. That’s just a prediction, like the rest of you.
May 29th, 2023 at 11:03 am
ShakeandBaker Says: “You gotta keep trying to hit a home run at the QB spot.”
Especially in the first round, right? That’s the round where 62% of the quarterbacks drafted do not even get a second contract with their team. Oh … wait …
May 29th, 2023 at 11:09 am
That video of the three quarterbacks throwing in OTA shows that Mayfield and Wolford are midgets next to Trask. No way 6’0″ quarterbacks are our future. Those little guys were brought in to back up Trask.
May 29th, 2023 at 11:10 am
Trask!
May 29th, 2023 at 11:10 am
Think if Traskfield can get help from the O line and TEs and get a middle of the pack running game the Bucs could have some success. The Bucs have to be able to convert on 3rd and short. One big issue that has to be fixed is scoring TDs in the red zone. If the Bucs can do that then Traskfield has a chance to go over .500.
May 29th, 2023 at 11:11 am
I expect Mayfield to lead the Bucs to a winning season IF:
The o-line is solid and gives him time.
The new OC is anything like the guys who trained and taught him.
injuries don’t plague the team again.
AND ‘Toilet’ Todd knows his role and stays 100% on his side of the defense.
May 29th, 2023 at 11:24 am
10 wins the expectations
May 29th, 2023 at 11:39 am
Mayfield had some great rosters while he was in Cleveland. He couldn’t get on the same page with his receivers
2018
7-8-1 QB Baker Mayfield
RB Nick Chubb
WR Antonio Callaway
WR Jarvis Landry*
TE Darren Fells
TE David Njoku
2019
6-10-0 QB Baker Mayfield
RB Nick Chubb*
WR Odell Beckham Jr.
WR Jarvis Landry*
TE Pharaoh Brown
TE Demetrius Harris
2020
11-5-0 QB Baker Mayfield
RB Nick Chubb*
WR Odell Beckham Jr.
WR Jarvis Landry
TE Harrison Bryant
TE Austin Hooper
2021
8-9-0 QB Baker Mayfield
RB Nick Chubb*
WR Jarvis Landry
WR Donovan Peoples-Jones
TE Austin Hooper
TE David Njoku
Cleveland always had a great running game when he was there and most years an above average defense. Yet, with the exception of 2021 he never had a winning record. Clearly, he was brought in to be a veteran backup.
May 29th, 2023 at 11:48 am
What does he mean “he was up and down since leaving Cleveland”? He’s been up and down his whole career. Mostly down!
He is not and will never be the answer. If he beats out Trask that means Trask sucks and its a wash of a year.
May 29th, 2023 at 12:07 pm
covertwo22…precisely right!
May 29th, 2023 at 1:11 pm
Saints aren’t the Saints without Sean Peyton . We still have the best staff in the division even though Bowles has had some blunders
May 29th, 2023 at 1:13 pm
Like I’ve said, So goes our QB..so go we. Our Defense will keep us in a few games. But if our QB cannot play above 500 or so? We are Hit.
May 29th, 2023 at 1:37 pm
I guarantee you they didn’t trade up or reach for a QB in the draft or FA because they knew they had something in Trask. Everyone counts the kid out, but he had the perfect scenario. He was drafted in the second round by a team that didn’t need a QB. He got to sit behind the best that ever did it and learn for 2yrs. no pressure, just learn and soak up knowledge. Most young QB’s play on a garbage team for a few years. He’s practiced with studs for 3 off seasons now. He knows Evans and Godwin well.
I really think people forget how good he was in college. If he wouldv’e come out last year, he wouldv’e been the 1st pick. This year top 3 at worst.
May 29th, 2023 at 1:58 pm
@covertwo22
I agree. With all the talk on this site about how bad Trask is, and how we were going to draft Will Levis or Hendon Hooker in the draft, I laughed out loud when the Bucs passed up both of those guys in the first round and then passed up Hooker again in the second round. The Bucs, with their first two picks in the draft, blew out of the water the principal message emanating from this site over the past two years.
May 29th, 2023 at 2:10 pm
Chances are Carolina just spent their future on a midget.
Ask Kyler Murray how that’s going.
Houston took CJ Stroud because the media said to.
I mean who else was it truly gonna be.
Neither are special.
Desmond Ridder is interesting to me and I actually think he has a better chance than those 2 to be a good NFL QB.
Derek Carr is on his last chance just like Mayfield.
Only he was 3rd in MVP voting recently.
Who is the only one to win a playoff game?
Thats right our QB.
Against the Steelers on in their house.
Then only lost to the Chiefs who we destroyed 21-17.
2nd year with OBJ and then he leaves.
Let’s see what chemistry he finds with our extremely deep WR group
Way too early to continue to call it like anybody KNOWS what is going to happen.
Thats what makes this time of year FUN.
Find the potential diamonds in the rough.
Hell, DT should get you excited. Look at his vert.
Think Tyreek.
Just dang why always so negative.
May 29th, 2023 at 2:17 pm
Real fans like myself believe the Bucs will win it all this year. The fake fans believe they will win 5-7 games games this year.
May 29th, 2023 at 4:45 pm
It’s kyles job to lose
May 29th, 2023 at 5:44 pm
Mayfield is on his 4th team now. Generally, I think that is what’s called a journeyman qb.
May 30th, 2023 at 12:31 am
ATLBuc: you left out a few facts from your list of cherry picked highlights.
2018:
-GM John Dorsey
-HC Hue Jackson who finished 0-16 in 2017, fired after week 8
-OC Todd Haley, fired after week 8
-New (Interim) HC Greg Williams takes over
-New OC Amos Jones takes over
-QB Coach Ken Zampese replaced David Lee
And even with all the drama and having only two wins after 8 weeks. Plus all of the coaching changes, Mayfield still broke the NFL Record, set by Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson, with 27 touchdown passes in his rookie season and led the Browns to their best record since 2007.
2019
-GM John Dorsey
-HC Freddie Kitchens (Mayfield’s 3 HC since he was drafted in 2018)
-OC Todd Monken (Mayfield’s 3 OC since he was drafted in 2018)
-QB Coach Ryan Lindley (Mayfield’s 2 QB Coach since he was drafted in 2018)
2020
-New GM Andrew Berry
-New HC Kevin Stefanski (Mayfield’s 4 HC since he was drafted in 2018)
-New OC Alex Van Pelt (Mayfield’s 4 OC since he was drafted in 2018)
-QB Coach Alex Van Pelt (Mayfield’s 3 QB Coach since he was drafted in 2018)
New year, same ole BS at Cleveland. But this time Mayfield went 11-5 and took the Browns to the playoffs. Something no other QB had done in 26 years. And Mayfield wasn’t even born the last time that happened. So you can sit back and criticize Mayfield, like so many others here. While pointing out the facts that support your narrative and completely disregarding the other factors that played a big role in the outcome of Mayfield’s career.
May 30th, 2023 at 4:18 am
So Joe has again anointed Maybefield the starter after one OTA underwear football.
Its getting ridiculous!