Love For Baker Mayfield?
June 13th, 2023
Last chance.
Man, most national NFL stenographers are absolutely killing either Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht for signing Baker Mayfield, or just killing Mayfield.
(Some actually give Licht credit for signing Mayfield because that way the Bucs can “half-tank” for a quarterback next spring.)
What Mayfield did to these guys is unknown.
NFL.com’s Kevin Patra, however, seems to be giving Mayfield props. In listing the best quarterback-receiver duos in the game, all with new quarterbacks, Patra seems to like the idea of Mayfield throwing to Mike Evans.
I expect Mayfield to win the starting gig over greenhorn Kyle Trask in training camp. The former No. 1 overall pick remains a gunslinger who can still throw a deep ball when his head isn’t spinning under pressure.
Meanwhile, despite a frustrating 2022, when he never seemed totally in synch with Tom Brady, Evans still put up his ninth consecutive 1,000-yard season. Turning 30 later this summer, Evans remains one of the most reliable playmakers in the NFL.
Evans’ ability to stretch the field should match up well with Mayfield’s pretty deep ball, particularly against man coverage. Evans has led the NFL in touchdowns (24) and tied for most catches on go routes since 2018 (58), per Next Gen Stats. Last season, he finished with 27 targets (tied for fourth), 12 receptions (fifth), 367 yards (fourth) and five TDs (tied for second) on 199 go-routes (second).
Well, Joe doesn’t know how two guys who were totally on the same page for two seasons while winning 29 games can almost overnight not be on the same page — unless someone got stupid and monkeyed with the best offense in the game.
If Mayfield cannot turn around his career throwing to Chris Godwin and Evans, then maybe he’s a career backup.
And if Evans again reaches 1,000 yards receiving, Joe doesn’t know how anyone could keep the guy out of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
June 13th, 2023 at 4:04 am
Regardless of who wins the starting QB nod for Game 1, the Bucs have a tall mountain to climb as we kick off this season. Most of our offensive coaching staff is new. Our OLine is in the process of being restructured, and it’s far from being ‘set in stone’ at this point. And I’d hardly call most of our ‘weapons’ (White, Vaughn, Otton, Gage) elite. Not to mention the lack of depth in most position groups, which is what took a big toll on us last year IMO.
Our record at the midway mark of the season will be a story about coaching IMO. How fast can we get this thing to gel? Did we select the right guys? So many questions, so few answers.
June 13th, 2023 at 4:57 am
“someone got stupid and monkeyed with the best offense in the game.”
Ya think?
Bowles deserves every bit of critcism he gets if that is indeed the case.
I truly believe he did monkey with the offense. Hard for me to pin it all on Leftnut.
Go Bucs!
June 13th, 2023 at 6:30 am
I agree with the coaching part 100% (Defense Rules). Bowels is a good defensive coordinator but thats it…….. I am putting alot of hope on the offensive coordinator to make this season interesting …. We shall see??
June 13th, 2023 at 7:07 am
Our OLine is in the process of being restructured, and it’s far from being ‘set in stone’ at this point.
First day of mandatory mini-camp today.
My first inclination is that Ryan Jensen is not healthy enough to participate.
As I have always been saying, surgical reconstruction would have been the gold standard for Jensen. He did not do that. Not sure how he will be on the field for more than a few plays for the Bucs this season (i.e 3-5 games at most).
We will see. My guess is whether Hainsey can up his game at center will be a big indicator of our success. I am not hopeful. He just did not seem strong enough.
June 13th, 2023 at 7:07 am
Mayfield has been dumped by 3 teams in his 6 year career. Sounds like a winner to me.
June 13th, 2023 at 8:48 am
I also agree that Ryan Jensen should have had surgery, instead of fooling around with Stem Cells.
June 13th, 2023 at 9:23 am
O-line is definitely the key. They’ve got two important missions: clearing lanes for the running game and giving Traskfield the time to go through his progressions. I agree with others, it may take some time for the o-line to gel. but once they do, the team should be just fine. Not SB contenders but a playoff contender.
June 13th, 2023 at 9:36 am
“Byron, tell Brady to forget the risk-it biscuit, and just become another ball distributor. We will no longer play to Brady’s strengths. Oh, and Byron, stop trying to fool defenses. Just tell them what’s coming.”
-What Todd Bowles O looked like in 2022.
June 13th, 2023 at 9:36 am
Mike Evans a HOF person
June 13th, 2023 at 9:36 am
No, thank you.
He might be able to prove something and if it isn’t all bad news I might change my mind.
I do still think Trask has a bigger upside.
June 13th, 2023 at 10:33 am
Still want a QB competition but I for one love the Mayfield signing.
June 13th, 2023 at 10:39 am
Evans can catch no matter who is throwing the pigskin at him.
June 13th, 2023 at 10:54 am
Evans made huge plays down the stretch that kept the Bucs in the playoffs. Bombs. I haven’t seen any decline. In fact, he seems physically tougher now than five years ago. He is at his peak.
One reason I like Mayfield is how much most of the journalists seem to hate him, despite his being the best interview in the league. He is like a populist quarterback. He triggers them.
Playing behind an athletic and mobile OL and throwing to bigger receivers might help him overcome his height deficiency.
June 13th, 2023 at 1:21 pm
“ unless someone got stupid and monkeyed with the best offense in the game”
I think Bowles did exactly that
June 13th, 2023 at 2:02 pm
27 targets on 199 Go routes to Mike Evans last year???
That’s almost criminal under-usage of a future first ballot HOFer. Especially when the #s are sooo good the dozen times we did manage to get the ball in his hands downfield.
No wonder we only won 8 games last year….
If Baker is the Buccaneers QB this year one thing’s for sure – the “long ball” will be back in play – and Evans will easily get 1000+ yards and double digit TDs.
June 13th, 2023 at 6:02 pm
Both Mayfield and Dw45 are playing for their NFL future this year.
KT2 is playing for a starting job.
ME13 and LVD54 are playing for their gold jackets this year.
I think that bodes for a very good season.
June 14th, 2023 at 4:23 pm
Jeez folks, why don’t you all just wait to see the Bucs play a game or two ? Gotta laugh at all the opinions based upon ZERO facts.