Kyle Trask “Overhauled” Mechanics
June 19th, 2023
Went back to Square-1?
A strange choice of words about a Bucs quarterback from an NFL insider who has access to NFL shot-callers.
Appearing on SchlockCenter yesterday seen on BSPN, NFL insider Jeremy Fowler was discussing the Bucs’ quarterback battle (?) between veteran Baker Mayfield and 2021 second-round pick Kyle Trask.
Apparently, per Fowler, Trask had to go back to basics to rewire how he plays the game.
“Kyle Trask, I’m told, has overhauled his mechanics a little bit or at least tweaked them.”
Which is it? “Overhauled” or “tweaked?” Big difference. An overhaul is a major rebuilding job. A tweak is a minor thing. Those are not remotely similar tasks.
If Trask had to go through a major redo, you know, an “overhaul,” what does that say about former Bucs offensive coordinator Byron “SpongeBob” Leftwich? What the hell was he doing (or not doing) the past two years?
Joe was suspicious of Leftwich’s work with Josh Rosen when Leftwich was Cardinals quarterbacks coach and later their offensive coordinator in 2018. Joe wrote Leftwich bore responsibility for the former first-round pick failing at the NFL level because it was Leftwich’s job to develop him.
Joe got absolutely killed by readers for suggesting that.
Well, if Trask had to “overhaul” his mechanics, Joe’s initial suspicion of Leftwich seems to be reinforced.
If Trask required an “overhaul,” perhaps this is also why Bucs coach Todd Bowles moved on from quarterbacks coach Clyde Christensen?
Joe always thought that when former Bucco Bruce Arians decided to step down as head coach but remained as sort of a part-time assistant coach, the main responsibility of the “Quarterback Whisperer” should have been to work on a side field daily with Trask to get him ready to take over whenever Brady left the Bucs.
That obviously didn’t happen.
June 19th, 2023 at 7:44 am
Overhaul? Unlikely. He was an extremely accurate passer in college and if Leftwich messed with his mechanics it would likely have been negative. And Christenson’s job was simply to get the sandwiches for the QB meetings. He did very little for the Bucs.
June 19th, 2023 at 8:03 am
When you are basically put on ice for 3 seasons like Trask was it appears all the coaches lose interest into your development. That’s the negative of sitting behind a franchise QB. Same thing’s happening to Trey Lance. Same thing would’ve happened to Jordan Love if Rodger’s remained in Green Bay.
June 19th, 2023 at 8:43 am
It’s gotta be his footwork. If there’s one thing in the limited reps we’ve seen of Kyle Trask the past 2 years is his footwork being a tad too active and resulting in Trask throwing from poor bases. Some games he when he’s had to break from his initial drop and reset his base, Kyle looks like a pitcher pushing his fast ball off the mound as opposed to using his entire body arm, core, and base to drive the ball downfield. Even with that, Trasks’ accuracy is stays on display.
June 19th, 2023 at 9:01 am
Tweak
June 19th, 2023 at 9:05 am
Don’t worry! Roberto Aguayo “tweaked” his mechanics too, and that worked out great.
June 19th, 2023 at 9:23 am
LOL #Facepalm
Yeah, it sure did. 🙁
June 19th, 2023 at 9:47 am
@Joe
“That obviously didn’t happen”
AMEN….
June 19th, 2023 at 9:57 am
@Dooley. Agreed. Trask’s footwork has always been a problem. He’s cleaned it up a little. Mayfield’s footwork is awful. His mechanics make me cringe.
June 19th, 2023 at 10:02 am
Another thing on Baker Information. The Cleveland “drain-trust” made Baker change his drop-back mechanics. LOOK IT UP. That played greatly into his throwing problems until he got to LA last year. Cleveland coaching in 2021 messed him up more than his shoulder, inconsistent O L, constantly hurt running backs and below average receivers.
June 19th, 2023 at 10:17 am
His mechanics would have to be changed for the new offense he’ll be running. Arians did not want his QBs leaving the pocket. Stay in the pocket, and deliver the ball down field. Now our QB’s will be required to run, boots, and waggles, totally different skill set.
June 19th, 2023 at 10:44 am
I certainly hope that Trask isn’t squandered much less our Extremely Rare and Highly Valued second round pick.
He actually has all the make up of the proto typical size and strength an NFL qb needs to succeed. I believe he can be far more than the sloppy job our beloved Bucs has done so far. With practice he can certainly fix the mechanics. I just have a feeling and watched the guy pick up the gators on his own shoulders and MADE WINS HAPPEN… And THAT’S why so many have his back I believe. It’s Not just a blind faith for most that are supporting him.
It’s that intangible that you can’t buy or train for. Either you have it (like speed) or you simply don’t. PURE WILL to WIN!
The guy multiple times did JUST THAT. Pick up the team, threw the entire team on his back, and WILLED WINS into reality with lesser talent around him. Very Tom Brady like….
I haven’t seen Mayfield in action enough to know if he possess the Number One attribute in a QB that doesn’t come on any particular stat sheet. But after watching the guy take down giants (Trask) it’s easy to believe he could actually be the franchise QB we’ve never had.
BUT Tampa Bay. We just keep screwing it up with our QBs!
Trask has that Very Rare intangible and proved this in The Most Dominant Division in college football. He may not have the trophies the Mayfield has. But then Trask was Never expected to do what he did. And Trask wasn’t a flash in the pan. Also, his teammates absolutely believed in him. I guess I would to after getting used to losing constantly and then someone like a Tom Brady comes along and changes my view point. Trask seems much like him.
Trask seems to be lacking in one Very important area though. It’s the “moxie” that’s spoke of as the key of late. But if you’re Trask it would indeed be hard to have full moxie after following Brady and been there while it happened.
Mayfield has NO Clue what it is to have to display that type of “moxie” because he’s never been around the “actual real deal” that would humble anybody. So it seems a little easier have moxie for him since he’s Never been compared to the best of….. Feels faults from Mayfield. I haven’t witnessed him picking up a lack luster team and PERSONALLY dragging them All across the finish line almost single handedly. Mayfield NEEDS better than him around him to be successful.
Trask does not. THAT’S the difference…
June 19th, 2023 at 10:48 am
Kyle Trask was the beneficiary of throwing to Kevin Pitts in college… who caught everything that was thrown his way or touched his hands.
June 19th, 2023 at 10:55 am
It’s semantics whether you call it an overhaul or a tweak… It would give us more insight if it said what specifically he was changing.
It’s my understanding that the last few years, the previous regime had worked with him on his mechanics, among other physical aspects of his game.
June 19th, 2023 at 11:04 am
Hey Obvious —>? “Extremely Rare… 2nd round pick”
Correct me if I am mistaken but when has our 2nd round pick been extremely rare? In every draft, we have had one. We may have traded it away(do not remember any except for the cost for Gruden).
I am excited to see where Trask is in live-action games. He has had a good base of experienced QBs ahead of him to emulate and learn from. He now has a chance to show what he has learned. With Mayfield in his QB room, he has yet another experienced QB to emulate and learn from. I am also excited that the QB position is an open competition.
Either QB will be what we roll with. I am excited to see what we have with both.
GO!!!!!BUCS!!!!!
June 19th, 2023 at 11:14 am
That’s what happens when you are drafted to play in a meathead offense where the coach thinks a tight end is just the third tackle and your quarterback is a runaround quarterback Marcus Mariota.
June 19th, 2023 at 11:34 am
I would think that when throwing from the Pocket his mechanics changed/ tweeked to be more like Brady’s. Ater all he had two years to see him up close.
With this ‘New Offense’ that requires more throwing on the move a different skill set is required.
I would not call it an overhaul or a tweek. Just another set of things to learn.
June 19th, 2023 at 11:39 am
@ RustyRhinos
Hey Rusty. Well, I suppose that it is indeed a point of view as to whether a second round pick is Rare and Valuable. Keep in mind I didn’t call the second the First round pick which is I would say, “almost” priceless. (There is infact a price that can be reached and agreed apon)
However, I’m gonna stick TIGHT to my claim that a second round pick is ABSOLUTELY Rare and Extremely valuable for Any team, Anywhere, in Any Sport.
Infact, if you don’t view a second round pick that you only get 1 of Per Year very valuable, then I’ll make you a deal. I’ll give you 2 picks for your 1 pick. You name the sport and you got a deal. How about I take your 2nd round pick and I’ll trade you my third round and my seventh round for it. Fair?
That way we both win. You get a shot at Quantity and I get a shot at Quality. And from your view point you Win Big. In my view point, I win BIG.
LET’S TRADE!
GO BUCS!
June 19th, 2023 at 11:49 am
^^^^^^^
Joe took the words right out of my mouth. Look at the run, run, and run some more offense that atl uses. Then, look at who he’s had throwing to him. Pitts is a stud that hasn’t been used much in the passing game since there isn’t much of one to begin with. I’m a FSU guy too, so I have no allegiance to him because of where he played in college. I’m also not a Trask hater, and I hope he does well because I am a BUCS FAN. I’m optimistic about this season and I think that one of the quarterbacks will be able to lead the team to 7 to 10 wins. I really don’t care which one it is, but if it were Trask it would be better from a money standpoint. He’s still on his rookie deal, and unless he complete balls out the next year or two I think his next contract would still be less expensive than signing Baker again. Signing Baker again would mean he had a good year as the starter and with him being a former first overall pick, and the bigger name, I think he would end up getting a bigger contract. I obviously don’t know that, but it is just my opinion.
June 19th, 2023 at 12:20 pm
Big Red … ‘Kyle Trask was the beneficiary of throwing to Kevin Pitts in college… who caught everything that was thrown his way or touched his hands.’
Actually his TE was Kyle Pitts, but that’s minor. Pitts was drafted by the Falcons, and in 2 years has a total of 3 TDs & has caught 56.8% of the 169 balls thrown to him. For a TE, that’s very low IMO.
So the REAL question is … Did Pitts make Trask look good, or did Trask make Pitts look good? Based on what Pitts has done in the pros, I think that Kyle Trask made Pitts look a lot better than he really is.
June 19th, 2023 at 1:52 pm
Kyle spent plenty of time improving his footwork and speeding up his release over the last 2 years. I remember Clyde saying that directly at some point….
June 19th, 2023 at 2:05 pm
Trask played at Florida with native talent. Mullen couldn’t coach his way out of a wet paper bag.
Trask came to the Bucs with just decent footwork and a lackadaisical arm motion. Those have been tweaked by the QB coaches. If Trask was smart he also had some outside help.
He did not succeed Brady because Arians left the team to the Bowles cleaner and he is not all in on Trask, partly because he is insecure enough to need an experienced QB to blame if it all falls apart.
I do believe Trask has a big upside but needs time with the new offense and to get some experience under his belt.
He will be a fine QB, if given enough time to make it happen.
June 19th, 2023 at 2:09 pm
To Big Red: That is an excellent point you made about Kyle Task throwing to Kyle Pitts in collage but I would add , even though the Florida coaches knew about Pitts potential, (along with Toney and several others) that potential had not been demonstrated until the starting Quarterback had been injured and Kyle Trask had to take over, before that Florida was headed for a mediocre season, that’s when the Gators and both Pitts and Toney exploded on the scene , as did the entire Florida Offense. I would also add that after college , Pitts and Toney have not again reached their potential in the pros post-Trask, the only difference before and after Trask, was Trask.
June 19th, 2023 at 3:11 pm
Trask had improved mechanics last preseason and it was a result of influence from the Brady camp.
He is now Brady-like with quieted feet, ridding himself of hitch and quickening his release.
Leave it to Joe to try to spin that as a negative.
Joe the preseason is going to be fun.
June 19th, 2023 at 3:17 pm
Christianson was an epic failure of a QB coach
June 19th, 2023 at 3:52 pm
Even if Mayfield wins the QB competition and plays well Trask will get his chance. Baker seems to be quite fragile.
June 19th, 2023 at 6:03 pm
Trask threw to talent like Pitts and Toney.
Burrow threw to talent like Chase and Jefferson.
Look at Chase and Jefferson now and tell me who should have won the Heisman?
June 19th, 2023 at 6:34 pm
Yes Joe, we get it Leftwhich was terrible but Josh Rosen failed because he stinks.
June 19th, 2023 at 7:55 pm
Baker got most of the first team snaps in mini camp. Why ? Trask did a lot better with starters than second and third teams. Todd B. knows to limit Trask first team snaps to kill any chances of him beating Baker or expose Trask upside potentials to the media. No matter what Todd B. wants, Task will get the chance to play in regular season in 2023.
June 19th, 2023 at 9:17 pm
Says???
(Remember, Joe was at every practice this spring — and has seen Trask practice at every open practice but one since he’s been drafted.)
June 19th, 2023 at 10:43 pm
Joe,
Trask had more red zones TD’s in tight windows than Baker.
You still didn’t reply to Trask’s fans concern.
1. Why did they give Baker most of first team snaps in mini camp if this is a true competition?
2. Trask could be the Bucs future qb. Trask should be awarded qb1 with an even performance with less experience and upsides. Why does Trask have to defeat Baker drastically to become qb1?
June 19th, 2023 at 10:52 pm
1. Because he’s the first-team QB.
2. Because, at least through underwear football, Trask is a lesser quarterback. Not saying he cannot win the job but he’s going to have to show more, and probably much more than Mayfield, to get the starting gig. It’s not over, but the window of opportunity is narrowing.
June 19th, 2023 at 11:03 pm
It is time for Bucs to invest in their future qb1 and stop wasting valuable times with losing qb’s such as Baker who led NFL in interceptions and batted balls.
I would take a 5-12 record with Trask than 6-11 record with Baker which will give him adequate actual NFL game snaps to qualify as Bucs 2024 qb1.
It would be disaster to win enough games with Baker to evade high draft picks and be in the same situation in 2024 as of now with an inexperience Trask and a busted Baker. It will be “Déjà vu all over again”.
June 19th, 2023 at 11:11 pm
With so many good quarterbacks coming out next year, you are not really wrong. You have to remember: Todd Bowles doesn’t exactly want to be a sacrificial lamb in order for the Bucs to be able to draft, say, Michael Penix or Drake Maye.
June 19th, 2023 at 11:11 pm
Joe Says;
“Baker got more first team snaps because Baker is the first-team QB”.
There you go Joe. You just confirmed what I have been saying all a long that this is a rigged competition. LOL. If this is proven fact then Bucs are wasting the entire roster/players on this Hollywood circus.
June 19th, 2023 at 11:12 pm
Joe. You are bias when it comes to Baker Mayfield just like you I haven’t read yet about Baker Mayfield throwing 1 pick but I read every time Trask threw a pick . And you are anti Kyle Trask and now you are admitting that Trask didn’t get reps with the starters which means this is not a competition. You and the rest of the bucs media is promoting Baker Mayfield so the Glazers can sale tickets with this fake competition. It sounds better to say Baker Mayfield fought hard and played good in camp to get the fan base hyped up about Baker Mayfield. I have no confidence in Baker Mayfield this is his 4th team in 6 years and we suppose to believe Baker Mayfield will be good this year?? I don’t care who win the job because the bucs have never developed a quarterback. And they probably never will !!!
June 19th, 2023 at 11:15 pm
Not sure it was “rigged.” Trask has had ample opportunity to prove he’s better than Mayfield. He still has that opportunity. You have to look at the big picture (i.e. Bowles’ job security). If Trask can only get to the same level as Mayfield, of course Bowles is going to go with Mayfield. So yeah, Trask has to demonstrate he’s better than Mayfield.
In other words, Trask has to be so good that Bowles can’t take him off the field.
June 19th, 2023 at 11:35 pm
Trask, coming out of college, did NOT throw an NFL ball. He threw a bunch of rainbow nonsense that has literally never worked in the NFL. It doesn’t mean he doesn’t have the arm, but he had to relearn how to throw in order to put some velocity on it. We saw that in his limited snaps, just watch his tape then compare it to his Florida tape. The issue, however, again in limited snaps, was that when he got in trouble, he reverted back to his natural cupcake no-zip passes. That’s a very difficult thing to overcome. On the positive side, he has shown, at times, that he has an adequate NFL arm, which is good enough if he has good accuracy. But in limited snaps, it seemed like his accuracy declined as he sped up velocity.
All of that above is why I wanted to see Trask play this year, to see if he has, or can overcome, those issues. The team isn’t going anywhere, they’re not winning the SB, or a playoff game, almost certainly they won’t have a winning season. This is the type of season were you should see what you have instead of rolling out a veteran QB that is going to get you a 6-11 record, which means you’re awful and boring – but not bad enough to get a top pick and a new QB – truly the worst of all outcomes.
June 19th, 2023 at 11:54 pm
Joe Says;’If Trask can only get to the same level as Mayfield, of course Bowles is going to go with Mayfield. So yeah, Trask has to demonstrate he’s better than Mayfield. In other words, Trask has to be so good that Bowles can’t take him off the field”.
If I am reading this correct. This QB competition is all about Todd B. future not Bucs/ not fans. Todd B. couldn’t win with Tom B. let alone with Baker. The era of wining with journeyman/older failed qb’s are over. Today championship games are won by the teams investing in their own qb’s rather taking short cuts just to sell tickets.
Todd B. will not be around after a 3-7 start with Baker. Considering what we know now, Bucks should have never drafted a qb with Tom B. on their roster while no one should be able to call Trask a busted draft pick as he had to sit two years behind GOAT.
Bucs never presented Trask a second rounder with proper training and developmental methods/testing to evaluate him in the past two years and still continue with the same bias waiting for a miracle out of a short failed qb named Baker who has less fan base than my previous local high school qb.
June 20th, 2023 at 4:18 am
KYLE…GTFO OF TAMPA!! Used to love the place and the tram in the 80s. Now it’s the land of confusion and dysfunction smh. (Yes they sucked in the 80s and will once again be a joke this year.)
June 20th, 2023 at 5:23 pm
Trask was carried in college! His stats vs. OU in the Cotton Bowl with average talent since his top targets skipped the bowl game 16-28 153 yds 0 TDs and 3 ints. GARBAGE! If the BUCS want a chance to win, they better believe Baker Mayfield is the only answer. He gives them the best chance, no doubt!
June 20th, 2023 at 11:02 pm
Chad Stone Says:
June 20th, 2023 at 5:23 pm
“Trask was carried in college! His stats vs. OU in the Cotton Bowl with average talent since his top targets skipped the bowl game 16-28 153 yds 0 TDs and 3 ints. GARBAGE! If the BUCS want a chance to win, they better believe Baker Mayfield is the only answer. He gives them the best chance, no doubt!”
Only Garbage here is your post twisting the truth to be a Trask hater. He tried to be loyal to his school by playing only half of ball game without his regular receivers and Kyle Pitt. He didn’t have to play that game. Playing that game actually hurt him in his draft class.
He was already broke Florida passing record for a single season and was projected to be a round one qb after his great performance in the SEC championship against Alabama. He scored multi touch downs and almost beat Alabama with an inferior defense.
Trask SEC Champ. stats vs. Alabama in 52 to 46 loss;
408 passing yards
26 of 40 completions @65 %
3 TD’s
1 rushing TD
0 int.
June 21st, 2023 at 7:00 am
“If Trask can only get to the same level as Mayfield, of course Bowles is going to go with Mayfield.”
I dont understand this logic? Trask is the guy with the upside –am i wrong in this thinking?
June 25th, 2023 at 10:17 pm
Mayfield is the greatest QB coming out of college since 2000 according to SI. Trask isn’t in the top 100. Baker haters are clueless.