“Baker Has Brought Some Life To That Offense”
September 21st, 2023
Bucco Bruce Arians on Baker Mayfield.
In the first two episodes of his podcast, “No Risk It No Biscuit,” former Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians got on his soapbox and explained why he doesn’t like quarterbacks to run.
The first main reason is a quarterback must be able to throw the ball and throw it well in the final two minutes of a game, Arians said, because a team often needs a score then.
Arians doesn’t believe a quarterback can win games in the clutch with his feet. As he stated last week, guys don’t get faster as they grow older.
This week, Arians again discussed his disdain for running quarterbacks. It’s the punishment they take and how it shortens their careers, he said.
Arians added that there is a reason teams don’t pay running backs and why running backs have short shelf lives. So why would a quarterback — who if successful will be highly paid — want to emulate a running back?
Apparently, Arians has mentioned his philosophy to Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Last week Arians came down to Tampa to golf and go to a Bucs game. He also attended a Bucs practice and spoke to Mayfield, cautioning him about running.
“Like I told him, ‘You don’t need to be trying to run them linebackers over every week unless you put some big shoulder pads on,'” Arians told his co-host, Melanie Collins of CBS. “‘You already won the locker room over. You don’t have to do that bravado sh!t.'”
Already Mayfield has displayed a devil-may-care attitude on the field and he is unafraid to stick his nose into a haystack of bodies. Mayfield already won Kyle Brandt’s “Angry Runs” award for stiff-arming a Vikings defender and running for key first downs.
Mayfield also hurt his shoulder in Week 1, likely from getting physical with defenders.
Still, Arians admitted he’s a fan of Mayfield.
“I love to watch him play.”
Arians has been open about how much he likes Mayfield. In Arians’ year away from coaching in 2018, Arians called games for CBS and several were Browns games with Mayfield at quarterback.
Arians gave Mayfield props back then and admitted Mayfield is his kind of quarterback. Well, except for the running and taking on defenders trying to bust his ribs.
As for his feedback from attending a Bucs practice, Arians said he is impressed with where the team is mentally.
“I like the way they are interacting,” Arians said. “I was at practice the other day. There is a great vibe. Guys love Baker. He’s a fighter. They believe in Kyle Trask, too.
“Now that’s another team I think — to me — it’s not surprising they are 2-0. They have to stay healthy also.
“Baker has brought some life to that offense.”
OK Coach, we get it. You’re still in offseason mode where you have to follow a predetermined narrative and offer up forced compliments of Kyle Trask so you don’t hurt his feelings, just in case Mayfield bottoms out.
It’s all good now, Coach. Mayfield has the team headed in the right direction.
September 21st, 2023 at 4:16 am
Baker Mayfield…peace be upon him.
September 21st, 2023 at 4:36 am
I have been impressed with his play so far. You got to hand it to Licht for signing
him improving the team with his free agents and what looks a very good draft class.
September 21st, 2023 at 4:39 am
Baker doesn’t run all that much. Baker looks like he’d be good at dodgeball. He’s as squirmy and slippery as they come.
Oh, and Bruce, that was a cornerback he stiff armed, not a linebacker.
September 21st, 2023 at 4:56 am
Joe … ‘OK Coach, we get it. You’re still in offseason mode where you have to follow a predetermined narrative and offer up forced compliments of Kyle Trask so you don’t hurt his feelings, just in case Mayfield bottomed out.
You were doing so good until that Joe, but then you just couldn’t help yourself. Bucs are blessed right now to have 3 QBs (and yes, I include John Wolford in that group) who can drive this car. Just look at what happened to the Jets in Game 1.
Kyle Trask is a big boy and I don’t believe for a second that BA offered up that compliment so as not to hurt Kyle’s feelings. I’m convinced that he’s honestly proud of the job Todd Bowles is doing also, and all of that ties in together. And his ‘advice’ to Baker is just BA being BA.
September 21st, 2023 at 5:41 am
a full assessment shouldn’t really be done until the bye week, when we have what is traditionally known as 25% of the season completed, and have gone through what seems to be the 2 tougher games of the first 4 on the schedule… only then can we take it all in and begin to see where we are at – as the meat & potatoes of the season begins around week 5 or 6…
can’t front tho, the early season excitement sure is fun 😉
September 21st, 2023 at 5:43 am
so we didn’t go after akers or hunt and they’ve been snatched up…i didn’t really want akers anyway…
so shouldn’t we logically at least bring ronnie brown back into the fold on the practice squad?
or has he been snatched up too?
September 21st, 2023 at 6:14 am
But, but, but…Oneilbuc said the only reason Mayfield’s starting is because he’s “more popular”. 😂🤣😂🤣😂
September 21st, 2023 at 6:16 am
We back Mayfield but joe he hates on other Buc players 😡
September 21st, 2023 at 6:19 am
I read an older article here that I’d skipped earlier. It seems the Eagles have had more three-and-outs than we have.
I like the sound of that.
September 21st, 2023 at 6:22 am
Oneilbuc should stick to fluffing buffalos.
September 21st, 2023 at 6:22 am
Joe still out there with his Pom poms cheering against the college players come from.
September 21st, 2023 at 6:23 am
I just hope Baker makes it through the season without serious injury the way he plays.
September 21st, 2023 at 6:42 am
Imagine if we can pull it off Monday night?
I have confidence in BM. I have very little confidence in Rashaad White after the first 2 games.
What’s his longest run so far? 6 yrds?
September 21st, 2023 at 6:53 am
We have the bake part. It’s the shake in shake n bake that worries me.
Be hard to finish a season the way he is playing. Good thing Trask is up to the task when his name is called.
September 21st, 2023 at 7:26 am
He runs if he has to but scrambles to pass big difference. It is a qb’s job also to give every play a chance to be successful and Baker has shown he can do that a good as anybody. Let’s hope his mind is right, has matured by realizing with this team and OC he doesn’t have to try to be Superman just the man.
Fred Joe was talking about the linebacker he cracked trying to get a first down not the stiff arm
September 21st, 2023 at 7:29 am
Is it just me,‘or does anybody else think @BBro is @NDog .
September 21st, 2023 at 7:30 am
I’m sorry I’ve gotten old and stupid. There was supposed to be a question mark at the end of that last post
September 21st, 2023 at 7:34 am
i’ve heard of these so called fluffers…
how cool would it be watch the first half of the game monday night…
get a quick 15 minute fluffing at halftime…
then back to the game to watch the 2nd half…
makes for a pretty complete evening
September 21st, 2023 at 7:55 am
I never followed Mayfield prior to his signing with the Bucs, but could it be he just loves to play football? I know he needs to be smart about it, but it’s fun to see him ball out every play.
September 21st, 2023 at 8:14 am
I’m not he only Buc fan who thinks BM reminds us of Sonny Jurgensen. I hope he’s slowly learning how to curb his enthusiasm and slide, Bucs beware of the zebras MN cos they’ll be out in force!
September 21st, 2023 at 9:26 am
Nope. Don’t care where a guy went to school so long as he produces.
Now that’s a helluva comparison. Jurgenson was bigger of course and likely much more of a partier. Thinking Jurgensen was slower, too but Joe didn’t see him when he was young.
Jurgensen may have been a better thrower. Maybe. He was scrappy like Mayfield. Can certainly see a similarity there.
September 21st, 2023 at 10:34 am
Like most, not our trolls, I am thrilled with Baker’s success.
But I’m not the least bit down on Trask nor should his supporters feel gloom.
His time will come and from the preseason it looks like he’s finally up to the task.
I have plenty of respect for Trask am thrilled to have him waiting in the wings but it was clearly Baker’s turn. As the man once said…”simple as that.”.
September 21st, 2023 at 10:37 am
Wow! A call for ROJO lookup. No, no, NO!
And, then references to Sonny Jurgeson. I was a Redskin season ticket holder when they traded Norm Snead (a true bum) to the Eagles for Jurgeson.
What a steal! Jurgeson was the best pure passer I have ever seen. He was a very slow runner.
September 21st, 2023 at 10:58 am
I was born in DC, and my Dad was a yuge Giants and Washington fan. That’s where I got my love for NFL ball from. BM is shaped similar to Sonny and feisty like he was. I was too young to understand a pure passer, but I did get what a great QB SJ was. The idiot Eagles gave up on him? Too much. I hope that bodes well for our Bucs MN. 🙂🏈
September 21st, 2023 at 11:36 am
orlbucfan, I was also born in DC (1962) and grew up on Northern VA. My dad was good friends with Sonny post-retirement. Sonny used to hang out at an auto parts store on Rte 1 in Alexandria (near Mt Vernon) and my dad was a parts salesman for a parts wholesaler and that store was one of his clients.
First time I met Sonny I asked for an autograph (I was probably 10 y.o.). He never let me forget it either.
In my teens it became a running gag with my old man coming home from work and saying “Saw Sonny today. He signed this for you” and he’d toss me some random item that Sonny signed (usually with a joke written on it as well). An empty spark plug box, used paper coffee cup, anything that was handy at the time. Wish I still had that stuff. Lol
I think he was about Mayfield’s size (maybe a little shorter) but I remember he had a very well-crafted and well-earned beer belly. He sure threw a pretty ball tho.
September 21st, 2023 at 12:10 pm
They shredded a bad defense.
This week is a proper test.
September 22nd, 2023 at 2:31 am
Bucco Bruce lives!
You tell em coach. Baker can pull it down and run but eventually he will catch a linebacker with a bad attitude and end up in Tampa General wondering what his name is. Win with smarts and your right arm Mr. Mayfield.
Go Bucs!
September 23rd, 2023 at 9:06 am
Joe from Michigan. I still believe that Baker Mayfield was gifted the starting job and he’s only starting because of his popularity. Now he’s played good and I can admit that but he won’t be here next year. And if he is he will not be the bucs future quarterback. But facts are facts Kyle Trask out played Baker Mayfield in Training camp and preseason. And if the bucs would have known he would play that well they would have never sign Baker Mayfield. Baker Mayfield is to popular to be a backup quarterback just like Cam Newton can’t be a backup quarterback on no team even though he’s washed up. I’m just happy that my bucs are 2-0 regardless of the quarterback. Baker Mayfield is a game manger and that’s all he needs to be .
September 23rd, 2023 at 9:15 am
Fred. I’ve never seen you on here before so you must be a fake Browns fan or a Baker Mayfield fan. To all my real bucs fans we have already delt with people like this when Brady came and now we have a troll like NEfakefan that trolls the team now. Let’s ignore what these fake fans that’s only here because of one guy . They’re comments don’t mean nothing to the bucs I can’t stand fake fans like this because I like Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts is from my city. My cousin coached him in little league but I’m rooting for my bucs and don’t follow the Eagles at all or am I on their website commenting about their team because I’m a bucs fan.