Dual-Threat Baker Mayfield
October 19th, 2023
Defensive coordinators have sleepless nights thinking about Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. But Baker Mayfield’s legs?
That was the message from Buccaneers QB coach Thad Lewis on the team’s radio network this week. Lewis said Mayfield’s scrambling has been effective enough to make defenses think and plan.
Yesterday, Todd Bowles was asked about the Bucs’ offense allowing the fewest sacks in the NFL and the head coach quickly praised Mayfield’s escapability for preventing sacks. Rightfully so.
On the rushing front, Mayfield is on pace this season for the most scrambling yards of his career.
Joe isn’t going overboard on Mayfield’s scrambling ability. It’s nice, it’s helped the Bucs win games and he likes like Michael Vick compared to Tom Brady, but 18 quarterbacks have run for a touchdown this season; Mayfield isn’t one of them. And Mayfield’s got the 18th most yards on the ground for QBs (67 yards), which isn’t a scary number.
So Joe isn’t sure Mayfield is changing defensive playcalling because of his legs, but he has been very effective on the ground.
One fun fact for Mayfield is he’s averaging .7 yards after contact this season. Running back Rachaad White is at 1.2. Ke’Shawn Vaughn is at 1.0 yards after contact.
October 19th, 2023 at 11:05 am
Joe … ‘Mayfield’s got the 18th most yards on the ground for QBs (67 yards), which isn’t a scary number.’
Agree it’s not a huge number Joe, but he’s avoided sure sacks, kept drives alive with his scrambling (critical for THIS Bucs’ team), and gotten 4 first downs with his legs in the process. Oh and he is 2nd on the team (behind White) in rushing yardage with his 67 yards after 5 games by a factor of over 2. Sad isn’t it.
October 19th, 2023 at 11:10 am
D@mn shame when your – basically immobile – QB is your best RB.
October 19th, 2023 at 11:13 am
If he’s going to be on the sideline stretching out to a grab an extra half yard he might want to look what’s coming first. Just because a QB is running out of bounds until he hits the white he’s just like any other runner. Mayfield’s lucky the Bucs didn’t have to burn a time out while he returned from the 3rd row of seats in during the Lions game.
October 19th, 2023 at 11:15 am
This is why I feel our OL is overrated. They didn’t give up sacks last year because Brady would get rid of the ball in 2.1 seconds. They’re not giving up sacks this year because Baker is running around avoiding them.
And we still can’t run block.
October 19th, 2023 at 11:30 am
“OH NO! BAKER MIGHT RUN THE BALL!”
… said no DC ever. Thad Lewis is full of it.
If the QB Coach thinks Baker’s scrambling ability is a weapon, the Bucs offense is more inept than we thought.
6 points is making a lot more sense.
October 19th, 2023 at 11:47 am
Secret Trask Lovers. Get over it. He ain’t playing this year barring an injury.
October 19th, 2023 at 11:47 am
Joe that’s one of the surprises to me also this season. I know you don’t want your QB getting knocked around or hurt but, I haven’t seen a lot of plays call for Mayfield to run. Maybe that’s just not a good choice in this offense
October 19th, 2023 at 11:48 am
@ DR
I agree. 67 yards is not overly impressive but Baker has avoided some sacks and picked up a few crucial first downs.
I’m wondering why the Bucs don’t try running a few designed QB draws or sweeps like most other teams do – especially with our running game being as fruitless as it has been…
October 19th, 2023 at 11:49 am
I would like to see him avoid sacks by going thru his progressions. The way Brady did it. He is not getting it done with his legs. We need points.
October 19th, 2023 at 12:13 pm
You’d be surprised how fast you can scramble, when some big mean dudes are chasing you.
October 19th, 2023 at 12:28 pm
Mod Hair Ken: At New England ,before Drew Bledsoe , the sixty million dollar man, received a serious injury , Tom Brady was just a sixth round, run of the mill , never played ,untested backup , until he wasn’t , then , he came in , became the greatest of all time and never looked back. Isn’t it funny how many times history has and will continue to repeat itself, Mahomes for Smith at KC, Purdy,(Mr Irrelevant , for every other QB in SF) ,before they got their chance and never looked back ,it happens all the time and will continue to happen, maybe even here in Tampa.
–
October 19th, 2023 at 1:05 pm
I’m confident in Baker. If the season goes downhill let Trask play. But I’m cool with where we are now.
October 19th, 2023 at 1:10 pm
But Patriots generally have had a solid offense surrounding Brady. Brady benefited from that and of course Brady is exceptionally smart and talented and disciplined. Neither May field nor Track has the benefit of a solid offense,, too many problems even Brady could not overcome here in Tampa last year. . Also very few offensive draft picks in2023. But the defense is gteat!. Maybe next year Bucs can focus on getting great running backs in the draft. Go Bucs!
October 19th, 2023 at 1:28 pm
Scrambling is a two-edged sword. It forces defenses to address a mobile quarterback, and sometimes big plays result.
But on the other hand, if defenses don’t respect the downfield passing, then all they need do is load the box to both stop the run and stop a scrambling quarterback. That’s where we are today with the Bucs playing against average to good defenses. Mayfield cannot make up for his inaccurate passing, especially more than 5-10 yards beyond LOS, by scrambling. I don’t know if he can get better on accuracy. If he doesn’t then all the Bucs will be able to do is barely beat bad teams and get their asseskicked by the good teams.
October 19th, 2023 at 1:46 pm
Some of you on here a delusional. You just want to trash Baker for some reason. He doesn’t run to be a running QB, he does it to escape and looks to throw. He’s pretty good at escaping tackles The On-line can’t run block for crap. They are a one dimensional team but still try to run. So, ya’ll want to blame Baker for everything while receivers drop passes constantly. No run game and dropped passes are Bakers fault? What about play calling? Trying to run the ball in crucial situations- how has that worked out??? It’s predictable. Third and 2 or 3 – run up the middle just about everytime!
October 19th, 2023 at 2:24 pm
Baker has 1 off game where he his off on some passes and now the “Fans” are screaming he’s inaccurate. Geeze, you people just like to complain! Why don’t ya’ complain about all the dropped passes? How about the defense not stopping the Lions on 3rd down constantly. It ain’t all Baker folks! Do you guys HONESTLY think Trask would do any better under these circumstances? They are 3-2 calm down. Btw, they could always bring in Trask for designed QB runs (so Baker doesn’t get hurt) and for trick plays.
October 19th, 2023 at 7:01 pm
Gaytor bois still salty
October 19th, 2023 at 8:16 pm
🤣🤣🤣. Sure Barker keeps defensive coaches up at night, they’re in the club celebrating having to play s 🗑 of a QB.
October 19th, 2023 at 8:45 pm
Awww Bakerboi fewings got hurt!
October 19th, 2023 at 10:16 pm
Maybe Baker’s numbers would look better if the receivers actually RAN FULL SPEED on their routes, and you know, stopped dropping passes? And if the O-Line actually gave him more than 2.7 seconds to throw without someone in his face?
Yeah, he overthrew some last week. Hard to follow through correctly when there is a 300 pound lineman within your arm radius. Not following through is the #1 cause of overthrown balls, followed closely by not stepping into the throw (another thing difficult to do when there is a 300 pound lineman in that space).
October 20th, 2023 at 12:10 am
“It’s natural to overthrow a ball – that doesn’t lose a ballgame,” said Head Coach Todd Bowles. “Can it be a big play? Yes. It’s just an incomplete pass”.
Seriously Mr. Toilet Bowl ????? Please stop covering for the qb whom you know is useless against the average to elite teams. You choose wrong qb1. Baker missed at three TD’s throws to wide open receivers.
The best defense is a good offense. He makes those throws we win 27 to 20.
October 20th, 2023 at 1:55 am
But when he was in Cleveland he had a top tier line that had 3 pro bowlers/ 3 all pros. He had Nick Chubb AND Hunt as a backup. This was not his worse game, the Eagles game he had under 100 yards going into his last drive. I’m not a Trask or Mayfield fan. I’m a BUCS fan. Let’s get a QB on the draft.
October 20th, 2023 at 1:56 am
If I am Bowles or Canales, I don’t want Baker escaping or have any yards after contact. I want him firing the ball to an open receiver! Great that he can do it but I personally want to see less of it.
For example Canales has said he wants the ball out in 2.7 seconds or less. I did not see enough of that Sunday. Baker was holding on to the ball, then pulling it down and taking off. That folks, is rookie stuff.
However I have not looked at the all 22 and he may not have had much choice if guys were not getting open out of their breaks.
Go Bucs!