Todd Bowles Updates Baker Mayfield’s Thumb
November 13th, 2023
Anyone else find it odd that Baker Mayfield injured his throwing thumb late in the second half of yesterday’s game and the Bucs didn’t have Kyle Trask warming up on the sidelines?
Not even a soft toss?
That was odd considering how much the CBS cameras were focusing on Mayfield struggling a bit with his hand. He hit a Titans’ defensive player’s helmet on a follow through.
Mayfield was quick to say he was fine after the game, but players aren’t always so forthright.
Today, on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Todd Bowles was very clear that Mayfield is in great health.
“He came out very good. I mean, he’s not on the injury report,” Bowles said. “He feels good. So we expect him to be ready to go.”
Joe was so glad to hear that update. Mayfield is playing pretty well, and considering the Bucs have no running game, he is the key to the Bucs’ division title chances.
November 13th, 2023 at 5:41 pm
Baker has played well enough for this team to be 6-3, in liteospite of Todd and of the Goedonkey/ Mauch horror show on the right and the worst running game in the history of the league. His haters have a strange denial of reality and instead like to pretend Kyle Trask is the next CJ Stroud being intentionally held back by a coach who hopes he gets fired rather than playing his best QB.
November 13th, 2023 at 5:44 pm
Spot on, Dave Pear.
November 13th, 2023 at 5:49 pm
Baker has played well, in spite of those offensive linemen mentioned above and 2 cornerbacks that would rather whiff than cover….
November 13th, 2023 at 5:50 pm
Agreed. Baker is playing well and not making alot of mistakes. He may be the long term or he may be a stop gap for a couple years but either way, I have been extremely pleased with his play and his maturity.
Way to go Baker!
November 13th, 2023 at 5:53 pm
Speaking of no running game, did anyone else hear the color guy say that Canales needs to help by designing more sophisticated run schemes instead of the vanilla slams into the line? No kidding Captain Obvious!
November 13th, 2023 at 6:15 pm
Baker has not beat a winning team yet. Don’t expect people to support him when he can’t do that. It’s easy to look good against the teams he has won against…yet so far, he has made it look challenging.
Blaming other players doesn’t change that.
It’s not impossible for him to earn my support, but he has shown me he is exactly what I was afraid he’d be when he was signed. Exactly.
And so far as him being a stopgap or bridge QB…well…wouldn’t we need a young QB for him to bridge? Don’t count on that happening, because with him beating bad teams, he will just cost us a high pick.
Seriously, people…hasn’t this fanbase been fooled by one year wonders enough to teach them a lesson already?
November 13th, 2023 at 6:23 pm
BM has made something out of nothing, but he looks like a scared cat back there.
November 13th, 2023 at 6:31 pm
Incorrect, the Vikings are 6-4.
November 13th, 2023 at 6:34 pm
@Bucs Fan Since ’76, that wasn’t even the color commentator, that was Matt Ryan. A pretty smart guy who still has a lot of connections in the league. He was spot on.
November 13th, 2023 at 6:51 pm
Bonzai, the vikes are 6-4 and the taints are 5-5. If the Bucs can get lucky and sneak by the niners, everything changes. In one measly week.
November 13th, 2023 at 7:01 pm
The Buccaneers offense would change drastically if they are able to find a top-notch center.
I figured his son would be fine. I’d like to know how healthy SHAQ is. He seems real good at times then either disappears or is not on the field.
Oh…. Devon White needs to be used shooting gaps and Blitzing quarterbacks and basically just trying to wreak havoc. They’ve got to stop dropping him back in coverage.
November 13th, 2023 at 7:24 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai: Just talked with Baker. He said that he could care less about what you think about him. He said that he’s far more concerned about what the REAL fans think about him.
November 13th, 2023 at 7:27 pm
BM6 can only play who is on the schedule….
It takes time for any QB to learn AND execute an offense well…
It is time for him to show progress in learning the plays and so far he is starting to do so….
Canales is a new OC and has been learning on the job how to call a winning game… He is just now starting to show he is getting better….
NOW at mid-season, they have had enough time….
They have the 2nd half of this season to earn their job or fail and get replaced!
November 13th, 2023 at 7:30 pm
Never thought that I’d agree with David, but center seems to be a real priority. Also I’d like a guard. Those additions would dramatically help our passing and running games, duh!
November 13th, 2023 at 7:34 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai Says:
Baker has not beat a winning team yet. Don’t expect people to support him when he can’t do that.
——–
🙂 Kyle cult has never seen a fact they don’t like to lie about.
Bucs 20 vs Vikings 17
Vikings rank – 6 -4 = Winning team
“It’s not impossible for him to earn my support”
We all who have read you over months know thats a lie. I have no doubt you will come up with some other excuse but those that look around at other bucs communities we see the majority of fans support Baker over Kyle.
“he has shown me he is exactly what I was afraid he’d be when he was signed. Exactly.”
Pure B to whatever letter . Not a single one of you traskies had him down as a top 14 QB where he is presently rated. Stop the lying dude.
November 13th, 2023 at 7:34 pm
@BucBonzai – Last time I looked the Minnesota Vikings are a winning team.
November 13th, 2023 at 7:40 pm
If the Bucs “sneak” by the 49ers (who just blew the doors off the Jags), I’ll cook and eat my shoe!! That game won’t be as bad as Giants v. Cowboys, but come on man….you gotta get real.
November 13th, 2023 at 7:42 pm
“Anyone else find it odd that Baker Mayfield injured his throwing thumb late in the second half of yesterday’s game and the Bucs didn’t have Kyle Trask warming up on the sidelines?”
Not at all. One, Baker said he was fine and could play. Two, Bowles knows Baker would melt down if he saw Trask warming up. Stop reaching, Joe.
November 13th, 2023 at 7:44 pm
Tony Marks Says: “Bucs 20 vs Vikings 17. Vikings rank – 6 -4 = Winning team”
When they played the Vikings were 0-0 and NOT a winning team. Oops!
November 13th, 2023 at 7:49 pm
So I guess we are enroute to the superbowl? Is it a lock after the win against the Titans?
November 13th, 2023 at 7:54 pm
Slappy Says:
November 13th, 2023 at 7:40 pm
If the Bucs “sneak” by the 49ers (who just blew the doors off the Jags), I’ll cook and eat my shoe!!
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Verification process or I am calling chicken.
November 13th, 2023 at 8:01 pm
Saints signed JPP 😥. Pain.
November 13th, 2023 at 8:03 pm
Seattle Buc Says:
November 13th, 2023 at 7:44 pm
Tony Marks Says: “Bucs 20 vs Vikings 17. Vikings rank – 6 -4 = Winning team”
When they played the Vikings were 0-0 and NOT a winning team. Oops
—–
Oops it what traskies do when they try to count to one .
by that silly excuse for logic. NO matter who you beat in the first two weeks it doesn’t count as beating a good team even if the team goes on to win the super bowl and has no other losses
Stay in school if you think thats a good reasoned come back..lolol
Traskies ya got to love their silliness and that they think the dumbest point is a good one.
November 13th, 2023 at 8:09 pm
Bonzai,
You’re a wet blanket.
Signed,
The Fighting Schianoes
November 13th, 2023 at 8:10 pm
No warm ups for Trask and he was still able to come in cold and nail the kneel down like a hall of famer. So impressive
November 13th, 2023 at 8:25 pm
Baker is playing as good as could be expected. The Gators run blocking scheme is more advanced than the Bucs’ from what I can gather. Not a whole lot of imagination in Bucs’ system. And to think beating the Titans relieves any concern about the defense is foolish. They’re not consistent enough. But if Kancey continues to progress and Vea stays healthy there’s hope.
November 13th, 2023 at 8:25 pm
Baker will always have my respect after the job he’s done with the Bucs this year. If only Bowles wasn’t so stubborn, things could have been different this year.
November 13th, 2023 at 8:31 pm
Trask got his first official play with the starters. Cannot say he has not played with them now. Just that he did not fumble the snap.
November 13th, 2023 at 8:55 pm
I wonder if Bowles did that just to shut you up. Because it shows up on the stat sheet.
November 13th, 2023 at 8:57 pm
What is up with these clowns like Dave Pear and others that keep complaining about Goedeke being bad and our O-line pass protection being horrible? We have a top 10 pass blocking O-line. Yes Baker helps out sometimes by evading the rush, like many many other QBs in modern NFL. Stop acting like Baker is turning water into wine. He’s been pretty decent and better than expected. Let’s not drag down others just to talk up Baker. It is foolish.
November 13th, 2023 at 9:06 pm
The Baker hate on this website is wild. Really wild. There are 18 other teams with worse qb play.
November 13th, 2023 at 9:08 pm
“but he has shown me he is exactly what I was afraid he’d be when he was signed. Exactly.”
Bonzai, Im glad to hear you expected Mayfield to have the 12th highest QB rating in the NFL just 1 spot behind Mahomes. Great to hear you have such high expectations for the guy. Sounds like your a big fan.
November 13th, 2023 at 9:09 pm
Bucs got a shot against the 49ers. I’m hoping but not expecting, 49ers seemed to get back in line just in time to play this game. One thing to look for, Nick Bosa and Chase Young. Baker had a famous nose rub in college when he beat Ohio State and planted the Oklahoma flag at mid-field in Columbus after the game. Bosa gets super pumped when he plays Mayfield with borderline taunts including on-the-edge hits. Fellow Ohio State ALumni Chase Young is sure to do the same and I’m sure Bosa has been pumping him. Probably see a few ruffing-the-passer penalties. Hopefully, they help the Bucs out a few times.
November 13th, 2023 at 9:26 pm
Baker Mayfield is completing 64.6% of his passes this year. Not great, not bad, kinda middle-of-the-pack. What’s interesting about that however is who he’s completing them to. He’s completed 197 passes in 9 games (roughly 22 completions per game) for 2,143 passing yards. Here’s who’s getting them:
1 – Evans: 43 catches … 70 targets … 737 yards … 61.4%
2 – Godwin: 44 catches … 68 targets … 522 yards … 64.7%
3 – White: 35 catches … 37 targets … 326 yards … 94.6%
4 – All others: 75 catches .. 130 targets .. 558 yards .. 57.7%
So basically 62% of Baker’s passes are going to Evans, Godwin & White and they’re accounting for 74% of our passing yardage (1,585 yards). Our 3 other RBs are contributing very little (8 catches for 24 yards), our 3 other WRs are contributing relatively little (33 catches for 285 yards) and our 4 TEs together aren’t even doing that well (33 catches for 252 yards).
Thus far Evans, Godwin & White are the Bucs’ offense, accounting for 2,014 yards of our total 2760 yards (73%). Lose any one of those 3 guys and we’re screwed. Canales better quickly find a way to get our other weapons more involved or it’ll likely be tough sledding for these last 8 games.
November 13th, 2023 at 9:28 pm
Again Baker Mayfield is average at best and those kind of quarterbacks plays good against bad teams. I know some of yall want him back next year but it will be a bad idea to bring him back. You ain’t winning a Superbowl with Baker Mayfield are less you got to the 02 bucs defense. Look at the Texans, Jacksonville, Buffalo, Cincinnati, 49ers and Philly. It’s time to move on from average quarterbacks that’s not the future of the team. The bucs has to draft a quarterback in the first round no more with these washed up or average quarterbacks and don’t care about their popularity like most of yall do. This fan base and bucs media love average or below average quarterbacks as long as they are popular with the national media. It’s time to move on into the future are get left behind. Watch what Baker Mayfield do against a good team and don’t give me that he didn’t throw a pick in the game so he didn’t play bad but all you see is a bunch of 3 and outs were the defense is on the field 80 percent of the time . That’s not a good game from a quarterback. The bucs must move on from Baker Mayfield next year or it will be another losing season!!
November 13th, 2023 at 9:47 pm
Again with the stats that are misleading. They only take into account completed. But it is not the QB’S fault for drops. I don’t care how you accept it they have to be accounted for. Just like the drop in the end zone. That makes any QB worse than they really are.
November 13th, 2023 at 9:58 pm
No, I do not find it odd that they did not have Kyle Trask warming up when Mayfield hurt his thumb , I do find it odd that Kyle Trask did not start from the beginning of the season when even Joe admitted Kyle had outplayed Mayfield in the so called preseason” competition”,( this of course was before their ongoing Mayfield propaganda offensive was launched to convince the fans that they aren’t really seeing what they have seen all season ). I also find it odd that Mayfield’s win-loss record is still similar to what his record with his previous three teams has been before they let him go , and we are still starting him! I also find it absolutely ludicrous that while We are teetering on the brink of either a successful or disastrous season, with eight games still to go , averaging a measly 21points per game and coming up on make or break games with San Francisco , Jacksonville, Indianapolis, and inter-divisional games with all our competition and We have done absolutely nothing to change our present trajectory, the team and fans deserve better.
November 13th, 2023 at 9:59 pm
Baker Mayfield feels like Jeff Garcia 2.0 or maybe 2.5
November 13th, 2023 at 10:13 pm
baker is playing well…
not great………..well…
and well is good because good is well 🙂
ie… how are you?
“i’m doing well” 🙂
ie…how are you?
“ehh not so good” 🙂
you can smack them up and flip them……well sorta…
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ok lost track there for a minute…
baker is playing well…which means he is playing better than a game manager…he is not playing great, because he is not a great quarterback…those a super rare…but he seems to be more than a game manager to me…he’s a notch beyond that…
if we build the right team we can win with baker…we did it with brad johnson…so we can do it with baker…
put baker on a solld team like detroit or balitimore…or even san fran….can those teams win it all with baker…??
yes they probably can…
he’s a pretty darn good (well) qb…
the thing is we haven’t seen a horrendous game from him yet where the loss is solely on him…
and we haven’t witnessed a stupendous game from him either…where he literally has one of the best games of his career…
in due time those are in the works…
also he is starting to get a really nice rapport with evans…
meanwhile he and godwin seems miles apart…
#BakerIsMoreThanAyeGameManager
November 13th, 2023 at 10:14 pm
the moment we signed baker i said he kinda like a jeff garcia…!!
he really is…
yesssss tooting my own horn….
#TootToot
November 13th, 2023 at 10:16 pm
That point in the game it was going to be mostly runs to burn clock and deplete Titan Timeouts. Didn’t need to throw the ball.
Didn’t do a real bang up job throwing it when his thumb wasn’t hurt.
25 minutes to put up a single point is weak. Deep throw interception to a receiver where every member of their secondary is in the frame was something Mac Jones would do. 0-2 in the Red Zone again. 6-20 is only 3 more points than the Browns gave up so Defense played well. Last week was a one off for them. Although the Browns Defense Mauled them (7 drives for 56 yards total all ending in punts). 6 first downs. Would have shut them out but Sean Murphy-Bunting striped a receiver and recovered a fumble at CLV 25. Gained 3 yards and kicked a field goal.
As far as the Offense. Kenny Pickett / Steelers put up 20 points on the Titans. Colts and Falcons put up 23 on them with backup QB’s.
Play like that next week and the game will be over by halftime. Play like that the week after and might get beat by Minshew another sub 500 QB that plays just well enough to keep a job in the league.
If this offense can squeak out a Wild Card Playoff Spot this next game could be a preview of the first round. Then again the whole NFC could go to crap, Bucs could win out, and get a first round bye.
Too many teams are getting better while Bucs offense seems to stay the same.
I’m not real confident the Bucs can beat the Panther’s twice. But then if the Defense keeps playing well they have a shot.
November 13th, 2023 at 10:27 pm
I saw one of Baker’s passes to Mike where the commenters said he had underthrown the ball. In fact, Mike ran that route at least 1/4 mile faster than I’d ever seen him run. He outran the pass. On another, they said Baker overthrew it. He did, but Mike just had to slow down a step and he would have had a PI from the Titan. I often wonder why Mike has had way lower PI calls than ever this year (he had one against himself, which I don’t remember ever seeing before). Baker had so many other good passes and moves. For the money and more, I am happy with Baker for now.
November 13th, 2023 at 10:31 pm
@Adam-I loved your entire post except I think you are wrong about the Godwin/Baker thing.
November 13th, 2023 at 10:36 pm
@Crickett Baker:
yeah i might have over done it a bit with baker/godwin…
i just want to see him getting more targets…he’s such a gamer
November 14th, 2023 at 2:33 am
Statistically BM career numbers are on a par or better than Jameis Winston, just a few TD’s and wins fewer, but achieving them two years quicker. Obviously BM has thrown far fewer ints than JW.
Is BM the long term solution? Of course not, but he’s doing the job asked of him, and he’s doing it to a decent standard.
Trask has 3 years in Tampa but is basically a rookie – what makes anyone believe that Trask won’t have the same issues that all rookie QB’s have (speed of the game being the primary issue). Where’s the evidence (actual evidence, not ‘feels’) that he’d be an upgrade on BM?
November 14th, 2023 at 3:56 am
DBS … ‘Again with the stats that are misleading. They only take into account completed. But it is not the QB’S fault for drops. I don’t care how you accept it they have to be accounted for.’
Stats can be misleading DBS to the extent that they can be misused. There is a stat for ‘completed passes’ and for ‘completed pass percentage. There are also stats for ‘dropped passes’ and for ‘dropped percentage of passes’. A completed pass is fairly objective (for most refs that is); not so with dropped passes IMO.
According to Pro-Football-Reference, the Bucs have dropped 9 passes on the year, for a 3.1% dropped pass percentage. Look at the other teams in our division:
o Saints: 12 Dropped passes … 3.3%
o Falcons: 13 dropped passes … 4.2%
o Panthers: 16 dropped passes … 5.0%
And the QBs for various division leaders:
o Dolphins: 14 dropped passes … 4.6%
o Ravens: 11 dropped passes … 4.0%
o Jaguars: 14 dropped passes … 4.7%
o Chiefs: 25 dropped passes … 7.7%
o Eagles: 10 dropped passes … 3.5%
o Lions: 19 dropped passes … 6.2%
o 49ers: 6 dropped passes … 2.5%
Looks to me like the Bucs 3.1% dropped pass percentage is quite good compared to those other teams. And since all those passes were thrown by Baker Mayfield, seems like that should be a positive for him. But then again, apparently stats can mislead, can’t they.
November 14th, 2023 at 6:22 am
@Bakie Marks
A team that is 0-0 has a record of 0.000 and thus is not a “winning team”. Are you saying 0.000 is a winning record? LMAO. You Bakies be special dumb!
November 14th, 2023 at 6:27 am
Defense Rules Says: “Looks to me like the Bucs 3.1% dropped pass percentage is quite good.”
Me too. Thanks for the stats. Goes totally against what I read here after each loss, crying about dropped passes.
November 14th, 2023 at 6:32 am
ATTENTION SHOPPERS!
DBS considers a kneel-down a play with the starting offense! The brilliance of Bakies!
I once read that Tampa Bay has the dumbest fans in the NFL. Well, there you go!
November 14th, 2023 at 7:19 am
Baker’s stats aren’t much different from Brady’s last year, outside of 40 yards less per game, but far fewer attempts
November 14th, 2023 at 8:33 am
Let’s see how Baker does against a good team he’s probably wouldn’t throw a pick but it will be a bunch of 3 and outs lol watch and see. And I know how y’all think it won’t be his fault because he didn’t throw a pick lol 😆😆. The bucs got to stop bringing in average quarterbacks that plays well against bad teams but suck against good teams. Our defense had one bad game but all the other losses were on the offense and Baker Mayfield is 80 percent of the reason why we lost those games. We ain’t winning nothing with Baker Mayfield maybe we make the playoffs but if we do it will be 1 and done . And y’all will be crying to bring him back and our dumb GM will bring him back and next year will be a losing season.
November 14th, 2023 at 8:37 am
Son of Trask changed your name again? What is that 135 now? Yes that’s that is a play. Look it up.
November 14th, 2023 at 8:41 am
Seattle Buc Says:
November 14th, 2023 at 6:32 am
I once read that Tampa Bay has the dumbest fans in the NFL. Well, there you go!
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Depends on which blogs you read. jbf does have a truckload of whiners and never-heard-you-before-on-here types. Whatever.
November 14th, 2023 at 9:09 am
A kneel down is recorded as a rushing attempt! Seattle Buc So there is that!
November 14th, 2023 at 9:34 am
Wow the greatest collection of Baker haters I’ve seen in one place this year!
November 14th, 2023 at 9:46 am
Baker gets criticized for losses when it’s a team game, Trask would get excuses for losses when it’s a team game. Got it.
November 14th, 2023 at 10:24 am
DBS Says: “A kneel down is recorded as a rushing attempt! Seattle Buc So there is that!”
So he played a down as a running back. OK. BWAHAHAHAHAHA!
November 14th, 2023 at 12:20 pm
Getting VERY tired of this ‘franchise QB’ BS. Look at the teams that have had a ‘franchise QB’, including TB with Tom Brady. EVERY one of those teams has a) great defense, b) good to great O-Line c) great receivers, and d) great running backs.
You could put almost anyone in at QB on the Chiefs, and they would still win. Maybe not a Super Bowl, but they would win 85% of their games. Same was true of the Packers with Rodgers, the Patriots with Brady, the Rams with Warner, Bradshaw with the Steelers, and most of the other teams. Hell, Philly won a SB with Foles for god’s sake.
There is a myth that a QB can elevate a team. And it’s true they can take a good/great team to an excellent/dominant team. But they CANNOT take a bad/weak team to the Super Bowl. Stop dreaming that you can magically draft the right QB, and Super Bowls will come your way. Want proof? Look up Dan Marino.
November 14th, 2023 at 2:40 pm
lanshark Says: “Stop dreaming that you can magically draft the right QB, and Super Bowls will come your way. Want proof? Look up Dan Marino.”
Also, look up the 69 quarterbacks who have been drafted in the first round since 2000 and then look up how many of those 69 have won a Super Bowl. I’ll save you the time: it’s 5. That’s right. 5 of 69.
November 14th, 2023 at 4:16 pm
Seattlebuc. Add Baker Mayfield to that list because we ain’t winning nothing with him at quarterback. We ain’t even going to get close with him at quarterback. We have to draft a quarterback in the first round and that’s just it how many quarterbacks that was drafted after Baker Mayfield that’s waay better than him right now? Baker Mayfield plays average against bad teams and sucks against good teams.
November 14th, 2023 at 4:21 pm
Landshark. So what is C.J Stroud doing because you can’t just throw a quarterback in with that team. I hope you are not one of the ones who want him back next year are you? Because if so then I guess you like average types of quarterbacks as well??
November 14th, 2023 at 9:42 pm
Kyle Trask is nothing but trade bait and idiot fans who think he’s good didn’t watch him throw 3 picks in the first half against an average to bad OU team in his bowl game…he wasn’t even the best player on his team in high school or college…..by 2026 he won’t even be in the league
November 14th, 2023 at 9:55 pm
>>> against an average to bad OU team <<<
An Alex Grinch defense. Say it out loud to let it sink in. Trask got shut down by Alex Grinch.
November 15th, 2023 at 7:36 am
Kyle Trask was playing with players that didn’t play all season that year because his starters was get ready for the draft. But go look what he did to Alabama he put up more points than any quarterback did against Alabama. He also had more yards and touchdowns than Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields that year. But that was then and this is now in training camp he was better than Baker Mayfield and that’s a fact. But don’t worry next year Baker Mayfield will be on his 5th team in 7 years but he’s a great quarterback in your eyes lol 🤣🤣. Again Baker Mayfield is a average quarterback at best only OU fans and some bucs fan settle for mediocrey!! I can’t believe that some of yall think that a quarterback that’s on his 4th team in 6 years is a great quarterback lol 🤣🤣🤣.
November 15th, 2023 at 8:08 am
Oneilbuc says “Look at the Texans, Jacksonville, Buffalo, Cincinnati, 49ers and Philly”
I’m looking. Without going into things like those teams’ running game, coaching, defenses, etc, here are the records of some of those teams with “star QBs”:
Buffalo 5-5
Cincy. 5-4
Chargers. 4-5
Dolphins 6-3
Bucs are at 4-5. If you lump the Bucs and the teams above into the same division, they’d only be 2 games out of first place with plenty of football left to be played.
Mayfield hasn’t been the problem. In fact he’s been one of the bright spots for the team this season. He plays hard, doesn’t pout or whine on the sidelines if things aren’t going well or make costly mistakes that lose us games. He battles and I appreciate that.
Does he “light up” defenses? No. Does he have that rare “it” factor that can “will a team to victory” by putting the team on his back and take over a game? No, but it’s rare for a reason.
Baker is only 28 years old and his development has been hampered (to say the least) by playing for a revolving door of coaches and coordinators in CLE, a dumpster fire in Carolina and only got a brief taste of good coaching in LA.
Steve Young was 30 when he took over for Montana in San Francisco. He sat behind Montana for 4 years and during those 4 years was surrounded by great coaches and winning football.
Kurt Warner was 28 when he signed with the Rams in 1998. He didn’t get his first start until the next year when he was 29, but was a starting QB (so he was playing regularly) for several years in arena football and in Europe. He got his reps in and was determined to get better and make it to the NFL.
I’m not saying Mayfield can be as good or accomplish as much as those two, but I look at him as a young, smart QB who is still pretty raw in his development and not by his own doing. Look where he is now….different team, new rookie OC and a HC who is defensive-minded. Hard to thrive in this environment but he’s giving us 100%. What else can you ask for?