“I Would Go To War With Baker Anytime, Anywhere”
September 21st, 2024
Bucs senior advisor Tom Moore talks Baker Mayfield.
Joe finds it hilarious that long-time football coach and current 85-year-old Bucs offensive assistant/senior advisor Tom Moore recently published a book.
The book is entitled “The Player’s Coach: From Bradshaw to Manning, Brady, and Beyond.”
Why is Joe amused? Because nearly every time Joe has tried to talk to Moore after a training camp practice or a game, or perhaps during a chance encounter in the halls of One Buc Palace, Moore either just grunts at Joe or maybe mumbles something inaudible and walks away.
C’mon, Coach, Joe brushes his teeth twice daily and showers daily, too. What gives?
So for Moore to write a book. LOL
Yes, Joe did have a revealing 1-on-1 chat with Moore at the NFL Scouting Combine.
As part of his book tour promotion, Moored appeared on “The Pat McAfee Show” this week. Moore has coached three of the greatest quarterbacks who ever lived not named “Joe Montana:” Terry Bradshaw, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. But if Moore found himself in a tight spot in a foxhole in some godforsaken land, Moore said he’d want Baker Mayfield next to him.
“Love Baker!” Moore growled when McAfee asked for his thoughts on Mayfield. “I would go to war with Baker anytime, anywhere.
“He’s smart. He studies. He prepares. He gives you everything that you need to win.
“He’s a great person and a great athlete.”
Joe can’t say claim to know Moore. But he doesn’t strike Joe as a guy who throws out compliments lightly, though he did issue a powerful Byron Leftwich endorsement, so there’s that.
Moore has coached two legends and a third who has seven rings, so for Moore to say that about Mayfield seems pretty significant to Joe.
"I love Baker Mayfield and he's a great competitor..
He's a great person and he does everything that you need to win in this league" ~ Tom Moore#PMSLive pic.twitter.com/tT6PkI8llF
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) September 19, 2024
September 21st, 2024 at 10:17 am
Bryon Leftwich wasn’t a very bad OC. The Bucs won a Super Bowl with him calling plays. He’s the only OC with two different QBs passing for over 5,000 yds in a season. His problem was losing Marpet, Cappa, Jensen. And it was also Tom Brady problem. Leftwich stuck with his usual play calling, with a patch up O-Line. He didn’t make adjustments, and it cost him his job.
September 21st, 2024 at 10:27 am
Those are all great and different QB’s Moore speaks of. Am old enough to have watched those careers. Won’t compare Baker to any QB or anyone else but what Bakers play does have is what I call “grit”, not moxie. Every QB that’s played the game has “OH SHEET!” moments. Just kick some dirt over it and move on.
September 21st, 2024 at 10:33 am
Coach Bowles, when promoted to HC made a statement about not having time to get the staff that he wanted in place. I wonder if Leftwich was told that he was only retained as OC by necessity? In other words maybe he knew he would be fired at the end of the season, regardless of the win/loss record.
I will say this though, if Leftwich did “tank” the season he seriously miscalculated how that would affect his coaching career. As far as I know he is still out of football.
September 21st, 2024 at 10:44 am
Agreed- Leftwich was a solid coordinator. Scoreboard…..
Maybe Joe’s continual smack talk in regard to Byron is why Tom Moore won’t give him the time of day.
I know, I know…. So predictable. Why isn’t Byron working as a coach anywhere?
Maybe he enjoys golfing and collecting a fat check. Maybe being a scapegoat didn’t sit well with him, and he’s over it.
September 21st, 2024 at 10:54 am
Leftwich was “solid?”
As opposed to diarrhea, maybe.
Does he even have a football job now?
September 21st, 2024 at 11:12 am
Leftwich had no ability to adjust his scheme to fit his personnel.
He did great when we had 8 pro bowlers / all pros / HOFers out there an offense. Take away 2 or 3 of them and his offense crumbled.
September 21st, 2024 at 11:14 am
Scoreboard
Dude won a a Super Bowl and had Jameis lead the NFL in passing haters.
September 21st, 2024 at 11:21 am
And if a QB was “throwing into the dirt intentionally ” ….. hard to blame a OC.
September 21st, 2024 at 11:50 am
Good for you coach. I made it clear on this here website when we picked up Baker, it was a homerun! Remember, the Bucs were seriously close to the cap and in no position to draft a decent QB. Baker was a great addition by JL. OUTSTANDING!
September 21st, 2024 at 12:07 pm
Scoreboard:
Jameis Winston of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers led the NFL in interceptions in 2019 with 30. Winston’s 30 interceptions were 10 more than the next quarterback on the list. Seven of his interceptions were returned for touchdowns.
September 21st, 2024 at 12:15 pm
Hats off to Tom Moore. There are very few “slow talkers” left in the world.
September 21st, 2024 at 12:16 pm
I ran across these stats while perusing something unrelated but I foundthem to be interesting and worthy of contemplation.
Baker’s stats from 2018-2023:
Baker Mayfield under Matt Rhule, Hue Jackson, and Freddie Kitchens (26 games): 77.9 passer rating.
Baker Mayfield playing with a torn labrum (13 games): 82.1 passer rating.
All other games (50 games): 95.6 passer rating.
Baker Mayfield in the playoffs (4 games & 148 playoff pass attempts): 100.4 passer rating.
The person that compiled the stats went on to comment:
“He’s always been this good. The difference is that now he has a decent head coach, reliable placekicking and strong defensive support AT THE SAME TIME that gives him margin for error. Plus he’s FINALLY allowed to audible at the line of scrimmage.”
I’m still inclined to be believe that this season is going to be looked back on as somewhat of a dress rehearsal for the 2025 season.
September 21st, 2024 at 12:29 pm
Leftwurst was pathetic without BA’s hand up his back controlling game plans and call sequences. Unemployed is all anyone need know.
September 21st, 2024 at 12:34 pm
@Gotti
1000%. A good QB plays to their contexts and Rhule, Jackson, Kitchens were among the worst a QB could have.
September 21st, 2024 at 1:30 pm
Why can’t Mayfield complete passes over the middle?
Asking for a friend.
September 21st, 2024 at 1:53 pm
Maybe he’s just not that into you. LOL
September 21st, 2024 at 1:57 pm
Leftwich was not a good OC. You know how we know? He ain’t getting a W-2 right now. If you’re good, you’re coveted.
And I am not buying a book from someone who refused to speak to the media. Even Bobby Knight talked.
September 21st, 2024 at 2:01 pm
“Trask To The Future Says:
September 21st, 2024 at 1:30 pm
Why can’t Mayfield complete passes over the middle?
Asking for a friend.”
I haven’t researched Mayfield’s career pass distribution chart, however…..
What difference does it make where a forward pass is caught if it moves the ball downfield?
Do passing yards down the middle of the field count more than passing yards down the sidelines?
Does a touchdown count differently depending upon where on the field the pass that resulted in the touchdown was caught?
Why are there people who seek to find negatives about a person just for the sake of finding a negative?
Are these predominantly rhetorical questions?
September 21st, 2024 at 2:40 pm
He’s going to give you everything he’s got.
One of the strongest arms in the league… Leadership in spades AND he’s evolving into an even better version of himself.
Last year was just the beginning of what Baker’s got and I see no reason he doesn’t have his best year yet this season.
Jason, Todd, Coen, etc will all get some REAL respect put on their name soon enough and it will happen in no small part to Bakers talent and determination.
September 21st, 2024 at 3:01 pm
It’s not like Leftwich was actually the OC that “final year”. Tom Brady was the last guy to call plays in the huddle, change them if needed at the line of scrimmage, and in reality had the MAJOR input in weekly game planning.
This is not to forgive Leftwich, he certainly wasn’t able to help. But it’s to realize that that horrid final season was because of a LARGE VARIETY of reasons many of them revolving around the guy who really made the offense tick…Brady.
September 21st, 2024 at 3:09 pm
If Coach Moore is saying Mayfield is a good dude (player) I am gonna have to guess he is a legit good dude. How’d we get so lucky? Congrats Jason Licht for pursuing good talent and finding the right mix. Evans/Godwin/Mayfield…can’t deny the vibe they aren’t going to give up and sh*t can plays. Baker is young. But his fire is undeniable. If he has matured into this player then I am happy for Carolina, LA and Clevelands loss and happy we got him at the right time.
September 21st, 2024 at 3:19 pm
You have friends? huh
September 21st, 2024 at 5:49 pm
Vinnie T. Still holds the Buccaneer season record for interceptions at 35. Mayfield couldn’t beat that if he played until 2044.
September 21st, 2024 at 6:53 pm
I could barely hear this guy Moore and I have good hearing and iPad. I like BM6 and the feisty team spirit he’s brought to the Bucs. Methusaleh12 was whoever, and acted like he was above everyone including BA. Glad his wrinkled arse is history. Looking forward to tomorrow, and Payton getting his rear kicked!