The Bucs have not had much to write home about in two games, with the offense and defense failing to click and get the team into the win column. After Tampa Bay discussed its heightened sense of urgency throughout the week leading up to Sunday’s game against the Vikings, they didn’t show much of it, losing to Minnesota, 23-16.

After watching them for another four quarters, here is what was most disappointing from Week 3.

QB Baker Mayfield

Baker Mayfield maybe wasn’t as disappointing in this game compared to previous weeks, but does that really mean much?

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: IMAGN Images via Reuters Connect

Mayfield was made a $55 million quarterback before the season. The expectation is for him to elevate the offense and throw at least two touchdowns a game. Yet, he has two touchdowns through three games. No. 6 remains inaccurate, missing Emeka Egbuka several times on passes well behind him. He completed just 50% of his passes, finishing the game 17 -of-34 for 217 passing yards with a touchdown and an interception. That just won’t cut it.

Mayfield has done nothing to answer the problems plaguing this offense. Instead, his play is one of them. Now, all eyes are on his health after he suffered what appeared to be a right hand injury late in the game after throwing an interception on fourth-and-13 with less than two minutes left.

OC Zac Robinson

The Bucs’ offense had a couple of positive moments but lacked any consistency moving the football and sustaining long drives.

Outside of Ted Hurst’s 40-yard touchdown catch, no first-half drive went longer than seven plays or for more than 42 yards. Take away Hurst’s catch and Cade Otton’s big play and not much went right for Zac Robinson’s offense. Robinson is attempting to mesh everything together, but the offense is all over the place. The run game lost its luster from previous weeks, and it is concerning that no wide receiver has emerged as a true threat. I also found it curious how little Chris Godwin Jr. was utilized early on as he spent time on the sidelines.

After three games, more questions than answers linger for the offense’s true direction. Robinson has a lot to sort out moving forward. That starts with getting Baker Mayfield into more of a rhythm, divvying up the running back carries, identifying a wide receiver to turn to, and correcting some offensive line mistakes.

Bucs Punt Return Coverage

This one is obvious, right?

Danny Smith’s special teams unit was one of the Bucs’ bright spots through the first two weeks, but that aspect of the game nosedived with the first Vikings punt return. Myles Price had plenty of space to break free and elude Tampa Bay special teamers en route to an 86-yard punt return touchdown.

It started with Kameron Johnson over pursuing and not being in position when Price caught the ball, and it was poor tackling as several players dove in vain as Price sprinted away. It made it 10-0 not even halfway through the first quarter, which did not evoke much confidence for a 0-2 team coming in.

CB Jacob Parrish

Jacob Parrish has made an impressive transition to being a full-time outside cornerback, but he had quite a disappointing moment in the first half. Covering Jordan Addison on third-and-8, Parrish was beaten in coverage and allowed a 41-yard touchdown. Addison created easy separation with the ball in the air, adjusting to Kyler Murray’s ball while No. 25 fell down and was nowhere close to defending it. It is worth noting that at this point in the game, Justin Jefferson was out with an injury. They only had to stop one deep threat and failed to.

RT Luke Goedeke

Oh, what could’ve been.

Baker Mayfield’s best throw of the game was called back on a third-and-29. That nullified an 85-yard touchdown catch by Chris Godwin Jr. on a deep throw from Mayfield. Rather than taking a 20-17 lead, Luke Goedeke was called for offensive holding which made it third-and-36 and obviously led to a punt.

It’s a Bucs life.

Bucs Run Game

This was the week the Bucs’ run game needed to get going facing Brian Flores’ defense. Establishing the ground game early would have put the offense in much better position to control the time of possession and keep Flores honest.

Bucs RBs Kenny Gainwell, Bucky Irving and Sean Tucker – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Instead, Bucky Irving did nothing, averaging just 3.1 yards per carry. For an offense that wound up punting nine times, a more balanced offensive attack was wishful thinking. Also, where is Kenny Gainwell or Sean Tucker? They paid $7 million for a return specialist, and Tucker deserves at least some action. What are they paying nearly $10 million to backup running backs for?

RG Cody Mauch Holding Bucs’ Offense Back

A key component of the Bucs’ offensive struggles last week was the offensive line being called for holding penalties which stalled out drives. The trend of holding calls continued on Sunday, with right guard Cody Mauch and center Graham Barton penalized on consecutive plays in the second quarter. That made it first and goal from the 27-yard line.

Want to talk about the team beating themselves? These are moments that simply cannot happen. Rather than being in position for a touchdown, Zac Robinson’s offense had to settle for a field goal to make it a 10-10 game.

In the third quarter, Mauch was called for another holding penalty on a run that amounted to a 2-yard loss. How is an offensive lineman holding on a run going nowhere? Throw in the fact that he allowed eight pressures in the first two games, and No. 69 is not helping. Instead, he is holding the offense back.

Third-Down Offense

While the third-down defense held up, the third-down offense did absolutely nothing. The Bucs were just 2-of-16 on third down chances when they had the ball, failing to convert at progressing the ball downfield. Working with a short field or long field didn’t matter.

The offense simply didn’t capitalize.

DT Calijah Kancey

It is getting harder to see Calijah Kancey being a long-term piece of the Bucs’ defense. Injuries held him back for his first few seasons, but Kancey is in his fourth season now. Yet, he has failed to develop into a game-wrecker. He has disappointed and disappeared from games, despite having elite athleticism at the defensive tackle position. In what is a make-or-break year for him, he has produced very little. It is not a good look that Tampa Bay picked up his fifth-year option, because like many players on the team right now, he is not worth that increased price tag.