The Bucs quarterback competition has taken a different turn over the last several days, with Kyle Trask trending upwards while Baker Mayfield has been stuck in neutral, if not trailing off.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Both quarterbacks have shown flashes by throwing multiple touchdown passes, but only one quarterback has been turning the ball over.

Through seven practices, it’s been Baker Mayfield that’s been giving the ball to the Bucs’ defense. He’s thrown five interceptions compared to one from Kyle Trask and one from John Wolford. Mayfield bounced back on Thursday with a turnover-free day, throwing a touchdown to David Moore in a red zone drill as well. He was also responsible for the offensive play of the day, which was a 30-plus-yard completion to Mike Evans down the left sideline.

Following practice, Baker Mayfield admitted that his practices on Monday and Tuesday weren’t great, but he’s taking a step in the right direction.

Baker Mayfield Gets Honest About His Recent Performances

“I think today was better than the previous two,” Mayfield said. “I think when you get the pads on for quarterbacks – bodies are flying around, but you still have to just go through your reads [and] take care of the ball. You’re taking chances and trying stuff out during camp, but it still comes back to taking care of the ball. Today was a better day for the offense overall and better for me, as well. We’re stringing it together. The installs are slowing down – it’s becoming smaller and smaller based on what we’re really teaching.

“We have a lot in. These ‘call-it’ periods, where we’re really just playing football, and move-the-ball periods, are really coming together. You’re trying to see guys, like we talked about last week, how they react in certain situations with actual football being played. We just need to cut down on the penalties and hone in on our assignments.”

Baker Mayfield has been with the Bucs for a couple of months now. It still takes time to put everything together when you have new teammates and especially when those teammates are learning a new offense at the same time as you. Then the pads come on, and there is another element to it all. The timing with the players he’s throwing to is one of the biggest nuances.

“You definitely have to hit the reset button with receivers and tight ends – guys that are running routes in pads,” Mayfield said. “It’s a lot different when you put the pads on, and guys are getting contacted or how they’re moving around with the extra weight on. You do have to get used to it a little bit, but now we’re just trying to get on the same page.

“The little details of how we want a certain route run against different coverages and fighting through contact and making sure they still get their depth even though they’re getting [contacted]. That’s why it’s great to have the referees out here – to where we can actually talk through things, what’s legal and what’s not legal, and have it more game-like.”

What Baker Mayfield Is Working On

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and OC Dave Canales – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

As he stated, Baker Mayfield is blaming himself for his struggles as of late. After watching the tape, he’s identified what needs to be adjusted to get back on track.

“Like I mentioned, the two practices previous to this one were not my best, by any means,” Mayfield said. “So we look at it – footwork was a little off, just being out of rhythm. So, just getting back to that. It was a lot better for me today.

“Obviously, we’ll go back in and watch the tape, but being able to go back in and see, ‘Alright, my footwork was timing up with the reads, and that’s why I was able to get the ball out and take care of it.’”

If the Bucs weren’t in a quarterback competition, the interceptions might not have been as concerning. But when you’re in a battle for the starting job between two players, every single pass is looked at under a microscope. Practice is the time to find out what you can and can’t get away with, though on the outside, they could look like huge mistakes. He’s finding out a balance of one to test things out and when to treat certain situations as close to in-game as possible.

“We have our two-minute situational stuff and like third-down period. To me, that’s when you really want to take care of the ball – it’s when you want to treat it more game-like,” Mayfield said. “Third down period, you always want to end up with the ball in your own hands – obviously, you want to convert – but a punt is better than them getting it with a short field. So, treating it like that, but then on certain looks, one-on-one balls, 50-50 balls, trying out certain guys and seeing how they’re reacting to contested catches and things like that. There’s give and take, but then with situational football, it’s time to treat it like a real game.”