While things have not gone the Bucs’ way during the team’s most recent stretch of games, a win against the Giants has them up to 5-6. Quarterback Baker Mayfield has had a successful season running the show under offensive coordinator Liam Coen, and with him directing the offense, the unit has been the fourth-highest scoring in the league at 28.1 points a game.

How has Mayfield built off last season to have a more efficient year in Tampa Bay, and what is allowing him to succeed in Coen’s scheme? Both of them discussed this during Wednesday’s press conferences.

Baker Mayfield Is Playing To His Strengths And Getting The Ball Out In Rhythm

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and OC Liam Coen – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Baker Mayfield has taken his play up a notch in 2024.

On pace to shatter the previous career-highs he set last year with the Bucs, Mayfield is having another Pro Bowl-caliber season. Through 11 games, he has thrown for 2,799 passing yards, 24 passing touchdowns, and nine interceptions.

All of those numbers are impressive, but one statistic stands out the most – a 71.4% completion percentage. That is a marked improvement from his previous best of 64.3% in 2023 and he has become a much more efficient passer than his days with the Browns.

How has he improved in Liam Coen’s offense, specifically in completing a high volume of his throws?

“You know, completion percentage is obviously the play calls and scheme, but trust with the receivers and then also, like I keep saying to you guys, letting the defense dictate where the ball needs to go,” Mayfield said. “Not trying to force things, not trying to do too much, move through progressions, and then it goes back to check downs and simple things that are easy throws that these guys are making explosive plays off of. It’s me just trusting that and trusting the guys that we have, and we have the right group to do that.”

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

Mayfield is not just getting the ball to his weapons on short passes. While a staple of the offense has been getting the ball to his weapons in space on quick hitters, he has operated Coen’s diverse offensive attack where the ball has been spread out all over the field.

“It’s just knowing your personnel, knowing the guy, right?” Coen said. “I mean he’s at his best when he’s spinning the ball, when the ball is able to come out on time and in rhythm. As much as we can do that without just throwing quick game all day – that’s not what we’re trying to get done – we’re trying to attack the defense as many ways as we can. It just so happens that getting the ball out of his hands quickly and getting people at the right spots at the right times in space has been good for us.

“So, I think it’s probably a combination of [him] and Thad [Lewis], their work together, and our work together as a group getting his feet, his mind and everything, and his reads, on time. Then, also, just playing to the guy’s strengths.”

Baker Mayfield: “This Is The Most Balanced Offense I’ve Been In”

Bucs RB Bucky Irving and QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

Baker Mayfield has thrived in Liam Coen’s scheme, allowing him to play to his strengths this season.

But Mayfield is not the only one.

After having a dead-last rushing attack the past two years, the run game is now 10th in the league averaging 128.2 yards per game thanks to the contributions of Bucky Irving, Rachaad White, and Sean Tucker behind an above-average offensive line.

Even after Mike Evans and Chris Godwin went down with injuries, the offense managed to stay afloat with creative playcalling and ways to get everyone involved. Mayfield has enjoyed seeing the puzzle pieces fit together, even when it takes a little force.

“This is the most balanced offense I’ve been in, strictly – obviously, you talk about the scheme that we’ve brought in and how we’re executing the run game now, and then just the different personnel [packages] that we’ve been forced to get into and learn and grow in with the injuries that we’ve had,” Mayfield said.

“It’s fun to see. It’s fun to see the different packages that we can have and the stuff that we can… You know, plays off of plays, still calling your bread and butter – the stuff that if it [isn’t broken] don’t fix it. But then, going from there, it’s a really balanced attack obviously. Everybody is playing well, 11 guys touching the ball – that’s big time so that means whatever package we have out there, everybody can get the ball.”

After getting everyone involved against the Giants, Baker Mayfield will look to do so again under Liam Coen’s guidance this Sunday against his old coordinator and team in head coach Dave Canales and the Panthers.