Welcome to SR’s Fab 5 – my weekly insider column on the Bucs that features five things that are on my mind. SR’s Fab 5 is now a shorter, quicker read, but still packs a punch. Enjoy!

FAB 1. Baker Mayfield Is Bucs QB1 – For Now

Baker Mayfield is the leader in the clubhouse at quarterback in Tampa Bay heading into training camp. That’s not an official proclamation from the team, nor is it just an opinion from yours truly and the Pewter Report staff.

Instead, it’s a very educated observation given the evidence we’ve been subjected to this summer.

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

While the team has alternated starts between Mayfield and Kyle Trask each week, it hasn’t been a true rotation. Mayfield, a veteran entering his sixth season, has started on Tuesdays and Thursdays, while the unproven Trask, entering his third season, only started on Wednesdays.

It only makes sense that Mayfield would be leading the QB competition right now. This is very big season for both Todd Bowles and first-time offensive coordinator Dave Canales. If the Bucs have another losing season, then Bowles could be out as head coach. And if that happens, Canales might not get another shot at being a play-caller in the NFL anytime soon.

So with so much on the line, why would Bowles and Canales leave their fates to Trask, who has thrown just nine passes in his NFL career? It doesn’t make sense – unless Trask really outperforms Mayfield.

But that hasn’t happened yet.

And if this QB battle, which is expected to go into the third preseason game, is close, then Mayfield will get the benefit of the doubt based on his experience.

As I’ve said time and again – and I’m just reiterating what Canales has said – the Bucs starting quarterback will be the one who turns the ball over the least in training camp and in the preseason games.

From the open practices we’ve watched this offseason, Mayfield has done a better job of protecting the ball. Perhaps that’s a byproduct of him receiving better protection from the starting offensive line and throwing to the team’s starting receivers more often.

Mayfield and Trask will have far more opportunities to toss touchdowns and stay away from interceptions in near-daily training camp practices than during offseason OTAs and the mini-camp, which were just three days a week.

So this battle is far from over.

FAB 2. Baker Mayfield Is Becoming Bucs’ Leader On Offense

Aside from Baker Mayfield’s experience, the way others talk about him makes it clear he’s the one to beat at quarterback later this summer. It’s not that the Bucs players don’t like Kyle Trask, they do. It’s just that they seem to love Mayfield.

“He’s eager to learn,” Bucs head coach Todd Bowles said of Mayfield. “He’s got a bunch of energy every day. Guys gravitate towards him.”

Bucs WRs Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, QB Baker Mayfield and OC Dave Canales – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

That’s apparent on the practice field, and it undoubtedly continues in the locker room, the meeting rooms and elsewhere in the AdventHealth Training Center.

“I think he’s proven that he can be a winning quarterback and play at a really high level. so just the confidence that he has, [he’s] giving it to the other guys and myself included,” Otton said.

But Mayfield’s leadership and ability to develop chemistry and camaraderie extends past the team’s facilty. Mayfield golfed at the Bruce Arians Family Foundation event and attended the Mike Evans Family Foundation gala, where his high bid won a summer boat trip that he intends to use as a bonding afternoon with the Bucs offensive line.

Mayfield also attended a Lightning playoff game with Trask and some Bucs teammates in the spring, and joined left tackle Tristan Wirfs and tight end Ko Kieft at a Rays game this summer.

“The greatest thing I’ve seen is really outside of football,” Bucs running back Rachaad White said of Mayfield. “Just being a leader, just having fun. Very passionate, very fired up, very good at getting guys going. Baker’s energy has been great, honestly. That’s been the biggest thing. He just comes in and you can tell he’s got a chip on his shoulder. He’s very relaxed. He’s just very comfortable at just doing what he does. That’s what I like about him.”

The former No. 1 overall pick has really made a concerted effort to ingratiate himself into the locker room and forge relationships.

“To me, that’s the best part about football – it’s the greatest team sport on earth,” Mayfield said. “It truly takes 11 guys doing their job, and trusting everybody else to do their job, to have success. You have to get to know everybody – the little intricacies and the things that wire them, that make them go and make them tick. That’s my favorite part about it, but to me, that stuff comes natural. You’ve got to get to know your teammates and then once you’re out there, then you get to have fun. I’m truly enjoying that process right now.”

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and RB Rachaad White – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Bowles was asked during the mini-camp what he’s looking for in a quarterback.

“It’s a little different because you don’t hit the quarterbacks in OTAs, nor do you hit them in mini-camps or even training camp until they play game,” Bowles said. “So you really don’t know who is what under pressure. From an analyzing standpoint, again it’s the grasp of the offense, it’s the reading of the defense – it’s not necessarily making the big play but the right play.

“Then it comes down to moxie, it comes down to intelligence – in-game intelligence and adjustments and fits and film work. You can see who the team galvanizes around and who’s ready to play the first game and you make a decision from there. It’s constant analyzation, whether it’s small or whether it’s big – it’s constant analysis from now up until we name a starter.”

Mayfield’s moxie, leadership qualities and lack of interceptions have him leading the way at quarterback in Tampa Bay.

For now.

FAB 3. Dave Canales Has The Traits To Become A Special Coordinator

New Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales is 42 years old. But with his athletic build and the way his races around the field with unbridled enthusiasm, Canales could easily pass for being 32.

Former Bucs head coach Jon Gruden and owner Malcom Glazer – Photo by: USA Today

The things that Canales does are not normal, and honestly, they remind me of Jon Gruden when he arrived in Tampa Bay as the head coach and offensive play-caller in 2002 at the age of 39. Gruden would race around the field and play defensive back against the receivers in individual drills. He would be very hands-on with the quarterbacks. And in the Super Bowl prep against the Raiders in San Diego, Gruden even played the role of Rich Gannon in practice against the defense because he knew the Raiders quarterback so intimately.

During individual periods with the quarterbacks, it’s Canales, a former QBs coach in Seattle, leading the drills – not Bucs QBs coach Thad Lewis. And it’s Canales setting up drills himself – instead of a coaching assistant or an intern – by moving throwing nets or cones.

Have you heard the term “working manager” before?

It’s when a manager at a restaurant, for example, sees that the place is packed, and he or she is involved in hosting when the hostess is seating other guests. The working manager is bussing tables when all the other bussers are busy. He or she is assisting the chefs and cooks in food prep in the kitchen on a busy night, or helping bring food out to the table while the other servers are busy doing the same.

“Working managers” don’t sit back in their office and just delegate and let the employees do all the work. “Working managers” lead by example and they aren’t afraid of diving in and doing the dirty work themselves. It’s not beneath them.

Dave Canales is the epitome of a “working manager,” and it’s refreshing to see. The Bucs players are definitely taking notice, too.

Safety Ryan Neal came from Seattle, where he saw Canales’ hands-on approach for years.

Bucs OC Dave Canales – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“Energy – energy and excitement,” Neal said. “That’s the formula we had where we came from [in Seattle] and that’s what he brings. That’s something that is going to be real prevalent in this offense.

“You’re going to see them celebrating a lot more when they make plays. You’re going to see them having fun. You’re going to see them being enthusiastic. You’re going to see some downfield plays. You’re going to see it all because that’s the kind of system he runs. It’s real balanced.”

Bucs running back Rachaad White has seen a night-and-day difference, not only in the offense itself in terms of scheme, but the energy that Canales has brought to Tampa Bay, too.

“I mean just the different looks that we give the defense – just the different opportunities … the energy has been great,” White said. “Obviously, we’re all happy about it. Like the pocket movement – just get the defense running side-to-side. It’s just a well-balanced offense to me.

“And then the shots and the plays, and you just see guys like Chris [Godwin] and Mike [Evans] and how they are open. Mike comes to the sideline saying, ‘Man, I ain’t really been this open like this in a minute!’ It feels good. It’s been great – just happiness. It’s been fun.”

White loves how Canales’ youthful exuberance makes practice fun and helps set the tone.

“It sets the tone a lot, to be honest,” White said. “Great energy – he just feeds off on everybody else. That matters a lot. To have a coach running around, and things like that, you can tell how much they care – their passion.

“You see him chasing down guys on anything – if fumbles happen. We try to joke with him and tell him be careful. ‘We don’t want you to pull nothing, even though you’re young – but you’re getting up there [in age]!’ We just like to mess around with him.”

Bucs OC Dave Canales – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Godwin has been around multiple play-callers in Tampa Bay from Dirk Koetter to Todd Monken to Byron Leftwich to Canales. He’s already been won over by Canales’ approach on the field and in the meetings.

“I like him, I really do,” Godwin said. “I think the first thing that really comes to mind is he’s a very smart guy. You can tell that he, one, really loves ball, but he really knows what he wants to do in terms of installing the offense and attacking defenses. I think that that really comes off in meetings, it comes off in how he delivers the messaging to guys in the meeting room and on the field.

“I think the guys really respond well to that. He’s not really a yeller. He’s not trying to cuss guys out, he’s not trying to berate guys. He’s a teacher and he wants to effectively communicate that. … Guys are flying around – the intensity is high.”

FAB 4. Todd Bowles Is Helping Accelerate Dave Canales’ Learning Curve

Despite having 19 years worth of experience coaching football from high school to college to the NFL, including the last 13 years in Seattle, Dave Canales’ play-calling experience is in its infancy.

Todd Bowles took a big gamble hiring an unproven offensive coordinator this offseason, especially with Bowles needing a big season to stay employed as Tampa Bay’s head coach after going 8-9 in his debut in 2023. Bowles is a very hands-off coach when it comes to the Bucs offense. Much like offensive-minded head coach Jon Gruden was, allowing defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin to have autonomy over his side of the ball.

Bucs OC Dave Canales – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

But Bowles is trying to fast-track Canales’ learning curve when it comes to play-calling. In the OTAs and mini-camp, Bowles didn’t run scripted periods where the offensive and defensive coaches got together to work on specific things, such as the offense working on slant passes and the defense working on defending the slant.

Instead, he had “call it” periods during 11-on-11s, where Bowles and Canales had no idea what was coming in terms of each other’s play-calling. Just like an actual game, which is a genius move by Bowles to help prepare him for play-calling duties this fall.

Both quarterbacks, Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask, realize what Bowles has done for Canales and applaud it.

“I have all of the confidence in the world [in Canales], but like we talked about earlier, I think we’re both getting thrown in the fire going against a Todd Bowles defense for the first time running this system, and the first time he is calling it,” Mayfield said. “I think this is great work. We’re doing a lot of ‘call it’ periods where it is unscripted, and he is having to talk about formations, personnel and different things like that. It’s great for everybody to get a feel for how he wants to call it. Then there is also the learning curve and that is what this time of year is all about. I have the utmost confidence in him.”

Trask concurred.

“I think Coach Bowles is doing a lot of things in practice to put us in a lot of game-like situations, so we’re getting a ton of reps looking at what the process is going to be like calling from the sideline and hearing it from the headset,” Trask said. “Just getting that muscle memory for us out there on the field. Not everything is just going to be scripted for the offense and defense where you just got out there [on game days]. Put the ball down and run plays. [Scripting plays] is not really how you get better in the end. That’s good if you want to get stuff on tape, but we’re doing a lot of things that really translate to real football – getting the play from the sideline, calling it in the huddle and just going through the entire process.”

Pewter Report has learned that the “call it” periods will continue in training camp, which is a very good sign.

FAB 5. Bucs Have Mined Senior Bowl For Tons Of Talent

The Senior Bowl tweeted out an amazing stat this week about how many inside linebackers and outside linebackers the Bucs have drafted from the premier college all-star game over the years. Tampa Bay has drafted inside linebackers Lavonte David (2012), KJ Britt (2021) and SirVocea Dennis (2023), who were Senior Bowl participants, in addition to outside linebackers Anthony Nelson (2019) and YaYa Diaby (2023).

The Bucs have mined the Senior Bowl for a bunch of talent over the years on the offensive side of the ball with former left tackle Donovan Smith (2015) and former guards Ali Marpet (2015) and Alex Cappa (2018), as well as center Robert Hainsey (2021). Tampa Bay went back to the Senior Bowl for more offensive line help this year in guard Cody Mauch, a second-round pick. Former first-round tight end O.J. Howard also starred at the Senior Bowl.

But as the Senior Bowl tweet illustrates, Tampa Bay has also quietly stockpiled some talent on the defensive side of the ball, too.