Baker Mayfield has not had the easiest NFL career, by any means.

At each stop throughout his time in the league — whether with the Browns, Panthers, Rams, or Bucs — he has been placed in unfavorable situations and expected to make the most out of them. Through dysfunctional franchises making coaching changes, brief cups of coffee with different teams, to coming in looking to fill Tom Brady’s shoes, Mayfield has now put himself in a position to thrive.

While offensive coordinator Liam Coen left to become the Jaguars’ head coach, the quarterback will be operating a very similar style of offense under new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard. That should allow him to get even more comfortable, but the team will also be looking for him to hone his competitiveness to stay healthy and turn it on when he needs to.

Thad Lewis Wants To See Baker Mayfield Take Even More Ownership

Bucs quarterbacks coach Thad Lewis has a one-of-one perspective of Baker Mayfield’s time in Tampa Bay. Lewis has seen it through the lens of Dave Canales, Liam Coen, and now Josh Grizzard working with him. As Mayfield has turned his career around, the former quarterback turned position coach expects even better things to come this season.

Bucs QBs coach Thad Lewis – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

After all, there will not be a whole new offense to learn as Grizzard has been in the building and will be modeling the offense after much of what Coen implemented last season.

“Baker doesn’t have to learn something new again, right?” Lewis said. “Might change a few terminologies, a few things to make something better, but for a quarterback to succeed and thrive, he has to have the same system, speaking the same language. This will be his first time doing that in three years. For two years in a row, having the same system, I look for him to excel and master it.

“Now you can give the quarterback ownership because he’s doing the same thing that he’s done the year before. That helps the offense out, especially the guy who’s touching the ball every time. To be able to teach the guys and see things how he wants them; just go out and play to the best of his ability.”

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

That is not to say Mayfield does not have ownership of things already, but rather that he can 100% confident and comfortable relaying information to his teammates and having them play on the same page even more. Being the natural leader that he is, that only bodes well for the offense as they look to maintain the level they played at when they were one of the top scoring offenses in the league and set numerous team records.

Lewis has been with Mayfield at every step of his time in town. From winning the starting quarterback job to leading the team to consecutive playoff appearances. Regardless of the circumstance, he appreciates Mayfield’s mentality.

“He has a chip on his shoulder, no matter what,” Lewis said.

Now In The “30 Club,” Baker Mayfield Needs To Start Taking Care Of Himself

While Thad Lewis enjoys Baker Mayfield willing to himself on the line for the sake of making a play, he recognizes that it comes with a cost. Taking a beating is not something he wants Mayfield to do every single down.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

“Good, bad, indifferent; he’s always out to prove himself but he’s his own worst enemy,” Lewis added. “Just got to get him out of harm’s way. I like his competitive nature, but I don’t like it to the extent where he keeps getting hit and he won’t be available. He’s getting older, he turned 30 [last month], so I joke with him — ‘Welcome to the 30 club.’ You’re older now, so those hits in your 20s might affect you a little differently in your 30s.

“Just to get him to start being smart, take less hits, throw it away. Maybe get down, only be competitive in “got to have it” situations. First down, touchdown, end of the game, things like that. I love him to death; I wouldn’t trade him for nothing or his competitive nature.”

That is the balancing act of having a physical quarterback who plays like an offensive lineman. It makes for some great moments, such as his “Get your weight up little boy” stiff arm to get a critical first down in his first Bucs game to holding 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa off with one arm while throwing for a first down with the other last year.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and 49ers DE Nick Bosa – Photo by: USA Today

It’s something Mayfield does in games, but it starts with fiery practice sessions.

“All the time — even in practice,” Lewis said about how often he tells Mayfield to tone it down a bit. “I might say, ‘Hey man, get down there.’ ‘What you mean, you think I can run him over?’ ‘I know you can run him over, but I rather you get down and have you the next play.’

“That’s just him joking, his competitive spirit. That’s the next step for him, and it’s going to be moving forward because the older you get, your mobility and ability goes away sometimes so you have to be smart. Just start getting him to play heady and understand the situation and getting out of harm’s way… That will also limit turnovers because he’s thinking in that manner. He doesn’t have to be a superman.”

Baker Mayfield has enough support around him to where he does not have to be Superman every snap, but he is still the guy they can rely on to save the day with a clutch play. Thad Lewis just does not want Mayfield to put himself in harm’s way unless absolutely necessary. We will see if that leads to him playing with any more caution this season.