So I will admit, I am a huge BUCS fan, but honestly have very little interest in other teams, especially outside of the division. So tell me about Baker Mayfield. I tried searching up some draft day scouting reports, but its honestly pointless. The pros and college are not the same. Why was he drafted number 1 overall, what are his strengths, what are his weaknesses. I remember when Drew Brees was a Charger, he wasnt all that great then, he blew UP with the Saints. Does Baker even have the tools for that kind of a rebirth? Hopefully, someone would give me a fair unbiased opinion.
Most on this board are pretty unbiased when it comes to Mayfield. There's no reason to be biased. There's no history. He's not eating up cap space. He seems like a nice guy who has a good perspective. And he hasn't won any games or lost them for the Bucs.
He's done pretty well in the limited amount we have seen in preseason. IMO he'll get more credit or more blame than he deserves. He's going to do OK, not great. The rest of the team will be the reason we sink or swim. And then win or lose everybody will talk about Baker Mayfield because he's the QB. The first two games are a litmus test, because they are middle of the road teams. If you can beat middle of the road teams you might be good. If you can't beat them, then you aren't even an average team. All the doom and gloomers will chime in and they'll be right.
Talk to me after week 4 and we’ll let ya know lol
Baker Mayfield can make plays with his feet and launch downfield jump balls when a play breaks down. That is good and bad in that sometimes it works and sometimes it turns into turnovers. That is a result of not reading the high safety pre snap and then taking a gamble by trying to force a downfield pass into double coverage.
Mayfield can make all the NFL throws. And with Canales emphasis of protecting the football and quicker release this may limit Mayfield's shots he takes from defenders and also limit him trying to play hero ball which may cause more turnovers or taking sacks that could be avoided.
He is at his best from play action and Canales DOES a lot of play action and Bowles wants to run the ball. Also since Mayfield is not considered very accurate NFL QB having Godwin and Evans helps big time on that perimeter.
Because of his frame he may be nicked up but that is why it is crucial the Bucs stick with play action and running the ball while having an up tempo quick release offense to limit injury potential to Mayfield.
Mayfield is not a statue back there and he will be compared to Jeff Garcia more so than Winston but his arm is much stronger than Garcia. Canales will have him running waggles, boot legs, etc to really make defenses guess. Also to protect Mayfield from taking big shots and to change the launch point.
Here are my thoughts after seeing him for myself. Somehow, someway he won.
He made some clutch plays on the last drive
2 touchdowns, no turnovers
he won me over today
let’s keep it going
He missed some throws and was a little erratic but he made throws to and above all was a leader who clearly wanted to win.
have to play better but a win on the road is great, especially after the rough start
He, and all fbe starter, barely played in the preseason. We looked rusty as hell in the first half.
once he settled in, things looked a lot better. Hope this is the start of a good season.
Now that I have seen a few more games. Hes got some moxy and some intangibles; he just doesn't have the arm talent to surgically dissect a team. If only he was a better passer, he would be special. Unfortunately, Im not sure thats a skill that has much potential for development, maybe im wrong, but I'm of the opinion that 95% of arm talent is natural inborn talent, coaching may be able to steer you 5%-maybe 10%. Anyone disagree?
we wont win a Superbowl with Baker Mayfield. So we must ask ourselves, what is the goal? We won two in the last 20 years and in today's NFL, it appears you need a QB to do it.
the Eagles were the last team to win one without a top QB - Nick Foles and they had the football gods on their side in the 2017 season. Before that, it was Joe Flacco with the Baltimore Ravens in the 2012 season. So you can see it doesn't happen as often as the days of Trent Dilfer and Brad Johnson will be even less likely.
so if the goal is superbowl? No he isn't the answer. But can he be a bridge QB for when we draft someone? Sure. I think this team needs to build up the trenches before they consider drafting and ruining a QB. So if a Drake Maye or Crybaby...oop damn autocorrect Caleb Williams drop to us, then yeah we consider drafting them but otherwise, dont reach on a QB Josh Freeman style because it wont pan out. Build up the team like the Chiefs, Ravens, and Eagles do; then give that QB a great chance to succeed.
This current Bucs squad has a good WR core, elite tackle, and mediocre everywhere else. If we are being honest with ourselves, with that offensive line, most QBs would struggle - look no further than the GOAT last year. Need to build that line up.
The ceiling with Baker Mayfield? likely a first round playoff exit. Ya know what, not too shabby until we can find better.
depending on how the year finishes, i think you do give Baker a 1 year contract but dont be foolish like Giants and Seahawks and give a medicore QB a 40 million dollar multi year deal.
$25M max for me. 1 year deal.
I agree 100% the Bucs need to build the team from the inside out, in other words, the tranches. Let's face it, this year was a transition year from the get go, eating all that excess cap, new OC and some other coaches, new QB. They're about where I thought they would be record-wise thus far. A first round home playoff game would exceed expectations. Going forward, it's going to take some time to right the ship. By the time the Bucs fix the trenches and get a new QB worked in, they will need to replace some key players like Mike Evans, Lavonte David, both CBs, MLB. It will be a few years before the Bucs become one of the top teams in the NFC.
Mayfield sure doesn't seem like he has great arm talent. And if you combine that with being late/indecisive, he's lucky to not have more INTs
Still, he is probably over-performing most expectations and he is sort of carrying the offense at times (not good). He is also the TYPE of QB who fits the system well.
I agree 100% the Bucs need to build the team from the inside out, in other words, the tranches. Let's face it, this year was a transition year from the get go, eating all that excess cap, new OC and some other coaches, new QB. They're about where I thought they would be record-wise thus far. A first round home playoff game would exceed expectations. Going forward, it's going to take some time to right the ship. By the time the Bucs fix the trenches and get a new QB worked in, they will need to replace some key players like Mike Evans, Lavonte David, both CBs, MLB. It will be a few years before the Bucs become one of the top teams in the NFC.
Agree and dont think that is necessarily a bad thing that it might take a while. Like you post, there are some good players and some expensive players to sort out and the team should be built from the trenches (for once lol)
the challenge will be impatience. If the Bucs struggle all the way to the end of this season there will be MORE calls to fire Bowles. You do that you lose Canales too, you bring a new system, so potentially more mismatched players to change out
It's not a given that if you lose Bowles you lose Canales too. I could see them firing Bowles, but not firing Canales right away, waiting to see who the new HC is. Certainly, if it's an offensive guy then Canales would be out. If it's a defensive guy he could conceivably want to maintain some continuity on the offensive side. And the other possibility is somebody like McCown who doesn't have a lot of coaching experience.I agree 100% the Bucs need to build the team from the inside out, in other words, the tranches. Let's face it, this year was a transition year from the get go, eating all that excess cap, new OC and some other coaches, new QB. They're about where I thought they would be record-wise thus far. A first round home playoff game would exceed expectations. Going forward, it's going to take some time to right the ship. By the time the Bucs fix the trenches and get a new QB worked in, they will need to replace some key players like Mike Evans, Lavonte David, both CBs, MLB. It will be a few years before the Bucs become one of the top teams in the NFC.
Agree and dont think that is necessarily a bad thing that it might take a while. Like you post, there are some good players and some expensive players to sort out and the team should be built from the trenches (for once lol)
the challenge will be impatience. If the Bucs struggle all the way to the end of this season there will be MORE calls to fire Bowles. You do that you lose Canales too, you bring a new system, so potentially more mismatched players to change out
If Canales's offense can be effective down the stretch, the Bucs will have to think twice about casting him aside and starting over for the second time in two years. I know how the NFL works. Coaches want their own guys, but I'm just saying it's not a given.
yes i think there is always a possibility but I also think a Bowles replacement would be an offensive guy, especially if we were going to try to make a move for a QB.
Monken comes to mind, as one example
