Here is a good analysis of the problem Mayfield had hooking up with OBJ in Cleveland. This should be of interest to Bucs fans, because we have two outstanding and well-paid wide receivers who need to get the ball if the offense is going to succeed, no matter what offensive scheme we're running. We saw the inexplicable difficulties last year when Brady and Evans didn't seem to be on the same page which still is mystifying. Well, the Mayfield to OJB connection or lack of it was worse than that resulting in OBJ being traded from the Browns.
(176) Baker Vs Odell | What Went Wrong? - YouTube
To sum it up, according to this analysis, Mayfield was a big part of the problem, but not the whole problem. Mayfield was not that good at reading the defense and knowing when OBJ was going to get open. Mayfield had issues with his footwork where his front foot would not be pointing in the right direction, causing him to overcompensate and overthrow receivers. Mayfield would sometimes take off and run when there was pressure instead of standing in a little longer and recognizing that OBJ was open. Mayfield ws not the only problem. OBJ was not always committed to the offense. And the coaching staff was to blame because the offense did not seem to be tailored to utilizing OBJ.
So it's all well and good to have a veteran QB, run a balanced offense, get the running game going, get more movement in the backfield and etc. I'm not saying we need to have Aaron Rodgers back there or that anybody expects that, but we still need to get the ball to Evans and Godwin. There are going to be some misses. But hopefully Mayfield has improved enough between then and now, or improves this offseason, so that he can be effective at getting the ball to our two star receivers.
Mayfield did not improve last season. With Mayfield the Panthers wet 1-5. After benching/releasing Mayfield the Panther finished the season going 6-5. In the games he played with the Rams he went 2-3.
Panthers also had a better record after trading CMC
Maybe it was because OBJ is a diva dipstick.
Mayfield did not improve last season. With Mayfield the Panthers wet 1-5. After benching/releasing Mayfield the Panther finished the season going 6-5. In the games he played with the Rams he went 2-3.
The stats are not in is favor, and you have to wonder what the Bucs are really expecting out of Mayfield. His yards per attempt was 6.5. He had 10 TDs in 12 games. 8 INTs in 10 games isn't bad, but he fumbled 9 times. 4 of those were in his first game, but even so that's a lot of fumbles. I realize if somebody had good stats they'd be getting $30 million, not $4 mil plus incentives. I think Mayfield will start the preaseason as the starter, but I'm not confident he'll end it that way. He'll have a very short leash, because Bowles has a short leash. So Bowles needs to pick the right QB out of the gate, because if things aren't going well he's going to want to pull the QB after three or four games. He's not going to have any patience at all, and that's not going to look good. If he things Baker is looking serviceable in the preseason, then go with him. But if he's not looking good in the preseason I wouldn't start him in Week 1 and hope for the best, because it's a bad look to pull your QB after only a few games.
Mayfield over Trask at this point.
If he sucks, give Trask the last 6 games of the season and see what he has...
If we are somehow contending for a playoff spot then... cool!
Mayfield over Trask at this point.
If he sucks, give Trask the last 6 games of the season and see what he has...
If we are somehow contending for a playoff spot then... cool!
You say that now, but I'm pretty sure if we're three games into the season and Mayfield is a laying an egg you won't be saying "Well, lets be patient. Give him eight more games!" You won't be saying that. Fans won't be saying that. Bowles won't be saying that. You'll all be saying "Dump Mayfield Now!" Rightfully so, because it's not like he's a rookie. He's been mediocre for most of his five-year career. Sure, they hired him with the hopes that he can elevate his play here in Tampa and they should give him that chance. But if he's not doing it three games in then why you would think he's going to get any better after that? And it's not all about the W-L record. Just don't be the reason we lose.
Mayfield did not improve last season. With Mayfield the Panthers wet 1-5. After benching/releasing Mayfield the Panther finished the season going 6-5. In the games he played with the Rams he went 2-3.
The stats are not in is favor, and you have to wonder what the Bucs are really expecting out of Mayfield. His yards per attempt was 6.5. He had 10 TDs in 12 games. 8 INTs in 10 games isn't bad, but he fumbled 9 times. 4 of those were in his first game, but even so that's a lot of fumbles. I realize if somebody had good stats they'd be getting $30 million, not $4 mil plus incentives. I think Mayfield will start the preaseason as the starter, but I'm not confident he'll end it that way. He'll have a very short leash, because Bowles has a short leash. So Bowles needs to pick the right QB out of the gate, because if things aren't going well he's going to want to pull the QB after three or four games. He's not going to have any patience at all, and that's not going to look good. If he things Baker is looking serviceable in the preseason, then go with him. But if he's not looking good in the preseason I wouldn't start him in Week 1 and hope for the best, because it's a bad look to pull your QB after only a few games.
Licht has had a hard on for Mayfield since the draft process. He really believes he got a steal.
Obj loafs on many plays and freelances his routes, Annonymous nfl head coach has been quoted. Talent wise obj is top ten, head wise he is a 1st rate chump. jarvis landry looked like an all pro with baker and R higgins looked promising and DPJ looked good. Think Baker and Obj felt " forced". Obj no longer has that clout over teams offense. baker spreads the ball aroung pretty well.
They are taking a one year flyer on Mayfield
fans focused on him rather than the rebuild, rather than a team just handed to Trask
If Mayfield is the reason we suck after 3 games then sure, bench em.
If he's part of the problem but not THE problem, then I'd continue to go with him.
If we suck but it's due to coaching or whatever, then you stick with him.
But I'm not some Mayfield fan. I like the signing for cost/benefit.
This is more so a function of my complete lack of confidence that Trask brings anything to the table.
I truly believe Trask is an AJ McCarron type of talent and will be playing XFL football in less than 3 years.
Would love to be wrong, just like with Winston... but the reality is the reality.
Mayfield is simply the taller midget.
Expectations aren't high for this team for me this year. It's bakers 4th team right? I don't think many are expecting much from him, including us with a 1 year deal. If he does well then good we need that. If not then let trask play and then we can go from there. Try to do what we can to improve the play at los here while we get there. Draft well and make some smart pick ups and if we coach even a little better they can maybe create an interesting season. I'll watch either way.
Mayfield won 40% of the games he started
FTR, Mayfield started four games for the Rams and only won one for a 25% win percentage as a starter. Technically, John Wolford started the Raiders game that they won - largely because of Mayfield's heroics. Wolford only played one drive, so this is semantics - albeit accurate semantics.
Former Cleveland fan (and not an Oklahoma fan):
OBJ had a 1000 yard season with Mayfield in the Kitchens-disaster 2019. People completely ignore this when picking sides in the Mayfield/OBJ debate. They also ignore that OBJ asked for a trade out of cleveland over and over again, including before playing with Mayfield ever.
In 2020, OBJ was then hurt (as he has bad knees) and Stefanski's system does not favor WRs. It favors TEs and RBs and is considered unfriendly to WRs (see why Digg asked out of Minnesota).
While in Cleveland, OBJ famously moped on the sideline when other players scored, with Mayfield coming to find him and appease him.
OBJ did not come back from his knee surgery as a true WR1. Forgetting he quit and was lazy and freelanced, he just didn't look the same and wanted out.
OBJ's resurrection in LA:
Compare OBJs splits with Stafford vs. Mayfield. They are virtually identical (slightly better with Mayfield actually). The lone stat in favor of Stafford was TDs in LA vs. Cle. But that's scheme. Hunt/Chubb and TEs got those TDs in Cleveland. OBJ also benefited from playing across from a true elite WR1 in Kupp.
In this case, OBJ was the problem. Mayfield had no problem finding him in 2019, or Landry, or DPJ. 2022 OBJ was coming off being hurt, and Mayfield had six different injury reports. Cleveland lost historic leads. It was just a failed season, but OBJ used the injuries to get off the team and jump onto a super bowl contender.
TLDR: nothing about the OBJ/Mayfield connection should shed light on what the Bucs do or don't have in Mayfield now.
The Panther's tenure is more complicated, and also simpler. Rhule and McAdoo did no one any favors. But I watched a lot of All22 film of their QBs last season, Mayfield included, and I don't think the Panther's record or Mayfield's numbers were solely (or even majorly) a product of Qb play. But that's a post for another time.
The assumption is that he'll be the starter, but I don't think that's guaranteed. He'll be atop the depth chart at the beginning of training camp, but will he be at the end? His contract is structured for him to make $4 mil plus incentives. If he is a backup for $4 mil that isn't the end of the world. I'm sure there are several other backups that make $4 mil in this league. The Bucs are taking a gamble, but not one where they can't cut there losses at any time. If he doesn't want to be a backup they can cut him loose.Expectations aren't high for this team for me this year. It's bakers 4th team right? I don't think many are expecting much from him, including us with a 1 year deal. If he does well then good we need that. If not then let trask play and then we can go from there. Try to do what we can to improve the play at los here while we get there. Draft well and make some smart pick ups and if we coach even a little better they can maybe create an interesting season. I'll watch either way.
