The Bucs jumping out to a 3-1 record to begin the season has many more people coming out of the woodwork to heap praise of the team. The player who received the most doubt and criticism and has now turned those negative about him into believers is quarterback Baker Mayfield.

While it’s been a team effort to get the Bucs’ into first place, Mayfield’s performance is also a big reason. He’s thrown for 882 yards with seven touchdown passes to just two interceptions. He’s largely won the turnover ratio and has been the best quarterback in the NFC South to date.  If you look at most of the important statistics for quarterbacks around the league, he’s in the top 10 of most categories.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

One man that he’s been in Mayfield’s corner since the beginning is former Buccaneer Gerald McCoy. Since his retirement, McCoy has done great work  joining the NFL Network as an analyst. He and Mayfield have a connection as they both played at the University of Oklahoma, so McCoy wasn’t exactly upset to hear that Mayfield was signing with Tampa this offseason.

McCoy went on the Rich Eisen Show this week where he discussed the great start for the Bucs. He expressed why Baker Mayfield was needed for this team as the Bucs were going in a new direction and era.

Baker Mayfield Had The Right Attitude For The Bucs

“This was a walk-on who he became a Heisman trophy winner,” McCoy said. “When we talk about his heart and his fight and what makes him, him and the chip he has on his shoulder – that hasn’t left. He plays the game that way. That’s what they needed in Tampa because there was a point where everybody was like ‘Brady’s gone, now what?’

“Let’s not forget the talent that was there. We have somebody that believes. He’s shown with his belief, it’s carried throughout the locker room, now they believe in him. They believe we got a guy that we can believe in. We don’t have to worry, we’ll do our part, he’s going to handle his business.”

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

It was always going to be impossible to replace Brady after he finished his up playing career. That’s an impossible situation that Baker Mayfield has taken head on. The Bucs needed someone with the right kind of attitude and temperament to come in for this role and Mayfield fits the billing. To be fair, it is a two-way street and Mayfield was also looking to salvage his career. But what you can’t argue with is the results.

Todd Bowles had previously stated that Baker Mayfield is a quarterback with an offensive lineman’s mentality. Early on we’ve seen him fight for extra yards in crucial moments, make the big throws when needed and stick to what keeps him on edge, which is talking trash to the opponent. When everything is clicking, it’s hard not to rally around him. Baker Mayfield and the Bucs have brought a newfound grit as part of their identity this season.

Don’t Forget About The Bucs’ Defense

McCoy also pointed out in his discussion with Eisen that there are still many core players on defense. The Bucs are truly playing team football at the moment. They’ve had to ride the defense for a bit, but the offense is also holding their own. Tampa Bay has a championship caliber defense with an offense that can at least keep up their part of the bargain.

The Bucs’ hot start is a surprise to many, but not to those that were watching closely.

Watch McCoy’s conversation with Eisen below: