Since training camp has finally arrived for the Bucs, we will finally get the see the quarterback competition between Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask ramp itself up this summer. Eventually Todd Bowles will have to make a decision on who’s going to start after a series of evaluations on both quarterbacks.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles and GM Jason Licht – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Everyone got a snippet of the QB battle during OTAs and mini-camp but that was only the beginning. As far as what changes will be made with practices for training camp, there won’t be too many adjustments. Just a little more high stakes.

“We’re practicing full-bore now,” Bowles said. “Obviously, you take notes and you look at things in the spring to see how they learn, see how they handle the team, see how they grow, see how they encourage others and see who is the best fit for the offense. You evaluate it as the time goes.”

Todd Bowles Has A Plan In Mind

But when will a decision be made? Some argue that the earlier a starting quarterback is named, the better since they can get more of the reps. Others feel you can’t truly get a feel for the competition until you get closer to the season. Todd Bowles has a plan in place, but didn’t give away much.

“I’ve got a timeline in my head and I’ll make a decision at that point in time,” Bowles said. “Obviously, it will be preseason – I’m not going to make it in the regular season. I have a timeline in my head, I’ve got my notes down. We talked as an offensive staff and as a coaching staff and we understand where we’re going. They know where I’m at and they know how I feel, so we’ll go with that.”

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

Baker Mayfield got the initial start at the position to open up training camp on Wednesday, but the amount of reps will be split out equally with each player getting a shot.

“We talked about it as a staff and we’ll see how we got with it,” Bowles said. “We’ll switch off as we need to switch off. It’ll be the same amount of reps in the end.”

The guess amongst the Pewter Report staff is that after Tampa Bay flies to New Jersey to practice with the Jets and play them in the preseason Bowles will make a decision between Mayfield and Trask.

This is the first true quarterback competition in a long time for the Bucs. Its even the first go-around for general manager Jason Licht in this type of situation.

“One thing I’m looking forward to is [that] this is really the first time since I’ve been here, and I’m going on year 10, of a true quarterback competition,” Licht said. “One thing I’m looking forward to is just how hyper focused we’re going to be in those practices here at the beginning of camp for the first few weeks, at least. Just to see who takes the next step forward.”

“People can have in their head, ‘Well, it seems like it’s for sure going to be this person or it’s not going to be this person,’ but until we’re out there, anything can happen. It’s going to be a lot of fun just to really focus on how this is going to play out.”

Bucs’ QB Leadership Qualities

Many has been discussed about the different personalities and leadership of Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask. Mayfield is known as the fiery, chip on your shoulder type of quarterback while Trask is a little more relaxed with his own self confidence. Todd Bowles compared the two.

“They’re different as far as energy,” Bowles said. “Kyle has this inner confidence and Baker has a more ‘wear it on your sleeve’ confidence type of thing. Both get it done effectively and I think that’s how they can run the huddle each on their own. It’s more about the execution and control of the offense than it is their inner or outer confidence.”

Is it a problem that Trask isn’t the most vocal guy at the most important position of football? Apparently not.

Bucs QB Kyle Trask and OC Dave Canales – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“Leadership on offense can come from the O-line or the receivers or the running back, Bowles said. “The quarterback naturally because he’s the signal caller and talks a lot and tells everybody what to do, has to have some type of leadership and Kyle has that as much as Baker. Kyle’s very vocal when he needs to be. He comes across as quiet but he’s very loud on the field, he’s very confident in what he’s doing. We like the way he leads it, and we like the way Baker leads it.”

Following the first practice of training camp, Bowles didn’t divulge much of an opinion on how either quarterback looked. Its still a the mental part of the game that they’re working on.

“I don’t have an assessment right now,” Bowles said. “It’s just a recall for both of them. Mentally were very sharp, just getting acclimated to the system again so that’ll play itself out as we go.”