Baker Mayfield Will Be Bucs’ Starting QB

It’s time for Scott Reynolds’ post-game 2-Level Conversion column, which options two massive statements, two probing questions and two daring predictions. As soon as once more the Bucs rested practically all of their starters towards the Jets within the staff’s second preseason sport. Kyle Trask performed longer than anticipated and he performed properly. However the massive information popping out of Tampa Bay’s 13-6 win over the Jets in New Jersey is the truth that Baker Mayfield didn’t play – and appears poised to be the Bucs’ beginning quarterback.

2 BIG STATEMENTS

STATEMENT 1: Kyle Trask Improves, However Baker Mayfield Is Bucs’ Beginning QB

Todd Bowles didn’t come out and title Baker Mayfield the Bucs’ beginning quarterback on Saturday evening in Tampa Bay’s 13-6 win over the New York Jets.

He didn’t should. Bowles’ actions spoke volumes.

Mayfield, who was in uniform, was initially imagined to play within the second quarter and relieve starter Kyle Trask towards the Jets. However Bowles stated the staff wished to maintain Trask in and play all the first half the best way the sport was going.

As soon as the Bucs subbed out the one two beginning offensive linemen who began the sport – proper sort out Luke Goedeke and proper guard Cody Mauch – Bowles stated he didn’t need to insert Mayfield into the sport. Because of this, Mayfield by no means took the sector towards New York – even when third-string quarterback John Wolford was knocked out of the sport with a neck harm that induced him to be carried off the sector on a stretcher.

As an alternative, Trask was reinserted into the sport within the third quarter and performed till the ultimate whistle. That was a direct inform that Mayfield would be the Bucs’ Week 1 starter at Minnesota, as Pewter Report posted on X halfway by way of the second quarter.

The Bucs’ quarterback competitors served its objective this summer time. Trask pushed Mayfield to change into higher in Tampa Bay’s new offense, because the veteran generated extra massive performs within the passing sport. And Trask definitely improved in coaching camp, even tightening the competitors within the second week.

Trask’s enchancment was on show towards the Jets the place he accomplished 20-of-28 passes for 218 yards and a landing. If the Bucs have to show to Trask at any time throughout the season to alleviate Mayfield – both as a consequence of harm or ineffectiveness – Bowles and offensive coordinator Dave Canales should really feel significantly better about how Trask would carry out after his prolonged motion towards the Jets.

STATEMENT 2: Rookies Juice Up Bucs’ Offense

Bucs common supervisor Jason Licht, in addition to head coach Todd Bowles, have gone on report saying how excited they’re about this staff’s rookie class. Not simply the draft picks, but in addition the undrafted free brokers. A number of rookies stepped up on Saturday evening towards the Jets, particularly on the offensive aspect of the ball.

Proper guard Cody Mauch, the staff’s second-round choose, improved from his NFL debut every week in the past and performed a significantly better, cleaner sport towards New York.

Vast receiver Trey Palmer continues to shine. Simply days after smoking Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner within the staff’s joint apply, Palmer, the staff’s sixth-round choose, caught his second landing within the preseason, hauling in a 33-yard strike from Kyle Trask, whereas tipping the ball to himself and holding it away from the cornerback ultimately zone.

It was Palmer’s solely catch of the evening, but it surely was a giant one. With Russell Gage out for the yr as a consequence of a knee harm suffered on Wednesday, Palmer appears to be like like he’s in sturdy competition to fill the WR3 function this yr.

As massive as Palmer’s catch was, undrafted free agent Rakim Jarrett made three massive receptions – all greater than 20 yards downfield. The sure-handed Jarrett has come on sturdy in coaching camp and had a heck of a preseason debut after lacking final week’s sport with a groin harm. Jarrett appears to be like like he’ll make the staff, ending with three catches for a game-high 84 yards.

“He made some nice catches,” Bowles stated. “I don’t know what he’s doing when he’s making an attempt to leap over a man. We don’t educate that, however he made some nice catches. He confirmed he’s an excellent athlete. We appreciated what we noticed.”

The Bucs’ floor sport has been sluggish to get shifting this preseason, however that modified in a giant approach when Sean Tucker, an undrafted free agent, raced 26 yards on fourth-and-1 to arrange Palmer’s landing move on the subsequent play.

Tucker is the quickest Bucs again and completed the sport with 37 yards on seven carries for a wholesome 5.3 common. The rookie additionally had three catches for 18 yards, together with a nifty 15-yard acquire on a display screen.

On protection, the Bucs rested third-round outdoors linebacker YaYa Diaby and rookie inside linebacker SirVocea Dennis, the staff’s fifth-round choose. However edge rusher Markees Watts made his presence felt regardless of registering only one sort out. The explosive Watts drew two holding penalties by Jets tight finish Zach Kuntz and had a sack negated on a impartial zone penalty by Charles Snowden.

2 PROBING QUESTIONS

QUESTION 1: What Space Did The Bucs Present The Most Enchancment In?

Really, it was three areas – penalties, tackling, and takeaways. The Bucs actually cleaned up a few of their drawback areas from final week’s 27-17 loss to the Steelers. That sport was fairly sloppy, because the Bucs had 12 penalties for 127 yards, missed a slew of tackles, and had two turnovers on offense whereas forcing two on protection.

On Saturday evening versus New York, Tampa Bay solely had seven penalties for 67 yards, cleaned up the tackling on protection, and received the turnover battle 3-0.

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles was happy together with his staff chopping down on the psychological errors and penalties in Tampa Bay’s 13-6 win and was joyful to see enchancment in all three of the aforementioned areas.

“All three, really,” Bowles stated. “We need to hold getting turnovers. That provides our offense an opportunity. Tackling has to enhance within the preseason, hopefully, it will get higher subsequent week. It was higher, however it may be even higher than that. You need the turnovers – all the time need the turnovers – and we took care of the soccer, in order that’s necessary for us.”

Second-year cornerback Zyon McCollum, who missed a number of tackles within the preseason opener, solely missed one towards the Jets and completed the sport with 4 stops, together with three within the first quarter alone. McCollum was extra disciplined in defending the sidelines and made some stout tackles earlier than leaving within the second quarter.

Bowles praised McCollum’s enhancements as a tackler after the sport.

“I believed Zyon improved from final week, which was massive for him,” Bowles stated.

The Bucs’ protection pressured three takeaways towards the Jets. Inside linebacker J.J. Russell kicked issues off within the second quarter by forcing a fumble that was recovered by outdoors linebacker Anthony Nelson.

Nickel cornerback Dee Delaney made an ideal interception within the purple zone within the third quarter, and had one other interception within the fourth quarter worn out as a consequence of a penalty. Delaney seems to have the within monitor for the beginning nickel job, as rookie Christian Izien didn’t play versus the Jets as a consequence of an harm.

Exterior linebacker Charles Snowden pressured a fumble on the Jets’ final drive of the sport. Cornerback Anthony Chesley, who’s in competition with rookie Keenan Isaac for the ultimate spot on the depth chart, recovered the ball to protect the win.

QUESTION 2: What Does John Wolford’s Damage Imply For The Bucs?

Not a lot, actually – aside from the truth that the Bucs must threat harm to both Baker Mayfield or Kyle Trask in subsequent week’s preseason finale towards the visiting Baltimore Ravens. Usually, the third-string quarterback performs extra within the closing preseason sport to make sure that an harm to the starter or major backup doesn’t happen.

However when John Wolford suffered a neck harm on a sack after going 4-of-4 for 57 yards towards the Jets, that forces Todd Bowles’ hand to should play each Mayfield and Trask towards the Ravens.

One in all them, seemingly Trask, must end the sport behind a third-string offensive line within the fourth quarter, which isn’t supreme.

“Properly, Kyle completed the sport final evening behind the identical [backup offensive] line, in order that’s out the window there,” Bowles stated. “Whoever has to play goes to play and we’ll go from there.”

The excellent news for Wolford and the Bucs is that he accompanied the staff residence on the aircraft after the sport and his medical exams regarded good. Wolford is predicted to be Tampa Bay’s third-string QB this yr, seemingly on the apply squad. Now the Bucs should hope that neither Mayfield nor Trask will get injured within the preseason finale.

2 BOLD PREDICTIONS

PREDICTION 1: Chase McLaughlin Will Be The Bucs’ Kicker

Not solely did Saturday’s sport resolve the Bucs’ beginning quarterback battle, but it surely appears to be like like Tampa Bay’s kicking battle between John McLaughlin and Rodrigo Blankenship has additionally come to an finish. Blankenship, who was excellent within the preseason opener towards the Steelers final week, missed two discipline targets towards the Jets. His first was from 55 yards and that’s forgivable due to the space.

However when Blankenship doinked a 32-yarder off the left upright within the fourth quarter that seemingly handed McLaughlin the job.

“I’ll have a look at the tape – you already know you need to make them to be in it,” Bowles stated of the kicker competitors following Saturday evening’s sport. “You’ve seen what you’ve seen, however we’ve received yet one more sport and we’ll go from there.”

Blankenship made a 35-yarder towards the Jets and in addition made a 35-yard discipline purpose towards the Steelers final week. McLaughlin made each of the Bucs’ additional level makes an attempt in final week’s sport, in addition to the additional level after Trey Palmer’s landing proper earlier than halftime. McLaughlin additionally made his solely try towards the Jets, a 48-yarder, to cement his lead within the competitors by going 4-of-4 on three additional factors and one discipline purpose within the preseason.

PREDICTION 2: Baker Mayfield Will Begin vs. The Ravens (And The Vikings)

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles will seemingly begin Baker Mayfield on Saturday with the beginning receivers, tight ends, offensive line, and Rachaad White. How lengthy Mayfield performs – whether or not it’s one or two collection or whether or not it’s the entire first quarter – can be decided later.

I requested Bowles if Mayfield will begin on Saturday, however he was non-committal – identical to he’s been about Mayfield being the starter for Week 1.

“We’ll meet as a employees and we’ll allow you to guys (the media) know who’s taking part in, how they’re taking part in, once we’re taking part in them as soon as we meet on it,” Bowles stated.

However we already know the reply, don’t we?