Pewter Report analyzes every place’s strengths and weaknesses in Tampa Bay, because the Bucs try to three-peat as NFC South champions.
First up is the quarterback place, which can head into the 2023 season with out Tom Brady because the starter. Brady had loads of expertise and did a fantastic job of throwing touchdowns whereas defending the ball as he guided the Bucs to a 32-18 report in Tampa Bay. Free agent addition Baker Mayfield and former second-round choose Kyle Trask are competing for the appropriate to switch Brady because the starter.
The Power of Bucs QBs: Bodily Expertise
Most groups have one succesful starter, however the Bucs consider they may have two in journeyman Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask, who’s unproven and getting into his third season. The explanation? Bodily expertise. Mayfield was the No. 1 total choose within the 2018 NFL Draft, and Trask was the final choose within the second spherical in 2021.
Bucs QB Kyle Trask – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Mayfield was gifted sufficient to start out 69 video games and had some success in Cleveland in 2020, main the Browns to 11 wins and a playoff victory. In truth, he’s the one QB within the NFC South with a postseason win beneath his belt. Mayfield is seeking to resurrect his profession in Tampa Bay in a brand new QB-friendly system that noticed Dave Canales assist former journeyman Geno Smith develop into a Professional Bowler at age 32 along with the NFL Comeback Participant of the Yr in Seattle.
Trask is a tall quarterback with a robust sufficient arm and good contact. He led the SEC in passing with over 4,200 yards and threw 43 touchdowns and simply eight interceptions in his remaining season at Florida whereas finishing 68.9% of his throws. Trask has dropped shut to twenty kilos during the last three years to develop into faster and extra cell to function in Canales’ offense, which calls for lots of rollouts, bootlegs and waggles.
John Wolford is healthier than most third-string QBs within the NFL, particularly resulting from the truth that he’s a fantastic system slot in Tampa Bay’s new scheme. Despite the fact that he’s simply 6-foot, he has excellent mobility and is correct on quick and intermediate throws.
Greatest-Case Situation at QB
Both Mayfield and/or Trask develops right into a starting-caliber QB in Tampa Bay and has a Smith-like season within the first yr in Canales’ system.
The Weak point of Bucs QBs: Interceptions and Inexperience
Outdoors of intelligence, there aren’t too many constructive phrases that begin with the letter “I” relating to the quarterback place, corresponding to interceptions, incompletions and inexperience. Whereas the Bucs have two QBs vying for the beginning job in Mayfield and Trask, they each have a weak spot that begins with “I.”
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Picture by: USA In the present day
For Mayfield, it’s interceptions. Whereas he’s a gutsy quarterback, typically Mayfield could be too fearless with the soccer. That may result in reckless throws that flip into interceptions. After throwing 26 touchdowns and simply eight picks in Cleveland in 2020, Mayfield threw 17 TDs and 13 INTs the following season, which was his final with the Browns. Final yr, he tossed 10 touchdowns and eight picks between Carolina and L.A. And his worst season in 2019 noticed him throw a career-high 21 INTs towards 22 TDs.
For Trask, it’s inexperience. With Tom Brady because the starter, Trask was mainly redshirted because the staff’s third quarterback for the previous two seasons. He noticed only a few reps in apply because of this, and performed with backups and apply squad gamers within the final two preseasons, which had been underwhelming for the Florida product. Now. Trask has to start out over in a brand-new offense, and his lack of expertise and enjoying time offers Mayfield a determined edge within the QB competitors.
Wolford has points with each inexperience and interceptions. The fourth-year quarterback has solely appeared in seven video games in his profession with 4 begins the place he’s gone 2-2. However in that restricted enjoying time. Wolford has thrown only one TD and 5 INTs. If the Bucs find yourself enjoying Wolford in some unspecified time in the future, it’s a secure wager that the 2023 marketing campaign is a misplaced trigger.
Worst-Case Situation at QB
Mayfield begins and throws too many interceptions, which ends up in Trask changing him and never successful sufficient video games resulting from his lack of expertise, thus forcing the Bucs to reboot the QB place in 2024.
