Slow Down And Get It Right
July 19th, 2023
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BY IRA KAUFMAN
What’s the big rush?
We’re still 11 days from the first padded practice of training camp, yet some Buc fans are already wondering why Todd Bowles hasn’t named Baker Mayfield his starting quarterback.
Even ProFootballTalk.com’s Mike Florio sounds concerned about the timing of an official announcement. He’s worried that the winner of the Mayfield-Kyle Trask matchup may not have enough time to adequately prepare for the Sept. 10 season opener at Minneapolis.
Nonsense.
Mayfield hasn’t done enough in his pro career to be gifted the position before judging whether he can beat out Trask. This is not Derek Carr coming to New Orleans and winning the job when he got off the plane at Louis Armstrong Airport.
“Baker Mayfield is no Derek Carr, explains Ira Kaufman.”
That was the day Jameis Winston had no shot under center for the Saints.
Carr has 142 career NFL starts, Mayfield has 69. Carr has thrown for 35,222 yards and 217 TDs. Mayfield’s numbers are 16,288 and 102.
Kyle Trask deserves an honest shot, says Ira.
Trask wasn’t a first-round pick and he has thrown only nine passes as a pro, but he deserves this opportunity. He sat and learned behind Tom Brady for two seasons, knowing he was backing up a legend, and this is his moment to prove he can handle the job.
“I think it’s a real competition,” says former Buc QB Chris Simms. “Do I think Baker Mayfield would have the edge? Certainly.”
Todd Bowles, Jason Licht, Dave Canales and, most importantly, the Glazers, should embrace this competition with an open mind. If Mayfield starts with an edge in experience, so be it, but this duel should be decided on the grass.
“Sometime during camp or right after camp, there will be a decision made,” Bowles says. “In any competition, there’s waiting involved. You have to see who wins out.”
Buc fans want to know for sure who will be under center this fall. That’s understandable, but the right way to do this is to insist Trask gets a fair shot. Everyone will be watching — especially 21 other starters eager to see whether this will indeed be an open competition.
What about the timing of an announcement? Bowles was asked if he has any concerns that the winner under center won’t get enough starting reps before the games count.
“Not at all,” Bowles said.
Bravo, sir.
Looking at the August schedule, it would make perfect sense to declare a starter after the second preseason game. That would follow two days of joint practices against the Jets Aug. 16-17.
At that point, there would still be three weeks remaining for Mayfield or Trask to get ready for the Vikings and spring an upset.
“If Baker Mayfield does what we expect, I would think halfway through training camp we have a good feel or they’re starting to tell us he’s the starting quarterback,” Simms says. “If it’s really close, alright, maybe it goes down to the last preseason game — like we saw with Geno Smith and Drew Lock last year.”
As an assistant to Pete Carroll, Canales was involved in the Smith-Lock competition in Seattle. Carroll didn’t declare Smith his starter until after the final exhibition game, when Lock buried himself by throwing three picks against the Cowboys. The Bucs don’t figure to wait that long.
One thing’s for sure: it’s more important to get this decision right than to get it done on a fast track.
.
July 19th, 2023 at 10:23 am
By the third game everyone will know that Trask will be the starter. Baker will play good but he will press and make mistakes. Trask’s composure will win him the job
July 19th, 2023 at 10:33 am
They could drag it out until the first snap for all I care. Mayfield is a good quarterback. Trask is an unknown. What we do know is that he couldn’t beat out Blaine Gabbert and Mayfield got paid. So everyone should expect Mayfield to start barring injury
July 19th, 2023 at 11:04 am
IRA: “We’re still 11 days from the first padded practice of training camp, yet some Buc fans are already wondering why Todd Bowles hasn’t named Baker Mayfield his starting quarterback.”
Because Joe has. 😛
July 19th, 2023 at 11:14 am
Interesting Carr vs Baker Comparison
Carr 142 games, 35,222 yards, 217 TDs
Mayfield 69 games, 16,288 yards, 102 TDs
Mayfield has 1/2 games, yards, TDs.
Multiply by 2 AND THEY’RE THE SAME QB
(Except: NOLA gave Carr $100M. We gave Licht $8. Good job Licht)
July 19th, 2023 at 11:16 am
Little tail wagging the dog spearman, I think you might be onto something.
July 19th, 2023 at 11:18 am
Saw that too sly, definitely a interesting extrapolation.
July 19th, 2023 at 11:25 am
Lol just looked it up, Carr has zero playoff wins to Bakers one, and he apparently was good in the playoff loss to KC…. (KC is a pretty good team I you don’t know) 🤔
July 19th, 2023 at 11:25 am
If*
July 19th, 2023 at 11:40 am
westernbuc Says:What we do know is that he couldn’t beat out Blaine Gabbert
It was said that Gabbert was second string because Brady requested him as his backup on game days.
July 19th, 2023 at 11:48 am
Both QB’s better be ready to play. With the questions on the right side of the line and with Mayfield’s diminutive size I don’t figure he will stay healthy the entire year.
July 19th, 2023 at 12:04 pm
Great article, Mr. Kaufman. I totally agree.
July 19th, 2023 at 12:41 pm
Very logical argument as always Ira, but it does bring up a question. How do you survive at JBF World Headquarters with such radical views? I mean I’m sure the Joes consider it blasphemy when they read lines like …
‘Todd Bowles, Jason Licht, Dave Canales and, most importantly, the Glazers, should embrace this competition with an open mind. If Mayfield starts with an edge in experience, so be it, but this duel should be decided on the grass.’
‘EMBRACE THIS COMPETITION?’ ‘DECIDED ON THE GRASS?’
Radical thinking obviously.
July 19th, 2023 at 1:04 pm
Ira, I don’t often disagree with you, but I do on this one. Mayfield hasn’t done enough on the field to be given the starting job? Nonsense! This has to be a joke right? Give Baker the time he needs with the starters to be ready for the first regular season game. If he doesn’t do the job, then insert Trask. Carolina, granted with a lot less talent, made the same stupid mistake when they asked Baker to compete against Darnold. Go Bucs.
July 19th, 2023 at 1:23 pm
@SlyPirate
You just made the best comparison of QB’s ever!
July 19th, 2023 at 1:26 pm
This is likely to be one of the most pivotal preseasons this franchise has had that I can remember. Kind of anxious to see it start playing out on the field.
July 19th, 2023 at 2:12 pm
It’s hard not to think that Baker has an edge over Trask. That said, there’s no harm in making sure you have the right guy. This team has enough talent to be a playoff team.
Make the right choice.
July 19th, 2023 at 2:46 pm
I loved the article, Ira, and I agree.
July 19th, 2023 at 4:08 pm
Doesn’t matter who starts, my money is on both QBs having to play this year.
July 19th, 2023 at 4:52 pm
Hail to the sage.
July 19th, 2023 at 5:12 pm
@SlyPirate – I was about to post the exact same thing after reading those stats. Def a better deal.
But then when you look at turnover stats, Mayfield is basically equal to Winston.
But again, way cheaper at least…
July 19th, 2023 at 6:05 pm
Don’t Carr and Mayfield have the same amount of playoff wins?
July 19th, 2023 at 6:15 pm
“The Bucs don’t figure to wait that long” Where do you get that? Ira, God love ya but you just made that up.
July 19th, 2023 at 9:01 pm
Nice article Ira. I have a follow up question… why declare a winner at all? Why not let the Vikings prep for two QBs?
July 19th, 2023 at 9:48 pm
I’m not rooting for Trask, but it would be be5ter for the team if Baker plays very well, but Kyle plays even better. May the best QB win.
July 20th, 2023 at 9:03 am
“get ready for the Vikings and the beat down we give them.” Fixed all that negative Nancy crap Joe puts out. But if it sticks and causes 100+ comments, Joe wins…
July 20th, 2023 at 9:21 am
“One thing’s for sure: it’s more important to get this decision right than to get it done on a fast track.”
Could have written nothing but this and done a mic drop right there Ira.
LOL
Go Bucs!