Baker Mayfield’s Preseason Misses Scrutinized
September 7th, 2023
Baker Mayfield (circled left) stares down a wide open receiver (circled right) in the preseason opener but didn’t throw the ball. The Bucs took a loss on the play.
An interesting piece of Baker Mayfield film study was produced by the Vikings, the Bucs’ opponent in just three short afternoons on opening day.
Over on the official Vikings website is a show called Minnesota Vikings Film Room. There, former Vikings linebacker Pete Bercich broke down Baker Mayfield’s 2023 preseason Xs and Os.
Mayfield was 14-of-15 passing in August with no interceptions and two touchdowns, but Bercich still found significant errors. One is shown in the image above; Mayfield stares down a wide open receiver for roughly a 15-yard gain but doesn’t throw the ball. Instead he eventually took a checkdown throw for a net loss.
In another play, Bercich shows how Mayfield passed on throwing to three open receivers in the same play, including one for a deep touchdown. And there was more.
Yes, Bercich showed “Good Mayfield,” too. Overall, he highlighted how dangerous Mayfield can be, and how he can beat himself under pressure or via inconsistency.
September 7th, 2023 at 12:16 pm
He’s not the first QB to miss a read. All of them do, yes including the immortal Tom Brady. Keep the criticism coming on Baker and the Bucs. It will fuel the team this year. Lfg!!
September 7th, 2023 at 12:22 pm
Lol. Only count 10 steelers. Obviously the deep safety was cut out of frame. Nice try Vikings film room.
September 7th, 2023 at 12:23 pm
Sounds like positives to me. He stared at one WR to throw the defense off since he ended up throwing it to his checkdown. If there were multiple plays with receivers open then I can only think of how great the play calling has been with our new OC. 14/15 in August is great.
September 7th, 2023 at 12:26 pm
Things we just to say about Winston who wasn’t a star but he wasn’t a bum either. I’m sure the Bucs have seen that as well. He’s no Brady but good enough to beat the Vikings
September 7th, 2023 at 12:55 pm
Can’t hit everyone also every Qb isn’t built the same and who know what the first read is on this play.
September 7th, 2023 at 1:19 pm
That was the first preseason game. Baker was not probably not comfortable yet with everything. Plus he had thrown a lot of picks in practice the week before and was likely leery of doing that in a game. If he makes the read sooner, it is a much safer play and his read was probably a little slow. Again early preseason. We will see what happens.
September 7th, 2023 at 1:25 pm
No no no. No check down baker. Push the ball down field. Especially if someone is wide open for a touchdown. Bring the no risk it no biscuit baker. We have the weapons for it. No one wants to see a Dink n dunk offense.
September 7th, 2023 at 1:30 pm
Excuses … Fact is, Trask’s preseason completions averaged 50% longer than Mayfield’s … Why is that? … It’s very troubling.
September 7th, 2023 at 1:33 pm
Jack Burton Mercer Says: “That was the first preseason game. Baker was probably not comfortable yet with everything.”
Huh? Joe has reported how Mayfield had an advantage over Trask in that Mayfield has played before in a system similar to Canales’ and Trask has not.
September 7th, 2023 at 1:45 pm
It looks to me like a good read.
Even though I am not a big Baker fan I see what looks like a Steeler Safety closing in. If the WR has to pause the safety would not have to and can grab a pick.
To me that is a smart play.
September 7th, 2023 at 2:15 pm
It’s easy to criticize anything after the fact. In NFL football, the QB has got 2.7 seconds to analyze the defense and react accordingly. From the small sample size we’ve seen of this offense. The game Sunday should be entertaining!! Can’t wait!!!!
September 7th, 2023 at 2:19 pm
Look at any of his film in the league. He’s not gonna suddenly have good field vision and be able to anticipate throws. So he shall stare and take sacks. Get your popcorn ready!
September 7th, 2023 at 3:00 pm
It seems we still have some Baker’s fan here. LOL.
Baker dink and dunk his way through pre-season games to make sure to stay as qb1 as promised before they signed him. Wait until he plays the real game when he has no choice to throw deep with an interception waiting to happen. Dink and dunk, short passes can only work for a limited times during the games. Eventually he has to throw deep that is when we will see the true garbage little shorty Baker who can’t even see over DL.
September 7th, 2023 at 3:16 pm
No point on dwelling on preseason…he’ll give us plenty to scrutinize from game 2 on.
September 7th, 2023 at 3:23 pm
14-3 & SUPER BOWL HERE WE COME!😀 THE SUPER BOWL CHAMPS! Two Super Bowls in the last couple of years if so.
NFC Championship game:
Bucs@Eagles & Bucs go up there & win AGAIN!😀
Baker & Trask outduel Jalen.🙄
September 7th, 2023 at 5:24 pm
Baker checks it down more than any other NFL QB, the stats show this.
September 7th, 2023 at 5:26 pm
David Says, you do know the USC QB you and your buddies covet is shorter than Mayfield don’t you?
September 7th, 2023 at 5:35 pm
b4l, one site says that. PFF says Baker not in top 15. Trevor Lawrence was #1. Must be a lot of “eye of the beholder” on what is a check down pass. I don’t have a problem with them if they gain yardage.
September 7th, 2023 at 5:47 pm
Dave u don’t know sht about mayfield
Just by virtue of statement points to your ignorance
BM gonna light it up
September 7th, 2023 at 5:48 pm
@ Darin and David: Stop it already with the Mayfield “Trasking.” Your guy didn’t win the starting job and it’s eating you both up inside.
September 7th, 2023 at 5:50 pm
I got news for u
Watched both live at Ou
CW no where near BM throwing and control of offense
Riley would agree
September 7th, 2023 at 5:58 pm
@Mmilligan: There are a few of us on this site who agree with you about Baker lighting it up on Sunday and throughout the schedule.
September 7th, 2023 at 6:01 pm
Baker Mayfield made college football history before he even attempted a pass, as he was the first-ever true freshman walk-on to start his school’s season-opener, and when he left college after the 2017 season, he held the top two single-season passing efficiency ratings in the history of the sport
September 7th, 2023 at 6:03 pm
YEAR GAMES COMPLETIONS ATTEMPTS COMP. % YARDS Y/A TD INT RATNIG
2013 8 218 340 64.1 2,315 6.8 12 9 127.7
2015 13 269 395 68.1 3,700 9.4 36 7 173.3
2016 13 254 358 70.9 3,965 11.1 40 8 196.4
2017 14 285 404 70.5 4,627 11.5 43 6 198.9
Career 48 1,026 1,497 68.5 14,607 9.8 131 30 175.4
That’s dink and dunk isn’t it Dave, LMAO
September 7th, 2023 at 6:03 pm
YEAR GAMES COMPLETIONS ATTEMPTS COMP. % YARDS Y/A TD INT RATNIG
2013 8 218 340 64.1 2,315 6.8 12 9 127.7
2015 13 269 395 68.1 3,700 9.4 36 7 173.3
2016 13 254 358 70.9 3,965 11.1 40 8 196.4
2017 14 285 404 70.5 4,627 11.5 43 6 198.9
Career 48 1,026 1,497 68.5 14,607 9.8 131 30 175.4
That’s dink and dunk , LMAO
September 7th, 2023 at 6:09 pm
1st in FBS history in highest average gain per play in a game (min. 37 plays): 14.84 yards/play vs. Texas Tech, Oct. 22, 2016
2nd in FBS history in career passing efficiency (min. 500 completions): 175.4
3rd in FBS history in career passing yards per attempt: 9.76 yards/attempt
4th, 5th in FBS history in single-season passing efficiency: 198.9 (2017), 196.4 (2016)
5th in FBS history in career yards: 15,690 yards
Dink and Dunk all the way
September 7th, 2023 at 7:27 pm
As far as Baker goes I have plenty of things he has done and not done in the NFL to feel like he’s just not the guy.
Now if I were to Scrutinize him then I would say that he is nothing but a punk.
You win a game and then you go off the field and bring your flag out on their Home Field and plant it at midfield to humiliate and rub it in. Punk Move.
If Baker makes it thru 11 that is about 66% of the snaps and he’ll make a half million extra I believe.
There was a guy on the sidelines watching that display and I am sure he has week 11 circled and will be more than happy to plant Baker at mid field.
Be only fitting for Nick Bosa to plant Baker at mid field, make a flag planting gesture and take a 15 yard taunting foul.
Karma’s a Bitch and it eventually comes around. Maybe not as quick as it should sometimes but it does.
September 7th, 2023 at 7:41 pm
Some of u people say some really stupid stuff dink & a dunk how stupid for all intents & purposes Trask is so friggin miracle guy & baker is a bum according to u know it all as an NFL qb & only get 4 million pay check which is peanuts considering the money loss he will take from selling his old house buy something in Tampa or pay large re t & all expenses that go with that leave his family behind u basically don’t have much of a life but football
L & then put up with nonsense like u k uckleheads I wud take the next offer no matter what just to give u the screws u deserve u did same garbage to Winston & u jokers praise a cheat
September 7th, 2023 at 7:44 pm
BRADY WAS A CHEAT PERIOD!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 7th, 2023 at 9:49 pm
Baker had success in the preseason, let’s not get carried away with his production. He was all about check downs and safe passes. We have not seen him once throw the ball down the field. There are probably a hundred NFL QB wannabes that can master the check down, the toss to the running back out of the backfield. I want to see Baker throw the ball down the field.
Trask is always looking downfield.
This is play it safe Bowles Mojo, In my opinion he’s a coward as head coach, cowardly couches go nowhere.
September 7th, 2023 at 10:12 pm
D Cone: I understand you think that was a punk move and that’s certainly your prerogative. I do agree about Karma being a bitch, but she doesn’t always take a long time to rear her pretty head. Case in point, it actually only took one year for her to even things up between Ohio State and OU. See what you failed to mention in your post is the year before Baker planted the Sooners flag, Ohio State played in Norman and they actually won that game. Now here’s the real Punk Ass move that happened: you see at the end of that game while the Sooners were walking into their locker rooms, the Ohio State players lined up in front of OU’s ramp and started singing whatever stupid ass song they sing after a game. Now that’s cool if you want to do something like that on the losing teams home field, while they’re trying to walk into their locker room. I get it, you want to rub their noses in it. Again, that’s their prerogative. But then you really shouldn’t cry like a bunch of little bitches when the team you did it to returns the favor 12 months later after they thumped your ass on your home field and planted their flag at your 50 yard line. The old timers used to say, turnabout is fair play. And Karma, we’ll she’s a bitch.
September 7th, 2023 at 11:31 pm
Don’t Tell Me It’s Raining:
Thank you for relaying that information! Yup. The Buckeyes pissed on the Sooners first. The Buckeyes deserved what they got. Pretty tired of the narrative omitting the full story and crucifying Mayfield. But you can bet his teammates loved him for it as well as the fanbase who are still devoted to him. 🏈
September 8th, 2023 at 12:29 am
Don’t tell me it’s raining Says
Ohio State players lined up in front of OU’s ramp
Actually they lined up in front of their cheering section and band and sang a song that they have been singing as a tradition for years. What they were doing iwas paying Respect to the Institution out of pride. No grown man would want to do it but they do.
Don’t think Your Boy planted a flag again to my knowledge. Did that become a tradition ant Oklahoma would be proud to do the next 100 years? Once was enough to make my assessment. University wanted him to apologize and he did. When he was interviewed and asked how much sincerity his statement had his response was Zero.
Maybe when someone says sorry Baker we lost that 12 million it has just as much sincerity. There she is at work.
If w
September 8th, 2023 at 12:41 am
By the way. They would have been standing there singing that song even if they were beaten 55-3
September 8th, 2023 at 10:54 am
D. Cone: I don’t know where they line up and what they sing at any of their other games. But what I am sure of, is what happened that day. The Ohio State players literally stopped walking and stood in the way of the Sooner players walking to their locker room. It eventually became a line down the sideline but that was after most of the OU players had finished walking around the Ohio State players. The band director could see the OU players walking right in front of them but they chose to start the song, instead of waiting 1 minute for the players to pass. The band thought they were being cute and the players were being chippy. You can believe what you want but I know what I saw. As for the University making an apology, that’s just politics in the game. What you saw Baker do wasn’t some fake politics, it was a genuine response to a team that had been disrespectful at Owen Field the year before. As for them singing at the end of EVERY game vs their home games, I don’t know if that’s the case or not.
I’ll watch some of their road games this year and see if that is in fact correct.
September 8th, 2023 at 11:01 am
Grow Up Cone Head.
Are you even a Bucs fan?
Or are you just here to complain about Baker because you can’t let something from 6 years ago go?
Baker is going to have his best statistical year this year, so either get on the ship or start swimming, because nobody here is going to throw you a life jacket.