Bucs Had A Bunch Of Batted Down/Broken-Up Passes
January 11th, 2024
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield.
Joe notices this from time to time but now we can flush it out with a degree of certainty.
If you have commented on this here website that Baker Mayfield has several batted-down passes, well, per the PFF tribe, your eyes are not deceiving you.
Defenders get their mitts on a lot of passes from Mayfield.
The tribe did a percentage breakdown of broken-up and batted-down passes for each team. Given that Mayfield has taken virtually every snap this season, it’s fair to suggest the percentages are on Mayfield.
Per the tribe, all passes thrown by the Bucs this season through Week 17 (not 18), five percent of the Bucs/Mayfield passes have been either batted down or broken-up (the tribe refers to broken-up as “broken incompletions”).
That leads the NFL. There are a few teams with four percent of their pass attempts batted down or broken-up: the Bears, Cardinals, Colts, Cowboys, Jags, Raiders, Titans and 49ers.
So yeah, if you think Mayfield gets too many passes tipped or knocked down at the line, you aren’t wrong.
(Graphic courtesy of PFF tribe.)
January 11th, 2024 at 4:15 am
And it usually came at the worst time too.
January 11th, 2024 at 4:25 am
uhh… I thought that was comon knowlege?
He is short by NFL QB standards. Our O line can help with that a bit by old school punch in the gut when those guy put there hnds up in the air.
Go Bucs!
January 11th, 2024 at 4:34 am
Other then that Baker’s been great?
January 11th, 2024 at 4:51 am
Joe,
I think they are including passes that were incomplete ,broken up by DB’s etc. They are not. -Joe
which could easily have been a category of its own. Since it is the highest in the league, it might be a tool for OC,QB coach if broken down further.
January 11th, 2024 at 4:55 am
Who cares? They were 9-8. In the playoffs. And Hainsey got pushed backwards into the pocket probably 30-50% of the time. Stinnie sucked and Mauch was not great. Canales’ plays don’t roll him out. That explains it.
January 11th, 2024 at 5:30 am
We all have watched this in real time, but examining the data really pops out. Thank you for the graph. Interesting to see all teams and the NFL averages.
January 11th, 2024 at 5:41 am
Hard to blame it on stature when Tua is at 2% and Bryce Young is 3%. Passing lanes? Or is it something in his mechanics that let’s the defenders time their jump better?
January 11th, 2024 at 5:41 am
Center and left guard are a big part of the issue which needs to be addressed in the offseason. Mauch seems like he will be good and should improve at right guard in his second season (though he did not play well in the panther game).
January 11th, 2024 at 5:50 am
“No other team has that many. There are a few teams with four percent of their pass attempts batted down or broken-up. Only the Bucs have as many as five percent.”
🙂 🙂 I was waiting fo the details reading this pot stirrer article.
Sooo we are talking 1 batted passe per HUNDRED ATTEMPTS compared to the super bowl favorites 49ers
or one extra batted pass every two and half to three games
Joe thank You for confirmng what I have saod many tmes – the batted pass thing is a total nothing burger.
DEVASTATING – we’ve discovreed in tht one batte dpass why we are not the The 49ers
January 11th, 2024 at 6:07 am
Barker probably had the most dropped passes (would be interceptions) by defenders as well.
January 11th, 2024 at 6:08 am
So 1/25 throws is tipped/batted down at the line.
No thanks. That’s about 1-1.5 per game.
January 11th, 2024 at 6:18 am
Oh no! Don’t present tony marks bakers personal jock washer with facts and statistics! Now he’s gonna be stuck replying to every comment on here for the next 48 hours! Have some compassion for the simple minded joe
January 11th, 2024 at 6:22 am
-28th in 1st Q scoring (spin however you want, that sucks)
-1/25 throws batted down at the line. (Not great, below average)
-QBR < Geno Smith’s
Sounds like an “ok” QB, not a franchise dude.
Context: Mike Evans is a QBs best friend.
January 11th, 2024 at 6:26 am
Good morning JBF nation!
Just reading up on the posts, and it has warmed my heart to see all of the real Bucs fans come out here and share their thoughts on the comments.
I especially appreciate how real it is kept, and that we are not going to be hoodwinked into saying “average/mid” QB play is “franchise/top” level.
Go Bucs! Go Bowles and Go Baker! Win this playoff game at home, rectifying the week 17 pants pooping. If you lose, new HC/QB combo for ‘24.
January 11th, 2024 at 6:29 am
What should also be commented on his the % scrambles (4%) and sacks (6%). The scrambles are in the lower tier of the league and the sacks are right about at average and half of the amount teams with bad o-lines have. And here I thought, based on what the Baker nut huggers have been saying, Baker’s been running for his life back there and couldn’t do any better passing because of that. Whoops. Not so fast my friend. Looks like he just plain sucks. Again 18th in adjusted QBR with 9 games, 9, below average (5 in the awful rating area).
January 11th, 2024 at 6:32 am
Kinda 2 ways to read that chart. Negative Nellies will focus on the right side of the chart … batted down balls, sacks, throwaways, etc. Positive Pearls will focus on the left side of the chart … passes that made it to their target.
The best QBs in the NFL averaged 87% in passes making it to their target … Dolphins, Saints & Lions. The worst QB had only 70% … Giants (obviously their OLine needs a LOT of work if you just look at the 13% sacks & 11% scrambles).
Mayfield sits exactly at the midway mark on the chart (#16) with 82% of his passes making it to the target. That’s slightly better than Patrick Mahomes had (81%), and Patrick scrambled a LOT more (8% compared to Baker’s 4%). I’d say for a 9-8 record from a QB who made $4 mil plus incentives we got our money’s worth.
Nice attempt at stirring the pot Joe, but nothing to see here; time to move on. BTW Joes, I get the feeling that one of you loves driving the bus just to get that ‘Thump thump’ sensation when you run over someone.
January 11th, 2024 at 6:47 am
Spin it anyway you want, both categories are lost plays. For a team that has had trouble making first downs at times in three plays as in too many first halves of games. Losing a down is not a good thing for any reason.
January 11th, 2024 at 6:52 am
I’ve said this many times, one Joe is usually positive, the other looks for nothing but negativity to stir the pot.anytime things are going ok then it’s time for negative articles
January 11th, 2024 at 6:53 am
FALSE ARGUMENT
I did not care in the least who won the starting job,
NEWS FLASH Baker actually had a winning season in the purgatory year based on the CAP HELL the Bucs are in because this team went after Brady and Championships, and got 1 thankfully.
ANY Trask Talk needs to be left at the door.
bulldog Says:
January 11th, 2024 at 6:19 am
@ Tony Marks
You keep denying that Joe said Trask outplayed Mayfield in training camp. More proof that you’re not a Buc, just a Bakie.
For, in two post-training-camp articles days apart, Joe wrote:
“Trask outplayed Mayfield a little in training camp.” (Aug 13 2023)
“Trask out-practiced Mayfield. Not by a lot, but a little.” (Aug 15 (2023)
Baker Bois. All they do is lie.
I am no Baker boy, just a long time Bucs fan who could give a Rats azz about what player is starting, JUST WIN nand it is no lie, Baker had a winning season.
Trask may end up being something, who knows, but there is a NFC DIVISION TITLE thanks in part to Baker, not Trask.
January 11th, 2024 at 6:59 am
Chris Simms was 6’4″ and had a bunch of batted down passes. Height has little to do with it. It’s mostly about:
*Finding the passing lane at the line of scrimmage
*Throwing an off-platform pass when necessary, which requires being cognizant of a DL that can block your pass
*Good mechanics. For example, releasing the ball at a high point, rather than, say, the three quarter delivery that Tony Romo used to use. Also, standing as tall as possible, as opposed to the Kyle Trask’s squatting-type delivery. (Brad Johnson did this as well.)
January 11th, 2024 at 7:01 am
Chris Simms led the NFL in batted down passes one year and he’s 6 5 I think. A lot of it has to do with staring down your target too much which was Simms problem. Also, a young OL may be contributing.
January 11th, 2024 at 7:08 am
C’mon now, the “e” is nowhere close to the “u” on the keyboard.
The phrase flesh out means to give substance to something or to make something more whole by adding details to it.
The phrase flush out means to force water or another liquid through and out of something (like a pipe), typically as a way of cleaning it or clearing it out.
January 11th, 2024 at 7:23 am
You people refuse to give Baker credit for his genius. When he doesn’t have anyone open, he hits the DL in the hands on purpose so he doesn’t get called for intentional grounding.
January 11th, 2024 at 7:25 am
In the second tier only the cardinals QB is shorter. Height has nothing to do with it. Also they dont distingujsh between broken up and batted at the line. Say what you want Baker is a top 10 QB and in the playoffs. Pretty boy in Jacksonville is not. As for long term the market will decide and we wont know till march.
January 11th, 2024 at 7:27 am
August 1976 I agree with you 100%
I still can’t believe people are calling for trask, even though baker got us to the playoffs.. some people are just miserable get off my lawn kinda guys.. unfortunately way to many
January 11th, 2024 at 7:27 am
Very funny Irish mist. Could very well be true. Mayby Joe should ask Baker in the locker room.
January 11th, 2024 at 7:33 am
Does anybody know what a broken incompletion means as in chart above.
Is it a pass that falls incomplete due to a lineman somehow causing the pass to fall incomplete by interfering with the QB’s throw, or a DB knocking the ball out of a receivers hands, or a pass deflection.
January 11th, 2024 at 7:33 am
The JOE or JOES offered their “opinions” on who won the QB battle in training camp. Nothing more. And we all know the old saying about opinions and a-holes! However, other NFL reporters and coaching staffs/front offices (like the Jets during scrimmages) saw it quite differently when they compared Baker to Trask.
Let’s face it, the Baker Haters on this site NEVER thought that Baker would be a TOP-10 QB this year (told you so). And no matter what they say, it’s DRIVING THEM CRAZY! Lol…
January 11th, 2024 at 7:37 am
Wyoming Joe,
Wake up and smell the chicken!
Todd Bowles is a chicken.
Even if Trask “won” the job, not saying he did, Bowles still would’ve went with the guy with over 75+ career starts. Trask would’ve had to look like Mahomes or a complete superstar to upset the apple cart here.
Bowles is conservative, and if Trask was marginally better, he’s still going Baker bc he isnt bold enough to do something different.
I believe Baker won the job, and I also think Bowles had a predetermined outlook to measure the QBs.
January 11th, 2024 at 7:57 am
SteveK Says:
January 11th, 2024 at 6:08 am
So 1/25 throws is tipped/batted down at the line.
No thanks. That’s about 1-1.5 per game.
—
HEHEHEHE The 49ers are really struggling. They might not even make the plauoffs …lololol
Trakie Humor in the morning . Is ther anything btter to start th day? 🙂 : )
January 11th, 2024 at 7:59 am
It seems to the casual observer that Baker holds the ball a long time if his first read doesnt work AND he eyeballs his targets (afraid to pull the trigger if it isnt perfect). Seems to lead to a lot of batted down passes. I am sure ball security is what they have drilled into him.
Hate the batted passes althought they seem to have reduced the last couple weeks.
But now he is taking those late late late sacks instead of sidelining the ball. Frustrating to watch and he is getting hurt.
January 11th, 2024 at 8:06 am
I’d like to see some deeper drop backs. Too many plays he is trying to throw out of a pocket that is collapsing around him. I see him pull back the ball, perhaps because he isn’t seeing the field. Also where are the roll out throws that I thought we would see more of with this new offense. I’d like to see some drawn up screen plays, not just dump offs. The Bucs offense needs more plays throughout the game, some no huddle and getting uptempo works well for them in garbage time so why not try it earlier in games when defenses aren’t ready for it? So many reasons the offense sputters but mostly its because of not getting good yardage on 1st and 2nd down.
January 11th, 2024 at 8:13 am
Tony Marks,
The 49ers?
Lol! 😂 idk what you are talking about, but good morning.
::::cracks keyboarding knuckles:::::
Let’s get ready to debate, it’s a new day, and Go Bucs!
January 11th, 2024 at 8:27 am
I’m sure turnovers or lack of are a better correlation to wins and loses than batted balls. This is the area that I’ve really been impressed with Mayfield. Last week he had some close calls with dropped INT’s but for the most part he’s been very careful with the football which gives us a chance to win every week. Lose the Turnover battle and you WILL lose the game. Although I’m still PO’d about the Falcons first game.
January 11th, 2024 at 8:47 am
I’ve noticed this since TB12 joined the Krewe. The most frustrating part is we don’t seem to be doing it near as much on the defensive side of the ball…..like, are we even watching film….
January 11th, 2024 at 8:48 am
Throw football sooner.
January 11th, 2024 at 10:56 am
The percentage of batted passes is so small across the board it would lead you to believe that it is the least significant.
There have been highly successful quarterbacks in the NFL who are about the same size as Mayfield. Currently Brock Purdy, Jalen Hurts, and Tua Tagovailoa are all listed at 6.1. There are two that are under six feet. You can probably guess.
A good OC will know how to maximize their starting QB.
It would be interesting to compare each stat with the offensive performance of each team. That’s going to take too much time with the data presented in this not especially helpful format. However, it is easy to see that many of the teams who have 1 – 2% batted passes suck. (Technical term.) All of the teams (1) with 6% are division winners. And you can see that many of those with 4-5% bats are in the playoffs.
January 11th, 2024 at 12:10 pm
So if baker is in the stats this year of top 10 qb ratings this must mean since his stats r better than mahomes then baker &mahomes shud no longer b in the nfl,u bakers haters r just funny day in day out good for u & let me ask u haters if things r as u describe why do u even follow the bucs?
January 11th, 2024 at 12:12 pm
Joe is like any celebrity they will write or post anything for a like.maybe joe is just a basic traitor to his own site wtf DUDE.
January 11th, 2024 at 12:16 pm
This nfl season I cud give bad or even far fetched stats on every qb in this league cause what the people posting on this site there is no 1 in the NFL capable of f illing u r expectations,& allu haters defended the brady bunch even tho he is a convicted cheater in my book there is nothing worse than a cheater or a crooked so called fan
January 11th, 2024 at 12:19 pm
ModHairKen already correctly sum this up, but let me amplify: I’m really tired of hearing the Mayfield batted down passes Theory because he’s too short! The truth is, and especially in the last two games, his o-line is getting bullied and bashed backwards into him! And that includes stenny Mock and hainesey. There is no pocket!! There is no ability to step up and properly cock your arm, and step into a pass. Mayfield is literally being knocked backwards by his own lineman! This is a false narrative, and absurd that serious Buc fans and football veterans aren’t pointing out that it’s really hard to even get a pass moving forward if your own lineman are knocking the quarterback backwards. This is been a problem all season, and as others have suggested Canalis should have used the rollout, or just kept an extra lineman in as eligible, or tight end, or had White chip the defensive end every single time before sliding out for a little flare pass. The problem isn’t all tied to Mayfield’s height; the core problem is a weak o-line which was properly called out in the post game victory speech by fellow lineman Tristan Wirfs, showing more leadership and accountability than even the coach bowls! Plus I see Dak Prescott right up there on the list..does he suck because he’s too short?! Also Brock Purdy, and Trevor Lawrence right behind Mayfield in battered down passes, Trevor Lawrence is a giant why are his passes batted down!? This is a false narrative..fix the o-line and the play calling! Go bucs!
January 11th, 2024 at 1:18 pm
Captain Vic – 100% correct. And most of the time it’s Hainsey – in the Carolina game alone Frankie Luvie and Derrick Brown were pushing him like they were hitting the sled… It’s hard not to have passes knocked down when the D-line are a foot from you when you throw.
We need more Play Action/Rollouts, and a better center for sure. Mauch had moments where he looks great, and a lot of “rookie moments”, but he’s getting better. Both tackles played well. Find a center and a left guard, and we’ll be ok on Offense. Oh, and a 3rd receiver that doesn’t drop the ball.
January 11th, 2024 at 1:43 pm
Don’t worry Bucs fans, all these Baker/TB will cease as soon as a loss to Eagles. Why ? I tell you. These combo of daddy/loved son will be dismissed.
January 11th, 2024 at 3:38 pm
I mean… duh?
January 11th, 2024 at 6:51 pm
SteveK Says:
The 49ers?
Lol! 😂 idk what you are talking about
——
What else is new? You never know what’s being talked about
49ers as Superbowl favorites are at 4% in batted passes
The bucs are at 5% which let me do the maths for you is ONE more batted pass every ONE HUNDRED attempts,
Which breaks down to 1 batted pass more every 2-3 games
Anyone thinking that makes any significant difference or issue is a nitwit.
Its a nothing burger.
January 12th, 2024 at 3:21 am
So the BUCS numbers are right in line with the 49ers and cowboys the 2 teams who had the MVP front runners 14 wks or so of the season 🤔
January 12th, 2024 at 6:25 am
Tony Marks,
Thanks for replying and for adding the needed context to follow your dribble.
Brock Purdy is short too, who would’ve thought.
Would you say Purdy has a star supporting cast, much like Baker has Evans and Godwin? It’s the pieces around the QB that are allowing them to shine. Add in Shanahan for Purdy and it s no brainer.