“That Could Scare A Lot Of Quarterbacks Off”
May 17th, 2025
Baker Mayfield
Bucs officials don’t have to worry about how their franchise quarterback will handle a potentially catastrophic situation.
No, Joe isn’t referring to hurricanes or the 2024 Bucs pass defense.
Mike Evans and Chris Godwin each suffering significant injuries against the Ravens in a home loss last season was a crushing blow. The Bucs’ record fell to 4-3 and the season outlook appeared dark.
Yeah, Tampa Bay lost its next three games, but the offense hung in admirably without its stud receivers.
Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht joined the Green Light podcast and noted how Bucs coaches did a fantastic job scheming in the absence of Evans and Godwin. Licht pointed to receivers Sterling Shepard, Ryan Miller and Jalen McMillan all stepping up along with tight end Cade Otton.
But Licht saved his greatest praise for Baker Mayfield.
“For Baker to handle it all the way he did, that could scare a lot of quarterbacks off, spook them into saying, ‘Sheez, I’m done two elite receivers; what am I going to do?'” Licht said. “But he had the confidence to get through it. And he’s a phenomenal leader, and everybody just kind of followed his lead.”
Joe was extremely impressed by Mayfield at times during that stretch without Evans and Godwin. Consider that when the Bucs drove in the fourth quarter to tie the Chiefs in Kansas City with 27 seconds remaining (Todd Bowles did not go for two), the completions on that 71-yard drive were three to Shepard, two to Trey Palmer and one each to Otton and Miller.
Enough said.
May 17th, 2025 at 7:49 pm
It’s gonna be good year! Thanks Joes!
May 17th, 2025 at 8:33 pm
It was so freaking obvious to go for two. The moment we decided to go conservative, I said to myself it’s a wrap. Some coaches out coach themselves. Todd Bowles tends to out coach himself at a high clip. That was probably the MOST ridiculous decision of the season. Well…aside from the jet sweep in the playoffs. Both had me gagging in disgust!
May 17th, 2025 at 8:48 pm
I first started here coming in a couple years ago and I was all about how lucky the Bucs were to have Baker. Anybody that doesn’t appreciate him is not a Bucs fan. He’s everything you want your quarterback to be. And by the way when it comes to his next contract, he’s not going anywhere the Bucs know a good thing when they see it and Baker knows a good thing when he sees it -he certainly has seen a lot. Go Bucs!
May 17th, 2025 at 9:17 pm
Following the Bucs drafting of EE in the 1st round – much was said about how we lost 4 games in a row after Mike and Chris were injured (really just 3 because Godwin’s injury happened the last play in what was already a loss to Baltimore) – so that was supposedly a big reason why we needed another high end receiver…..
But I distinctly remember the praise during that time frame of how well the Bucs offense had adjusted to losing our 2 best receivers…. – scoring 31, 26. 24 and 20 points against mostly good teams in those 4 losses….
The bigger problem though was that the defense gave up 41, 31, 30 and 23 points in those 4 games.
Just pointing out there was a bit of history revision going on with the implication that we lost all those games because ME and CG were not on the field. The offense actually did pretty well in all of those games.
If the defense had been decent enough to hold those 3 good teams (+ Atlanta) to 22 points (season average was 22.64 ppg) – we would have WON 3 of those 4 games….
Just sayin….
Even when Mike and Chris were unavailable – offense was not really the problem last year….
May 17th, 2025 at 9:26 pm
Baker is value incarnate on a football field.
Joe is right to praise what Baker did in that drive against the Chiefs. But, he did that with:
Sterling Shepherd – second round
Jalen McMillan – third round
Cade Otton – fourth round
Ryan Miller – UDFA
That seems to argue that taking a WR in the first round was overkill.
Can Joe confirm or deny reports from Houston that the Texans were trying to trade their pick #25 to take Egbuka?
And, can Joe say what the Texans were offering?
By the trade value charts, for the #19 pick from the Bucs, the Texans should have been offering the #25 pick plus a third round pick and a sixth round pick.
I hope that Egbuka has a great career with the Bucs. But, is he a third round and a sixth round pick better than every receiver taken after him? Let’s all hope so.
May 17th, 2025 at 9:44 pm
If the defense is allowing opponents to drive the length of the field every drive in 2025 and he has a chance to win it on one last play, I hope he learned from last year’s failures.
May 17th, 2025 at 9:53 pm
I have the impression that Egbuka is regarded as as close to a “sure thing” as you can get. He will be at least a number two receiver for us eventually if not number one. Who knows when we will have a chance to draft someone like Mike Evans ever again.
May 17th, 2025 at 10:03 pm
If BA had Baker in 2019, the team would’ve made the playoffs.
May 17th, 2025 at 10:14 pm
If we don’t win, it’s unlikely Baker Mayfield…..usually defensive or coaching breakdowns….we are in good hands…
May 17th, 2025 at 10:37 pm
Interns or not, think you meant “sheez, I’m down to elite receivers”. Grammarly is everywhere.
Important for the establishment here to stay tip top shape. As much as possible as often as possible.
And with regard to those guys going down last year, schedule, and a few other division poor factors worked in our favor too during their absence, and our QB did play well.
May 17th, 2025 at 10:38 pm
Sure. *Two elite receivers. Auto correct, likely everywhere wrong.
May 17th, 2025 at 11:30 pm
Yes, yes, I remember it as if it were yesterday 🤔 I believe it was munch and onei who proudly said Baker was only good because of the 2 receivers, Evans and Godwin, he had to throw to. But then he didn’t… and still ended the season with the 3rd best offense in the league. Wrong again guys, as usual.
May 18th, 2025 at 1:59 am
One player that’s not getting any love who I think will be a big part of this offense and that’s Devin Culp LFG