Taking What The Defense Gives You
November 13th, 2025
Defenses have neutered his runs.
Yesterday, yes, Baker Mayfield admitted he’s not 100 percent. But he also said he doesn’t want to use that as an “excuse” for not being as effective as he was earlier in the season, specifically on his third-down runs.
Something changed when the Bucs faced the Lions. With Mike Evans getting hurt early in that game and no Chris Godwin for the Lions to worry about, they believed containing Mayfield was more important than worrying about Tez Johnson.
So the Lions put a spy on Mayfield.
Now that the Lions put that on tape, other teams have seen how bottling up Mayfield has put a lasso on the Bucs offense; the slimy Saints and the Patriots copied what the Lions did.
The Bucs have yet to find a way to adjust.
“First, I think schematically, starting in Detroit, [opponents] started with the spy defense on third downs,” Mayfield said. “[They are] just disciplined in the rush lanes, and for me, not feeling like I was able to get up to full speed scrambling to throw, which is what I try and do every time.”
Mayfield said being dinged up, he’s dialed back on some third-down scrambles. Throw in how defenses are spying him and keeping him in the pocket by shutting down run lanes, Mayfield’s running has been neutered.
“Sometimes earlier in the season, the run lanes were there,” Mayfield said. “[I am] looking to throw and as I get healthier, [I am] still trying to take advantage of whatever they’re giving me.”
So, Mayfield said, it goes back to the old football cliché, “Take what the defense gives you.” And defenses aren’t giving him lanes to run in.
Joe hopes at some point, Mayfield heeds the words of Al Davis who reacted to that same famous football cliché, Davis said, “We’re going to take what we want.”
November 13th, 2025 at 6:00 am
I hope that means throwing to the open man in the flat and not trying to force it into triple coverage.
November 13th, 2025 at 6:23 am
Running the ball helps considerably. Once Bucky gets back into the lineup, I think opportunities will open for Baker. The question is why aren’t we using more play action/RPOs in our schemes? It doesn’t look like Grizz is going to be half the wizard Coen was.
November 13th, 2025 at 6:37 am
He can’t run because of his injuries. He has no RB1. No RG1. No LG1. Our C1 Barton has gotten absolutely blown up this year getting beat down right up the middle by bull rushes constantly. And that’s not even bringing up BM has no WR1.
No WR2. No WR 3. He was able to make something out of nothing early on because he was healthy and escaped heavy pressure for big gains. You take away that option from him and we see the results. The injuries will doom this team in the end. Pretty sad situation.
November 13th, 2025 at 6:57 am
Rest Baker this weekend and focus on our division games!
November 13th, 2025 at 7:04 am
He kind of looks like for the first time in Tampa like the old inconsistent baker they kicked out of other places but his stats are good
He doesn’t have the magic like in the early games
November 13th, 2025 at 7:06 am
I saw Merriweather late in the game last week chasing that rookie on that long td run. Didn’t I? And in the NFL you never see that many breakdowns for 60 yard plays. Maybe in lower ranked high school ball. Hardly ever in college football do you see such breakdowns. I’m wondering where are our safeties? Now I find out Winfield has a foot injury again. I knew something was wrong with him. We have an all pro safety and something is slowing him down and nobody is talking about it?
November 13th, 2025 at 7:07 am
How does that guy I think it was MJ get blown pst for the sack on 4th down? Did he get paid off? Ridiculous
November 13th, 2025 at 7:14 am
Baker will be just fine and no one is chasing him out of Tampa ,,, 3 TDs and a FG should be enough to win games in this league ,,, Beat Buffalo to shut all these people up for a week would be nice ,,, Tampa odds grew to win the division the last few days to -850,,, He will run that fist playoff game as needed ,,, no need for The Magic until then cause playoffs are all that matters ,, get our guys back and roll
November 13th, 2025 at 7:29 am
Mj. Why not say “ I don’t know what the hell I’m talking about?” Because you absolutely don’t have a clue. What places did they kick him out of? Cleveland? Biggest blunder in NFL history. Bar none. In March of 2022. Baker asked for release from Cleveland, he wasn’t gonna be the backup. Got to Carolina in July 2022 and stayed 2 months. Head coach was fired. New coach tried to bench Baker who asked for and got released and signed with Rams in November. Still 2022. Rams and McVey signed him knowing Stafford was their QB. So Baker was being paid 3 NFL paychecks for 2022. Go back and look what McVay had to say about Baker. Mayfield is in his 8th year- 2018-2021 with Cleveland (4 years.). 2022 with Cleveland, Carolina, and Rams. 2023 through now with Tampa. You don’t know anything Mj. That’s an affront to real fans and makes me wonder why someone would comment at all on something they don’t know anything about.
November 13th, 2025 at 7:36 am
Mj.Stop thinking! It’s a disaster for you. M Jordan didn’t get blown by on the sack on 4th down. That was a stunt that White failed to pick up even though he was the screen receiver. He had to change the assignment and failed to pick up the blitz. White, not Jordan. Seriously dude, don’t comment on football anymore. You’re making everyone who reads your posts dumber.
November 13th, 2025 at 7:48 am
Kenton … ‘Now I find out Winfield has a foot injury again.’
I hadn’t heard that Kenton, but just looked at yesterday’s Bucs injury report and sure enough, Winfield was limited at practice yesterday for a foot injury. Not his fault obviously, but since signing his new $21 mil a year, highest paid NFL safety contract in May 2024, he’s been a major disappointment. Poor availability & mediocre stats to say the least.
Guess I’m still old-school in that I loved 6’2″ 220 lb John Lynch back there knocking heads. Only time you could get him off the field was after he’d hit everyone out there. And you heard every single John Lynch hit no matter where you were seated.
November 13th, 2025 at 8:05 am
DR, even though I’ve only been a Tampa fan since Baker got here doesn’t mean I haven’t been a football fan. I’ve watched Lynch play plenty of times. No, we don’t have any of him right now. They don’t come around very often.
November 13th, 2025 at 8:07 am
RUN GAME GRIZZ!!!!….use it!!!…commit to it!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
November 13th, 2025 at 8:12 am
Barton is playing much better and getting National recognition for it. He isn’t getting blown up by bull rushes. Just stop with that criticism. The kid is good and getting better.
November 13th, 2025 at 8:28 am
jcscycles, Barton is gonna be fine. Has all the right stuff and sky is the limit but he’s still learning. Without Bredeson he suffers. Centers have a huge job and reading defenses and calling blocking schemes and changing calls at the line and Bredeson has filled the role of mentor. Barton, especially without Bredeson playing, gets confused sometimes and you play slow when you’re confused. He will be fine but it will help if he can play with and learn from Bredeson for another year or two. It’ll be really tough pill to swallow if Ben Bredeson doesn’t play this week.
November 13th, 2025 at 9:21 am
kenton smith
i doubt bredenson plays this week…hope im wrong
GO BUCS!!!!
November 13th, 2025 at 11:05 am
what do you think about the offence execution sunday? yes they should be executed
November 13th, 2025 at 1:12 pm
Kenton
Players like Lynch and the way they played would be outlawed in today’s NFL.
Man, John could hit.
November 13th, 2025 at 4:07 pm
NNNNNNNNNN