Solving Why Baker Mayfield’s Play Has Deteriorated
December 24th, 2025
Statistical plunge on Baker Mayfield reveals concerning data.
One of a handful of smart people at ESPN, NFL analyst Ben Solak, decided to do a deep dive to figure out what is going on with Baker Mayfield falling off a cliff statistically since the bye.
Solak suggests Mayfield’s career numbers are similar to his numbers this year. It was last year, Solak typed, that was his career outlier (in a good way).
Solak took the long road to conclude Mayfield’s issue this season (if he is not hurt) is that he misses Liam Coen. A lot.
But Mayfield’s off-target rate this season is 16.8%, right around his career average (16.2%). The outlier season was actually last year when he had an 11.8% off-target rate — easily the best of his career. His completion rate this season (61.6%) is right below his career average (63.3%), while last season’s 71.4% rate was the best of his career by more than 7 percentage points.
I still think it’s true that Mayfield is playing at less than 100 percent. But we so quickly change our opinion on quarterbacks year over year that an astonishing season like Mayfield’s 2024 campaign quickly throws our perspective out of whack. This season isn’t the surprising or inexplicable season. Last season was. It was the presence of a largely healthy offensive line and an elite schemer in Liam Coen that inflated Mayfield’s play beyond what should reasonably be expected of him. (Don’t worry, Jags fans. Trevor Lawrence is different.)
We can call this season a return to Earth for Mayfield while still acknowledging the extenuating circumstances. First-time offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard is still finding himself and what he believes on offense, as the Bucs’ approach has vacillated between various identities to account for different players’ availability. The absence of Bucky Irving has dramatically affected the Bucs’ running game (0.05 EPA per rush this season vs. minus-0.04 last season) and their screen game (0.21 EPA per dropback last season, 0.02 EPA this season). The absence of wide receiver Mike Evans has dramatically affected their red zone touchdown rate (66.7% last season as compared with 54.5% this season). And of course, the lack of Coen affects all of this.
Joe is no fan of blowhard Colin Cowherd. He is demonstrably wrong about so many things and what Joe hates about the guy, aside from his arrogance, is that he has bragged that he doesn’t care if he’s accurate.
Why should Joe waste valuable time listening to tripe from someone who doesn’t care about accuraccy? Joe could just go to Hooters and listen to a welder talk football. And have a much better time, too.
Here is what Cowherd said recently (Joe is summarizing) about Mayfield.
Mayfield resurrected his football career playing for Sean McVay and Liam Coen in Los Angeles.
In Tampa, Mayfield first played for Dave Canales. The 2023 Bucs offensive coordinator then went to Carolina and in two years he has an edge on the Bucs for the NFC South crown.
Then, Mayfield played for Coen. In his first year in Jacksonville this season, Coen took over a woeful franchise with an underwhelming No. 1 overall pick of a quarterback, and Coen now has the Jags one game from the AFC’s No. 1 seed.
So, Cowherd contends, Mayfield was around three excellent offensive minds in three seasons and it’s unreasonable to expect a quarterback to have four really good coordinators in succession. And as long as Mayfield has a good coordinator, he’s fine.
(Note: It is Cowherd who thinks Canales is an excellent offensive mind, not Joe.)
Again, Joe is not a Cowherd fan, but he seems to be onto something.
(Background for the graphic below: “Success rate” is when an offense gains 50 percent of needed yards to convert on first down, 70 percent on second down, and 100 percent on third and fourth downs.)
— Good Clips (@MeshSitWheel) December 23, 2025
December 24th, 2025 at 9:11 am
That fall off was very similar to the injury year in Cleveland. I’d like to see it correlated to coaching changes or one other variable.
December 24th, 2025 at 9:19 am
There is truth to the QB/coordinator relationship but there have been too many missed passes this year and not ones over 20 yards. I think Grizz has put this team in bad situations but more so the players when the play is there to be made and it’s not made. Last games 3 tries inside the 5 to get a TD, the misses before against the Saints and others, a lot of that is play calling, or the formation it’s run out of. Quick passing to start the ball rolling or keep it rolling. Going with what works and not with what isn’t, not that hard to figure out. It seems that when the offense is rolling and scoring enough points to win the defense has flat rolled over. When the Defense has held teams down then the offense doesn’t score enough to win. Don’t even talk about not-so-special teams
December 24th, 2025 at 9:20 am
It’s easy folks. Coaching and scheme. Bucs let an offensive GENIUS walk to keep a mediocre HC and replaced said the Genius with a football neophyte. Kudos to the GREAT Liam Coen for getting the hell out of here. He saw it and didn’t want to be a part of anything Todd Bowles is doing.
December 24th, 2025 at 9:21 am
When an offense can’t throw downfield it becomes predictable and easy pickings for even an average NFL defense.
When an offense has two 3rd string guards playing and is attempting to run the football 35-40 times a game it becomes predictable and easy pickings for even an average NFL defense.
Defenses are just stacking the box and inviting Baker to throw deep.
The reason the Bucs don’t throw deep?
Because Baker is incapable of throwing deep…
Either find a new QB or find a new OC that can figure out how to best utilize Baker’s abilities.
Coen understood that throwing deep (at least a few times a game) is mandatory – however Baker also led the NFL in both interceptions and fumbles in 2024…
Pick your poison.
A dink and dunk predictable lame offense or a weak armed QB who leads the NFL in turnovers.
December 24th, 2025 at 9:26 am
Hi Joe, the whole team is a mystery at present. We have two teams. If Baker missed Cohen, how do you explain his play early on?. The Seattle game, San Francisco game?. Similarly, how do you explain the ATL, game , Saints game. The Car game understandlable.
My humble opinion while not understanding the team collapse, except the players losing confidence, I think some is explainable.
Baker, yes injuries played a role prior, now it appears he has them behind him for the most part. Presently, I think he is uncomfortable in the pocket, very poor play interior guards. He gets happy feet, panics he will have to avoid the sack and throws the ball quicker than he would like. The Car game the last interception may be the clue. He moves to avoid the rush then panics and gets rid of the ball instead of waiting to see where Evans goes. If you watch as Evans turns he is wide a– open but Baker unloads to quick instead of waiting for Evans. QB as Baker says is about split seconds decisions and when expected to get sacked or over worrying about it leads to poor and inaccurate decisions. However, in the Car. game when you are only running the ball well, hard for the qb to make much of a difference until the interception.
The other factors, yes no pash rush. We did not have on e before the season nothing changed and in fact maybe worse.
Bucky, not playing like last year and White is having the better season , but underutilized. Tha is the OC plain and simple. Inside IB, problem last year this year the same. Poor decisions Licht, Bowles not to strenghten position. Secondary, two new players, Smith , Parrish, but alarming poor play by McColumn. Winfield , has disappeared. I don’t know, can anybody really explain the team before the by and the team after?
December 24th, 2025 at 9:30 am
No QB in the league is playing at 100% after mid season
They have to suck it up and keep it moving
That’s why they get paid the big bucks
There’s no excuses for these QBs,
Some have it and some don’t have it
December 24th, 2025 at 9:32 am
“But Mayfield’s off-target rate this season is 16.8%, right around his career average (16.2%). The outlier season was actually last year when he had an 11.8% off-target rate — easily the best of his career. His completion rate this season (61.6%) is right below his career average (63.3%), while last season’s 71.4% rate was the best of his career by more than 7 percentage points.”
Because last year he threw a crap ton of sideways passes.
Don’t take my word for it, look at the combined targets of Bucky & Rachaad from 2024.
Evans led the team with 110 targets
Otton was 2nd with 87
Rachaad & Bucky combined had 109 targets for a combined 789 net yards as both combined for -259 yards combined yard before catch.
The folly is, comparing this year to just last year and not looking at it in the scope of Mayfields career. Law of averages is putting belt to ssa this season
December 24th, 2025 at 9:41 am
Uh oooo.
Sounds like this years bust is starting to look more like a Mayfield issue than a Bowles issue?!
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again
CLOSE THE BALERY!!
December 24th, 2025 at 9:41 am
Trade Baker to the Bengals and a 1st round pick please, he is who we thought he was
December 24th, 2025 at 9:41 am
CLOSE THE BAKERY*
December 24th, 2025 at 9:51 am
When it was first announced that Baker was signed by the Bucs I was thrilled. I stated here on JBF at that time that if Baker could be paired with “his version” of Sean Payton that the Bucs may have found “their version” of Drew Brees. It was clearly obvious that Coen was that man. Does anyone not think that Baker and Coen could not have a long successful run with the Bucs ? Were the owners so very loyal to the mediocrity of Bowles that they just couldn’t bear to let him go ? Or did they try to get cute, save money, and have their cake and eat it too ? Regardless they made a very poor decision. After 50 years I am done being a fan of this team. I will follow JBF only to follow the team news in hopes of seeing a change that I view as unlikely. The NFL is corrupt. Outcomes are steered if not rigged. It is so bad that the blatantly wrong calls make front page news on major networks yet the fans roll over, yawn and beg for more. Players and coaches are prosecuted for corrupt gambling crimes. Read the news. Someone has to speak out and stand up. I don’t want it to be this way. I just want to watch honest sports competition. Let the best man/team win. Let me have my heroes (Larry Bird). Let me know my teams players came to play and give their best win or lose. I don’t mind being a fan of a lovable loser if they are truly trying to win. Does anyone here think Larry Bird would not give his best at all times ? Does anyone here think Red Auerbach would accept anything but the best ? I use basketball as an example because it matters not which sport it is. It’s about integrity and putting a team on the field, court, rink or diamond that represents the community it serves and profits from. It’s about respecting that fan base.
Stop feeding the fans poop and telling them it tastes good.
December 24th, 2025 at 9:52 am
This is bigger than Mayfield alone
This is an issue, with everyone stinking the field
There’s not a Buc player on the field standing out
They all are playing like trash
The coaches are confused and can’t find an answer
The GM haven’t made any moves to improve the team
The only moves he made was to bring in a High School coach who haven’t thrown a pass in years. And a 40 year old Edge Rusher, who haven’t played in years
This whole organization is in Suck mode
December 24th, 2025 at 9:53 am
Baker is an average QB unfortunately. Our HC is below average. Our OC is well below average, our GM is not looking so great. Our ST coach is the worm in the tequila bottle. Other than that, we’re great!
Hey – did Braswell not make the ProBowl? I’m “shocked” by that.
December 24th, 2025 at 9:57 am
POOPY BELIEVES if Bucs signed Burrow he would win a Superbowl immediately, Baker always blows it when the game counts, a white Jameis
December 24th, 2025 at 10:00 am
The Bucs roster is loaded with below average players
Look at how Licht draft picks disappear after they leave Tampa
December 24th, 2025 at 10:00 am
Baked Goods go stale too…..
December 24th, 2025 at 10:01 am
I agree with the article. The team has had HC/DC and HC/OC last few years. This year we have Todd from the Jets, and Mayfield from Carolina.
December 24th, 2025 at 10:02 am
Why do Bucs fan continue this narrative that there was a choice with Coen?
It’s fake news and please go back through the timeline and understand that there is no precedent to firing a coach who is continuing to show upside (don’t say dungy, 100% different circumstance). And not only firing that coach, but promoting someone below said coach with one year of play calling experience. I’d love to see an example, but don’t think you’ll find one.
We’re moving backwards talking about Coen. Move forward. It’s over, and there was nothing we could have done to keep him. We weren’t firing Jason ( yes Coen had a better deal in Jacksonville building his entire team – including GM). We weren’t firing Bowles.
MOVE ON!
December 24th, 2025 at 10:04 am
I think Roger is correct about most of the fans but not all of the fans.
December 24th, 2025 at 10:04 am
In other words he is trash… you have qbs like baker and sam darnold who need to be caressed and cuddled by coaching… and then you have qbs like josh allen and stafford who just sling mf touchdowns no matter what.. got it
December 24th, 2025 at 10:05 am
He can’t drop and effectively throw out of the pocket . I think the batted balls have canceled / affected his downfield field throws 10-25 yards …….the play has to break down to create pocket movement for a secondary throwing lane . He also hurt his hand and his shoulder while throwing ( in motion) in the pocket and subsequently got hit while throwing several times afterwards . To take it just a little further , this is causing him to 100% rip balls that don’t need 110% max velocity because he’s trying to get it out so fast……..Bottom Line !! He s not comfortable in pocket !!
December 24th, 2025 at 10:08 am
Deeboooo Says:
December 24th, 2025 at 10:02 am
Why do Bucs fan continue this narrative that there was a choice with Coen?
^^^^
Because there WAS a choice with Coen.
Now I will get on with my blessed day.
Have a good time Bucs fans.
December 24th, 2025 at 10:09 am
I remember there were people here saying Baker made Coen but now we are seeing loud and clear that Coen got the best out of Baker. Baker has a career outlier year and they said coaching had nothing to do with it. Welp now we missed out on a generational offensive mind for an average HC that has openly spoken about retiring soon. Good work Bucs!
December 24th, 2025 at 10:13 am
Joe … ‘Why should Joe waste valuable time listening to tripe from someone who doesn’t care about accuraccy?’
The devil made me do it Joe … check the spelling of the word ‘accuraccy’? There’s a certain irony in there.
Beyond that, fabulous article Joe. I think you hit the nail on the head with Baker misses Liam Coen … a LOT.
December 24th, 2025 at 10:13 am
Time to bring back Todd Monken, between his stops at Georgia and Baltimore, he can surely put together a great staff and get the most out of our offensive weapons
December 24th, 2025 at 10:13 am
Not too long ago they were calling Baker Mayfield the Head Coach maker. They was saying he was the reason why Dave Canales, Liam Coen got Head coaching jobs.
Now they’re saying the Bucs should have fired Bowles and promoted Coen
I’m sure Tom Brady won multiple Super Bowls with different OC
But Mayfield has to be cuddled like a newborn baby, to get him going
December 24th, 2025 at 10:13 am
The eye test doesn’t lie….our Oline is not protecting Mayfield……he is rushed…..often throws immediately to a back or WR short of the sticks….rarely even looks downfield. WRs don’t have time to get open….when he does he forces throws into coverage.
Teams are taking away our RB screens & WR screens. Injuries to Bucky, Oline & Baker & WRs has hurt.
There is a very thin line between the heroic early Baker comebacks & the last 4 games….he’s had the chance to win and has failed.
This is really going to cost him with his next contract.
Our losing is on the Defense….but our “not winning” is on Baker (if that makes any sense)
December 24th, 2025 at 10:15 am
Deeblow says:
“We weren’t firing Bowles”
And therein lies the problem. This ownership group isnt forward thinking enough. The Bucs had themselves a young Sean McVay, a great offensive mind and you dont let those walk out the door so you cam keep a dinosaur DC.
They should have thanked Bowles for his time and offered the HC job to Coen.
As you correctly mentioned, it’s in the past, so time to move forward. Sadly
December 24th, 2025 at 10:22 am
Sal
Of course there is a choice, but let’s play this out
The owners have a meeting at the end of the season to evaluate and say “we want Coen. How do we make it happen? We need to match the other offers he will receive. We don’t know yet what offers are out there, so let’s blow it
All up after another winning season and playoff appearance to out all our cards in on Coen. He’s a first time play caller in the NFL. Never held an upper coaching position. Should we bet on a guy with no repeatable results?”
I think anyone in business or any discipline would say no. It’s the right answer.
If we were tanking, I’d say go all in.
Hindsight is 20/20 right? I get that. I still don’t think Coen has proven anything other than being able to effectively call plays. I wanna see what happens to him as a coach when adversity hits. Maybe he’s then next great HC? Maybe it’s a fluke outlier year for him? Who knows, I certainly don’t but I’m also not putting all my cards in on an unproven coach just yet. We won’t know until we see REPEATABLE results
Have a great holiday. But stop whining please.
December 24th, 2025 at 10:25 am
Nice
Bully tatics, love it
IlL mAkE fUn Of YoUr NaMe. ThAt WiLl ShOw My DoMiNaNcE
Ok Boomer! Enjoy your mid day jello at the retirement home
December 24th, 2025 at 10:26 am
Translation: Grizzard sucks, Mayfield hasn’t been 100% healthy most of the season, and injuries.
WE ABSOLUTELY NEED A NEW OC NEXT YEAR OR WE SUCK AGAIN ON OFFENSE.
December 24th, 2025 at 10:26 am
“Defenses are just stacking the box and inviting Baker to throw deep.”
Baker Mayfield against two-high vs. single-high shells:
Completion Rate: 61.6%/54.3%
On-Target Rate: 74.7%/64.8%
ANY/A: 7.3/5.2
EPA/att: 0.10/(-0.18)
Success Rate: 48.3%/37.4%
December 24th, 2025 at 10:31 am
Just noise. Pretty hard to throw beyond 10 yards when all three interior linemen are bull rushed into Mayfield’s face. O line isn’t up to NFL standards.
December 24th, 2025 at 10:35 am
Grizzard will: 1. Run on first down with a scatback up the middle. 2. Throw a sideways pass that breaks down with no blocking or is too obvious to miss. 3. See a TE gain 9 on 3rd and 10. 4. Run up the middle from the 1 yard line five straight times with no play action. 5. Get 13 back and throw the most obvious low percentage jump ball in the corner of the end zone.
December 24th, 2025 at 10:36 am
Trevor Lawrence is all alone in fourth place in TD passes this year with 26. Baker Mayfield is tied for 11th place with 23 TD passes this year. Yes, injuries to an offensive line and receivers do affect a QBs play. But I’m convinced this year’s play calling, is more the culprit than injuries.
December 24th, 2025 at 10:37 am
As many have already mentioned here, I think play calling could be some of Mayfield’s problem. This is Grizzard first year as a play caller and I keep reading where Bowles’s saying stuff like, we need to go down field more, this individual need to get the ball more and so on. I am not a NFL personnel guy but, I AM JUST SAYING
December 24th, 2025 at 10:37 am
Why? How about because our Offensive coordinator is over his head. The offense hasn’t evolved, it wasn’t adjusted when we lost Evans and it’s not being changed now that we are healthy. This guy has a play sheet from week one. That’s not how this league works. I’m sure he would be a solid high school coordinator.
December 24th, 2025 at 10:55 am
Who was calling the offensive plays during the Mayfield MVP chants???
The same guy they’re throwing under the bus, cause Mayfield stinks
December 24th, 2025 at 10:57 am
From the western edge of civilization, your quarterback’s physic is fractured! Either Mayfield’s injuries are more complicated than anyone issues aware or the folks higher up the food chain has told others to keep it under lock and key. My opinion, if he is injured, medication is used to keep him playing. The meds are slowing his reaction time and decision making which leads to over throws and interceptions! If it is a mental distraction, it maybe nothing to do with football.
December 24th, 2025 at 11:04 am
so why was he so good this season that he was the leading MVP candidate? That’s with the same offensive coordinator he has now.
The only thing that makes sense is that he’s very injured and it’s affected his accuracy. And he only last game got his mobility back, but he has turnstiles for guards and this is affecting both the game plans and his ability to brave staying in the pocket. When Brady didn’t trust his offensive line, the GOAT had bad numbers too from hurrying throws.
December 24th, 2025 at 11:09 am
There’s a saying, “what should be done eventually, must be done immediately.” Imagine how different this year would’ve been had Licht fired Bowles and replaced him w/ Coen. They loved Coen and knew he was a difference maker. But they tried to hold on to him as an OC instead of doing the hard thing.
December 24th, 2025 at 11:28 am
Fun while it lasted. He ain’t it.
INTs to close games … Winston 2.0.
December 24th, 2025 at 11:34 am
Lakeland Says:
December 24th, 2025 at 9:52 am
This is bigger than Mayfield alone
This is an issue, with everyone stinking the field
There’s not a Buc player on the field standing out
They all are playing like trash
The coaches are confused and can’t find an answer
The GM haven’t made any moves to improve the team
The only moves he made was to bring in a High School coach who haven’t thrown a pass in years. And a 40 year old Edge Rusher, who haven’t played in years
This whole organization is in Suck mode
THIS ^^
December 24th, 2025 at 11:41 am
For all you Baker Haters -have you actually watched how many games the DEFENSE LOST????
During their great start, how many games did Baker bail out the team to get the wins???
December 24th, 2025 at 11:46 am
Hey Jeff, I’m skipping by everybody and wanted to talk about the topic you’re on. Maybe others did but I’m running behind so here’s my two cents on Why Coen DID INDEED do the Smart thing by taking the Jag off job instead of sticking around.
It WAS CLEAR that this team WAS All about the Offense last year. Bowles would have been embarrassed out of a job (just like this year if he picked poorly an OC) Each Year he’s been here. He NEVER DESERVED THE JOB (Bowles) and he’s been an Albatross around this Org’s neck from Day One! Bowles “had” a talent for picking OC leadership. He hung his head in the noose just as soon as he (Bowles) bought into his own “I can’t miss, EGO driven, foolery” He OBVIOUSLY DID MISS this time and it’s COST HIM EVERYTHING! As he deserves….
Now with that said, there was NO INDICATION that as long as the team kept winning (due to the OFFENSE Alone) that Licht or the Glazers were going make the “SMART MOVE” and give the leadership to the one whom “Actually Deserved It”. And that would be Coen. Coen WAS NOT going to be promoted to the head coach…..
These foolish owners and GM would let Bowlez go on to infinity with the WORSE DEFENSE in ALL OF FOOTBALL just as long as someone, Anyone was there to cover for Bowles and COEN WAS SMART ENOUGH TO SEE THAT! WE ALL identified THAT TRUTH from the cheap seats long before it got to that point (Coen leaving like Canales did for Greener pastures) Coen ISN’T STUPID and Licht I’m sure did his Best song and dance to try to bamboozle Coen into staying but Coen was smarter than that. Things change, life happens. In this life you HAVE TO MAKE THAT MOVE. HE WAS ALWAYS GOING TO MAKE THE MOVE!
Coen GAVE US the Opportunity to give Him the job that HE DESERVED but the Glazers and Licht CHOSE THIS LOSER todd bowles Over the Phenom Coen….
And Coen DIDN’T bite immediately on the Jag off job! He GAVE US A CHANCE AND THEY BLEW IT! The Glazers and Jason Licht passed on a TRUE ORGANIZATIONAL FORTUNES CHANGER FOR OVER A DECADE OF COMPETING FOR SUPER BOWLS, FOR THE ULTIMATE LOSER!
And Now. With that said. And NO LONGER IN DENIAL….. I’m ready for a Change in Ownership and GM as well. NONE OF THEM ARE FIT TO LEAD MY TEAM INTO TOMORROW! They are too Arrogant or TOO STUPID! Either One is enough for me to say the SOONER YOUR GONE, THE BETTER!
We NEED New Ownership. And it’s More than “OBVIOUS” that we need an “Actual ENGAGED OWNERSHIP AND GM”! You DON’T Let Future SUPER BOWLS WALK OUT OF THE DOOR FOR A NEVER WAS! ONLY IDIOTS OPERATE MULTI BILLION DOLLAR OPRATIONS LIKE THAT!
December 24th, 2025 at 11:49 am
Bucman,
The defense has been trash for years and all season.
Baker was red hot and now appears to be regressing to his norms. He’s tough and probably playing hurt, but it doesn’t take away the last three weeks he had a divisional game, ball in his hands with a chance to take the lead, and pick, 4 and out, pick. That’s bad football from your franchise QB.
Ted Williams, “you’re only as good as your last at bat.”
December 24th, 2025 at 11:53 am
Baker has been playing this way his whole career. Someone else pointed out in a thread on this site today all of criticisms of his mechanics back in 2021. And he still does the same things, no matter what team hes on, no matter the coaches and no matter the teammates he has.
Inaccurate
Bad footwork
Batted balls
Turnover prone
During his magical 2024 season all of this was on display with better OL play and a better OC.
This is his 4th team. If he had it we would have seen it by now and it would be consistent and undeniable.
So if the Bucs don’t trade for Burrow then Baker will play on his last guaranteed year next season. That’ll probably be his last season here.
December 24th, 2025 at 12:05 pm
How about we trade Baker when the time comes for that
December 24th, 2025 at 12:26 pm
It’s just the story of Baker. It’s who he is. Every time he gets on a hot streak he really starts ‘feeling’ himself way too much and then completely loses focus. He starts accepting EVERY friggin’ interview, tv-commercial, & etc. Even, IN-SEASON. And, it’s ALL. About. HIM. I watch other top QB’s (postgame at the podium and during weekly press conferences) remain entirely focused on the following week and 💯 about the TEAM and upcoming opponent. Baker seems to be more concerned with the PAST (and present while living ‘in the moment’ and sucking-up all the praise he can), while still worried about proving his critics wrong. It’s like he’s ‘using-it’ in order to motivate himself, by feeling as if he’s in a constant fight all of the time. So, he feels the need to have to continuously ‘clap back’ at his detractors, versus just staying focused at the task at hand. I remembered for a long time, Brady refused doing commercials and all of that during ‘in-season’ (outside of his early early years, when he refused to do them without his offensive line). I mean, Baker is a VETERAN NOW… Why in the HELL is doing ‘in-season’ tv-commercials, AND long format E60 style pregame interviews, & etc. during the WEEK!? He CAN SAY “NO,” ya know. I mean, you already know exactly, what is coming next… He’s not a talented or big enough ATHLETE to be able to get away with the little things. He’s just not. HE has to be completely, entirely LOCKED-IN. At ALL times. He is NOT Josh Allen, or Herbert, and some of those. HE has to give EVERY OUNCE. And, he’s not. That’s the ‘one thing’ that has always turned me off about Baker from the very beginning… He lacks good self-awareness. He hasn’t any. I mean, all the head bunting lineman and stuff (while not wearing a helmet even), is just STUPID. Some people really like that nonsense… But, NOT ME. NOT from my QB. I think it’s fake and just DUMB. It tells me that you are a douche and a moron. And, you are worried about the WRONG stuff as a QB. It’s like it’s being FORCED. It’s not organic. I think you look like a FOOL, and I’m not falling for it! You’re going to have to show ME a little more than that. A whole lot MORE
December 24th, 2025 at 12:27 pm
Sure, trade him for burrow. Only an upgrade.
December 24th, 2025 at 12:36 pm
The main reason he is uncomfortable is because our guards and center get beat too often.
December 24th, 2025 at 12:36 pm
Merry Christmas Bucs fans keep the faith Bucs win division n cause havoc in playoffs jjg
December 24th, 2025 at 12:41 pm
Bee,
You and your wife, Rod Munch, must have been doing something else when Mayfield threw a perfect 50 yard strike to Egbuka in 4th Q of last Sunday’s game. He was finally allowed to throw the ball after being saddled with a Woody Hayes game plan to grind it out on the ground to keep Todd Bowles defense off the field. You and your wife have been very quiet about that TD allowed in the last play the Panthers ran in first half against T Bowles elite defense.
December 24th, 2025 at 12:57 pm
“You and your wife, Rod Munch, must have been doing something else when Mayfield threw a perfect 50 yard strike to Egbuka in 4th Q of last Sunday’s game”
40 yards, and it was Egbukas’ only reception of the game and his 2nd overall target. Gipper you gotta stop lying, good grief man.
“He was finally allowed to throw the ball after being saddled with a Woody Hayes game plan to grind it out on the ground to keep Todd Bowles defense off the field.”
And to try to make passing the ball easier, how’d that work out?
“You and your wife have been very quiet about that TD allowed in the last play the Panthers ran in first half against T Bowles elite defense.”
Just as quiet as Baker defenders are about our 2 drives on offense before that score was allowed netting us a whopping -14 yards in 6 plays.
OR
Leaving 4 points on the field the drive before those 2 drives and settling for a FG from 5 yards out. After failing to score a TD from inside of 5 yards off the GL 5 times in a row.
You know what the difference between what Coen is doing with Lawrence, and what Baker is doing now that he’s being exposed?
Coen can call a QB sneak from the 2 yard line with confidence because Lawrence isn’t a pipsqueak.
December 24th, 2025 at 1:08 pm
Does Grizzard even know what play action is? Or designed qb rollouts? Two back set? Double tight ends??
The play calling this year is high schoolish. Very vanilla!
December 24th, 2025 at 1:23 pm
Warren Brooks Lynch Says:
December 24th, 2025 at 12:57 pm
Just as quiet as Baker defenders are about our 2 drives on offense before that score was allowed netting us a whopping -14 yards in 6 plays.
OR
Leaving 4 points on the field the drive before those 2 drives and settling for a FG from 5 yards out. After failing to score a TD from inside of 5 yards off the GL 5 times in a row.
You know what the difference between what Coen is doing with Lawrence, and what Baker is doing now that he’s being exposed?
Coen can call a QB sneak from the 2 yard line with confidence because Lawrence isn’t a pipsqueak.
That’s pure bs. Lawrence has a history of concussions. He is a pipsqueak. He has a good offensive line to get time to throw downfield.
December 24th, 2025 at 1:26 pm
WarrenBrooksLoser,
Yeah, you’re right I am lying it was a forty yard perfect throw instead of a 50 yard perfect throw. Good grief, you are one really sorry person. Finish up your 12 pack and go scare some children by being yourself.
December 24th, 2025 at 1:29 pm
It’s Christmas time and I’m not into seeing this vitriol for a few days. We’re all right and wrong. I was all for Licht and Bowles being extended. I finally lost it last week. I think taking the kickoff at the ten late there, after gifting them the 35 every time we kicked, set me off. I’ve known injuries hurt us but it’s been about attitude- and we don’t have one. My firm belief is it’s the QBs and head coaches job to win ballgames. And our QB and head coach are not doing well with the primary objective. Maybe the two of them can get on the same page and we will win a game. Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.
December 24th, 2025 at 1:45 pm
I reject the premise of the piece. Take the Carolina game. Listening to the harsh criticism of Baker for this game I reviewed every single play. Because of Grizzard’s game plan, he threw only ten times in the first half. So much for offensive rhythm. He ended up 18 for 26 with 1 TD and 1 pick. of the 26 passes there were at least two clear drops, one intentional incompletion to avoid a penalty on the Oline, and the last play where he threw to the exact location Evans was headed until he cut the other way, not knowing Baker had released the ball. At least two passes were on target but tipped at the last second by the CB. So that means there were only 2 what you could call inaccurate passes out of 26 attempts, all of this coming with a collapsing pocket that forced him to run for some of the biggest gains of the day. I’m sorry folks but if you’re trying to pin this on Baker, think again. Aside from the drive killing penalties on Goedeke, the defense and Grizzard deserve much of the blame. The time they were on the four yard line with a first down and ran it three times without success stands out. You have a guy who threw 40 TD passes last year and you aren’t going to take a shot into the end zone? What in the world is Grizzard afraid of? In the meantime, I don’t care what the pundits say, especially those who didn’t even see the game and are basing their criticisms on statistics that don’t factor in all the problems that have caused the offensive lack of production.
December 24th, 2025 at 1:46 pm
Gipper
They allowed Baker to throw the ball on the last play of the game. How’d that work out for the team? Mike had already turned right, Baker still had the ball in his hands and threw it left anyway. Not a Buc anywhere on that side of the field.
The drive before that he skipped a ball to Godwin on 3rd down. No pressure and he still missed.
Face your lord and savior is falling from grace. His time is almost up. You’re not going to find a serious HC willing to risk his job and the jobs of all of his coaches on Baker.
December 24th, 2025 at 2:11 pm
Bee. Literally the number one selling point for a head coach considering the Bucs? You know what it is, don’t you Bee? Now you say a serious HC wouldn’t risk it all with Baker?
December 24th, 2025 at 2:47 pm
Kenton
No, I don’t think about serious coach would do that longer than a year. In sports it’s “what have you done for me lately”. How has Baker been playing lately?
Think about it like this, if Baker was closing out games like he did earlier in the season, we wouldn’t be having this convo. The Bucs would have at least 9-10 wins and a playoff spot and Bowles would be off the hotseat.
Baker play is part of the reason Bowles is about to get fired now. What coach wants to trade places with Bowles?
December 24th, 2025 at 3:13 pm
I personally think it’s been a little bit of everything:
– There’s no doubt Mayfield has been injured this season. Both his scrambling and passing ability went down significantly in the middle of the season. Is he still injured now? I have no idea. His scrambling for 1st downs has returned, but he’s clearly also seeing ghosts, running around in the pocket and taking sacks in recent weeks that are completely unnecessary. Combine that with some poor throws, and yea, Mayfield is part of the problem.
– Offensive injuries: Yes we now finally have the WRs back, but Grizzard has decided not to use them. Meanwhile, the o-line is still very much injury plagued and it appears our current guards are terrible, even though the bookends at tackle are back. They are both having sub-standard years as well.
– Grizzard: He has no feel for the game, just like Todd Bowles. Too predictable and too many throws behind the LOS that oppossing defense have been keyed it on and stopping for 2 months, yet he keeps calling them. So much of last year’s creativity is simply gone. Less motion, less misdirection.
December 24th, 2025 at 3:27 pm
Is anyone here actually watching the games? The guards are being pushed into Baker’s lap on every play. Difficult to step into *any* throw when this is true.
December 24th, 2025 at 4:27 pm
Bee,
Hope Santa brings you an IQ higher than 68.
December 24th, 2025 at 4:40 pm
Stpetematt … ‘The guards are being pushed into Baker’s lap on every play. Difficult to step into *any* throw when this is true.’
Agreed. The OLine play is definitely sub-par this season. And without exellent OLine protection, Baker goes from his 2024 completion percentage of 71.4% to his 2025 completion percentage of 61.6%. BIG DIFFERENCE.
His scrambling though hasn’t really been affected. In 2024 he had 60 runs for 378 yds (6.3 YPC) with 3 TDs & 24 first downs. In 2025 (thru 15 games) he’s already had 48 runs for 335 yds (7.0 YPC) for 1 TD & 23 first downs. Over 17 games that’d extrapolate to 54 runs for 380 yds & 26 first downs. Very close to the same IOW.
What appears to be different though is his escapability. Last year he was Houdini, but he still got sacked 40 times. This season he seems to escape a lot less, but interestingly he’s also been sacked less (31 times in 15 games projects to 35 sacks over 17 games). Last season it seemed that he was escaping, THEN making a successful pass play a LOT more often than he’s been doing this season. This season opponents have done a MUCH BETTER JOB of keeping him contained it looks like.
December 24th, 2025 at 5:18 pm
If Bowles tells Grizzard it’s all his- and Baker it’s all his and Grizz’s, and tells him he would like nothing more than 5 touchdown PASSES. Don’t worry about cojoining our offense and defense game plans. Go out there and let the playmakers have some fun. Then Todd can tell them Merry Christmas. And we’d win. Same strategy the next week. If somehow it worked, and we toss 7 or 8 touchdown passes and win 2 games, we’d be hot going into the tournament. The defense would have the chance to look better not being under the gun all the time. Maybe it would work. I’m not hearing any better ideas. If we keep doing what we’re doing and expecting different results- well, you know.
December 24th, 2025 at 6:17 pm
Bee: glad you mentioned the supposed “skipped” pass to Godwin. You’re wrong. Mayfield put the ball in the only place it was going to be a reception. Godwin was tightly covered, the CB had inside position and if the pass was any higher it could have been intercepted. It was catchable and would have been a first down. But on top of all that it was pass interference. The CB, seeing the possibility of a reception, made hard contact with Godwin well before the ball arrived, making a reception virtually impossible. I would call that pass accurate so it means our of 26 passes in that game, there may have been one or two inaccurate passes when you subtract the two clear drops (Evans, McMillan), the intentional incompletion to avoid a penalty, and two accurate passes that were tipped by CBs at the last second. he was accurate on 24 of 26 passes, and made something out of nothing on several runs. Yet you spend your time attacking him rather than the legitimate underlying problems on this team.
December 24th, 2025 at 6:18 pm
Why risk it on a qb who can’t play injured and needs excuses by his worshippers or can never take you to the Super Bowl? Nothing is never his fault but everybody else’s.
Ahh here comes the leader of Bakie’s Pep Squad Gulper. Couldn’t handle all the bashing could you there lil Susie? Feelings all hurt and whatnot.
Baker is one of those qbs that needs a perfect team all around him not just offense. If not he struggles
Coen made Baker last year
December 24th, 2025 at 6:32 pm
Neither Canales nor Coen called plays that utilized the full extent of the Bucs offense. Grizzard? Yeah right, another OC thrown in the mix. It’s neither Licht’s nor Bowles’s fault.
December 24th, 2025 at 7:02 pm
Bee,
“You and your wife, Rod Munch, must have been doing something else when Mayfield threw a perfect 50 yard strike to Egbuka in 4th Q of last Sunday’s game”ou and your wife, Rod Munch, must have been doing something else whe
Warren Brooks Lynch Says:
December 24th, 2025 at 12:57 pm
“You and your wife, Rod Munch, must have been doing something else when Mayfield threw a perfect 50 yard strike to Egbuka in 4th Q of last Sunday’s game”
Hmmmmm. Gipper posts to Bee. Warren Brooks Lynch (AKA Bee) answers. It must be difficult to manage many different alias comments. So, Is Rod Munch also another alias of Bee/WBL?
December 24th, 2025 at 7:41 pm
I would trade him to the saints. If he’s as bad of a qb as what Bucs fans make him out to be then that will be two easy wins every year for the Bucs if baker is with the saints
December 24th, 2025 at 7:54 pm
So Coen made Baker? Interesting statement which is on the edge of being oxymoronic! One failed to mention that Baker was introduced to some of Coen’s concepts during his four games with the Rams, right. The Browns the moment Baker was injured, should have benched him. For some reason only known to them, they didn’t. Flash to this season, when Baker was injured why diff not the Buc’s bench him? The truth will never be known!
December 24th, 2025 at 8:03 pm
Drew Aluar as our quarterback for the future!!
December 24th, 2025 at 9:38 pm
So… when Mayfield has a good OC he’s good, and when he has a poor one he sucks? Why, that’s absolutely brilliant! I don’t know why teams haven’t thought of that! Uhhh, BTW… anybody check Brady’s stats his final year?
December 24th, 2025 at 11:46 pm
It’s not that complicated, he sacrificed his body so they could barely squeeze out some games. Then he played the rest of the season hurt so he could cost them some games because he refuses to sit and the coaches don’t have the balls. Same reason why he got ran out of Cleveland and why you spent a second rounder on a QB so he could never run a drive in a game. It’s literally in plain sight I don’t know why you are so baffled
December 25th, 2025 at 12:05 am
Baker issues a mood player. When he plays well his confidence goes up and he keeps playing well, or plays even better. But when he has a rough streak he tends to spiral down, and the team follows. I’m not sure what the Bucs can do to break him out of it; maybe bring in a sport psych person or a personal coach/minister motivational type?
December 25th, 2025 at 9:57 am
Is everybody forgetting that Baker is a Heisman winner. He is a very good QB. The Browns were a bad team and Baker played injured most of the time. Using his stats from his time in the Browns is a red herring at best.
We have team problem in Tampa. A mediocre HC with a history of mediocrity (look at when he was HC at the Jets). We have a clueless, newbie OC who seems to be calling in plays from a coloring book. Some of the plays are truly incomprehensible. We have a O-line that seems to have gotten very porous after the bye week. Our special teams suck and the ST coach needs to be fired along with the HC. Defense has inexplicably fallen apart – apathy, old age or checked out. Who knows.
This is a total team meltdown. Baker hasn’t helped himself with all the game-losing interceptions. However, receivers are dropping a lot of balls too. Offensive line is letting rivals harass and hurry Baker. He definitely does not look comfortable in the pocket. Remember he is not build like linebacker, which is what you have in Josh Allen and Justin Herbert. They are big guys who can make things happen with their feet as the steamroll defenders.
I love Baker, but he needs to step up and figure things out. Otherwise, I suggest that Licht look to the draft for a QB in Tampa’s future. However, Tampa’s history of drafting QBs is mixed at best and lousy at worst. Why we have Teddy Bridgewater as a backup QB is beyond me. He is a washed up, over the hill QB who was coaching HS. He is not Phillip Rivers.
I am looking forward to 2026 and the draft. After 30 years in Florida, I will be moving back North, but still following the bucks. Go Bucs. Go Canes (my Alma). Happy Holidays. Cheers to all. Peace.
December 25th, 2025 at 12:24 pm
The ohio state guy is not eligible. Manning is staying put. tRade up to get the Heisman winner. He is very similar to Brady
December 25th, 2025 at 1:50 pm
Thanks DR! Yeah, that’s been the glaring issue I am seeing. And I’ll bet our later season game stats bear that out even more than early.