Interesting Numbers On Quick Passes
June 11th, 2026
Atlanta traits coming to Tampa?
Joe was honestly surprised to read the following. Here’s why:
Over at the PFF tribe, Nic Bodiford decided to document every quick pass/first-read throw by every quarterback who attempted such a pass in the NFL.
Bodiford only listed the top 16 teams, or the top half of the league. Joe assumed since the Bucs offensive line was a trainwreck last year and Bucs backup guards were slightly less smelly than redfish left out in the sun, the Bucs would have used a lot of first-read, quick throws so Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield, who was beat up, could both avoid hits and get the ball out fast to receivers.
That apparently was not the case, which seemed very strange to Joe.
However, new Bucs offensive coordinator Zac Robinson did lead an offense into the NFL’s top half, doing just that. But not by much.
Last year the Dixie Chicks, who Robinson worked for, was 11th in the league, tied with the Browns, in completing first-read/quick passes.
The average team completions with first-read/quick throws was 154.97. Atlanta completed 129.
Maybe this is one of the reasons Josh Grizzard has the title “former Bucs offensive coordinator” in front of his name? With all the injuries and the rotten play of the backup guards, you’d think Grizzard would have tried to find ways for Mayfield to get rid of the ball quickly and get hit less.
If Grizzard did try that, then that means Mayfield wasn’t completing the passes. Bodiford only highlighted completed first-read, quick throws, not attempts.
As for average yards on first-read/quick throws, the Bucs were 15th at 5.86 yards per completion. The league average was 6.71 yards per completion. Atlanta’s yards-per-completion apparently was below No. 18 as Bodiford only listed the top-18.
Since Robinson’s quarterbacks in Atlanta completed so many of these types of passes, could we see the Bucs using this a bunch this season?
June 11th, 2026 at 12:17 am
Would be interesting if they had these stats from 2024 – because that’s what Coen, seemingly, had Baker doing a lot of, and Baker had a ton of success doing it. It really limited the ‘happy feet’ issue Baker has when he holds onto the ball, and took focus away from long ball accuracy issues Baker has.
And, before the Baker Boi(s) get triggered, it really doesn’t matter if you throw short or deep, so long as you’re putting up points. I’ve done in the past a big stat breakdown of Baker in 2024 vs Winston in 2019, because they both were top near the top in scoring, yet the two QBs went about it very differently, with Winston by far leading the NFL in air yards in 2019 in Arians ultra-aggressive offense (that, btw, Payton Manning threw 28 INTs in), and Baker throwing a lot more short, safer passes, but relying on high completion percentage, some scrambling and WR’s running after the catch.
A good OC should use guys in a way that accentuates their talents, and the man from Lot Lizard didn’t do that. Hopefully, Zac is smart enough to throw the 2025 tape in the trash and just focus on 2024 to see what Baker excels at.
June 11th, 2026 at 2:59 am
Well said, Rod.