Interesting Numbers On Quick Passes
June 11th, 2026
Atlanta traits coming to Tampa?
Joe was 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 NFL quarterback.
Bodiford only listed the top 16 teams in the category, or the top half of the NFL. 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 Baker Mayfield could avoid more hits and get the ball out fast.
That apparently was not the case, which seemed very strange.
However, new Bucs offensive coordinator Zac Robinson did lead an Atlanta offense into the NFL’s top half — barely. Last year the Dixie Chicks ranked 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 reason 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, 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 ranked 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 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.
June 11th, 2026 at 7:58 am
… might want to keep the 2025 tape around in case we have similar injuries to last year…
as a “what not do”.
June 11th, 2026 at 8:25 am
Never would I have ever thought I would agree with Rod on something.
Still think Bowles is a big reason we lose games though. Not 100%, but id say like 70%.
#3rdn28 #4thn15
June 11th, 2026 at 8:38 am
Good Post Rod.
June 11th, 2026 at 8:41 am
Dang enough with the 3rd and 28 and 4th and 14 geez.
Do you think Saints fans are still complaining about the Minnesota Miracle?
If so, it sticks out in a bad way!
I think the run game is what led to a successful year for Baker in 2024.
Don’t care if it is wide zone or gap and duos or Pony Package or Dives or counters but the PA doesn’t work if you can’t run the ball.
The Bucs have so many scheme type guys to run screens and line up in the slot, I’m not worried about the variety of quick passes and their success, it will happen.
Hurst will line up at X a TON just because it’s easier to scheme. No reason this team can’t be Top 10 offensively in most categories.
Sharpe could be Bakers favorite target by week 8.
This team has all the weapons you could want in a contract year for Baker, what’s not to like?
June 11th, 2026 at 8:55 am
Need attempts, as well, to interpret this stat.
June 11th, 2026 at 9:28 am
Keep blaming everything on Grizzard and see what that gets you.
I remember the same Pom Pom squad and the Joes trumpeting the hire as a great move in the summer of 2025.
And now we get the same Polly positive speak in the summer of 2026.
Unfortunately for Bowels there’s no one left to fire except himself.
It’s the defense stupid!!!!
June 11th, 2026 at 10:54 am
It’s a lot harder to do first read passes against a man-to-man defense because corners tend to crash and jam your receivers and they cannot get open immediately at the line of scrimmage. Defenses did this on purpose because they knew their pass rushers were going to be largely successful and the easiest way to avoid it is to pass laterally away from it. So receivers had to at least break free and make a move to get open which takes more time.
With a successful run game (which would get defenses to play more zone), we will not have this issue this season. We have a bunch of quick receivers that can get open near instantly which favors this strategy as long as we don’t abandon the run. With Cody Mauch back on the field, we should be able to run at will again which will be beautiful. Run Sean Tucker into the huge holes he creates and he can take it to the house! Nobody is going to catch him from behind…
June 11th, 2026 at 12:15 pm
It’s a lot harder to do first read passes against a man-to-man defense because corners tend to crash and jam your receivers and they cannot get open immediately at the line of scrimmage. Defenses did this on purpose because they knew their pass rushers were going to be largely successful and the easiest way to avoid it is to pass laterally away from it. So receivers had to at least break free and make a move to get open which takes more time.
It’s a lot harder to do first read passes against a man-to-man defense because corners tend to crash and jam your receivers and they cannot get open immediately at the line of scrimmage. Defenses did this on purpose because they knew their pass rushers were going to be largely successful and the easiest way to avoid it is to pass laterally away from it. So receivers had to at least break free and make a move to get open which takes more time.
With a successful run game (which would get defenses to play more zone), we will not have this issue this season. We have a bunch of quick receivers that can get open near instantly which favors this strategy as long as we don’t abandon the run. With Cody Mauch back on the field, we should be able to run at will again which will be beautiful. Run Sean Tucker into the huge holes he creates and he can take it to the house! Nobody is going to catch him from behind…
June 11th, 2026 at 12:24 pm
It’s even more interesting that Grizz did nothing to take the pressure Baker faced with a patchwork offensive line…no quick-pass game means he exposed Baker to all of those injuries he endured.
The Bucs hired Grizz. It looked easy to keep Bowles…because it looked so easy to luck into good/great OC’s. It cost the team wins and Baker an extension they’re now manipulating in the extension negotiations.
Fair play? Good will?
Huh?
June 11th, 2026 at 2:29 pm
StPeteM:
Bucs don’t have “a bunch of quick receivers who can get open fast.” Certainly not Tez. EE couldn’t work against the press. Chris in the past, maybe, but his current quicks are only guesses. JMac has the best chances of the bunch.
The team lost a lot when Evans walked. Getting open fast was just one of those things.
June 11th, 2026 at 2:43 pm
Since I dont have the pay wallet I dont have the numbers so I cant disagree or agree
June 11th, 2026 at 9:55 pm
I would just shake my haed sadly when I saw Baker takigt so many 5 and 7 step drops last season with our leaky offensive line. it was maddening.
June 11th, 2026 at 10:03 pm
LynchMob50, you are so right. I cautioned everyone at the beinning of the season that it didn’t look like the Bucs had improved their defense, especially the pass rush and Buc fans would be subjected to the same long game winning drives they had seen the season before. I was wrong in the sense that we saw them more frequnetly during the game as most teams gave up on the ground game and went to the air to easily shred our defense.