Deep Ball Questions For Baker Mayfield
September 14th, 2026
Those who watched 2026 training camp practices noticed how Baker Mayfield rarely threw deep.
Joe speculated once or twice that perhaps Mayfield had an arm concern, or the Bucs simply had him on a calclulated ramp-up plan.
Well, opening day arrived yesterday and Mayfield took one deep shot — on the second offensive play of the game. It came up short after traveling about 50 yards in the air — from the Bucs’ 29 yard line to the Bengals-22. Emeka Egbuka was open but had to slow down and the defense caught him. Incomplete.
The next longest throw by Mayfield traveled 17 yards past the line of scrimmage.
Mayfield is known for having a big arm and the Bucs certainly have deep threats in Egbuka, Ted Hurst and Tez Johnson, though Joe is not a fan using Johnson in that role.
It’s obvious the Bucs had a throw-short game plan, but it’s also very curious as to why the Bucs pulled the plug on the long ball so quickly.
September 14th, 2026 at 11:29 am
After 3 fumbles, the Bucs didn’t want to risk Baker with another turnover (interception).
September 14th, 2026 at 11:29 am
BM has never impressed me with his downfield accuracy…
He is better at running and fumbling.
LOL!
I love you all!
Go Bucs!
September 14th, 2026 at 11:33 am
Screw deep balls lol just run run BM and throw check downs.
September 14th, 2026 at 11:33 am
He most definitely had a really bad game. The cause? Well it doesn’t matter at this point. Fixing it does. I’m confident he will.
Also, the Bengals deserve credit. They are a pretty good team.
September 14th, 2026 at 11:35 am
Look at all those completions behind the LOS, this is a continuation of the passing charts from week 7 last year lol
September 14th, 2026 at 11:37 am
Reverse Happy Gilmore, Unhappy Gilmore that’s Bakers’ new moniker.
September 14th, 2026 at 11:37 am
Wonder if the Bengals pass rush didn’t give them time for long passes to develop.
September 14th, 2026 at 11:38 am
Baker is not a accurate deep ball thrower, which is why if it was my money, he wouldn’t have gotten the extension.
September 14th, 2026 at 11:38 am
Let’s not forget those fumbles were plays where Baker was trying to carry the team. Just didn’t work out yesterday.
Sucks to lose. The Bucs did a lot of things right though.
This will be a productive loss for them, give them an extra edge. It’s a long season. Lfg
September 14th, 2026 at 11:38 am
I thought the early deep ball to Embuka was actually a nice throw, maybe slightly under thrown, but was covered well, still look like he could have made the catch. It certainly wasn’t a bad look.
Other than that, this Coen/Robinson offense is about balancing the run and short passing game, moving the sticks, 10 yards at time. If the defense is showing something different, perhaps audible to a more explosive play? Coen’s offense felt very similar when he was here.
Imagine, our best bet to hit a big shot would be on early downs and any expert would tell you that anything down field, no matter how big the arm is, is a low % attempt. Always has been, even when Brady was throwing in Arians offense, it’s low % and could be a series killer depending on when you use it.
On third downs, forget it. This offense has to stay out of 3rd and longs, or it’s going to be a disaster. We have an overrated offensive line in pass protection.
September 14th, 2026 at 11:39 am
Lots of screens – also could be setting up for more deep balls later in the year. Can’t show all your cards week 1!
(I think bakers shoulder is still an issue though – sprains don’t always heal in a couple of months)
September 14th, 2026 at 11:39 am
I know what Baker’s favorite dessert is……wait for it…….
Turnovers. He’s capable of four in one setting!
Hahahahahaha!!!
$165 million down the drain.
September 14th, 2026 at 11:40 am
Baker Mayfield is a Dink and Dunk QB
That’s where he excel at in 2024.
Liam Coen recognize this early during training camp
He lack the accuracy and arm strength for deep throws
Zach will have to draw up more crossing routes, hitches etc
He don’t have Mike Evans for the jump balls
September 14th, 2026 at 11:41 am
feel like the bigger issue is can godwin create any type of separation?
September 14th, 2026 at 11:44 am
It’s a two way street. Robinson and Mayfield need to get on the same page. We have some speedy receivers in Hurst, Johnson, McMillan and even Godwin, so I see Robinson utilizing them. The Bucs laid an egg in the field yesterday. There’s 16 more games to be played.
On a side note, why were the Bucs experiencing interference in the Bucs hurdle but not on the sidelines.
Sounds like this interference was INTENTIONAL
THE NFL NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE!!!
September 14th, 2026 at 11:44 am
Ya know I think I’d rather the bucs totally stink then be trapped in this mediocre
Purgatory they’re in. i mean how is this better then the lost decade?
September 14th, 2026 at 11:47 am
Trade baker to the Browns for a 1st round pick.. they might do it after we beat them…
September 14th, 2026 at 11:48 am
he’s hurt lol
GO BUCS!!!!!
September 14th, 2026 at 11:49 am
If he had thrown that ball further it would have been picked by the Bengals safety, who wears number 6. Baker tried to feather it in between the corner and safety. If you watch the replay the throw was effortless.
September 14th, 2026 at 11:49 am
Joe, I think you answered this in your column Bucs Passing Offense Is “Untenable”.
The stat about the Bengals D and it’s success with screen passes last year. Or, lack of success, actually.
No question that Baker has a cannon for an arm. But, he’s also struggled with accuracy on his deep throws, at least here in Tampa.
He also had to deal with an O-line that was inconsistent yesterday… when you have 5 seconds to throw on one play and you’re scrambling for your life on the next, that’s not good.
September 14th, 2026 at 11:50 am
Who cares they moved the ball just stop fumbling the ball and they probably win that game
September 14th, 2026 at 11:51 am
Zac needs to run the ball….he’s too pass happy and abandons the run early
GO BUCS!!!!
September 14th, 2026 at 11:53 am
@ LoveMyBucs: Exactly.
September 14th, 2026 at 11:54 am
Baker is not an accurate deep ball passer, and it governs what we can do with the playbook.
We’re paying elite money to a turnover-prone 31 year old with a limited skillet.
September 14th, 2026 at 11:57 am
Lots of questions. One game!! Jeez.
September 14th, 2026 at 11:57 am
Hurst and Emeka were pretty good yesterday. They get open and they catch the ball. If Baker can stop the turnovers, we have a chance.
September 14th, 2026 at 12:02 pm
BTW, in watching the replay when he foolishly tried to run through the entire Bengals defense and fumbled the ball away, he may have been injured on that play. I thought he was holding his side when he was on the ground. He should have gone down. It was first and 5, what he tried to do was unnecessary and was the true turning point in the game. That’s called lack of situational awareness. He was definitely trying to do too much in this game. Maybe he was trying to justify the contract.
September 14th, 2026 at 12:04 pm
He sucks plain and simple why can’t you people see that he ain’t no franchise qb expect more of this sad part is that for the contract he was given todd bowels will be here to and all this time we will have to see this type of no heart team i guess is back to losing its a bucs life either way they are still my team but man i haye baker carr winston i wouldn’t be mad if he gets injured career ending at least that way they have a chance
September 14th, 2026 at 12:05 pm
“Always has been, even when Brady was throwing in Arians offense, it’s low % and could be a series killer depending on when you use it.”
Stop it right there, Baker couldn’t operate in BAs system.
Tom finished 2021 completing 42% of his passes that traveled > 20 yards
35 of 82 attempts for 7 TDs on passes that traveled >20 yards or more in one season.
You don’t throw for 5,300 yards and 43 TDs dinking and dunking
September 14th, 2026 at 12:10 pm
LoveMyBucs Says:
September 14th, 2026 at 11:38 am
Let’s not forget those fumbles were plays where Baker was trying to carry the team. Just didn’t work out yesterday.
THATS COMPLETE BS!!!!!!!!
when baker fumbled the 1st time we were winning 3-0….bucs defense forced a punt and baker fumbled the ball…..how was he trying to “carry the team”?
GO BUCS!!!!!
September 14th, 2026 at 12:15 pm
I remember the game against the Saints in 2024. His teammates were sleep walking in that game and he took the bull by the horns and got a critical first down on a third down run and it turned the game around. That was necessary in that moment because the playoffs were on the line in that game. If they had lost they probably wouldn’t have made the playoffs. That was an example of appropriate situational awareness. I think now though, it’s become a bad habit, and it needs to change. If he gets hurt unnecessarily, he hurts the team.
September 14th, 2026 at 12:17 pm
Except for the fumbles from trying to do too much, I thought Baker and the offense looked really good. Yes, he should have went down and avoided contact. We would have easily scored anyway after that.
But it’s clear that this offense will be as good or possibly better than 2024.
The truth is without the fumbles, we would have blown Cincy out. I realize the haters don’t want to admit that, but this would have been a 3 score win for the Bucs if they just don’t fumble.
This is going to be a really fun season.
September 14th, 2026 at 12:22 pm
Deep balls take time to develop, and he was terrified to stand behind our sieve of an OL for as long as that would take to come together. He could get a 5-10 yard pass out in under 2 seconds before getting flattened.
September 14th, 2026 at 12:23 pm
lol…baker fans are delusional lol….
truth is he fumbles 3 times and blew the game lol….thats the TRUTH!!!….admit that and maybe you’ll see some progress lol…
GO BUCS!!!!!
September 14th, 2026 at 12:29 pm
Zoocomics … ‘I thought the early deep ball to Embuka was actually a nice throw, maybe slightly under thrown, but was covered well, still look like he could have made the catch.’
Joe … ‘It (Baker’s sole deep throw) came up short after traveling about 50 yards in the air — from the Bucs’ 29 yard line to the Bengals-22. Emeka Egbuka was open but had to slow down and the defense caught him. Incomplete.’
Joe’s description of that throw is spot on Zoocomics. Emeka had to slow way down; that allowed 1 defender to stay with him and a 2nd defender to catch up. Egbuka didn’t have a chance against the 2 of them.
September 14th, 2026 at 12:30 pm
SummerofGeorge Says:
I know what Baker’s favorite dessert is……wait for it…….
Turnovers. He’s capable of four in one setting!
Hahahahahaha!!!
$165 million down the drain.
—————————————————————-
Expensive turnovers @ $55 million each. The Bengals feasted on each one.
September 14th, 2026 at 12:33 pm
it’s a very good question; does this option exist for new OC? is there time to set up for a downfield pass? is there someone who can open up the defense? since the 3 fumbles by Baker took place with him extending plays, is the O line able to block?
what was the game plan?
a very discouraging performance on many levels — feels like more of the same as the second half of last year
hopefully we can see a better performance
September 14th, 2026 at 12:41 pm
O/line sucked and NO pass rush. Other than that great game. After all the Bucs are tied for first place.
September 14th, 2026 at 12:42 pm
This is one of the many reasons why I would have let him play out his contract. He’s a limited, inconsistent, aging QB whose playing style constantly gets himself hurt. He’s a great leader, teammates love him, is tough, and plays hard, but those factors alone shouldn’t qualify you to be the highest paid player in franchise history. I’m sorry but winning two division titles in the most sorry division in the NFL and beating an Eagles team that quit in the playoffs isn’t very impressive to me. Oh and we got a HC on the hot seat too. But fans and the front office got too scared over past QB play and signed themselves up for at least another two years of an aging, limited, and inconsistent QB. Hope he makes me look dumb by saying this
September 14th, 2026 at 12:47 pm
LoveMyBucs Says:
September 14th, 2026 at 11:38 am
Let’s not forget those fumbles were plays where Baker was trying to carry the team. Just didn’t work out yesterday.
BucsBoi says:
THATS COMPLETE BS!!!!!!!!
when baker fumbled the 1st time we were winning 3-0….bucs defense forced a punt and baker fumbled the ball…..how was he trying to “carry the team”?
GO BUCS!!!!!
My response: had those plays not been fumbles they would have been baker totally making it happen for the team. That would have been appreciated. And will be appreciated, has been appreciated, how he can turn something out of nothing.
There’s no debate that Baker fumbled. Whether we were ahead or behind is also irrelevant!
September 14th, 2026 at 12:51 pm
PLEASE PLEASE STOP the lying about the Oline not giving our QB enough time.
MAYFIELD averaged 3.03 seconds to throw against Bengals.
The NFL average is 2.79 seconds-the extra .25 second is huge.
September 14th, 2026 at 1:01 pm
There’s a fine line between being aggressive and arrogantly aggressive and it seems Baker sometimes prefers the later.
September 14th, 2026 at 1:02 pm
It’s a new game for him now, he doesn’t have to “prove himself” anymore, he got the life changing contract for him and his family. It’s time now for him to be aggresively smart.
September 14th, 2026 at 1:15 pm
It’s because his deep ball accuracy is terrible. Liam Coen noticed the same thing and didn’t want him throwing deep either.
September 14th, 2026 at 1:21 pm
Because Baker is an incredibly inaccurate deep ball thrower.
September 14th, 2026 at 1:30 pm
Most of his passes are 10 yards or less with the majority behind the LOS. The owners saw this same passing chart 17 times last season and paid $165 million to see more of it. Make it make sense.
He won’t magically get better in year 9 lol. We all know that multi interception game is coming soon. And when he turns the ball over this Sunday, can he bounce back or will it be an avalanche of bone headed plays as he tries to play hero? I told you this was coming. He’ll be worse this year and his fan club is already saying he’s injured.
Baker fans love this tho. They don’t care about winning. They just want to see their lord and savior mancrush play. Its a Bucs life.
September 14th, 2026 at 1:32 pm
55 Million a year and dude can’t throw a deep ball. I remember when we had Brady here and Arians offense. Miss those days where we throw 30 plus yards down the field. Now it’s all dink and dunk. No more big explosive plays. This offense seems stale and easy to predict. It has been that way since Cohen left.
September 14th, 2026 at 1:34 pm
Come on Joe… why asked the question, did you see the pass protection, same old story about an over rated O Line.
September 14th, 2026 at 1:36 pm
Lovemybuc
But they were fumbles….your response is irrelevant
GO BUCS
September 14th, 2026 at 1:39 pm
Overrated & Overpaid! Should have never been given the extension!!!!
September 14th, 2026 at 1:54 pm
Baker didn’t exactly have a lot of help from his offensive line. He fumbled in the end zone after scrambling and trying his best to score for the team. I wish others would try as hard.
September 14th, 2026 at 1:55 pm
brady would nail 9 out of ten deep balls, miss him so much!! baker makes maybe 4 out of ten, the rest are short and late or over thrown
September 14th, 2026 at 2:54 pm
Bakers decision making highly questionable. Hmmm should i just stand here for 5 seconds, hmm should i throw the ball, hmm maybe I’ll just run wild while not protecting the ball, since I’m too scared to throw deep, since i can’t see the field very well, since i ran off my hof reciever with very inaccurate throws that get him injured. It’s a Bucs life.
September 14th, 2026 at 3:18 pm
Bake made some msitakes, but….. We have an overrated offensive line in pass protection… Until proven otherwise
September 14th, 2026 at 4:26 pm
Shouldn’t Ted Hurst receive more snaps ? Three for three. He got separation every time and when he didn’t, he still made the catch. Get that boy more snaps please! Maybe he’s the deep ball solution?
September 14th, 2026 at 4:44 pm
I was worried about how he would play after getting that big contract
September 14th, 2026 at 5:36 pm
It’s often a mistake to draw any conclusions from week 1.