Taming Baker Mayfield
May 21st, 2025
Playing smarter.
This may surprise casual Bucs fans. Baker Mayfield is 30 years old and with that comes some hazards.
As Tampa Bay quarterbacks coach Thad Lewis said yesterday at One Buc Palace, 30-year old quarterbacks cannot take the punishment that 25-year-olds can.
This was also on the mind of Jim Miller, the former Bucs quarterback and NFL veteran. He hosts the best damn football show on radio, SiriusXM NFL Radio’s “Movin’ the Chains.” Recently, Miller emphasized how for the quality of the Bucs’ offensive line, Mayfield taking 40 sacks last season was way too high.
This was on Lewis’ mind yesterday. In fact, Lewis is trying to rein in his prize racehorse. He’s trying to convince Mayfield to be less “dawg” and more smart.
Lewis’ mission is to preserve Mayfield or the Bucs and prolong his career so Mayfield can earn hundreds of millions more dollars.
As the old football axiom goes, there aren’t many old running quarterbacks.
“He has a chip on the shoulder,” Lewis said of Mayfield. “No matter what; good, bad and indifferent. He’s always out to prove himself.
“But he’s his own worst enemy, right? And he’s got to get himself out of harm’s way. I like his competitive nature, but I don’t like it to the expense where he keeps getting hit and he won’t be available.
“He’s getting older. He turned 30, so I joke with him now, ‘Welcome to the 30 club.’ [Lewis has told Mayfield:} You’re older. Now some hits you took when in your 20s might affect you a little different in your 30s.”
So how does Lewis coach up Mayfield to play older?
“So, you know, just to get him to start being smart, take less hits, throw it away,” Lewis said. “Maybe get down. Be competitive in situations called, ‘Gotta-have-it’ situations. [Gotta have a] first down, touchdown, [stay in] the game, things like that.
“But I love him to death. I wouldn’t trade him for nothing, or his competitive nature.”
And that is the conundrum. The race horse is good because he’s hyper and fast while at times reckless. How do you train him not to be reckless but at the same time keep horse’s speed?
This is sort of a damned if you do, damned if you don’t routine.
If Lewis figures this out and Mayfield leads the Bucs on a deep run into the playoffs, both he and offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard might have big promotions with other teams come January.
And the Bucs might just be licking another Lombardi Trophy, too.
May 21st, 2025 at 7:17 am
Run the ball more and effectively.
May 21st, 2025 at 7:20 am
Backyard football can be fun to watch. But there’s no doubt that as they age more and more of the completions need to be on schedule rather than off platform.
Russell Wilson is a good example of what happens when a qb relies too much on his legs to be effective. Not quite an apples to apples comparison considering that Wilson was effective because of off platform and Baker is good at both.
May 21st, 2025 at 7:22 am
Shh… We have a steal. Baker knows it. Some of us forever buc fans
him wanted him the year before.
May 21st, 2025 at 7:22 am
That is kind of what Canales did right? Baker had a pretty average, albeit safe year where he dialed it up in the playoffs but it kind of cooked us during the Lions game, thought one of those INT’s was not his fault. Then the next year it seems they said let it rip, and well that led to too many INT’s. How do we find the happy medium like 35 touchdowns, no more than 10 INT’s, and maybe 1-4 running touchdowns but also 4,000+ yards through with Mike, Chris, McMillan, and Egbuka getting 1,000 each LOL
May 21st, 2025 at 7:27 am
“…both he and offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard might have big promotions with other teams come January.”
I can see a scenario where, if Grizzard is successful, he becomes the next HC and Thad Lewis is the next OC. You know, continuity and such.
May 21st, 2025 at 7:39 am
I think everybody, including Baker, knows that he needs to find a way to incorporate more discipline into his game. He needs to be more selective on the physical part and also on his belief that his rifle arm means he can gun into very small holes, another source of INTS.
I always harken back to the great Fran Tarkenton. Only 6-0 190Lbs relative to the size of D lineman and LBs he was the same size as Baker’s 6-1 215.
Tarkenton cut down his yards lost due to sacks as his career progressed and he aged and didn’t try heroic moves to evade the tacklers. Baker’s yards lost to sacks has actually gone up as he refuses to throw the ball away.
Brady’s first year with the Bucs was perfect. He threw the ball away when necessary but on several critical occasions he sucked it up and plowed forward.
By year 3 however I felt sorry for him. He played like a distracted, scared, old man. The mere sight of a rusher beating his blocker made him throw the ball into the dirt. No shame in that! He simply stayed a couple of years too long. IF he had quit after that 7th Lombardi he would have avoided that embarrassment and maybe the end of his marriage. Hindsight is 20/20 and especially meaningless from a keyboard warrior like me. He’s STILL the GOAT.
May 21st, 2025 at 7:46 am
after cg went down JMac made rookie mistakes that turned into a few of those ints, like not finishing his routes, should be less ints this year, exciting to think about this year… do you think atlanta can shut down bucky and the passing game?
May 21st, 2025 at 7:49 am
Age is just a number and I hate Baker to have too much to think about. He has been very durable throughout his career and as he gets older he’ll know when he needs to tone it down some. Cross our fingers that all of our players can have a healthy season. All I want to see is Baker getting the ball in the hands of these outstanding playmakers just as fast as he can. Cutting down on turnovers is the only thing he should be thinking about besides dishing that ball off. The more experienced his receivers the less interceptions we’ll have. We need to work hard at cutting down the fumbles. We were lucky last year that we recovered most of our fumbles and we don’t want to count on luck.
May 21st, 2025 at 8:06 am
On doing some analysis yesterday on deep passes, I was shocked going through the play-by-play recaps at how many times Baker kept drives alive last season with HIS running. I wish I had kept a running log of those, but didn’t. We praise our RB runs, we praise the various catches of our receivers, but keeping those drives alive was critical. And Baker’s legs proved to be critical in that.
I for one want him to keep running, but selectively. He’s got plenty of weapons, so HIS running should be a last resort (OK, when everything else breaks down). Personally I think one of the reasons Baker takes so many sacks is that he hangs in their with his progressions, and keeps looking for ways to get SOMETHING out of each play. And sometimes he waits too long. But hey, this team accumulated almost 6800 total yards last year and generated over 500 total points. What they did worked; don’t screw it up now.
May 21st, 2025 at 8:26 am
Baker trucking that LB last year on that scramble up the middle was unreal. Idk if that can be coached out of him.
But he does take a bit too many hits, and I get nervous about it from time to time.
May 21st, 2025 at 8:27 am
Oh yeah, I think that was Bobby Wagner he trucked.
Insane, Wagner got mowed over.
May 21st, 2025 at 8:42 am
In the last ten years the winning Super Bowl quarterbacks average age was 27 , the losing quarterbacks in those contests averaged 32 years of age , Father Time still undefeated!
May 21st, 2025 at 8:51 am
At least he’s stopped head butting linemen.. without his helmet on.. I think.
May 21st, 2025 at 9:28 am
Applause for DR. Exactly. Well said.
May 21st, 2025 at 9:34 am
Sorry folks.
If my bucs beat Falcons on road then it’s all about discipline from here on on out
May 21st, 2025 at 9:52 am
Should be the most exciting season since TB12’s Lombardi toss to CB!
May 21st, 2025 at 10:03 am
Baker has 2 years without many hits due to the stupidity if tge tge browns and the Panthers and the red shirt rules in college.
We need him to keep being a pirate. After he wins the super bowl let’s talk
And baker will pass on an extra 59 million to win a super bowl. And i cant thank him enough.
May 21st, 2025 at 10:27 am
What would also help is taking him out when games are clearly over(whether winning or losing big) to prevent an injury for no reason, and let Trask get some snaps. It would kill me seeing Baker on the field while up 3 touchdowns with 5 minutes left.
May 21st, 2025 at 10:40 am
IF BAKER WON THE SUPER BOWL
The NFL would explode. Bakermania would be absurd.
>50% the media would have said they always loved him.
>50% the media would still find a reason to hate him.
>100% of the media would ruthlilessly demoralize the Browns.
>1% of the media (Joe) would give credit to Licht.
May 21st, 2025 at 11:05 am
there was a couple of times he took off running and i’d cringe that he was going to get his career ended. i think once his ankle got rolled on pretty badly last season…. he needs to stop and they want him to stop, but he is as tough as they come and wants to win more than play it safe…. hope he lasts. glad he is on our side.
May 21st, 2025 at 12:12 pm
DONT TRY 2 CHANGE BAKER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In Texas, Ok and even the 1st 2years at Browns AND TAMPA BAY!! YOU LET BAKER BE BAKER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THATS WHEN HE IS AT HIS BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I WAS VERY VERY concerned when i heard GRIZ press conference-FINE_ DONT MAKE HIM HAVE 2 CARRY TEAM 2 A WIN ON HIS BACK-GET TEAM 2 STEP UP -BUT DONT ASK BAKER 2 NOT DO WAHTEVER IT TAKES 2 WIN CAUSE U R SCARED HE WILL GET HURT- LET BAKER BAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 21st, 2025 at 12:22 pm
sorry, but HAD 2 ADD!!!! I WAS MORE HORRIFIED AT LEWIS’ PRESS COMMENTS ALSO< QUIT TRYING 2 TAKE THE DAWG OUT OF BAKER!!!! THAT IS Y HE IS SOOOO GOOD AND LOUVES PLAYING HERE, CAUSE HE CAN BE HIS DAWG SELF!!!!!!!!!! SURE< SURE< PLAY A LITTLE SMARTER, GR*!!! BUT< NOPE< DO NOT GO DOWN ON BALL 2 BE SAFE-THATS NOT NOT NOT BAKER!!! LET BAKER BAKE LEWIS< GET REST OF TEAM 2 STEP UP AND BAKE IS BETTER AND DOESNT HAVE 2 GO ALL DAWG ALL THE TIME< YET< HE WILL BE A DAWG ALL THE TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!! GO BAKER!! GO BUCS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 21st, 2025 at 12:24 pm
I’ll take 40 TDS and 15 picks all day vs 20 tds and say 5 tds. Picks come with having an aggressive gunslinger qb. It’s not that picks are good and that he shouldn’t work on limiting them, but you also can’t coach the aggressive mentality out of him either. That’s what makes him Baker.
May 21st, 2025 at 12:24 pm
Tgoodwin 👍🏽 👍🏽 👍🏽
May 21st, 2025 at 1:33 pm
translation – coach willing to try to convince Baker to remove his best quality in order to prevent Trask playing because he knows we’ll lose almost every game if Baker gets hurt.
May 21st, 2025 at 1:58 pm
That’s my big concern. Pay Tannehill 6 million to back up baker. It will be a sick feeling if baker goes down with Bucs at 8-6, and watch it slip away with trask….
May 21st, 2025 at 3:05 pm
Live by the chip on his shoulder, die by the chip on his shoulder.
I don’t think you can coach it away.
May 21st, 2025 at 6:03 pm
If Baker goes down I have confidence in Trask because what happened in training camp in 2023 especially playing in a trash division. It’s a reason why Baker runs on the field after he gets hurt and why Bowles refuse to let Trask play a series because he doesn’t want a quarterback consverce. Jason Licht know what happened in training camp that year and that’s why till this day he would not tell you Baker Mayfield was better in that camp. And that’s why they resign him . If he was as bad as Joe and some of y’all think then why would they bring him back?
May 21st, 2025 at 6:06 pm
What proof do you guys have that Trask sucks? And I will show you my proof that he was better than Baker in training camp!!
May 21st, 2025 at 6:24 pm
I’ve never said Trask sucked but I’d love to see your (so-called) PROOF Trask was better than Baker anywhere.
May 21st, 2025 at 10:28 pm
Onei, there is no way on God’s green earth Todd Bowles or Licht or anyone for that matter said “hey let’s start that new guy that’s second best”. There is just no way. I remember the argument and “proof” back 2 years ago. No one in pro sports would do that.
May 22nd, 2025 at 1:30 am
“taking 40 sacks last season was way too high”
Miller ain’t wrong.
Been saying this for two plus years now. Get the freaking ball out! I firmly believe we have been amazingly lucky that Baker has not been injured. I also think Baker has called his own number on at least a few of his “scrambles”. Not good.
The fact that he makes plays with his legs is a good thing. However he needs to just go through his reads and get the ball out. To a hot read if need be. Scramble less. Then only when in critical situations. Love his “moxie” but if he gets hurt it means squat. Bosa could have put him in the ICU last year.
Go Bucs!
May 22nd, 2025 at 7:48 am
Nothing lasts forever. You may have thought those well preserved action figures in their blister packs held value, but then you realized their true value was in letting them play. Moxie and grit got him here, now you want to bubble wrap the guy?
May 22nd, 2025 at 7:49 am
As pointed out above Baker has taken some years off with no hits. What made Bakers come back from the trash heap was the Rams coach and Bowles saying just be yourself. Let him play his game and pick up another QB at the last cut day. The Brown’s will have to cut 3.
May 22nd, 2025 at 12:43 pm
Thad Lewis is exactly the WRONG voice to be talking into Baker’s ear. It’s the sound of a loser and I don’t know what Lewis has ever done in this world but I don’t believe he is up to being a motivator or collaborator with Baker Mayfield. Baker has more football smarts and instincts that this clown will ever have.
I agree that Baker doesn’t have to carry 5 guys on his back to get the extra 5 yards beyond the first down sticks. He should tone that down. But Baker was stifled by the same silly thinking at the Browns that Lewis is trying to sell. I see Lewis as bad medicine for him.
I’ve watched Baker since his first game at Oklahoma. He has one way of playing: balls to the wall. He excites his team, molds his offense and has guys who are ready to die for him so they can all be successful.
Lewis is the smell of a bad flatulence that can destroy a good vibe. It’s not Baker; it’s his line beating back the defense as plays develop will keep him upright. He needs to throw into windows that are “more open” but he keeps defenses guessing what he is going to do next.
Advice to Bucs’ coaching staff: Let Baker be Baker.
May 22nd, 2025 at 12:57 pm
Thad Lewis – Resume.
Lewis was in the NFL for eight years where he spent almost his entire career as a backup, practice squad or offseason player for eight different teams. He played in 7 total regular season games, including six starts: one for the Cleveland Browns in 2012 and five for the Buffalo Bills in 2013.
And he’s trying to tell Baker Mayfield how to play quarterback in the NFL?
ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!! GIVE US A BREAK!!!
May 22nd, 2025 at 6:29 pm
Gator. Baker Mayfield had 7 picks to Kyle Trask 1 or how about the time when IRA said his source told him Baker will be the starter week one. Baker was at 9 picks to Kyle Trask 1 and that’s going with the starters. Some of y’all know how to go back and look at order sites go and pull up the 2023 training camp. And you will see what was reported in camp that year. Again Baker Mayfield has to get us to the NFC Championship game at least. And the reason why is because of the talent he has on the offensive side of the ball. Every playoff game the cowboys, Ravens, Buffalo and the Chargers lose every one looks and blame the Dak , Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen. And I’m talking about some of the people on here when those teams are being mentioned.
May 22nd, 2025 at 9:50 pm
But at the same time let Baker Mayfield do what it takes to win let him be him . Don’t take nothing away from his skill set go all out to win dominate this division and get to the NFC Championship. Go bucs!!