What Kind Of Run Can Baker Mayfield Lead The Bucs On?
July 1st, 2025
Challenge.
There are some who debate whether Baker Mayfield can put together a quality postseason and lead the Bucs to the Super Bowl.
Mayfield doesn’t get a whole lot of respect from folks outside the Tampa Bay area as a top-shelf quarterback. So some don’t think so.
Robbie Chosen (aka Robbie Anderson) isn’t one of them. He was a teammate of Mayfield in 2022 when both were with the Stinking Panthers. They only played a half-dozen games together before the Stinking Panthers released Mayfield upon his request.
Still, speaking last week on “Good Morning Football” seen on NFL Network, Chosen came away impressed with Mayfield.
When asked if Mayfield could lead the Bucs to a Super Bowl, Chosen responded in so many words, Why not?
“We obviously didn’t have too much time together, but the time we did, we know we did some big things together,” Chosen said. “But I feel with Baker’s situation, it shows that sometimes it’s not always the players. Sometimes [it’s] the situation.
“Obviously, he wasn’t in the best situations [Stinking Panthers]. He got to Tampa, and you know, he has flourished and shown [why] he was a number one pick in the draft.”
So does Chosen think Mayfield can get the Bucs to a Super Bowl?
“He has that capability.”
Joe isn’t ready to crown the Bucs the next NFC champs. Yet. On paper do the Bucs have the talent to make a run in the playoffs? Joe is confident they do.
If the following two questions can be answered in the affirmative, the Bucs have a Super Bowl shot:
1. Can new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard keep the offense humming?
2. Can SirVocea Dennis stay on the field for 15 games?
July 1st, 2025 at 10:46 am
Every team is dealing with IFs. I don’t think the two you expressed for the Bucs are prohibitive to this team making a deep run in the playoffs and hopefully winning the SB.
July 1st, 2025 at 10:49 am
It should be another morning of gratitude! After all the seasons of absolute, abject hopelessness, the Bucs face a season with every reason to be optimistic.
Yeah a lot can happen and as always two big uncontrollables loom large, injuries and simple luck. But at this present moment in time it’s great to be a Bucs fan!!!
July 1st, 2025 at 10:52 am
2.5 years LATER: they’re STILL the stinking Panthers. 5 years LATER: the Jets are STILL the stinking Jets.
Maybe it wasn’t Baker and Todd
July 1st, 2025 at 10:52 am
I absolutely think Mayfield can be our qb for a roster that gets to the SB and even wins it. I guess where the questions come into play is what does “lead them to the Super Bowl” mean?
Out of the last 10 superbowls I would probably only put Brady, Mahomes and Burrow in that category. I respect the others but Philly did it with Foles/Wentz and Hurts, Stanford was good but that lambs team was pretty loaded. The niners did it with Garap and Purdy.
I think out of the current crop of QBs I would put three as capable of putting their teams on their backs: Mahomes, Allen and Burrow.
The rest are tier two with Baker in that class. And he could absolutely evolve and make it to that top tier but he’ll have to start making some big plays in the post season. JMO
July 1st, 2025 at 10:53 am
Dennis’ health is VIP, but Mayfield’s is critical.
July 1st, 2025 at 11:04 am
Baker has the ability, but can the Bucs not tie for the lead in dropped passes (25)? Can the receivers not run the wrong route, not have completions ripped out of their hands or not have passes bounce off their hands all which led to interceptions?
Can they not have self-inflicted drive stoppers like pre-snap penalties? Not have missed blocks or holding penalties? Not miss tackles? Not blow coverages?
Not leave the middle of the field wide open? Rush the passer? Stop the run? Not have penalties for late hits? Not have injuries?
There’s a lot more involved than Baker just having another good year.
July 1st, 2025 at 11:10 am
Take the Dolphins undefeated crown and bring it to Tampa!
July 1st, 2025 at 11:35 am
baker can lead us to an SB win IF he doesnt lead the NFL in INTs and Fumbles
simple as that!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
July 1st, 2025 at 11:35 am
You don’t need Lamar Jackson to win a superbowl, when a Trent Dilfer will do. Funny how the Ravens won SBs with Dilfer, and Flacco, the they can’t win one with supposedly a top 3 QB in the league. Of course Bakers good enough to win one.
July 1st, 2025 at 11:43 am
when your #1 & #2 WR go down and your #3 & #4 WRs are forced to produce, drops and tipped passes will happen…not an excuse but its obvious the talent level will drop and the timing will be off…
when you have a 1st time OC, communication may lack, wrong routes may get ran…
when your QB holds on to the ball and doesnt make a quick read, batted down passes will occur….
BUCS can play near perfect BUT if baker leads the league in TOs(INTs & Fumbles) he’ll surely lead us to another 1st round playoff L
GO BUCS!!!!
July 1st, 2025 at 11:43 am
Can Todd coach a pass defense to be a menace for opposing QBs instead of a generous yards, first downs and points giving charity?
July 1st, 2025 at 11:46 am
If Reddick and our top draft picks ball out we certainly have a good chance. Dennis fits in there too. Three weeks till rookies report.
July 1st, 2025 at 11:46 am
I’m with Obvious and Hodad. The question isn’t whether a QB is good enough to win a SB for his team, it’s whether he’s good enough not to lose it for them. And for Baker, I’m convinced that’s a “yes”.
July 1st, 2025 at 11:47 am
I think the questions are…
Can Bowles trust his offense and let them be aggressive with the game on the line/can he improve the pass D?
All the new additions on D, we all think the answer is yes but how many of us saw Cousins throwing for 900 yards and 8 TDs on us last year?
July 1st, 2025 at 12:14 pm
He might , or he might not, the only thing we have to go on right now is his past results, which is now a substantial body of work , some good, ( , a play off at Cleveland , 2 NFC South Championships) , some bad, (too many interceptions, too many fumbles, too many lost games that we should have won ,led the league in turnovers last year ,and disturbing post season performances when it really counted) . Consistency has to improve, we will see, just beware of falling for the fallacy of trying to predetermine outcomes based on personal wishes, preferences or biases, at this time there are just too many variables , still in play, Individual player performances, team performances, and only one team can win, might as well sit back and enjoy the season, but I wouldn’t bet the farm either way.
July 1st, 2025 at 12:28 pm
Great points Saskbucs.
I tend to think that Bowles is a good enough defensive mind that with health he’ll get the d squared away. But you’re right…..900 yards to KC?
The first question you typed is the key one: will he let the offense be aggressive and not trot out the punt and FG team every time. That’s what I’m most concerned about this season
July 1st, 2025 at 12:40 pm
That ball cap Baker’s wearing retails for over $200. Check it out. Rich and famous, baby.
July 1st, 2025 at 12:51 pm
3. Can we generate a pass rush without a blitz?
4. Will the Bucs stay much healthier than last season?
5. Will a high percentage of our draft picks get a lot of playing time due to skill and not injury?
6. Can we force turnovers and take care of the ball better, flip the turnover ratio and b top 10 in that category?
July 1st, 2025 at 12:52 pm
Joe … ‘Can SirVocea Dennis stay on the field for 15 games?’
Wow, that one really surprised me Joe. Sounded to me like Licht & Bowles were both very confident in our stable of ILBs. IF SVD can’t keep the MLB position, Walker & Jones are both seasoned veterans who’ve logged LOTS of snaps there.
Our biggest concern on defense IMO should be Vea. Lose him like we did 5 games into the 2020 season and we’ll be hurting. All our other defenders we have acceptable backups for.
And Hodad’s right; if Trent Dilfer & Joe Flacco can win Super Bowls, “Of course Baker’s good enough to win one’. Doesn’t mean he will though. We aall remember full well what happened in 2020 when our Bucs defeated the Saints in the Superdome 30-20 in the playoffs. Brady against Brees … and Brees shouldn’t have been playing because he was injured. Threw 3 INTs that game that pretty much sealed their fate.
July 1st, 2025 at 1:10 pm
Bantry. Baker Mayfield is going to have to stop turning over the ball in cruiser moments. Baker Mayfield is going to have some winning drives like against the lions he could have tied the game but instead he threw a pick on the second throw. Against Washington he could have drove down the field and closed that game out instead he fumble the ball and put Washington in the red zone on 12 yard line. If he stops doing that we can win a Superbowl or 2 with Baker Mayfield. Baker Mayfield is going to have to close out games or win them when it’s needed from him . If we need the 02 bucs defense to win a Superbowl with Baker or any other quarterback in today’s game he’s not the quarterback that would get the bucs over the hump.
July 1st, 2025 at 1:26 pm
Oneilbuc bitchin about Baker. What if Baker gets hurt I bet you won’t be bitchin then?
July 1st, 2025 at 1:34 pm
Can Baker play clean enough in the 3-4 games it’d take in the postseason to win an SB. We can get to the playoffs with this team, but can we be healthy enough and play mistake free enough to win the scenarios/situations it takes to win those games?
Outside of that, my questions are who’ll be our most effective group of 4 on the defensive front?
How far along and fast will it take Tykee Smith to feel comfortable at safety?
Can we please not run Bucky into the ground? Get Tucker more involved perhaps as an opener or closer (late game, sending him at a tired defense is as close to cheating as you can get w/o cheating)?
Who’s our dime CB?
July 1st, 2025 at 2:23 pm
Agree with the fella above that Tucker’s breakaway speed could be huge utilized late in games. Also. Otton is the receiver who dropped by far the most catchable passes last year.
Hit the jugs machine, pal. 🙂
July 1st, 2025 at 2:29 pm
I saw several runs last year where we had perfect hat-on-a-hat blocking everywhere. Do that for Tucker on one play and it’s a TD from anywhere on the field. Try it.
July 1st, 2025 at 4:29 pm
Old onei sure likes going against what all the experts say and agree on, amazing.
July 1st, 2025 at 4:33 pm
Passer rating of 146 is about as clean as it gets. Now if you complainers have a better way of judging a quarterbacks play you should set up a meeting with the NFL and advise them because they are happy with the passer rating system.
July 1st, 2025 at 4:55 pm
Oneil just wondering did you bitch and moan about Famis Jamis interceptions. Did you declare he would take the Bucs to the SB?
In fact I am going to ask you, who is a better QB, Mayfield or Winston?
BTW it is crucial not cruiser. You keep using that word in all your cut and paste posts.
July 1st, 2025 at 5:40 pm
I have to say that since Bruce Arians was hired and ATM was allowed to walk, going into each season with a positive vibe has been a pleasant experience.
I will also confess that I was not at all a Todd Bowles supporter when he was named HC, but he’s proven to me to keep this team on a positive level, and the overall culture has been outstanding.
I was 100% fine with the news he and Licht re-upped for a few more years.
My only questions are:
-Health. Can this team stay healthy enough for a deep run?
-Cap. Therre are several outstanding players looking for a second contract next year. It’s hard to keep everyone, no doubt. Good luck to Licht for some creative cap manir
July 1st, 2025 at 5:40 pm
Baker fan. Again I see you’re one of these guys that’s just here because of Baker Mayfield just like the Brady people. So I know you don’t care about the bucs winning championships all you care about is Baker Mayfield having good stats in the regular season . But to answer your question when Jamies was here this is the type of team I wanted to see him play with. This offense when your quarterback is not ask to throw 45 to 50 times a game was the type of offense I wanted to see Jamies in but unfortunately he never had what Baker has now and he was asked to win championships and got blamed for every lost. So I will say this if Jamies had this team in the trash division I would be saying the saying thing about him . At the time with Jamies we were in best division in football the buck of his time in Tampa.
July 1st, 2025 at 5:42 pm
(I don’t know what happened. POOF! ^^^That^^^ post got posted before I finished…)
-Cap. Several outstanding players are looking for a second contract next year. It’s hard to keep everyone, no doubt. Good luck to Licht for some creative cap manipulation, but please, no more cap hell!
July 1st, 2025 at 6:36 pm
I said it once ill say it another 1000 times…if u can win a super bowl with Dilfer or Brad Johnson…u can most definitely win with Baker!
July 1st, 2025 at 6:45 pm
Onei, the years Jameis was here the receiver corp was ranked 9, 9, 5, 3 & 3. The OL pass protection had 2 years of 6 and 7th. I’m not sure why you think he had such a rough time of everything??
July 1st, 2025 at 8:23 pm
What Hodad said
July 1st, 2025 at 11:10 pm
When Jameis was here the defense was a sieve. Combine that with the fumbles and interceptions and a HC reluctant to fire the DC, and you’re got a team going nowhere. I believe this roster is talented enough to at least win the division with Trask at QB. I like the way Mayfield plays even better than Johnson or Brady, but he just fits this offense. We need Mayfield’s mobility to really make it hum. Even so, this offense can carry Trask or most of the QBs in the league. The season is NOT OVER if we lose Mayfield.
July 2nd, 2025 at 12:10 am
Davyboy. You didn’t even watch bucs games until Baker Mayfield came so you really don’t know what you are talking about. Jamies didn’t have near the players Baker Mayfield has now and Jamies was asked to do way more than Baker Mayfield. This team was trash back then in the best division in the NFL Jason Licht done a horrible job drafting in Jamies 2 year Jason Licht missed on the whole 2016 draft which would set any young quarterback back. Jason Licht has done a good job lately I will give him that. Baker Mayfield has to get to a conference championship game no excuses!!
July 2nd, 2025 at 12:48 am
You don’t know where I’ve been and what I’ve done, amazing. Maybe the defense was bad but his running back Martin was pretty good if I remember right especially in his early years. And as I said the receiver room was darn good with Mike Evans.and Jackson. They both had 1 000 yard years. His line was off and on. They were bad because the quality of quartback play. I hate to say it but he was pretty bad. He only had one winning season out of 5. I mean look at his stats, his passer ratings were in the low 80’s. Come on now it is what it is. As much of a gun slinger as Baker is, he only has averaged 12 a year. Jameis threw 18, come on now. Winston had every chance to be good and he’s just not NFL starter material. Great backup but not a starter. He’s been in the NFL 11 years now. He has done what he was going to do. He is no Baker Mayfield, he never was. Good luck to him.
July 2nd, 2025 at 12:59 am
It was his decision making and protecting the ball that were bad. That has noting to do with a bad team. As I said, starter no, back up yes.
July 2nd, 2025 at 1:22 am
Baker starts for a playoff contender and a dark horse Super Bowl bet. JaMiss might not even be 3rd string on one of the worst teams in the league. Let more excuses flow. What a comedy to even worry about that dude by now.
July 2nd, 2025 at 7:03 am
Super Bowl quality quarterbacks? No such thing , an athlete , or anyone for that matter, can only be credited with what they have actually accomplished , not what they , or other people think they will accomplish in the future, in the words of that immortal jedhi master , Yoda, “There is only do or not do, there is no try!”
July 2nd, 2025 at 9:46 am
Davyboy. Martin had one good year with Jamies and that was Jamies rookie year. The next year the bucs won 9 games without a running game but Martin was a threat because of the year before. In 2019 the bucs runningback had rush for a 100 yards in one game the first time in 3 years. The whole time Jamies was on the team we had top 5 offense every year and that’s without a running game. Again Jamies didn’t have the same team as Baker Mayfield and Jamies was asked to do much more than what Baker is asking to do. And that’s a good thing he a running game and the weapons and not to mention a trash division that they can’t even dominate and that includes Baker Mayfield as well. Conference championship or bust no more excuses!!
July 2nd, 2025 at 9:51 am
Again it’s a lot of y’all don’t care about winning Superbowls all y’all care about is Baker Mayfield having good stats . So I know I will never agree with a lot of y’all on here because I want championships and y’all don’t.