Baker Mayfield Said He Wasn’t Conning Anyone About Emeka Egbuka
September 8th, 2025
More love from his quarterback.
Joe listens to and reads a lot of national talking heads and sophists for their Bucs takes and intel.
The way the Bucs spoke about rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka since the day they drafted him, it had many NFL followers outside the Tampa Bay area looking sideways like a puppy that hears a strange noise.
The Egbuka glowing was intense and daily, including from Baker Mayfield. So Joe can understand some may have thought the sell was a little hard.
After Egbuka’s two-touchdown afternoon in Atlanta in his NFL debut, Mayfield sort of said, “See, I wasn’t lying.”
“I’ve told you guys, it wasn’t a front,” Mayfield said. “You saw it live today, in person. He’s the real deal. True professional.
“Doesn’t play like a rookie. Doesn’t act like a rookie. His head is never spinning.
“He made some unbelievable catches and plays today for us. Obviously, [the Bucs are] going to continue to lean on him. Hopefully, we can draw some more coverage towards him, and Mike [Evans] gets the ball again.”
That’s just it. Teams are going to be playing pick-your-poison. Double Evans too much and Egbuka catches touchdowns. Then defenses begin to roll coverages to Egbuka and Evans will burn them.
Just wait when Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan get back!
September 8th, 2025 at 9:06 am
Emeka was sensational! What still bothers me though is Baker missing a wide open Otten. Points off the board that were sorely needed.
September 8th, 2025 at 9:10 am
Baker missed a few throws…could’ve had 2INTs but he played very little in PS…great week 1 win for so many injuries and shuffling
IMO grizz did decent
GO BUCS
September 8th, 2025 at 9:11 am
When Godwin & JMac get back, Miller & either Tez or Kam hit the PS unless we go with 7 WRs
September 8th, 2025 at 9:14 am
Man when we have all four WRs back healthy by mid season, look TF out! That is gonna be amazing to watch!
September 8th, 2025 at 9:16 am
Baker said EE2 very quickly learned all routes for each receiver position. He can help out anywhere and it also gives him a grasp of the “big picture”.
September 8th, 2025 at 9:26 am
Unfortunately there were some heads spinning, I cannot find the play now Joe but Baker tries motioning a receiver and then he has to like start his snap over again while staring down the receiver which they finally pick up and motion. It had me chuckle, may have been Sterling but idk. Will you post the snap count for everyone today?
September 8th, 2025 at 9:28 am
Baker’s game management yesterday was outstanding.
His accuracy was probably the worst I have seen him in a Bucs uniform.
Hopefully, that was just due to not playing in the worthless preseason games.
September 8th, 2025 at 9:32 am
Let’s just simplify it to; 2E
September 8th, 2025 at 9:33 am
Great start! This is and will continue to be be a dynamic Offense. EE’s 2nd TD play will work every time! Who do you double? Whoever.. the other gets the ball! I love it!!
September 8th, 2025 at 9:34 am
On the missed throw to 88 when he would have easily scored due to the blown coverage it looked like a mental error on Baker as Otton broke the route back to the post and Baker threw to where he would have been instead. It looked like baker forgot the route.
September 8th, 2025 at 9:42 am
I see the Otten and the other over throw as positive. Over throws are just a long incomplete. Under throws are pick sixes. You want only your receiver to get it or nobody at all. Yes,the lack if pre-season but also amped up with adrenaline for the first game. In the off-season the Glazers may want to pitch a new CFL copycat schedule. Two pre season and 18 reply regular games. The great white North does that with nine teams so you play the gritting Allouettes 3-4 times.
September 8th, 2025 at 9:43 am
2E is better than BM6 or Bowel movement six
September 8th, 2025 at 9:45 am
Otten also did not play or practice much so he could have run the wrong route.
September 8th, 2025 at 9:55 am
Egbuka played at Ohio State, not just a pro player factory because they get really talented players, but Brian Hartline their OC replacing Chip Kelly this year has been the WR coach their for some time and record speaks for itself preparing guys for the pros.
Not surprised and didn’t need Baker to validate him to know we had a good football player on our hands, though it’s good to know they’ve been trying to establish a link and it showed. Opening and closing a game out with scores is a pretty damn good job for a rookie.
September 8th, 2025 at 9:56 am
Not possible Otton ran the wrong route as Baker clearly pointed to himself and motioned to Otton that it was on him.
September 8th, 2025 at 10:02 am
Looked to me like Baker expected otton to cut inside a bit, instead he slowed a little and looked over his outside shoulder. Definitely a miscommunication and it likely would have been close to the mark had Otton kept full speed and cut in a little
September 8th, 2025 at 10:05 am
We got the win, offense will get cleaned up, just give it a few weeks.
September 8th, 2025 at 10:21 am
I noticed he was staring down receivers like a mug yesterday.
September 8th, 2025 at 10:40 am
If you watched college ball you know who EE was.
September 8th, 2025 at 11:08 am
Agree Joe! This group of receivers are going to be insane when we get McMillen and Godwin back.
September 8th, 2025 at 11:09 am
“What bothers me is missing a wide open Otten”. “ I noticed he was staring down receiver’s like a mug yesterday”. “Not possible Otten ran the wrong route”. “2E is better than BM6”. “It looked like Baker forgot the route”. “His accuracy was probably the worst I’ve seen him in a Bucs uniform”. Well, thank goodness nobody misses blocks or misses tackles or drops passes or miss open holes or makes bad play calls or makes bad game decisions or God forbid get injured and render your contributions as that of the water boy. Baker better get his Shlt Together!! This Bullshlt must stop Now!!!
September 8th, 2025 at 11:21 am
After their win against Dallas, the game recap on the Philly team site named three players with outstanding performances: Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, and Jihaad Campbell.
Campbell had a forced fumble, a pass defended, three tackles, and did not get burnt for a TD and other big plays.
For those who claimed that the Bucs should not draft Campbell because his shoulder scope was going to cause him to miss training camp, the preseason, and regular season games, Campbell was participating in camp from day one and is off to a great start.
So, did the Bucs get it right going with Egbuka?
With two great players to choose from, despite the current injuries, the offense still doesn’t look like the side of the ball that most needed a game changing player.
And, there was much more WR value later in the draft than ILB value.
And, it gave Philly another game wrecker when the Bucs face them at least once this year.
But, there is no denying the value of E2. I better understand now why Licht had such a draft crush.
I generally think that it is an I’ll advised desperation move to trade away future draft picks. But, with a Super Bowl window in sight, I could wish that the Bucs had made an exception for Campbell after they took E2. He really looks like that missing piece that could get the Bucs across the finish line.
Still hoping that the Bucs are right about Dennis. But, that first Atlanta TD brought back the nightmares of the first Denver TD last year.
Go Bucs!
September 8th, 2025 at 12:59 pm
Baker always takes the blame like leader should even when it is not his fault. I will take 2 long incomplete over two interceptions all day. Any coach will say it us better to overthrow than under throw.
September 8th, 2025 at 1:02 pm
Double E or maybe Dub E
September 8th, 2025 at 2:01 pm
Just waiting patiently for the Halloween Horror Show starring EE2, ME13, and CG14 to hit the field. BTW, Mr. Godwin has been mentoring E2 throughout the preseason, and Chris traveled with the team yesterday. So, there’s that! Goooo Bucs!!
September 8th, 2025 at 3:37 pm
Can’t wait for Godwin and McMillan (Tristan Wirtz) to return soon.