Josh Grizzard: Baker Mayfield Showing Benefits Of Eliminating Revolving Door Of Offenses
September 12th, 2025
If Baker Mayfield were to retire today, he’d be known for winning a Heisman Trophy, being a No. 1 overall draft pick and for having an obscene amount of coordinators in his professional life.
In fact, when Mayfield’s career bottomed out in Carolina, one could argue the toll of playing for an ever-changing cast of offensive coordinators and offenses nearly did him in.
Yes, Mayfield has yet another new coordinator this year in Josh Grizzard. But Mayfield knew Grizzard from working with him last year as Grizzard served as the Bucs’ passing game coordinator.
Grizzard didn’t change the offense, either. If anything, Grizzard is just adding to it.
On Sunday, Mayfield made two of the prettiest throws you will see, hitting Emeka Egbuka twice for scores. The second touchdown throw, the game-winner, was as close to perfect as a pass can get.
Speaking at One Buc Palace today, Grizzard suggested the accuracy of those throws came due to Mayfield’s footwork. Grizzard said the good footwork by Mayfield shows what happens when a quarterback has been in the same offense for over a year.
“Yeah, I think that’s what you get out of being in the second year in the system, where his footwork on that [throw], even though that was an explosive play, [was strong],” Grizzard said. The 25-yard throw, Mayfield “had a quick game timing on the play.”
So Grizzard explained how Mayfield’s footwork Mayfield sort of baited Falcons safety Jesse Bates to drop down to cover Mike Evans short to the left. That left Egbuka in single-coverage deep. Despite using footwork designed for short passes, Mayfield still slung the ball on the money deeper to Egbuka.
Right on the dime.
“He’s on it with his footwork,” Grizzard said. “He can get the ball out [from a short pass] to an explosive play. And it’s not like he’s taking a seven-step drop, so that’s what you would hope for in a second year.”
Mayfield may not have had a great first game of the season. But when the Bucs needed him most, being able to use the footwork and fundamentals schooled by Grizzard and former offensive coordinator Liam Coen paid off with the game-winning touchdown.
Gizzard’s words about how Mayfield is taking advantage of being in the same offense for the second straight season has Joe pumped, especially with the news that Chris Godwin has returned to practice.
September 12th, 2025 at 4:23 pm
That game winning pass to Egbuka was indeed a thing of beauty. Everyone that’s seen it has said the same thing. You couldn’t throw the ball any better. Good play call, tight coverage, good catch, perfect pass! TD!
September 12th, 2025 at 4:23 pm
uh, considering the misfires on the offensive side in atlanta i’d say grizzard is trying to make a silk purse from a sows ear. which isnt unexpected, but come on. bakers footwork is due to running the same system as last year? lol the rushing game was a disaster.
September 12th, 2025 at 4:26 pm
The Band is getting back together!! Oh boy!! After watching Green Bay the past two games, the Bucs will need all the firepower they can muster!!
September 12th, 2025 at 4:26 pm
Jimmy
Have to agree. Baker looked worse in that game than anything last year.
September 12th, 2025 at 4:32 pm
Play the game Monday Night. I can not watch due to NFL Bullscat.
September 12th, 2025 at 4:33 pm
Actually I am almost OVER NFL.
September 12th, 2025 at 4:43 pm
You lost me, info …
How does Green Bay playing well at home for two consecutive weeks make us need all the firepower we can muster? They’re obviously not in our division, nor do we play them this year.
Not being critical, just sending out a query.
With that, info me please.
Thanks.
September 12th, 2025 at 5:11 pm
Remember last time we played Green Bay? I sure do. In the storied history of Lambeau Field no visiting QB had ever hung a perfect passer rating. Until Baker did it in a merciless spanking of the Packers. I guess he’s been working on that footwork for awhile now. We won the game, Baker and Grizz are gonna be perfect together. I’m 100% positive Baker and Grizz will take winning and they know that every game is going to be different and they will have to grind when they don’t have their best stuff. They wouldn’t listen to any of our recommendations I can promise you that. Because they know exactly what they’re doing. Even if it sometimes doesn’t look they do.
September 12th, 2025 at 5:17 pm
Believe that Green Bay game might have been a part of Canales propulsion into his new job.
September 12th, 2025 at 5:29 pm
Coen raced to his new position. Good thing he taught Baker some footwork. 2 geniuses in a row! Canales and Coen. I credit this teams success to Licht, Bowles, LaVonte, Mike and Tristan and Baker. In that order. Chris and Winfield in the mix. The rest of the team is playing their a$$es off because of that tremendous leadership group. I am not worried about a subpar performance. Why? Because I’ve never once seen us lose except by one score. Hardly. We are getting better and if we’d have had a little better injury luck we’d of probably won the Super Bowl last year. This group of fans cracks me up! We’re good. Real good! And we’re not going anywhere!!
September 12th, 2025 at 5:39 pm
lol i’m so glad canales got propulsed out of here. jimmy thanks the football gods in valhalla for propulsion.
September 12th, 2025 at 6:06 pm
What was most impressive about that 2nd td was that it was all arm, couldn’t step into the throw and was spot on. He got lucky on a number of bad passes but all three tds were great. Once his rust is off completely look out boys offense will humm!
September 12th, 2025 at 8:37 pm
If our line can open some holes, we will thrive. That might be a challenge for a bit until the hoss gets back.
September 12th, 2025 at 9:14 pm
That final TD winning pass from Baker to EE2 should be enshrined in a painting. It was that perfect. Falcons’ DB couldn’t play it more perfect except by breaking Egbuka’s neck. More please guys, cos we’re gonna need them Monday Nite.
September 12th, 2025 at 9:23 pm
Good defenses travel.
September 12th, 2025 at 10:09 pm
How does Green Bay playing well at home for two consecutive weeks make us need all the firepower we can muster?
Good defenses travel.
Agree, but they ain’t traveling here this year. And if they do pay us a playoff visit, rest assured they’ll be traveling with a banged up defense, a ubiquity in the NFL that time of year. According to Chat GBT at least 1 to 2 starters will be down per team. The question is who …
September 12th, 2025 at 10:43 pm
Baker had too many throws behind slanting receivers. Not sure why. Is he hesitating a split second or are the receivers running a step faster than in practice?
September 13th, 2025 at 12:51 am
I don’t understand how Bates, from the defensive backfield, could see Baker’s feet past a ton of O and D linemen
September 13th, 2025 at 3:53 am
As long as Grizz does not blow it with play calls and “tweaks”. Baker should be awesome this year. Go Baker!
Go Bucs!
September 13th, 2025 at 11:09 am
I see Green Bay playing in the SB.
September 13th, 2025 at 11:58 am
Now stop saying you don,t like nite games.
September 13th, 2025 at 12:01 pm
Yea Kenton Bakes had nothing to with it. Clearly Licht, Coen, and Canales were throwing and running.
September 13th, 2025 at 12:18 pm
Thankful we have Baker, but he played like a donkey in the headlights for the first half. He’s feet must have sucked on that bad miss when Otten was all alone . Let’s not talk about it, Griz.
Griz, please use your TEs and especially Rachaad in the passing game. Thank you.