Baker Mayfield Passing Chart
November 1st, 2025
Flashback.
Liam Coen was back with Bucs. #Sarcasm
That’s the first thing that went through Joe’s noggin looking at Baker Mayfield’s passing chart from Sunday in New Orleans.
Coen, the former highly successful Bucs offensive coordinator, ran a dink-and-dunk offense. He got irked when Joe typed that last year but the proof was undeniable. Rarely did Coen have Mayfield throw farther than 20 yards downfield.
Well, last week in New Orleans, Mayfield’s passing chart looked like Coen was back calling plays instead of Josh Grizzard.
Mayfield only had one attempt longer than 20 yards. The rest were well within the 20-yard range. Just like Coen used to do.
During the game, Joe got a text from a hardcore, long-time Bucs fan who thought Mayfield must have been hurt, and that’s why he was throwing so many short passes.
Even Bucs coach Todd Bowles has mentioned, physically, Mayfield really needed the bye week. Bowles called Mayfield “battered” and “beat up” on the Ira Kaufman Podcast this week. So maybe Mayfield was gutting it out and as a result, was less than 100 percent.
Joe is also guessing unable to get open downfield was also a reason Mayfield and Grizzard stuck with the short passing game.
November 1st, 2025 at 2:07 am
Another reason is that Mayfield only had 2.2 seconds to get rid of the ball instead of the 2.87 seconds he usually has. The Saints defense was bringing a lot of pressure and the Bucs O line had their hands full. O line has to get better.
November 1st, 2025 at 2:51 am
buc4evr … ‘O line has to get better.’
I’m convinced that’s at the heart of our offense’s problem, but you’ve gotta have the horses. And based on what we’ve seen these past 2 games, I’m not convinced we have playoff-quality horses all along our OLine.
Our most consistent OLineman IMO has been Ben Bredeson. He and Graham Barton are the only 2 OLinemen who’ve played 100% of our offensive snaps thus far. And I think Bredeson’s play has been more consistent than anyone else’s. Barton did reasonably OK out at LT, but just hasn’t looked the same since moving back to Center. Not sure what’s going on with Tristan Wirfs, but he’s a pro’s pro, and he’ll get it straightened out quickly.
Charlie Heck has played every snap at RT since Luke Goedeke got hurt in Game 2, and has done a respectable job. He seems to be improving, and that’s a positive. Our RT position has truly been a musical chairs position; we’ve now used FIVE different players there in 8 games (Mauch, Haggard, Klein, Jordan & Feeney).
In those 8 games, we’ve only had 2 games where the same OLine started & finished (games 4 & 5). Other than that, there’s been quite a bit of shuffling going on (RT especially), and for some reason our OLine chemistry just isn’t gelling. Hopefully they can get that fixed during our BYE week.
November 1st, 2025 at 2:53 am
He injured his hand a few games ago. Perhaps it is lingering.
November 1st, 2025 at 3:57 am
Dink and dunk. Love it!
November 1st, 2025 at 4:35 am
Absolutely, Baker needed the bye. His hand and possibly his ankle. However, from the pics and videos, he and Tristan looked really happy at the Lightning game. Maybe they all need some downtime to have some fun too, mental and physical wellness. Go Bucs!
November 1st, 2025 at 6:57 am
Way more to the left, thinking I saw him roll left more
November 1st, 2025 at 7:06 am
DR, nice analysis! I think you’re spot on.
November 1st, 2025 at 7:19 am
Agree the OL has been faltering with protection as of late, but at least part of the recent dump off passes can be attributed to absence of talent —— there’s simply nobody to hit long other than the microscopic, amoeba sized Tez. And Baker isn’t usually given the time to go haystack needle hunting.
What was once the deepest receiver room in the NFL has metamorphosed into a MASH unit. With Egbuka’s hamstring slowing him down, the recently revealed broken bone in McMillan’s neck, Mike’s obvious injury and Godwin’s covert mystery leg, we need a wideout to get through the year.
I keep hearing Jacobi Myers from the Raiders is there for the taking, and could be had for a relatively cheap price.
So do something Jason! If you wanna win now you gotta part with a draft pick or two. Your previous picks have had some greatness mixed in with clunkers. Think of it as selling off a clunker to possibly getting a home playoff game and winning said game in the process.
Do it!
November 1st, 2025 at 7:26 am
Another analogy: when your car breaks down, you get a rental until your wheels are repaired. And the Bucs have a slew of damaged cars.
Time to call Avis, Jason!
November 1st, 2025 at 7:40 am
There’s always lots of talk about the bye giving a chance to get the players back from ir and such but it’s a bigger thing for the starters who haven’t been able to take any time. Baker for sure is banged up and needs to break but what about guys like Tristan who just came back from surgery and is probably not truly at 100% strength. Being healed and healthy is different than being at full strength because you’re not lifting the same way in rehab that you are during normal physical training. So pretty much the entire starting team gets that extra week of healing and that is huge!
November 1st, 2025 at 7:45 am
Right side of the o-line is a mess, no Bucky, no Evans, no Godwin, no McMillan, Egbuka is playing on one leg. Kind of need to temper expectations right now.
November 1st, 2025 at 8:11 am
Looks like the Bucs coaching staff has no more confidence in toothache Bridge than they did clean uniform Trask.
November 1st, 2025 at 9:01 am
@gotbbucs, I agree, we’ve got to temper expectations for now. Our only hope to go deep into the playoffs is to get healthier. We’re not one player away from fixing the offense. Licht can’t fix the situation the BUCS are in by trading for a WR.
They’re good enough now to make it INTO the playoffs. If they get at least two of their top 4 WRs healthy for the playoffs and we get Bucky back and the o-line is playing good, they’ll be OK.
If Licht is going to pull the trigger on a trade, fixing the o-line should be the priority. If they can’t protect Baker in the playoffs then the Bucs will be screwed.
November 1st, 2025 at 9:05 am
If we are going to contend for a Super Bowl these things need to happen:
1. Goedeke and Bucky need to return soon, keep playing and be effective
2. Either Godwin needs to do the same or we need to pickup another receiver.
3. The rest of the team needs to remain relatively healthy (no major injuries)
4. We need to stabilize the RG position (in the last 3 games we’ve had 4 different guys in there)
5. Grizzard needs to get more consistent and balanced with his play calling
November 1st, 2025 at 9:14 am
The game plan is rolling according to the players available on both sides of the ball and adjusted to what’s happening during the game. BM6 ‘s accuracy and protection was poor so the field was shortened.
November 1st, 2025 at 10:35 am
hainsey’s been doing pretty well over there in jacksonville too
November 1st, 2025 at 10:40 am
i saw someone mention tyler lockett the other day…if he’s out there to grab, or the raiders make him available, he’s a consummate pro…you bring him in…he can only add to the receiver room…
even tho past his prime, he’s always been an overlooked pro’s pro…
a perfect steady the ship type guy, and i’d guess a good locker room fit as well
November 1st, 2025 at 11:04 am
Mud is brown
November 1st, 2025 at 11:36 am
No OL performance running or passing, especially against A gap blitzes
Baker banged up
Rookie OC who grabbed the wrong season’s offense to study (Leftwich 2022)
November 1st, 2025 at 11:37 am
It is so unusual and so pleasing to have a Bye week when your team is 6-2 and you can just relax and watch games meanwhile knowing your guys are getting better.
November 1st, 2025 at 12:05 pm
And as some wise poster noted, each of our division rivals is an underdog tomorrow. It’s fun to ascend without lifting a finger.
November 1st, 2025 at 4:02 pm
It’s the o-line. That right side is killing us. The left side is having to do their jobs and help out, the TE’s are having to be pulled out of passing options, and help the right side of the line. Results: fewer targets, check down plays, less time for Baker, and too many shots on the QB.
Like Gruden used to say: it ain’t rocket surgery.