“We Didn’t Have A Ton Of That Last Year”
July 4th, 2026
“So Thad, there’s nothing more to it than throwing where you’re pointing?”
New Bucs quarterbacks coach Chandler Whitmer has been quick to impress folks at One Buc Palace.
The 34-year-old has impressive coaching experience and is considered a fast-rising star in league circles. The Bucs, it seems, are lucky to have him, and those around Whitmer love his intensity and attention to detail.
Whitmer coached with Zac Robinson in Atlanta two seasons ago and departed for the Indiana Hoosiers last season. The later went extremely well. Indiana won the national championship and Hoosiers QB Fernando Mendoza exploded to become the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Baker Mayfield noted earlier this year that Whitmer is a stickler for footwork, and that’s been a huge focus of Mayfield’s offseason.
Bucs backup QB Connor Bazelak joined Mr. Bucs Nation/James Hill on YouTube recently and was asked if Whitmer really is a stickler.
“He is and it’s great. We didn’t have a ton of that last year,” Bazelak replied. “Even like in the meeting rooms, he’s super picky on footwork and little tiny details. That’s kind of what the NFL comes down to: one to two plays a game could determine the game. And if your fundamentals are off maybe on one play and you miss a throw high, leave a throw a little behind, the receiver gets 15 yards instead of 25. You never know; maybe that’s the difference in a game.
“It’s been kind of refreshing to listen to Chandler and how he coaches, how detailed he is with all of it.”
For those wondering, Tampa Bay’s QB coach of the past three seasons, Thad Lewis, is out of football at 38 years old. Combine that fact with Bazelak saying there was not a lot of coaching on the fine points of fundamentals last season and, well, Joe finds that’s very revealing.
July 4th, 2026 at 9:42 am
Exactly!
Lets just give it a year. I mean resign Bake of course, and V, but lets give this new staff and players a year…..tame your expectations.
Next year, we’re gonna be cooking and might win the SB….sorry, just the messenger behind my crystal ball.
July 4th, 2026 at 9:45 am
Imagine that, coaches coaching. BA loved to fill the cupboard with is “boys” and there seemed to be more quantity than quality. Imo, this is the only feasible way Licht turns the corner from glad-hand chief scout to ROH GM, build a coaching staff that actually develops players
July 4th, 2026 at 9:51 am
Imagine being 38, paid millions, you’re sitting at 6-2 and your directly coached QB the MVP talk of the league. Then 3 months later you’re unemployed and may never coach in the NFL again.
July 4th, 2026 at 9:53 am
ChiBuc says truth.
July 4th, 2026 at 9:56 am
Just watched the saints game and Baker choked in that game as well on a game winning drive. And also Baker didn’t look hurt in that game he was running and playing like he did all year. The bucs got to draft a quartback this year man . Sam Levitt will be there late first round or even the second round next year.
July 4th, 2026 at 10:07 am
“Baker Mayfield noted earlier this year that Whitmer is a stickler for footwork, and that’s been a huge focus of Mayfield’s offseason.”
Every OC we’ve had since he’s been here has more or less tried to correct Mayfields’ footwork.
“So a year ago, then-Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales set out to start from scratch with quarterback Baker Mayfield’s footwork and reset it for success.”
-Joe June of ‘24
So it intrigued Joe yesterday when Mayfield noted that he’s got feet issues.
“Sometimes I process information pretty quickly and my feet get out of whack a little bit,” Mayfield said. “Obviously, when it comes down to playing football, you can always run for a first down, whatever you’ve got to do. But not drifting in the pocket, not putting extra stress on these guys up front, and just going through it in a balanced setting and just trying to handle it the best way possible.”
I mean, at some point you’ve got to take this issue you realize you have as a player and correct it on your own time and on company time. Can’t be explained away as just being injured, so what’s the rub? What makes his fundamentals break down? And how best to correct it?
July 4th, 2026 at 10:23 am
It’s obvious coaching has not been top notch under Bowles. Zac brought in an improvement over Lewis.
July 4th, 2026 at 10:32 am
The bucs need to take the money that they were going to give Baker and build the team. This is not a Superbowl roster at all and bringing Baker back next year ain’t going to move the needle the stadium will remain empty of bucs fans and it will be the same results. You have to draft a quartback and and keep building towards the future of the bucs. Let Baker go be a bridge quarterback in Pittsburgh or LA next year. We have a young offence now and we’re getting younger on defense as well. Then you can build a team like the eagles The eagles moved on from Nick Foles after they won a Superbowl and put a statue outside the stadium of him . And they have been in 2 Superbowls since they moved on. Why the drafted a quartback and they were able to go all defense in the draft and that’s why they have long term suses rather than a playoff appearance here and they’re. It’s time to move into the future the team is set up perfectly for a young quarterback . If Jason Licht resign Baker and the bucs miss the playoffs this year and next year he’s going to be fired.
July 4th, 2026 at 10:46 am
Man some of the people on this site are just to focused on bashing Mayfield that they can’t give him the respect that he deserves. He had a great year in 2024 even his nip picker’s didn’t have much to say all year. Last year the first 8 games he was in on the mvp talk. Injuries to him and oline and receivers derailed a promising year. Reality check, who are the buc going pick up from the free agent pool or next year’s draft where their picking , probably around the middle of the draft, that’s going to be better than him. Unfortunately for you guys the Bucs are probably going to sign him to a 3 year deal at 50 million and you guys are going to have to live with it. Time will tell if he is the right guy. But right now the Bucs don’t have much choice but to sign him.
July 4th, 2026 at 10:59 am
Sign Baker now,,, this year better coaching , healthy OLine , Healthy RBs , Healthy WRs , Better D , Better special teams ,, It’s Bake Show time 11-6
July 4th, 2026 at 11:02 am
He also said Brady was washed, repeatedly
July 4th, 2026 at 11:07 am
This is the guy to watch. Not Robinson
July 4th, 2026 at 11:12 am
“Man some of the people on this site are just to focused on bashing Mayfield that they can’t give him the respect that he deserves. He had a great year in 2024 even his nip picker’s didn’t have much to say all year. Last year the first 8 games he was in on the mvp talk.“
{sad violin}
July 4th, 2026 at 11:20 am
Yawn
Literally 100% of QB coaches work on footwork first thing when camp starts.
New coach, same story.
July 4th, 2026 at 11:24 am
Go ahead and brag about 2 years ago and he still lead the NFL in batted passes and ints. I just watched the saints game in Tampa and Baker choked again on a last minute drive to win the game. And the first half of the season he was good but once again when you needed him the most he choked. Again I will take the money to pay him and build the roster and draft a quartback in the first or second round just like the eagles did.
July 4th, 2026 at 11:33 am
Beej. Brady was washed up and I can prove it in 2020 and 2021 he had AB and Gronk to go with Mike Evans and Godwin. In 2022 AB and Gronk left and Brady played just like he did in 2019 . He had the same numbers and bucs meadi and fans made Byran Leftwich the scapegoat . He was the OC in 2020 and 2021 but since it was Brady you guys couldn’t just admit that Brady was the problem at the time. I’m sorry but I don’t make excuses for no player or less it’s valid. I call it like I see it regardless of the name on the back of the jersey.
July 4th, 2026 at 11:33 am
@ Chipbuc (a bit too close for my liking),
Btw, it’s “nit,” not “nip.” One would pick nits (lice….) from their bodies, while Middle School boys may be your main “nip picking” demographic. If you’re going to throw down an argument rich in logical fallacies, you might as well get the metaphors right.
July 4th, 2026 at 11:39 am
Is Coach Whitmer the Bucs taking a shot to make sure that, if they draft another Day 2 QB, he actually becomes a starter?
And, is he maybe a little insurance in case they do not resign Baker and draft a 1st round QB instead?
As to tipped passes
July 4th, 2026 at 11:41 am
As to tipped passes, at 6’1″, QBs get more of those and need good throwing windows.
A healthy OL may help with that this year.
July 4th, 2026 at 11:53 am
Mom squares up well, she keeps her feet moving, she could break the knees down a little more, but man she wraps up like Saran Wrap! That guy is not going to get any freezer burn wrapped like that!
Bowles and the position coaches should begin their missed tackle sessions with a “You Guys vs Mom” video critique.
July 4th, 2026 at 12:11 pm
Baker is not 6’1 he’s 510 I know a guy who actually met Baker personally. If the bucs keep Baker we will be back at the bottom of the division next year.
Baker was measured in bare feet before lots of people at the NFL Scouting Combine. He’s 6’0, 5/8″. Joe doesn’t think Mayfield has shrunk, and yes, Joe has stood next to Mayfield several times. –Joe
July 4th, 2026 at 12:30 pm
If Mayfield is smart this season, he will focus on the details Coach Whitmer is teaching him and not get distracted by his Agents’ constantly dangling commercial appearance money in front of him.
July 4th, 2026 at 12:37 pm
Article after article, and quote after quote about last years lack of coaching, lack of intensity, lack of practices even. Not to mention the abomination that was ST.
The HC is responsible for all of that. The GM is responsible for the HC that’s not getting it done.
This organization is turning into a farce. All we’re missing is an algae filled pond.
July 4th, 2026 at 12:38 pm
Baker had a LOT of underthrown and behind the receiver passes last year. If improved footwork can eliminate these bad throws, that might propel Baker into earning the contract he wants
July 4th, 2026 at 1:14 pm
The one who deserves to be out of football the most is still “growing” at an alarming rate for the Bucs.
All three phases stunk! That’s a feat of coaching that is hard to accomplish.
July 4th, 2026 at 1:31 pm
Was never a Thad fan. Whitmer is all business. I’m just gonna say that playing behind a sub par O Line with a poor inexperienced OC and injured, Baker did better than one would have expected. Some of the “alleged “ under or behind throws are not always on the QB. Inexperienced receivers not properly running routes and O Lineman getting beat and closing throwing lanes are big factors.
I think it says a lot about last year’s coaches when so many are now not coaching anymore or in Grizzards case back to clipboards and film reviews. That’s on Todd.
July 4th, 2026 at 1:42 pm
Dan joe you should’ve served cheese and threw out some tissues with this article! Plenty of wine!
July 4th, 2026 at 1:50 pm
Another indictment on Bowles.
Guy kept bad coaches all over his staff until the axe got a lil too close to his own neck and he finally dropped it on his dead weight buddies.
Absolutely embarrassing.
The biggest upgrade this team made this offseason were at 3 positions. OC, ST Coach and QB coach. Just remember folks, that if those units make strides… Todd deserves no credit! Licht and the Glazers kept him over good coaches in Canales and Coen, Bowles in turn held onto bad coaches until the heat was too high.