The Bucs kicked off mandatory mini-camp on Tuesday morning as they continue their offseason ramp-up before this season. Much of the attention has understandably been on the defensive side of the football with several new faces in new places. Still, that does not take away from the gains the offense is making under offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield is tasked with leading the troops and building on a career season. Mayfield discussed his progress in getting down Grizzard’s offense while also becoming even more communicative after Tuesday’s practice.
Baker Mayfield Believes “Now Is The Time” To Nail Down The Bucs Offense
The Bucs offense last season was one of the best the team has had throughout its 50-year history. In fact, Tampa Bay’s 29.5 points per game average in 2024 was the third highest mark in franchise history, just behind 2020 (30.8) and 2021 (30.1).
Doing so meant undergoing a philosophical shift from Dave Canales to Liam Coen. Baker Mayfield and Co. truly elevated under Coen’s guidance and went on to set single season team records in several categories. Among them, Mayfield posted the highest completion percentage (71.5%) and passer rating (106.8) of any quarterback who has been a Buccaneer.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today
Although Coen left for the Jaguars, Josh Grizzard was in the building last season as the pass game coordinator, signaling that much of the offensive foundation will remain the same with some new wrinkles added in. Mayfield is bullish about the switch in offensive minds now that it is fully underway.
“It’s been really good,” Mayfield said about how the offseason has gone with a new offensive coordinator. “I think just the transition from Liam [Coen] to Grizz [Josh Grizzard] has been really, really smooth. Guys are just taking ownership of it. Obviously, it helps when you have the same pieces back. Then the new additions, the new guys we have, just making sure that when we’re teaching it and installing it, the little details don’t slip under the rug. You don’t take anything for granted. It’s been a really good offseason; now is the time to get some chemistry down and really get an understanding of the offense. I think we’re in a good place right now, there’s always room for improvement.”
For Mayfield in particular, one area of improvement for him will be limiting interceptions, as his 16 picks tied for the league lead. It was the lone blight on the stat sheet for him, and taking better care of himself and the football is something that he will be working to evolve.
That, and being even more vocal.
Entering his eighth NFL season and second in a similar offensive system, he is preparing to take on more responsibility as a coach on the field relaying offensive calls and understanding what the unit will be up against week to week.
“For me, it’s continuing to communicate,” Mayfield said about his next step in the offense. “Overcommunicate at the line of scrimmage. That was a big step last year… but [I’m looking to] take it to the next level. Really take ownership, overcommunicate to where we get a certain pressure or coverage, guys know what I’m going to check to. That’s the part that I have to continue to try to elevate everybody else around me and take that ownership.”
Baker Mayfield Is The Best QB For The Bucs To Go On A Playoff Run
It’s not easy filling the footsteps of greatness.
Baker Mayfield knows that all too well after signing with the Bucs in March 2023 after legendary quarterback Tom Brady announced his retirement. Not only did Mayfield have to step in and keep the status quo of Tampa Bay making the playoffs, but he also had to revive his own career after becoming a journeyman signal-caller wandering the NFL without a home.
He’s found one with an organization gung-ho on keeping him around for a while.
“I’ve said it since the beginning, it feels like home, and it has,” Mayfield said about his time with the Bucs. “It continues to feel better and better. They allow me to be myself and the best version of that; that’s the best part. Understanding that I’m around a lot of the same personnel, I’m allowed and able to get a lot more out of the guys.
“I’m happy to be here, happy to have a home, but we have a lot of unfinished business and things we need to do to take the next step. It’s not just about a division title; it’s about making a run for the Super Bowl and a deeper playoff run. That’s the attention to detail, the focus, and strain that it’s going to take to take us to the next level, and I think we have the pieces to do it.”
Bucs GM Jason Licht and QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
General manager Jason Licht appeared on the Pewter Report Podcast on Monday and believes that Mayfield’s journey to get here is not talked about enough. For a Bucs team strapped for cash after Brady’s departure, he was seen as a cost-effective option with upside. Now, he has solidified himself as a franchise quarterback and Licht could not ask for a better fit at the game’s most important position.
“There are a lot of teams still searching for their quarterback and will do a lot of desperate things to take a chance on a quarterback, whether it’s giving up a lot of picks, a lot of money, crazy trades, or whatever it is,” Licht said. “We got Baker at a … we didn’t have any cap room. That’s all we had to spend, it wasn’t much, and he took it because he knew the opportunity that he would have if things went well. It couldn’t have been a better fit for this team and for this town. Just his energy and the way he plays. His whole shtick is exactly what Tampa needed. I hope Baker is here for a very, very, very, very long time.”
Watch Bucs GM Jason Licht On The Pewter Report Podcast
It was a special treat having Bucs general manager Jason Licht on Monday’s Pewter Report Podcast. Licht had plenty to say about Baker Mayfield and the rest of the team as they gear up for this season. If you have not had the chance to yet, be sure to watch it below.
