There is no other way. The Bucs were hit hard by losing their slot receiver. chris godwin Wide receiver Mike Evans will play for the remainder of the regular season and through the bye week. Not only would this hurt quarterback Baker Mayfield and Tampa Bay’s passing game, but it would severely limit the team’s chances of making the postseason.
That being said, the Bucks still have a chance to make the playoffs. They are 4-3 on the season, with their upset win over the Falcons splitting the season series with their division rivals and taking sole possession of first place in the NFC South standings. He will be at full strength in Sunday’s game, and it will be a chance for other wide receivers to step up.
Baker Mayfield trusts Sterling Shepard, Trey Palmer and Jalen McMillan
Bucks WR Sterling Shepard – Photo courtesy of USA Today
The Bucs have received notable contributions from wide receivers Sterling Shepard, Trey Palmer and Jalen McMillan, but none of them have played more than five games this year. All three have scored touchdowns this year on throws by Baker Mayfield, and Shepard has also scored on two-point conversions. Shepherd, who played alongside Mayfield at Oklahoma, has the most receiving yards of the three this year with 93.
To be fair, the offensive game plan every week is to give the ball to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. In addition, Palmer was sidelined with a concussion and McMillan missed two games with a hamstring injury. Their use will be stepped up for the rest of the season, but Baker Mayfield believes they will be ready thanks to months of preparation.
“I have a lot of confidence in them,” Baker Mayfield said. “Obviously, I had a trusting relationship with Trey going back to last year, with Sterling over the years, and with Jalen throughout the offseason and training camp. We expect to play well and, you know, throughout this week, we’re going to be on the same page in our game plan as we make sure we move this forward. I hope everyone will make a big step up. [we’re] Still relying on the offensive line – [I] I thought they played great. ”
How different will the offense look?
Bucks QB Baker Mayfield – Photo courtesy of USA Today
There’s no question that the Bucks’ offense will be different. Next game. That has to do with the absence of Tampa Bay’s two best receivers. Offensive coordinator Liam Cohen will have a lot on his plate. The good news is that no team has tape of what this offense would look like with personnel changes.
Tampa Bay has vastly improved its run game. Not only can the Bucks rely on that, but they could see different formations that have Rathard White, Bucky Irving (depending on his availability), and Sean Tucker playing at the same time. We’ve had a lot of success with this this season, even when the two come together in what we call the “pony” package. Because it’s a running back, not everything goes to the receivers. They will be involved and used in a variety of ways, making for a group with a bag of tricks, including looks never seen before.
“Obviously I think they (wide receivers) have played really well the last few weeks, [our running] The Bucs continue to play well, so we just have to work as a group,” Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield said. “It’s going to look different, but that’s okay, and we’re going to be a little more creative, so we’re going to have fun with it.
“As we move forward with this game plan, obviously given the absence of Mike, [Evans] and chris [Godwin]teams can’t exactly follow those trends when we’re game planning with them. It may look different, but everyone has to do their part. Everyone needs to be dialed in, and it’s up to the next person. ”
Baker Mayfield’s leadership will be important
Bucks QB Baker Mayfield – Photo courtesy of USA Today
During difficult times like these, it’s important for team leaders to step up. There’s no one better suited to take over the reigns of this group and bring everyone together than quarterback Baker Mayfield. Mayfield intends to continue raising the bar, but he made it clear that the team has multiple leaders in the locker room, so it’s not just one guy motivating everyone – “C” ” uniforms with or without the text.
“It’s not just me,” Mayfield said. “There’s a lot of leaders around this building. For example, Chris Godwin wasn’t even named captain. You don’t have to have that in your chest to be a leader. There are many people who have uploaded it.
“[Being] Being more verbal for me goes a long way, and body language all the time, but that’s what I try to do every day for them – be consistent, be the same leader, bring the energy and help them. Just have them focus on it. ”
