BUCS ALL-22 BREAKDOWN: Baker Mayfield’s Hidden Yardage Mistakes

Without Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, the Bucs had to produce a lot of yards and touchdowns on offense. Tampa Bay’s ground game has improved significantly, but the lack of firepower at receiver has forced offensive coordinator Liam Cohen to primarily use tight end Cade Otton and running backs Rashard White and Bucky Irving. I’m trying to use that to expand my passing game.

So far things have worked out pretty well. The Bucks scored 24 points in both games against Baltimore and Kansas City.

Bucks OC Liam Cohen and QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR

And while it’s entirely possible that Tampa Bay could have achieved a similar result against San Francisco, they lost 23-20 at home, dropping the team to 4-6 on the season, with the Bucs’ offense scoring just 20 points. It didn’t come close. .

Could Tampa Bay have won more points? The answer is yes.

There were some significant drops from receiving options. Both Cade Otton and Rakim Jarrett dropped passes they should have caught in this game. These drops occurred on consecutive plays at the end of the first half when the Bucks had a good opportunity to take some points with advantageous field position.

But in this new BUCS ALL-22 BREAKDOWN video, we detail the hidden yards that didn’t materialize because of the quarterback’s play on Sunday.

Baker Mayfield denied too many easy throws.

Baker Mayfield is a great quarterback who can lead a winning team. He was a big factor in most of the team’s wins this year. He’s a top 10-15 quarterback in the NFL and has flashed at times over the past two years. He also played a key role in some of the Bucks’ losses this year.

Bucks QB Baker Mayfield – Photo courtesy of USA Today

All of these could be true. There were no turnover-worthy plays in this past game, and they weren’t one of the main reasons the team lost. The main reason for the outcome of the game was the Bucks’ defense.

But that’s not to say Mayfield couldn’t put his team in a better position to win.

That’s what great quarterbacks do. He plays within the rhythm of the offense until the situation forces him to make a revealing move. Mayfield had a revelation late in the fourth quarter, evading Nick Bosa as he scrambled down the sideline for seconds and setting up Rashard White for an improbable goal.

However, Mayfield still has trouble finding his offensive rhythm at times.

There are two instances in this game where he should have made an easy throw but missed. First came the familiar games we know For more information, see Pewter Report. in front.

Bucks QB Baker Mayfield – Photo courtesy of USA Today

In the play above, the progression Mayfield should go through would be Ryan Miller at second lead. Cade Otton is pronounced 4.

Mayfield saw three defenders sitting on Sterling Shepard and simply threw it to a wide-open Ryan Miller for an easy first down and even more after the catch. It should have been possible. Yes, the result was still a 15-yard completion and a first down, but he had no way of knowing if Otton would be open, and there’s no reason to decline that certainty for an unknown quantity. It was.

Late in the game, Mayfield passed an easy flat to an open Otton on 3rd and 4, and again went for the backside, but didn’t get open. After a scramble, Mayfield threw an incomplete throw to Otton on a busted play to end the drive.

Bucs QB turned down explosives

Baker Mayfield will deny the 49ers not only easy throws, but also potential shot plays.

On this play, Mayfield does a tough job of manipulating the cornerback and feeding into the flat option. All he has to do is get paid! But instead of putting the ball deep for Otto running open on a fade route with his back to the safety, he checked down to Irving.

Granted, the play is recorded as a “success” for gaining five yards on second-and-eight, but it could also have been a shot play into San Francisco territory. For a Bucks offense that lacks explosive passing, they can’t afford to deny open shots like this.

Mayfield’s hesitation would ruin an explosive chance deep off the play to Trey Palmer.

Inaccuracy prevents Bucs from staying on schedule

Bucks WR Ryan Miller – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR

Add in some bad balls from Baker Mayfield, plus the drop I mentioned earlier. This includes throwing behind Cade Otton on a simple bench route, running too far in front of Sterling Shepard on a speed cut, or completely beating Shepard on a corner route. The defense is as leaky as the pipes in an 80-year-old abandoned building, allowing the offensive line to play without giving up.

Mayfield is done for the day. He went 18-of-29 for just 116 yards and one touchdown. But if he had taken advantage of this hidden yardage, these numbers could have been better. And the outcome of the game may have been in the Bucks’ favor.

A complete breakdown of the hidden yards the Bucs missed in Pewter Report’s latest All-22 breakdown can be found on our YouTube channel, Pewter Report TV. here.