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Scott Reynolds of Pewter Reports answers your questions. @PewterReport Twitter accounts are added to the Bucs Mailbag every week. Submit your questions to the weekly Bucs Mailbag via Twitter using the hashtag #PRMailbag. Here are the Bucks questions we chose to answer in this issue:
Q: Baker Mayfield is a good starter, but he still tends to turn over a lot. Given the improvement and ability Kyle Trask has shown, what do you think Mayfield’s bond as a starter will be?
answer: Bucks head coach Todd Bowles is heading into the 2023 season hoping Baker Mayfield will be the starter all season long. He doesn’t expect Mayfield to languish as a starter with turnovers and injuries. But you asked a question, so I’ll answer it.
Bucks QB Baker Mayfield – Photo Credit: USA Today
Mayfield’s lifeline will be determined first and foremost by wins and his performances. As such, it’s a bit difficult to gauge how long Bowles will stick with him if the Bucks get off to a slow start. Tampa Bay started the season 1-3 or 1-4, but if Mayfield is playing well and not the culprit, he will stay under center. Conversely, when the team got off to a strong start with a 3-1 record, but Mayfield wasn’t dominant, Bowles stuck with Mayfield, suggesting he could spend more time improving his play with Dave Canales’ system. I expect it. If the Bucks got off to a rocky start coupled with Mayfield’s poor play, that’s another story.
The good news for Bowles and the Bucks is that Kyle Trask has proven to the team that he is a capable NFL quarterback. Now, he’s a legitimate No. 2 quarterback and shows some traits that could make him a starter-level QB in the league. Trask has been playing well this preseason, especially against the Jets, and he could have had a really great night against the Ravens without a few knockouts.
We learned this preseason that the Bucks have a QB pairing in Mayfield and Trask that can effectively run this offense, and that Bowles has options going forward. But Mayfield, who has a one-year demonstration deal with Tampa Bay, is eyeing an expensive long-term extension from the Bucks or a big deal elsewhere. He really has enough motivation to prove he can be a franchise quarterback again.
Q: We’ve seen this scenario every year in the NFL. Coaches follow veterans because they are scared. Gain experience with Baker Mayfield. But a 7-9, 8-8 record against Kyle Trask for the division title would make a comeback even more likely. am i wrong?
answer: Not that you’re necessarily wrong, but whether the Bucks can go 7-9 or 8-8 with an as yet unproven but improved Kyle Trask down center. Still do not know. Trask has made good progress this summer, but there are some plays that show he still has some things to learn. He never expected a blindside sack against the Jets, and he missed several overthrow passes to wide-open receivers, including a touchdown, against the Ravens.
I don’t think Todd Bowles had any fear in naming Kyle Trask as the starter this year. I think Bowles was wise to start with Baker Mayfield’s most experienced player.Trask has nine pass attempts in a regular season game, compared to Mayfield has 2,259 career attempts. That’s a big difference. You can’t blame Bowles for wanting a more experienced option, especially given Mayfield’s sensational preseason with limited opportunities.
Question: Why is our pass defense suspected of huge chunk plays? A lot of money seems to be going into starting corners struggling with zone coverage.
Bucks head coach Todd Bowles and OLB’s Yaya Diaby – Photo credit: Cliff Welch/PR
answer: I think you’re referring to the Ravens’ first scoring act on Saturday night. Baltimore reserve quarterback Josh Johnson went 4-of-4 against the Tampa Bay starting defense for 80 yards and one touchdown. Admittedly, the first-team defense’s performance on the first drive wasn’t great. However, the defense forced a third-and-long and left the field with a three-and-out in the next series.
I’m less concerned about what I see from the Bucks’ defense against the Ravens. It’s preseason now, and Todd Bowles called up the vanilla defense on Saturday night. He saved most of the good stuff for the Vikings and Week 1 of the regular season. And remember, this was the first game of this preseason for cornerbacks Carlton Davis III and Jamel Dean and safety Ryan Neal. There was some rust that had to be scraped off.
The Bucks will continue to play some zone coverage, as Bowles will mainly deploy cover 3 and cover 1 in large numbers. Of course, they will also include interviews with men. Bowles needs more coverage from Davis and Dean this season. Both cornerbacks are tall, long, powerful and have skills as pressmen.
Question: After the layoffs, are there any position groups the Bucks plan to further consider the just-waived players?
Bucks head coach Todd Bowles and OL Nick Leverett – photo credit: Cliff Welch/PR
answer: The final roster cuts will be known by 4 p.m. Tuesday, when the Bucks officially cut their roster to 53. Then you’ll know which positions really need reinforcements.The Bucks could be seen trying to find another capable center to compete with Nick Leverett for the Bucks backup role. Robert Heinsey.
I think Leverett is better at guard than center, and Hanzy is one play away from forcing Leverett to snap. The Bucks have released John Morshon, who can play guard and center, and will likely try to keep him on the practice team for the past three seasons.
Of course, the Bucks always try to upgrade their roster with waiverwire pickups and acquisitions before the season begins. In 2014, Jason Licht acquired defensive end Jackie Smith from Waiver in September and ended up serving as a starter for two years before suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury in 2016. In 2018, Licht claimed to have stripped edge rusher Karl Nassib from Waiver, resulting in him being suspended as well. He was the starter that year and the team captain in 2019.
And, of course, running back Leonard Fournette was signed before the first week of 2020 and ultimately helped the Bucks win Super Bowl LV. Tampa Bay’s 53-man roster won’t be set for Week 1 until later this week instead of Tuesday.
Question: Why is Keith Armstrong still working? Byron Leftwich was fired for inadequate coaching, but Armstrong is still here.
Bucks ST Coordinator Keith Armstrong and Head Coach Todd Bowles – Photo Credit: Cliff Welch/PR
answer: Since Keith Armstrong took over as special teams coordinator in 2019, I agree that the Bucks’ special teams have been, at best, average or below average in certain areas. But things may turn around for special teams in Tampa Bay this year.
The Bucks may finally have found a brilliant return specialist in Deben Tompkins. He was pulled out of the practice squad late last year and has had good experience. Tompkins is fast, explosive, and hard to find on the field at 5-foot-7, 155 pounds. Rookie Trey Palmer is also a promising returner.
Chase McLaughlin was flawless in all his preseason PATs and field goals. He looks like a capable successor to Ryan Sacop and will probably be upgraded given his range. Jake Kamalda has the potential to become a Pro Bowl-level punter. He needs to be more consistent, especially by keeping punts within his 20 range. Let’s see what happens this season, but I’m actually optimistic about Tampa Bay’s special teams in 2023.
