His speech Youth Soccer Camp At a camp held in Land O’Lakes, Florida on Saturday, Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield reflected on the importance and impact of hosting the camp for the kids who attended. As the camp took place just before Buccaneers training camp kicks off on Wednesday, July 24, Mayfield also spoke about the upcoming season and Tampa Bay’s chances of remaining atop the NFC South in 2024.
Baker Mayfield wants Buccaneers to start faster and put in more effort
Buccaneers OC Liam Cohen and QB Baker Mayfield – Photo: Cliff Welch/PR
The Buccaneers, looking to make the playoffs for a fifth straight year, will do so after an up-and-down 9-8 season in 2023. They were coming off a relatively strong season that saw them reach the postseason and make it to the divisional round, but they overcame some lows and ups to get there, finishing with a 4-7 record as of late November.
Entering his second year under center, Baker Mayfield acknowledged that 2024 is a fresh start, but spoke about what the team can carry over and build upon.
“Every season is different for us,” Mayfield said. “We had momentum last year, but it was just – That doesn’t carry over. I think it’s the mentality and the way you approach it that’s important, and whether you can actually carry that over and continue the chemistry.
“So we’re going to go in with a full effort from the get-go and with the same mentality of, ‘Hey guys, we’ve got to get off to a faster, better start,’ so we don’t get into a predicament like we did last year where we had to win on the road to get into the playoffs and win the division. We’re going to go in with the mentality of starting faster.”
Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Despite the new faces and the new team, the Bucks still have the talent to win the NFC South again. As Mayfield said, starting games early and scoring more points will definitely help. The work they’ve put in over the offseason and will continue to do so leading up to kickoff will also help. Regular Season They will face the Washington Commanders on September 8th.
Tampa Bay wants to continue their good run, but their rival is the up-and-coming Falcons. Many expected them to do poorly last season, but the train didn’t stop even after Tom Brady retired in 2022. Baker Mayfield has taken over the reins and is looking to continue their good run this season.
“Yeah, I joined a train that was already in motion, and I’m just going to keep it going,” Mayfield added. “But it’s the same for me. One year doesn’t lead to the next, but we have all the pieces. We have what it takes to get it done, there’s no doubt about it. Now it’s just a matter of working hard and being successful.”
Baker Mayfield thinks ‘everything will be fine’ with Tristan Wirfs
Buccaneers LT Tristan Wirfs, TE Ko Kieft and SS Kayvon Meriweather – Photo: Cliff Welch/PR
One of the biggest storylines heading into training camp All eyes will be on Baker Mayfield as he enters his second year with the Buccaneers, but also when his good friend, star left tackle Tristan Wirfs, re-signs with a new deal. Negotiations are expected to resume next week as the team and player try to wrap up contract talks and get things wrapped up, but Mayfield is optimistic he’ll have the best offensive lineman in front of him soon.
“I think it’s OK,” Mayfield said of Wirfs’ contract situation. “I know the guys in the front office. They liked the guy they drafted and the homegrown talent they evaluated. And they found a good player, so I don’t think they’re going to let Wirfs go.”
The Buccaneers found a good player in Wirfs, but they also may have found a better player in center Graham Burton, a first-round pick by Tampa Bay, but it will be all about how he plays with the pads on this week and how he plays against tough opposition in nose tackle Vita Vea and defensive tackle Kalijah Kansey.
Wirfs and Barton will make up two-fifths of the Buccaneers’ revamped offensive line, and Mayfield is optimistic the remaining three-fifths will also be improved from last season.
“The best five are going to play,” Mayfield said of the offensive line. “Graham is a star. Without him, he wouldn’t have gone so high in the draft. The best five are going to play, and we had some guys that rotated in last year. I don’t think anybody expected Luke Goedeke to play like that at right tackle, but now we have two anchors at the outside tackle position. We just have to solidify that and go from there, but it’s going to get better.”
