The Bucks will use the 2024 offseason program to work on getting players bigger, stronger and faster in the weight room, as well as improving in specific areas.
While head coach Todd Bowles introduces new wrinkles to the defense and new offensive coordinator Liam Cohen and his new assistants implement a new playbook, each Bucs player continues to hone their skills and work on individual weaknesses. It is necessary to make efforts.
With input from Bucks coaches and front office members, as well as my own analysis and observations, I have come up with one specific area for each player to work on heading into training camp and the 2024 season. I’m only evaluating players who actually saw playing time in Tampa Bay last year, and I’m not considering rookies or newly acquired free agents who played elsewhere.
This is the first article in a seven-part series examining one or two position groups on the Bucks’ roster. First up is Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield, who started all 19 games and played 99% of the snaps in 2023, and the team’s running backs. Next up will be the Bucs’ wide receiver and tight end.
Where each Bucs player can improve: QB and RB.
QB Baker Mayfield – Fewer clunkers.
Bucks QB Baker Mayfield – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Bucs quarterbacks coach Thad Lewis wants Mayfield to work on improving his footwork when throwing the ball this season. Offensive coordinator Liam Cohen has asked Mayfield to try to avoid staring at receivers to reduce the number of hits from defensive linemen at the line of scrimmage. But what Mayfield really needs to work on is reducing the number of flops he had last year.
Not every quarterback can put up great stats every week for an entire season. In some cases, you might have a crappy QB. A bad game in terms of accuracy, lack of interceptions, and touchdowns. In Tampa Bay, and everywhere else in the league, the quarterback is that way, and so is the offense. If Mayfield plays well, the Bucks usually win. Otherwise, the outcome will be either a loss or a struggle to win in close games.
Looking at Mayfield’s game record last year, in my estimation he was flopped in 7 of 17 games, with 4 of those resulting in losses.
Week 3 vs. Eagles – Lost 25-11 – 15 of 25 (60%), 146 yards, TD, INT
Week 6 vs. Lions – 20-6 Loss – 19/37 (51.4%) Gained Yards 206 (51.4%), INT
Week 11 vs. 49ers – 27-14 loss – 29/45 (64.4%), 246 yards, TD, INT, fumble
Week 13 vs. Panthers – 21-18 win – 14 of 29 (48.3%) for 202 yards, TD, INT
Week 14 vs. Falcons – 29-25 win – 14-of-29 (48.3%), 144 yards, 2 TDs
Week 17 vs. Saints – 23-13 loss – 22/33 (66.7%), 309 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Week 18 vs. Panthers – 9-0 win – 20/32 (62.5%), 137 yards
Even though Tampa Bay won at Atlanta and Carolina, Mayfield struggled early in both games. The last-minute drive and last-minute touchdown against the Falcons was shocking, but Mayfield’s off days didn’t cancel out his accuracy. And Mayfield had three missed interceptions in the first half in the final game of the season against the Panthers, which could have definitely changed the outcome of the game and kept the Bucks out of the playoffs if it wasn’t for his luck.
If Mayfield can cut the number of flops in half this year, and maybe have only three or four bad games, Tampa Bay might be able to win a few more games. As a result, the Bucks could go from a 9-8 team to an 11- or 12-win team in 2024. More reps and chemistry with his teammates should only help Mayfield, who is entering his second year in the red and pewter uniform.
RB Rathard White – Attacks faster all around and runs with authority.
Bucs RB Rathard White and QB Baker Mayfield – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Bucs running backs coach Skip Peat and offensive coordinator Liam Cohen both outlined that White needs to run with more urgency on handoffs. Coach Cohen wants White to run “like he was shot out of a cannon.” White was patient and indecisive at times last year, but he improved as the year progressed.
Through the first nine games of the year, White rushed for 429 yards, averaging 3.3 yards per carry, and scored three touchdowns. But in the final eight games of the season, White produced the following results. He ran for 561 yards, averaging 4.0 yards per carry, and scored three scores. He only had five games with more than 75 yards on the ground, including two 100-yard games, but they all came during the regular season, when he became a more decisive and urgent runner. It was recorded in the last eight weeks.
White is the team’s biggest back at 220 pounds, and Pete wants him to run with more violence and authority. I wholeheartedly agree. If White can become a hotter, more urgent runner, he’ll certainly surpass 1,000 yards rushing in 2024 if he can stay healthy.
RB Chase Edmonds – Value limited carries
Bucks RB Chase Edmonds – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Edmonds averaged 3.6 yards per carry in the regular season, but was held to just 2.8 yards per carry in the postseason, gaining 31 yards on 11 totes. Edmonds had six games with less than three yards per carry, including four games from Weeks 7 to 10.
As a change of pace last season, Edmonds was brought in to fill in for Rashard White, often with fresh legs. However, he did not bring much to the table until later that year. Edmonds, who brings a lot of value as the team’s only returning veteran, missed four games with a knee injury in the first half of the season and took time to get back to his shape.
arrival of bucky irving Edmonds, the team’s fourth-round pick, will only get a chance in 2024, and he only had 49 carries and 17 targets in the passing game during the 2023 regular season. Edmonds needs to make the most of his limited opportunities this year. Otherwise, the rookie will take more reps. That means being more nervous to make a big play when your number is called, and that starts in earnest in training camp.
RB Sean Tucker – Making the right decision while making a good first impression
Bucks RB Sean Tucker – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
Bucs running backs coach Skip Pete said it wasn’t necessarily because Tucker’s pass protection was subpar that kept him off the field last year. He didn’t hit the right hole at the right time. Tucker missed the Bucs’ entire offseason last year due to a heart condition, but although he was healed by the end of training camp, it slowed his development and understanding of Dave Canales’ running scheme.
To his credit, Tucker actually earned the running back position in the preseason, but he had a lackluster start to the season in limited playing time. Since Week 3 against the Eagles, Tucker hasn’t had a single carry, totaling 23 yards on 15 carries for a dismal 1.5 yards on the season. Tucker was inactive for eight games last year, including the final six games of the regular season and both playoff games.
A new offensive coordinator and a new offense will give Tucker a clean slate and a chance to start fresh with Liam Cohen. The good news is that Tucker is healthy and able to participate in all OTAs and minicamp this offseason. That way, they won’t be behind when they head into training camp like they were last season. If Tucker can understand this new offense, adjust his timing with the offensive line, and know which holes to hit, he has a chance to climb the depth chart.
The addition of rookie running back Bucky Irving will put pressure on Tucker to make a big leap this offseason or risk losing his spot on the roster.
