Bucs’ Baker Mayfield targeted on bettering this facet of his sport
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is coming off one of the best season, thus far, of his profession, one which ended when Tampa Bay suffered a wild-card playoff loss to the Washington Commanders.
Whereas talking with reporters on Thursday, Mayfield was requested about what he targeted on making an attempt to enhance through the offseason.
“Turnovers, No. 1,” Mayfield stated, as shared by the Buccaneers’ web site. “…There may be going to be an errant throw that, clearly, I’m not making an attempt to throw it to the protection, however I simply miss it. Bodily errors are going to occur. It’s extra the decision-making. These are those that after we speak about situationally, tips on how to be aggressive, the place are we at within the subject, and what are we taking a look at. These are those that I’m actually making an attempt to fine-tune.”
In response to the Professional Soccer Reference web site, Mayfield ended the 2024 common season ranked third within the league with 4,500 passing yards, tied for second with 41 passing touchdowns and fourth amongst certified gamers with a 106.8 passer score. Nonetheless, he additionally tossed a league-worst 16 interceptions (tied with Kirk Cousins of the Atlanta Falcons). Moreover, the StatMuse web site exhibits no quarterback has dedicated extra regular-season turnovers than Mayfield (31) because the begin of the 2023 marketing campaign.
“That is at all times a piece in progress,” Mayfield continued. “It’s onerous to simulate that except you’re actually going scrimmage-type really feel in follow.”
Maybe the most important problem going through Mayfield this summer season entails shedding offensive coordinator Liam Coen, who’s now head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. It additionally looks as if the Buccaneers might be with out All-Professional left sort out Tristan Wirfs for the beginning of the season after he had surgical procedure on his proper knee earlier this summer season.
Whereas answering a query about Wirfs, Mayfield acknowledged he and different offensive gamers can have “to reduce errors” and “let our protection thrive earlier within the yr so we actually get wholesome.” A part of that course of ought to contain Mayfield taking fewer hits than he absorbed over his first two campaigns with Tampa Bay.
As of Friday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook continued to have Tampa Bay tied for seventh among the many betting favorites at +1300 odds to signify the NFC in Tremendous Bowl LX. Mayfield recognizing when to take a threat and when to easily throw the ball away and play for an additional down might assist the 2025 Bucs do greater than merely make a postseason look this coming winter.
