Fueled for 2026.
In 2022, the Rams’ offensive braintrust of Sean McVay, Zac Robinson and Liam Coen saved Baker Mayfield’s career.
Mayfield found him on the NFL’s scrapheap after Cleveland gave up on him and clown Matt Rhule didn’t know what to do with him in Carolina.
Mayfield’s misfortune prior to playing in five games in Los Angeles, starting four, was the Bucs’ fortune. The Bucs got a franchise quarterback at a yard sale price.
And by luck and circumstance, Mayfield with the Bucs was reunited first with Coen and now with Robinson.
And from what Robinson remembers, Mayfield is even more locked in and determined than he was when he came to Los Angeles. Robinson suspects the way last season transpired, Mayfield is stoked to get back on the field and prove his doubters wrong.
Again.
And, Robinson said, that mentality has spread to the rest of the offense.
“You can tell this group has an edge, you know, which you want to keep that edge,” Robinson said. “Things didn’t go down the way that you had hoped last season, obviously. But that’s why we’re all here.
“So I think that Baker naturally already has that edge to him, and you can feel it even more. He’s been so intentional with his footwork and all the fundamentals and the details that [Bucs quarterbacks coach Chandler] Whitmer and our coaches are preaching to him that he’s off to a great start.”
Even while practicing the small things in May, Robinson can see Mayfield is zeroed in on Sept. 13 in Cincinnati.
“Obviously, we’ve got a long way to go with some things, just learning some new things,” Robinson said. “There’s a lot of carryover, there’s also a lot of new, and he’s diving into that.
“But you definitely feel the edge and just the overall urgency from the group, which is what you’re looking for at this time of year.”
Joe hopes the Bucs offense was embarrassed enough about last year to come out firing to start the season — and continue through all 17 games without its annual midseason slump.
Joe would hope these guys are peeved they let a 6-2 start get flushed down the toilet by missing the playoffs.
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