Wags finger at Baker Mayfield.
Former Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians has never been a fan of running quarterbacks. There’s just way too much risk for the often small gain, Arians believes.
As he likes to say about running quarterbacks, “Put yourself in harm’s way, harm will find you.” So it’s not surprising to Joe that Arians winces when he sees Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield constantly scramble, trying to make chicken salad out of chicken s(p)it.
Appearing on “Up and Adams” with the NFL’s it-girl Kay Adams, Adams asked Arians why he thinks Mayfield is struggling so terribly (and is now hurt).
“Yeah, not making the plays that were there,” Arians said. “You know, there are times when they’re there and they’re not making them.”
Joe found this more than a little interesting because ESPN NFL analyst Ben Solak said he studied the Browns-Bucs All-22 tape and the Bucs had receivers open on intermediate routes, but Mayfield was dancing around in the pocket too long (happy feet or climbing the pocket) and by the time Mayfield released the ball, it was too late and the defense covered the open Bucs receivers.
Arians said Mayfield being too quick to scramble is both messing up the offense and getting himself beat up.
“The offensive line is one of the best in the league, and he’s got to quit doing this [Adams’ producers showing Mayfield channeling Fran Tarkenton scrambling all over the place].
“You know, just throw the damn ball away, and that’s not his nature. … I haven’t had that conversation with him personally, but we need you on the field.”
Joe likes how Arians still refers to the Bucs as “we.”
Arians confessed that while he doesn’t like Mayfield scrambling so much, the desire to make something out of nothing is what makes Mayfield who he is and why he got a $165 million contract.
“It’s a very fine line because you can’t break who they are,” Arians said of Mayfield, Jaxson Dart and J.J. McCarthy. “We need you on the field. We don’t need Superman.
“All the guys in the locker room know you’re tough. You don’t have to prove to anybody you’re tough. But we need to play smart, not scared.”
Well, Joe knows that none of us will have to worry about Mayfield scrambling and absorbing hits for at least the next three weeks because Mayfield got hurt scrambling Sunday.
Whenever Mayfield returns, it is very likely going to be too late to save the Bucs’ season.
"He's got to quit doing THIS. Just throw the damn ball away!"@BruceArians on BAKER MAYFIELD pic.twitter.com/wdtrYtBRCn