Baker Mayfield was not a cheerful quarterback following Sunday’s 20-6 loss to the Lions, which dropped the Bucs to 3-2 on the season.
And why ought to he be?
Mayfield had a primary quarter move to a wide-open Mike Evans that would’ve been an enormous play tipped on the line and switch into an interception. He additionally had two overthrows to an open Trey Palmer down the sphere. All three might have been touchdowns.
As a substitute the Bucs had been shut out of the top zone, and the crew’s working sport was typically stymied on the line of scrimmage, because the No. 1-ranked dashing protection held Tampa Bay to just 46 yards on the ground. After the sport, a visibly upset Mayfield stated the offense wanted to get “pissed off.”
“At a sure level, we’ve bought to get pissed off as an offense,” Mayfield stated. “We needs to be placing numerous factors up on the board. It’s bought to be – we speak about the usual about successful round right here, however offensively we have to have a look at it in a smaller image. We needs to be placing up numerous extra factors than now we have been, and so we should be accountable with that – it begins with me and we’ll get that going.”
The Bucs’ floor sport at present ranks 29th in the league, averaging just 78.8 yards per game. That’s barely higher than a yr in the past when Tampa Bay averaged 75.6 yards per sport working the ball, which ranked useless final within the NFL.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Picture by: Scott Reynolds/PR
After Wednesday’s follow, Mayfield reiterated that remark, however clarified it, suggesting he’s not offended – simply decided. And he’s sensing the identical degree of dedication from his teammates.
“Simply basically executing,” Mayfield stated. “You already know after watching the movie it’s by no means … the nice video games, unhealthy video games – the movie is rarely nearly as good as you assume it’s, and it’s by no means as unhealthy, both. With a number of of these issues it’s numerous fundamentals. Like I discussed, it’s get pissed off – nevertheless it’s take pleasure in your work about executing and doing all your job every play.
“At present we had a superb follow. There wasn’t any rah-rah speech. The fellows know what we have to get finished. That’s why it is a veteran group. All people understands what we have to do to get it mounted. Like I discussed after the sport, I’ll get my stuff mounted and everyone else is doing the identical factor. I’m not nervous about it.”
All Of Bucs’ Objectives Are Nonetheless In Entrance Of Them – Regardless of The Loss
Whereas a win final Sunday in opposition to an NFC crew like Detroit would have been welcomed, a win this Sunday in opposition to an NFC South rival like Atlanta is a should. The Bucs at present have a half-game lead within the division over the 3-3 Falcons, and a victory would give Tampa Bay a 2-0 report within the division and continued sole possession of first place.
“We’re nonetheless hungry and all of our targets are in entrance of us,” Mayfield stated. “Large picture-wise it’s a must to win your division first to get the place you need to go. We’re nonetheless answerable for our future. We’ve bought an enormous one [coming up on Sunday versus the Falcons] for us. We’re not hitting the panic button. We all know we are able to play higher. That’s the nice factor. It’s not like we’re trying round, ‘Oh no, what’s the deal? How can we repair this?’ We all know what we have to repair and now we have the group to have the ability to do this.”
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Picture by: USA At present
Bucs head coach Todd Bowles reacted to Mayfield’s “pissed off” comment, and welcomed it. He indicated that he thinks his crew performs with the required quantity of depth and pleasure every week – maybe slightly extra coming off a loss.
“In sure situations we needs to be pissed off each week,” Bowles stated. “I feel we’re pissed off. I simply assume now we have to play good and extra disciplined soccer so far as understanding what now we have to do. And everyone has to exit and do their job. We’ve to teach it higher and play it higher, that features and entails being pissed off.”
Bowles stated that his crew got here out of Sunday’s loss to the Lions comparatively unscathed from an damage standpoint, and that included Mayfield, who banged his left hand in opposition to a helmet through the sport.
Mayfield was requested about his bruised non-throwing hand on Wednesday and he replied by saying it was, “golden.”
