Baker Mayfield Bounces Back With Sharp Performance

The Bucs continued their coaching camp earlier than the primary preseason sport this weekend with their eleventh apply of the 2024 season. The primary half of apply came about outdoors the place it was scorching and barely cloudy, however with a pleasant breeze. Nevertheless, the climate began to show ominous, sounding off the lightning sirens all through the Bucs’ facility, so Tampa Bay moved to the indoor facility for the latter half of apply.

The Bucs wore shoulder pads and shorts throughout apply, although it nonetheless felt as if the bodily was at a excessive stage. Factor acquired chippy at the start of apply earlier than cooler heads prevailed as soon as they felt the cooler air hit inside.

Pewter Report’s Matt Matera, Adam Slivon and Isaiah Delgado have been in attendance this morning. Right here have been their observations.

Bucs Who Had been Not Practising

Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby – Picture by: Cliff Welch P/R

It was basically established order as soon as once more for Bucs gamers that didn’t take part on Wednesday. Robust security Jordan Whitehead, inside linebacker SirVocea Dennis, outdoors linebacker Shaun Peterson Jr, huge receivers Sterling Shepard and Kameron Johnson and operating again Chase Edmonds have been all out once more.

Exterior linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka caught to the identical routine he’s had during the last two days of carrying his helmet and pads and doing particular person drills however not taking part in 11-on-11 intervals. Given how lengthy all of those gamers have been out it could be very shocking if any of those gamers have been out there for Saturday’s preseason sport.

Fellow outdoors linebacker Yaya Diaby, who gained’t be prepared till after the preseason attributable to a excessive ankle sprain, was as soon as once more along with his teammates watching them apply not carrying a boot or any kind of ankle brace, which is an effective signal.

Baker Mayfield Baked – Inside And Out

After a sluggish efficiency on Tuesday with a number of turnovers, Baker Mayfield was on level throughout Wednesday’s apply session. He didn’t flip over the soccer nor did he even put the ball in harms means. It didn’t matter whether or not the Bucs have been inside or outdoors right now, Mayfield was scorching and in a groove, discovering nice manufacturing with a number of totally different receivers.

In fact it wouldn’t be a 2024 Bucs’ coaching camp apply if Mayfield didn’t join with Mike Evans for the primary the massive play. Because the Bucs started 11-on-11s within the crimson zone, Mayfield hit Evans proper on the nostril for a 25-yard  landing down the suitable facet of the tip zone. The ball was thrown with unbelievable contact because it simply sailed sufficient over the top of cornerback Zyon McCollum however earlier than the security might recover from to cease it.

On the very subsequent play Mayfield focused Chris Godwin for one more correct ball on the left facet of the tip zone that was caught for one more rating. Simply a few performs later, it was Cade Otton’s flip to attain a landing, as Mayfield discovered him over the center, persevering with a string of days the place tight ends have dominated within the crimson zone. Proper earlier than the Bucs went inside, he had one other 15-yard reference to Evans towards the defensive starters.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

The one adverse from Mayfield that got here from outdoors was that he hit his thumb on a teammate’s helmet after throwing a cross. Whereas he shook the thumb briefly, he continued to apply and didn’t decelerate.

Practiced moved indoors and Mayfield was nonetheless within the zone. He instantly discovered Evans for a primary down. Through the subsequent session of 11-on-11s, Mayfield related with Otton on three completions in a span of 4 performs. It’s change into obvious how comfy Mayfield feels along with his prime targets.

Then it was time for Trey Palmer to get in on the enjoyable, as he and Mayfield teamed up for the spotlight of the day – a deep ball down the sector during which Palmer caught the ball in stride after which ran one other 45 yards down the sector for a landing. Palmer, who is understood for his velocity, left all people by the wayside as he sprinted into the tip zone with out anybody close to him. Palmer completely launched the ball up prime by the scoreboard inside in celebration. Palmer and Mayfield related for one more 15-yard achieve in a while.

Mayfield’s final exclamation level to Wednesday’s apply got here in aim line on the finish of apply discovering Evans but once more for one more landing. Their timing seems leaps and bounds higher than even it was in the course of the common season. Needless to say Evans was tied for the league lead in touchdowns final yr. They are often even higher in yr two collectively.

Kyle Trask Finds A New Favourite Goal

Bucs QBs Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask and OC Liam Coen – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

Initially of coaching camp Kyle Trask and Sterling Shepard grew to become a dynamic duo, connecting on a number of splash performs and touchdowns. Shepard has been out the previous couple of days, but it surely seems Trask has discovered a brand new tag group accomplice in huge receiver Cody Thompson.

Trask hasn’t all the time been recognized for pushing the ball down the sector or making an attempt to make the massive play. Nevertheless, one thing acquired into him Wednesday. When Tampa Bay was outdoors, Trask stood within the face of strain and fired off a deep ball that was caught for an enormous achieve by Thompson. There’s an argument to be made that edge rusher Jose Ramirez might need gotten to Trask for a sack, however even seeing Trask’s willingness to take a shot down the sector was welcomed.

In fairly an analogous play the place oddly sufficient Ramirez was closing in once more, Trask discovered Thompson on a crosser the place he ended up on the suitable facet for a achieve of over 35 yards on the throw-and-catch. Trask wasn’t good on the day as he ended up throwing two interceptions, which we’ll get to in a second. However the truth that he has discovered chemistry with Thompson in the way in which he had with Shepard builds extra intrigue as to how they’ll do collectively within the first preseason sport, which is Saturday in Cincinnati.

Extra Bucs DBs Get Their First INTs

Bucs S Kaevon Merriweather – Picture by: Cliff Welch P/R

We at Pewter Report have paid shut consideration to all of the interceptions and turnovers which were brought on by the protection up to now in coaching camp. On Wednesday, we are able to add three extra gamers to the listing of Bucs’ with picks this camp as every of them recorded their first of the summer time.

All of those interceptions occurred contained in the indoor apply facility and the primary got here by the hands of security Kaevon Merriweather on a throw from Kyle Trask. Merriweather was in zone protection in the midst of the sector as Trask overthrew the receiver and Merriweather pounced on it. He’s had a pleasant camp up to now since getting back from damage.

Two performs later, rookie undrafted free agent cornerback Tyrek Funderburk acquired his first of coaching camp off of third-string QB John Wolford. Funderburk confirmed an exciting show of athleticism leaping up into the air close to the suitable sideline as Wolford tried to throw it over his head and get it to the receiver. It felt like Funderburk was within the air for a number of minutes, and it’s straightforward to see why Todd Bowles is a fan of his.

In direction of the tip of apply throughout a aim line drill, second-year defensive again Josh Hayes picked off Trask ultimately zone. It was a poor resolution by Trask and unknown he was searching for, however Hayes dropped an interception the opposite day so it was good to see him maintain onto it.

Observations And Highlights From Day 11 Of Bucs Camp

Bucs C Graham Barton and DT Vita Vea – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

• Rookie defensive again Tykee Smith had a sack on Baker Mayfield blitzing off the sting. Clearly the ankle damage isn’t bothering him an excessive amount of and it was good to see him proceed to indicate off one other side of his sport for a way he’ll assist the Bucs this season.

• Exterior linebacker Jose Ramirez had a gradual begin to camp however he’s actually come on the final couple of days. He retains inflicting strain proper across the quarterback that may stop some performs from taking place within the pocket if there was dwell tackling. Ramirez continues to be behind Markees Watts when it comes to probability to make the group, however he’s making progress.

• Middle Graham Barton acquired work with the starters and Baker Mayfield right now. He snaps have been clear, which was good to see after some latest struggles.

• Barton additionally needed to match up towards Vita Vea in one-on-one cross blocking drills. Vea hit him with a swim transfer that he wasn’t prepared for, however held on his personal throughout a later rep. That’s going to occur towards Vea however there’s not many higher to go up towards in apply all through the league.

• Different notable lineman matchups in one-on-ones together with left sort out Tristan Wirfs shutting down rookie outdoors linebacker Chris Braswell, however Braswell rebounded towards reserve sort out Brandon Walton. Additionally defensive sort out Calijah Kancey and left guard Ben Bredeson had an excellent back-and-forth battle.

The Bucs can have yet one more apply on Thursday earlier than having Friday off to journey to Cincinnati to play towards the Bengals this Saturday.