Sometimes, all you need is the right home.
Baker Mayfield has been with four teams over the last three seasons — the Cleveland Browns, the Carolina Panthers, the Los Angeles Rams, and now the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who signed the 2018 first-overall pick to a one-year, $4 million contract this offseason.
Through two games — both wins — Mayfield has been dialing it up in first-year offensive coordinator Dave Canales’ system in ways we haven’t often seen from him in the past. Mayfield has completed 47 of 68 passes for 501 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 105.1 — fifth-best among quarterbacks taking at least 50% of their teams’ snaps this season.
Mayfield has been specifically great in 11 personnel (one tight end, one running back, three receivers), which has been his ideal personnel group in past seasons.
In 2023, Mayfield has completed 31 of 44 passes out of 11 personnel for 324 yards, and all three of his touchdowns. Route concepts out of that group seem to give Mayfield a more comfortable picture.
Baker Mayfield looks like he's been in Dave Canales' offense for about five years. Godwin appears to be his third read here.
I've always felt that Mayfield is most comfortable in 11 personnel. This play (and all three of his touchdown passes this season) have come out of 11. pic.twitter.com/FcmKpmFebc
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) September 20, 2023
But two of Mayfield’s explosive throws have also come out of 12 personnel, with two tight ends, a running back, and two receivers. That included this 70-yard catch by Mike Evans in which tight end Ko Kieft was in the backfield, and tight end Cade Otton was aligned to the right side of the formation. At the snap, both Kieft and Otton blocked for Mayfield’s front side, and that game Mayfield the time he needed to hit Mike Evans on the backside deep comeback. From there, it was Evans outracing everybody, and once again, this was not Mayfield’s first read. Safety Elijah Hicks came after Mayfield on a long blitz, turning the coverage from a two-high look to Cover-3, and Mayfield was all over it.
In this week’s “Xs and Os with Greg Cosell and Doug Farrar,” the guys discussed why Mayfield is thriving in Canales’ offense. As we saw on that second play, protection has been a major factor.
“They’re very protection-based, which is smart with Mayfield,” Greg said. “Because Mayfield is the kind of quarterback where, the longer he’s in the pocket, the less comfortable he gets. His feet start to get jumpy, he loses his base, his mind works too fast, and he loses clarity of what he’s seeing.
“So, what do you have to do with Mayfield? You have to put him in a situation where he’s in rhythm. Where he can hit the back foot, and the ball can come out. Protection becomes critical, and they are doing protection first in terms of bodies, and in terms of alignment.
“The other thing that has really stood out is the use of Chris Godwin. Godwin a year ago led the NFL in [regular-season] targets [94] and receptions [67] from the slot. This year, he’s actually lined up more often outside than from the slot.”
Greg then further detailed that 24-yard pass to Godwin shown above.
“It was Dagger — everybody runs Dagger — and it was a classic case of what I’m talking about. Otton started in the backfield, he was able to release through the line because it just turned out to be a four-man rush, and so Mayfield was comfortable. He was able to throw with great timing.”
The Bucs face off against the Philadelphia Eagles and their dominant defensive front on Monday night, which will surely test Canales’ protection concepts and Mayfield’s internal clock. But so far through two games, Mayfield has completed 21 of 27 passes under pressure for 230 yards, one touchdown, and a passer rating of 123.1.
Game on, as they say.
You can watch this week’s “Xs and Os” right here:
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