In the course of the Bucs mini-camp earlier this month, former NFL government Rick Spielman was invited to the AdventHealth Coaching Middle to look at the workforce. Having spent over 30 years evaluating gamers as each a scout and basic supervisor, Spielman is aware of a factor or two about recognizing gamers and realizing what he’s watching.

After watching the Bucs, he had loads of takeaways on potential breakout gamers and key variables in Tampa Bay, in addition to their probabilities of competing within the NFC South this season.

Former GM Rick Spielman Noticed Baker Mayfield “In Command” Of Bucs

There is no such thing as a greater variable this season that has as many eyes on it as who’s the beginning quarterback – and the way they carry out. Whereas offensive coordinator Dave Canales has maintained it is going to be an open competitors, CBS Sports activities’ Rick Spielman doesn’t see it that approach. Seeing Baker Mayfield there, Spielman requested him one easy query.

“We requested him – ‘Why Tampa?’” Spielman stated. “He thought that it was not solely the very best alternative for him now however for the longer term. He’s in search of a spot the place he can hopefully play effectively and end out his profession and play to the extent of expectations that had been positioned on him when he was the primary total decide.”

After almost realizing his potential in Cleveland, Mayfield has – in latest seasons – confronted trials and tribulations making an attempt to regain his earlier type. If he does, this has the possibility to grow to be a protracted and fruitful pairing.

With how he carried himself in observe with Spielman in attendance, he sees Mayfield commanding the offense heading into Week 1.

Bucs OC Dave Canales and QB Baker Mayfield – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR

“There’s no query about – he’s very assured, not conceited, however he additionally understands that – you may see it, the best way he expresses it’s that he’s actually out to show to folks that he’s the Baker Mayfield that was the primary total decide just a few years again,” Spielman stated. “Whenever you watch him on the sector and watch the brand new offense that Tampa Bay is operating, although you might be simply watching them throw the ball, however they had been operating 11 on 11, it was mini camp. They had been having just about a standard sort of observe whereas we had been down there. He has a very good really feel for the offense.”

Having the texture for the offense is one factor. Having the ability to lead the opposite ten guys within the huddle is one other. That could be a energy of Mayfield’s, and he’s already influencing the offense whereas constructing belief and rapport with the remainder of his teammates.

“There’s no query that he’s in command down there,” Spielman stated. “You’ll be able to inform about his management by the best way he walked across the subject, the aura about him, and the gamers believing in him. The one factor that I observed was when he was throwing to the receivers, Mike Evans was form of at all times in his line when he was throwing. Mike caught a pair from the opposite [quarterbacks] as effectively, however you may inform that although they are saying it’s an open competitors, the sensation that I bought once I was sitting there watching is that there’s no query Baker would be the beginning quarterback barring any damage.”

Can Baker Mayfield Be Geno Smith 2.0 for Bucs?

No matter Dave Canales not naming a quarterback till August, all early indications have Baker Mayfield forward of Kyle Trask on the depth chart, and for an excellent cause. Sure, there was Mayfield’s 2021 season, the place he performed by a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder. Whereas he needs to be credited for toughing out an damage most would have sat by – particularly with a giant contract on the horizon – it finally harm his standing with the workforce and led to him being shipped to Carolina.

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

With the Panthers, he misplaced his beginning spot after struggling a high-ankle sprain and coming back from it solely to backup P.J. Walker. After his time battling accidents, he closed the season on a excessive word with the Rams and now seems to be 100%.

“He threw the ball very effectively, regarded fully wholesome,” Rick Spielman stated. “Now it’s totally different as soon as you bought actual soccer going round and making selections and issues like that. However I used to be very impressed with the command he had of that offense and simply the aura that he had strolling across the constructing and in that management. I believe that that’s that he’s positively going to be the man in Tampa after seeing that stay.”

Not solely does Spielman assume Baker Mayfield would be the starter for who he’s as a participant and chief, however it’s also due to what Kyle Trask just isn’t. That’s an skilled beginning quarterback who has dealt with an offense. It labored out fairly effectively for Pete Carroll, Shane Waldron, and Canales when handing over the keys to Geno Smith in Seattle final yr.

“I wasn’t an enormous Kyle Trask fan when he got here out,” Spielman added. “He’s a tall pocket passer. He has a robust arm, however if you get a possibility to see these guys stay and the way they function within the huddle and the way they’re working on this new offense and Dave Canales – the brand new offensive coordinator that got here from Seattle who was the quarterback coach there for a very long time – is getting his first alternative to name performs on the sideline. What he did with Geno Smith final yr resurrected Geno Smith’s profession. The imaginative and prescient is – a number of it’s, can they replicate that in Tampa with Baker Mayfield?”

In his eyes, Trask just isn’t prepared for the duty of igniting what was a boring offense. After many individuals counted out the Seahawks after parting with Russell Wilson, Smith flourished underneath what shall be the same system in Tampa Bay.

The Bucs could have loads of areas to iron out throughout the offense. For all the wrinkles added by a scarcity of continuity and success on that facet of the ball, new additions and philosophical modifications may assist make for a clean type of soccer.

“The difficulty is that they’ve to have the ability to run the ball,” Spielman stated. “Final yr they had been one of many worst within the league at operating the soccer. However you additionally had Tom Brady, who threw the ball 40 instances a sport at 45 years previous, which made no sense to me. Therefore the change in offensive coordinator and quarterback. If their offense can begin clicking, and if you watch the offense, there’s a number of play motion, a number of issues that Seattle did.

“One of many issues that made Seattle’s offense go rather a lot was that they’d some fairly good operating backs that might run the ball. They constructed that, and what Russell Wilson and even Geno Smith had final yr was establishing the run sport to take the pictures and make large performs down the sector. I believe that’s important for them as they go ahead, but when they will get that going and form of replicate one thing the place nobody actually gave Seattle a lot of an opportunity final yr.”

Rick Spielman: Bucs Will “Shock Some Individuals”

Former Vikings GM Rick Spielman – Photograph by: USA At the moment

One has to look the seas far and extensive to search out anybody giving Tampa Bay an opportunity this yr. Look no additional than Rick Spielman’s prediction for the Bucs’ over-and-under win whole, at present listed at 6.5 wins.

“Oh I’m going to positively go over 6.5 [wins]. I believe they’re going to be battling New Orleans to win the NFC South,” Spielman stated.

Wait what?! There’s somebody exterior of Tampa Bay who sees them having success? That’s fairly a shock. However maybe this workforce is destined to shock, very similar to how the Seahawks had been on their strategy to a 9-8 season in 2022.

“Now I do know Baker Mayfield’s gotta show it, however I believe Tampa’s protection is fairly good,” Spielman stated. “And if they will set up the run sport and do offensively what they had been capable of do in Seattle – if Canales can replicate that – they’re going to shock some folks. I used to be shocked once I went down there and watched; I’ll simply say that.”