Baker Mayfield Staying True to Himself | Press Conference | Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Baker Mayfield Staying True to Himself | Press Conference | Tampa Bay Buccaneers

How much fun you having right now? It’s a good amount. Wins help that. Um yeah, but it just that was we talked about starting fast prior to the Eagles game. We did not. We overemphasized it last week and guys did that um early on. Didn’t get the touchdowns like we wanted. Didn’t end in seven. Uh ended but ended with three. But guys, mentally guys were locked in and that was that was really the point of emphasis. So yeah, for me always had a lot more fun when uh we do what we talk about. How much fun was it for you after jawing pregame in the tunnel with that Seahawks fan and being able to have the last word? Pretty fun. Baker, is there is there something where you kind of realized maybe your younger years? Um I don’t know if you were as accepted uh for for doing some of that stuff and now it does seem it seemed like it’s a little bit more embraced. You know, people people gravitate to it a little bit more. The narrative changes around that. Do you notice that? Yeah, I mean that’s I told you guys I try and not get too high, not get too low, which is something that I was not doing early on in my career, but you know, early on in my career, um, yeah, it’s looked as cocky, immature. Now it’s Moxy, he’s a dog, so it’s same, different day. Just as long as you play well, they change the narrative. But you just got to be yourself. And I’ve always been like that. I was going to say, have you changed that much? I mean, everybody has a natural growth and and we’re not meant to stay stagnant, but you still seem at the core the same person. Yeah, at the core definitely the same. But, um, yeah, matured in different different ways, not worried about little things that really don’t matter. Now, you put it in the the landscape of a competitive football game and that atmosphere, that’s that’ll never change. Do you need to be pissed off to play better? What are you saying? Uh, no, I don’t. It’s just it’s as a as a competitor, I enjoy it and that’s that’s something that I think our our team as a whole is kind of wound like that. So I I enjoy it. Figure that the deep ball has really come. I know that you guys were emphasizing that. Josh wants to emphasize those shot plays. They’ve really come back this year. What what has been the difference for you guys to be able to hit those so so bravely? Um first and foremost protection. Thought the guys played really really well. Uh and that you got to start there if you’re trying to push the ball down the field. and then guys just being on their landmarks and within the timing of the play. Uh trusting what they’re seeing and doing what they do in practice and translating it to the game. So just overall execution and giving these guys a chance, not trying to overthrow it. I know if you look back to the uh two-minute drive against the Jets, like that’s one of those throws to Tez on the first play of that two-minute drive. Overthrowing them, not giving them a chance, that’s something that just can’t happen. Got to give our guys a chance. They’re too damn good not to not to be able to get those contested catches. Five games in. What is the most impressive thing about Josh Grisard as a play caller for you? Um, I’ve I’ve said this, all play callers, the the really good ones, great ones, whatever you want to say, um, adjust to their personnel. And we’ve had to do that with the rotation on the O line, injuries at receiver skill groups. And so, um, he’s done that. Hasn’t flinched. And that’s that’s a lot, uh, that’s a lot on his plate, but he’s handled it really well. You talked about wanting to be better on third down after the first four. Yep. You guys can put third and 13, third and 14, third and 15. I don’t know if there’s any commonality there, but just the confidence you guys have to be able to execute in really difficult situations. Yeah, that was uh last week was really the first resemblance of last year’s third down. Um just real true execution on whatever play we have called, guys doing their job and their job only and doing it at a high level. So, u that’s that’s got to be the point point of emphasis now that we’ve seen that we can do it. Um, you know, you don’t want to be in those third and long situations very often, but we we’re able to execute and so guys know that and it just goes back to the details. Baker, can you speak to the uh versatility or the unselfishness of Kotten? I mean, earlier in the season, he’s used more as a blocker. I know you’ve gotten some production on the ground because of his blocks and then Sunday he was, you know, key element of your passing game. Yeah. Um, K just uh trustworthy guy, completely selfless. um really cares about winning. Um and that he’s always been like that. He’ll do a lot of the dirty work. I’ve told you guys it doesn’t get a lot of credit for it, but um he our key our key games uh that you know he’s been a huge difference maker. Whatever role or capacity he has and he’s willing to do it. How do you manage to have all this adrenaline when you’re playing the game, even pregame? It’s almost like you could go out there and wrestle a bear. But then in a two-minute situation, Tez is talking to us and he said that you’re just so calm and poised and you’re just relaxed and you’re asking everybody like, “You guys ready?” Like, how does how does that work for you? Um, you have to be able to compartmentalize. Um, you got to be able to focus on the main thing and in a two-minute drive that’s how do we execute the little things. I’ve told you guys it’s the faster you play, defensive calls go a little bit more simplified and so you really have to do the little things right. So, just taking your mind back to the basics and fundamentals of what scheme we have called, whatever play it is, and uh going from there. I mean, is there a different headsp space that you kind of put yourself in specifically when you’re in those end of game situations, the two-minute situations? I mean, does everything kind does everything go quiet for you? Do you black out? Probably a little bit of both. Um, no. It it’s we rep it so much and then it’s a huge part of our game plan talking about what do they do before the half and in a game. I mean, that’s that’s pretty standard around the league, but um guys know and they’ve seen that those meetings are really really important for us and so we have to be able to execute in those moments and be on the same page. Out of body, not really. You guys are playing a tough proper solid defense and there’s always players you got to watch out for, but Fred Warner at linebacker is kind of a different animal. Yeah, he is. What’s it like playing against a guy like that who’s probably a future Hall of Famer and maybe how is playing Levonte David in practice who’s also an elite linebacker kind of help with that? Yeah. um when you play linebackers of that caliber um their recognition on plays it’s so quick and so you have to be able to man manipulate them with your eyes when you look at the the Rams Niners game there’s there’s a chess match with Stafford and Warner uh trying to him trying to move him out of the spots but it’s you got to know where he’s at at all times he can do everything runs the ball kind of sets the tone for the defense and he’s doing that he’s been doing that for years and so yeah we we got to know where 54 is and uh not let him ruin in the game for us. A lot of people talk about your your physical attributes, your scrambling ability, your ability to stiff arm players, chuck the ball 60 yards down the field, but do you get enough credit for your football IQ for playing that chess match? Is that something is that part of of the game? the pre- snap reads and and the checks and the cans that you really enjoy as a Yeah, that’s something that I um you know, the longer you play QB, the the more you have to refine that and be able to process information quicker. But not worried about credit. It’s more so how how quickly can I recognize things and get guys on the same page. That’s that’s the importance there. focused on the next game, Baker, the next week, but do you ever allow yourself after a 4 in1 start to think about the opportunities that that might be ahead for this franchise this season? That’s rat poison, Ira. That’s rat poison right there. No, focus on the next opponent. Is it the same thing for you individually? Because now you’re every day it’s like MVP, what Baker’s doing with the offense, driving down. I mean, do you try to not follow that that much or Yeah, I mean, that goes back to earlier talking about not getting too high, not getting too low. And uh, you know, that’s whatever is being said is a testament to the offense and the group that we have. So, it’s it’s always individual accolades and recognition. You you never have it on your own. It’s this is the greatest team sport for a reason. So, um, always trying to remind myself that and realize that can’t do without the guys next to me. You didn’t miss many throws the last game, but you were seven of seven throwing to a Mecca. What has made the efficiency so so good with him in particular? He’s just pretty damn good. That’s about it. What’s it like having TZ sort of evolve into, you know, more of a role as these weeks go on in the offense? Um, yeah, a guy that’s dynamic for us, can stretch the field vertically, his speed, obviously you guys saw, uh, the agility, uh, that was showcased, but just a guy that, you know, the more he plays, the better he’s going to get when it comes to recognition on coverage, adjustments on routes, and, um, so yeah, it’s great to have him come along, especially because we truly need him. Sterling Shepard, what can you say about him and how clutch he was in that moment? Very clutch. Um, still mad at him. He wasn’t wasn’t nearly as excited for a touchdown as anybody expected. So wasn’t himself and he needs to get called out for that.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Quarterback Baker Mayfield spoke to the media after Wednesday’s Week 6 practice. QB Mayfield discussed OC Josh Grizzard’s game planning, sustaining third-down success and attacking the 49ers’ defense.

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