The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 2-0 , and Baker Mayfield’s play on the ground is a big reason the offense has continued to roll.
In his second season with the Buccaneers, Baker has added another string to his offensive bow that was on show against the Detroit Lions in a 20-16 win at Ford Field.
Not known as a scrambling quarterback, Mayfield took off several times against the Lions due to pressure and picked up crucial yards and a touchdown.
With Aiden Hutchinson wreaking havoc (4.5 sacks), Mayfield was running for his life at times yet was still able to make positive plays. For offensive coordinator Liam Coen, Baker’s ability to escape pressure and run downfield is demoralizing for defenses.
“You don’t want to be in that situation as much as possible, we’d like to be clean,” Coen said of the need for Mayfield to scramble. “We’d like to have many [clean] pockets, but that’s just not the reality of an NFL pocket. What he provides and what he’s doing right now, that’s a little bit demoralizing for a defense. Where you feel like you’re getting home on a pressure and about to get home, then he makes a play, gets out of it, and ends up scrambling to either keep his eyes down the field and make some throws or use his legs as a weapon. As a play caller, that’s nice to have because you don’t necessarily always have to be perfect.”