2-Point Conversion: Bucs Offense Is Ready To Bake

It’s time for Scott Reynolds’ post-game 2-Point Conversion column, which features two big statements, two probing questions and two bold predictions. Almost all the team’s starters took the field against the Ravens and helped the Bucs open up a 14-7 lead in the first quarter en route to a 26-20 victory.

Baker Mayfield was perfect at quarterback, and both he and Kyle Trask threw touchdown passes as the Tampa Bay offense rolled up nearly 400 yards against Baltimore.

2 BIG STATEMENTS

STATEMENT 1. Bucs Offense Is Ready To Bake

We didn’t get to see Mike Evans catch a pass from starting quarterback Baker Mayfield as the Bucs rested their star receiver. But we did get to see Mayfield connect with Chris Godwin early and often to the tune of four receptions and an 11-yard touchdown to tie the score at 7-7 midway through the first quarter of Tampa Bay’s 26-20 victory over Baltimore.

Mayfield only played two series against the Ravens and finished the game completing 6-of-6 passes for 43 yards and a touchdown. In two limited preseason appearances, Mayfield has completed 14-of-15 passes for 107 yards and two TDs with no interceptions.

In the five preseason possessions he’s presided over, the Bucs have scored two touchdowns. That’s quite a ratio.

Should that continue (which it won’t) it would mean out of a typical 12-possession game Mayfield would lead the offense to about five touchdowns per game – or the equivalent of 35 points per game. Of course that’s unrealistic, but the Bucs would be happy with three touchdown drives each week this season after averaging just 18 points per game last year under former offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich.

Mayfield looks ready for the season opener against the Vikings in Minnesota. Bucs head coach Todd Bowles wisely called an end to the QB competition ahead of the preseason finale. That will give Mayfield a full three weeks with the starters to prepare for Week 1.

Mayfield also looks incredibly comfortable in Tampa Bay – not only in Dave Canales’ offense, which plays to his strengths rolling out of the pocket, but also behind a revamped offensive line. The first-team offensive line debuted on Saturday night and looked ready, too. The O-line did not allow a sack, and it blasted holes open for Rachaad White, who averaged 5.6 yards per carry with 39 yards on seven totes.

“I thought he was efficient,” Bucs head coach Todd Bowles said. “I thought they ran plays well together. The symmetry and the chemistry was there, breaking in out and of the huddles, which is what we wanted to see. He was efficient in the passing game [and] went down and got a score.”

When asked if two series with the starters versus Baltimore was enough for Mayfield, Bowles said it was.

“We get more than enough during the season,” Bowles said. “We get more than enough. We’ll be playing their top guys during the year. We wanted to get some chemistry and some game action and we got what we got done.”

Granted it was against some Baltimore backups, but it gave Tampa Bay’s starters some confidence heading into the season that it can run and throw the ball effectively – and put touchdowns on the board with Mayfield at the helm.

“Yeah, it’s always the question in preseason – are you going to play your guys or not?” Mayfield said. “But, we have a had a ton of work in practice, as well. We have had a lot of good work, so I think we are ready. I truly believe that, and we will see Week 1.”

STATEMENT 2. Dave Canales, The Play-Caller, Looks Ready

After the Ravens took an early 7-0 lead, the Bucs bounced back with a six-play, 59-yard scoring drive, capped off by an 11-yard touchdown pass from Baker Mayfield to Chris Godwin. On the very next offensive series, Kyle Trask replaced Mayfield as the starter and drove the Bucs – with help from the starting offensive line – 94 yards in 12 plays. Trask hit backup tight end David Wells with a 6-yard touchdown to quickly give the Bucs a 14-7 lead with one second left in the first quarter.

With every starter in the lineup except for wide receiver Mike Evans, the Bucs offense looked like a well-oiled machine – with either Mayfield or Trask under center on Saturday night. That’s a tribute to new offensive coordinator Dave Canales, who called a heck of game.

“I feel extremely comfortable about where we are at offensively right now, and I think you guys saw the kind of groove that Dave got into play-calling wise, and not just Dave, but everybody understanding the flow of our game [and] what we are trying to get accomplished,” Mayfield said. “I think we could have run 20 play-action keepers, but we wouldn’t have got in any [work] in the [run] game. We did all the little things right today, and on that second drive especially.”

Canales is emphasizing the run game this year, and it came to life to the tune of 158 yards on Saturday. Baltimore ran for 137 yards, and anytime a team out-rushes the Ravens, it’s notable. Granted, a lot of the rushing yardage came with backups in the game, but the Bucs did total 51 yards on the ground in the first quarter alone with Rachaad White leading the way with 39 yards.

It’s one thing to be a position coach, which Canales was with the receivers and the quarterbacks for 13 years in Seattle. It’s another thing to install a playbook and then call plays on game days under the pressure of a game clock and facing constant adjustments by the defense.

There will be some bumps in the road for Canales and the offense this season. There will be some times when he loses the chess match to a better defensive coordinator. There will be some games when the offense sputters and has to settle for too many field goals.

But on Saturday night against the Ravens, there weren’t any moments where one could really question Canales’ play calls. Every call seemed to be logical, even if it wasn’t properly executed by the players on the field. Nothing seemed predictable.

Canales looked more than capable as a play-caller as the Bucs offense racked up 385 yards and 26 points – even with the starters just playing roughly a quarter. Heading into the season opener, Canales should have a good deal of confidence in his ability to call plays – even after just the third time doing it this August.

More importantly, everyone in the Bucs organization should feel comfortable with Canales’ play-calling too after Saturday night.

“Operation-wise, I think was extremely clean,” Mayfield said. “I’m really satisfied with that. Execution-wise [with] the first group… that’s what we talked about all spring, OTAs, and now into training camp is communication – everybody be on the same page. When you throw guys out there for the first live [game], I think you saw what happens. When we’re all on the same page, good things happen. We’ve just got to continue that and understand that’s the most important thing.”

2 PROBING QUESTIONS

QUESTION 1. How Did Tristan Wirfs Fare At Left Tackle?

Tristan Wirfs was absolutely dominant in his preseason debut as a left tackle after being a Pro Bowl and All-Pro-caliber right tackle for the first three years of his Tampa Bay career. Wirfs was a people-mover in the run game, punching two holes open for a pair of 9-yard gains by Rachaad White. Wirfs shoved 305-pound defensive tackle Rayshad Nichols out of the way with ease on the second big run from White.

In pass protection he was supremely stout, shutting out a trio of pass rushers in David Ojabo, Tavius Robinson and Jeremiah Moon. None of them even got close to Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask. When Malik Harrison jumped up and attempted to swat down Trask’s 6-yard touchdown pass to tight end David Wells, Wirfs resembled The Incredible Hulk, swiftly throwing the blitzing linebacker down on the ground in “Hulk Smash!” fashion.

In 21 plays against the Ravens, Wirfs earned an 89.7 grade from Pro Football Focus, including a 91.2 run-blocking grade. He’ll get a far stiffer test in Week 1 going against more capable and experienced edge rushers in Minnesota’s Danielle Hunter and Marcus Davenport. But Wirfs certainly passed his first test at left tackle with flying colors.

QUESTION 2. Which Depth Players Stood Out vs. Ravens?

Defensive tackle Will Gholston and defensive back Dee Delaney stood out on defense, and wide receiver Rakim Jarrett and tight end David Wells showed up well on offense. Gholston had three tackles and a game-high 1.5 sacks. He’s actually played better at times in training camp and the preseason than Logan Hall at defensive tackle, despite slowing down a bit at age 30. But experience can make a big difference, and Gholston took advantage of the inexperience of the Ravens’ backups to have a big night.

Delaney got the start at free safety in place of the injured Antoine Winfield Jr. and was the second-highest graded defender with an 84.1 PFF grade. Delaney had a key pass breakup on third down to force a punt in the first quarter, and could start at free safety in Week 1 if Winfield can’t go.

For the second straight game, Jarrett led the Bucs in receiving, this time with four catches for 48 yards. His seven catches for 126 yards were the most in Tampa Bay during the preseason despite missing the preseason opener against Pittsburgh. Jarrett will make the team as an undrafted free agent.

Wells was impressive against the Ravens, catching just one pass for a 6-yard touchdown. He showed he could effectively block and even performed better in that category than Ko Kieft did on Saturday night. Wells will make the 53-man roster and should see plenty of playing time ahead of Payne Durham, a fifth-round draft pick.

2 BOLD PREDICTIONS

PREDICTION 1. Chase McLaughlin Is Going To Have A Heck Of A Year

Prior to signing Ryan Succop, who helped the Bucs win Super Bowl LV in 2020, finding a competent kicker was a nightmare for general manager Jason Licht. Parting ways with the aging Succop, 36, was tough, but Licht may have found a better, younger upgrade in Chase McLaughlin.

The former Colts kicker beat out Rodrigo Blankenship for the kicking job, and was absolutely perfect during the preseason. On Saturday, McLaughlin was 4-of-4 on field goals from 47 yards, 27 yards, 38 yards and 48 yards, and made both extra points. He made both of his extra point attempts against the Steelers, as well as his lone PAT against the Jets, in addition to a 48-yard field goal. McLaughlin seems destined for a big year in Tampa Bay.

PREDICTION 2. Canales-Mayfield Combo Will Be Better Than Leftwich-Brady

It’s hard to believe that a first-year play-caller and a journeyman quarterback will be more successful in Tampa Bay than a Super Bowl-winning offensive coordinator and the greatest quarterback of all time. But that’s what is going to happen this year.

The combo of Dave Canales and Baker Mayfield will put up more points this season than Byron Leftwich and Tom Brady did last year when the Bucs averaged just 18 points per game.

Just watch.

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