What Is Todd Bowles Looking For Out Of His QBs?

In an offseason full of storylines and observations, there’s no bigger question for the Bucs than who Todd Bowles will choose as his starting quarterback come Week 1 when the team hits the road to play the Vikings.

We’re all aware that it’s a competition between Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask. Though it feels like it’s Mayfield’s job to lose given his overall experience and knowledge of the offense, Bowles isn’t going to say out loud that the job is his.

Todd Bowles Leaves Everything On The Table

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo courtesy of the Buccaneers

So if it is Mayfield vs. Trask, what are the specifics that Todd Bowles is looking for in his quarterback?  In football, it’s the hardest position to play and there’s more to it than just throwing it well. There’s studying defenses, gelling with your teammates, being a leader and more.

On Monday, Bowles went on The Rich Eisen Show to discuss a couple of topics, including what he wants to see out of the competition to declare a winner for the position.

“Obviously the practice is important,” Bowles said. “The communication with the guys, the leadership in the huddle. Accuracy, got to make plays of course in this league to win ball game and who commands the huddle and who the team runs behind more that gives you the best chance to win. That’ll be sorted out over time.”

Bucs QBs Need To Protect The Football

Offensive coordinator Dave Canales has been even more direct about determining who should start with a message that Todd Bowles would approve of: Just hold onto the ball.

“This is a competition,” Canales said.  “We’re going to allow us to go into the preseason and let them show us that they can manage to get us into the right play, they can take care of the ball – that’s going to be the determining factor, really, who takes care of the ball. The bonus is who pushes it down the field.”

Canales Prefers Both QBs Preparing As Starters

A case can be made that Mayfield should get the reps already to get a head start on preparing for the regular season. However, not everyone on Bowles’ coaching staff has the same viewpoint on it.

Bucs OC Dave Canales – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The reason why Canales wants an open competition rather than naming a starter early is all about the mindset of both players. He has experience with this from Seattle last season, with the battle of Geno Smith and Drew Lock. No starter was listed out the gate and because of it, Smith earned the job and had the best year of his career. The Bucs are looking for a similar outcome.

“I think philosophically for me, coming from Seattle, the best guy gets the job,” Canales said. “You saw it happen last year, first-hand. It was Geno Smith, it was Drew Lock and it was a true competition. You had a guy who hadn’t played in a long time, and you had a guy who had some pretty bad experiences in the recent past with Drew. For me, it’s a win-win when you create a competition.

“Here’s why: if you name a starter today, the backup guy starts thinking like a backup. But if you say, this is a competition, we’re going to allow us to go into the preseason and let them show us that they can manage to get us into the right play, they can take care of the ball – that’s going to be the determining factor, really, who takes care of the ball. The bonus is who pushes it down the field. If we can play great defense, run it, and take care of the ball – we’re going to be a great team. The guy who can show that is going to win the job.”

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