Baker Is Baking.

 Contents of the following article - 

The 2023 season so far 

Bakers stat line so far and how he’s proving doubters wrong 

One man that is stepping up from last year. 

2023 season so far 

The buccaneers heard it over and over again after Tom Brady’s retirement. Get ready to go 3-14 , it’s tanking time , Caleb Williams is a buc”

This couldn’t be any further from the start the buccaneers have got off to. 

Your Tampa bay Buccaneers are sitting at 2-0 after a couple of stifling defensive games and a great show on offence. The buccaneers found a way to beat the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago bears in the opening weeks of the season. 

Bakers journey and step up to the plate in Tampa 

It’s no doubt that people had their fair share of negative comments with baker mayfield coming in to Tampa this season , with good reason. 

Baker Mayfield played on 2 different teams last season the Carolina Panthers and the LA Rams. 

Baker was traded from Cleveland to Carolina last offseason and played a handful of games in Carolina before being benched for PJ walker then inevitably cut after poor performances. Baker found a new home in LA with Matt Stafford down for the year and McVay needing a QB to finish the year strong , baker did just that. He led the rams to 2 wins in 4 starts with 850 passing yards , 4 TDs and 2 INTs. 

Now , a buccaneer baker has played 2 games , and led the bucs to 2 wins. He has 490 Passing yards , 3 touchdowns and 0 turnovers so far , a huge improvement from bakers disastrous tenures in Carolina and Cleveland.

Baker has looked comfortable in the pocket this season and rightly so , he’s only been sacked once. He’s also had an average of 2.5 seconds in the pocket ranking him at 19th. 

A huge factor for mayfield in canales’ offence has been his ability to extend plays and convert 3rd downs with his legs. Baker mayfield won the game in Minnesota for the bucs with his “angry run” on 3rd down .Soon after he was able to find a wide open Godwin to seal the game on another 3rd down. 

The player who’s stepped up 

Short piece to close on a player who has really impressed me so far with his step up. 

Offensive lineman Luke Goedeke was no doubt a weak link for the buccaneers last season allowing 2 sacks in 520 snaps holding a PFF of 43.7. 

The former 2nd round pick however has seemingly turned it around since switching to right tackle this offseason as he now has allowed 1 sack in 139 snaps but holds a PFF of 72.8. 

There’s no doubt he’s been more effective in the pass game but the run game is where he’s caught my eye. Pushing edge rushers outside allowing for gaps to open up for white / mayfield to run into , Luke Goedeke is no doubt , a massively improved player. 

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