Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield made his thoughts crystal clear when it comes to the state of the team following this week's first joint practice with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Mayfield suggested that while there are some things the team did well, there are others they definitely need to address ahead of the upcoming regular season. "I feel like we're in a good spot with the understanding of the system, the checks, what we're trying to get done.
Now it's just really about execution and physicality, and I think that's the part today that we were lacking," Mayfield said. "I don't think that anybody's too far behind when it comes to the knowledge of what we're trying to get done," he said, adding, "Which is great, but also, when you have that down, the execution needs to be there." More news: Josh Allen Gives Honest Assessment of Bills Coach Joe Brady Ahead of Season According to Mayfield, he would have to watch footage back, but there were "a lot of plays" they'd probably have to review. In additional comments to the media, he said that the Jaguars "out-physicaled" them during the joint practice.
"They played with their hair on fire," he told reporters. "If this was a full game, I don't think we would've come out on the winning side of it." First Coast News's Rachel Phillips shared her thoughts after seeing the joint practice, suggesting that Josh Hines-Allen would've likely disrupted Mayfield and the offense in a real game and would've possibly recorded a few sacks. She also praised Antonio Johnson for recording an interception and Buster Brown, who had an interception and a pass breakup for the Jags at the joint practice.
Phillips said he was constantly around the ball to make plays. The two teams are set to meet in a full game, albeit in the preseason, on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET at Jacksonville's EverBank Stadium.
However, that gives Mayfield and his teammates just a few days to review what went wrong and figure out how to adapt, at least for that game and possibly the regular season. Even though he saw limited preseason action in the Buccaneers' win over the Kansas City Chiefs last week, Mayfield won't play in the team's final preseason game. Mayfield's comments may be his way of trying to fire up the offense after last season's disappointment of not making the playoffs, and with a new regular season quickly approaching.
They have a few weeks to get things figured out for their first game, a visit to Cincinnati to play Joe Burrow and the Bengals on Sunday, Sept. 13. More news: Jalen Ramsey Sends Message to Steelers on Teammate’s Contract Talks For more about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the NFL, visit Newsweek Sports.
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