TAMPA, Fla. – The Bucs’ offense looks considerably different, especially without Tom Brady at quarterback. Yes, there’s a QB competition between Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask but on first look at organized team activities, there’s a lot of pre-snap movement and new formations.
“I’m very comfortable moving around and moving in the pocket,” Mayfield said. “Not only do I enjoy that but our offensive lineman love it too. it keeps the snap and launch point for us, in a different place to keep the defense off guard a little bit.
The biggest knock on the Bucs’ offense last year was being slow and predictable. The Bucs fired offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich and replaced him with Seahawks quarterbacks coach Dave Canales. The Bucs were 25th in the NFL in scoring and last in rushing.
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Watching OTA’s, it’s noticeable the Bucs will use bootlegs, jet sweeps and try to run it more efficiently so as to keep opposing defenses off-guard. Bucs head coach Todd Bowles stresses it’s very early in the process and right now there’s really no competition between the offense and defense in practice, yet.
“We install what we install,” Bowles said. “We get ready to play for the season, not each other. Nobody is game-planning each other out here.”
Don’t make too much of the quarterback battle between Myfield and Trask at this point. Both are learning a new system, and it’s so early.
“It’s shorts and T-shirt.” Bowles said. “I’m not going to sit here and crown or belittle anybody right now.”
On offense with Brady gone, as well as left tackle Donovan Smith and running back Leonard Fournette, the Bucs still have star wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin to build off of.. Godwin admits it is strange not seeing Brady around and that’s why he elected to participate in OTA’s.
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“Honestly, it’s just different,” Godwin said. “Anytime you have a new QB, it’s different. I’ve got to work on my own skill development, get to work with the receivers and then for us, we have to handle our business regardless of who’s throwing the ball.”
The Bucs will continue their offseason workouts through the middle of June.
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