Defenses have neutered his runs.
Yesterday, yes, Baker Mayfield admitted he’s not 100 percent. But he also said he doesn’t want to use that as an “excuse” for not being as effective as he was earlier in the season, specifically on his third-down runs.
Something changed when the Bucs faced the Lions. With Mike Evans getting hurt early in that game and no Chris Godwin for the Lions to worry about, they believed containing Mayfield was more important than worrying about Tez Johnson.
So the Lions put a spy on Mayfield.
Now that the Lions put that on tape, other teams have seen how bottling up Mayfield has put a lasso on the Bucs offense; the slimy Saints and the Patriots copied what the Lions did.
The Bucs have yet to find a way to adjust.
“First, I think schematically, starting in Detroit, [opponents] started with the spy defense on third downs,” Mayfield said. “[They are] just disciplined in the rush lanes, and for me, not feeling like I was able to get up to full speed scrambling to throw, which is what I try and do every time.”
Mayfield said being dinged up, he’s dialed back on some third-down scrambles. Throw in how defenses are spying him and keeping him in the pocket by shutting down run lanes, Mayfield’s running has been neutered.
“Sometimes earlier in the season, the run lanes were there,” Mayfield said. “[I am] looking to throw and as I get healthier, [I am] still trying to take advantage of whatever they’re giving me.”
So, Mayfield said, it goes back to the old football cliché, “Take what the defense gives you.” And defenses aren’t giving him lanes to run in.
Joe hopes at some point, Mayfield heeds the words of Al Davis who reacted to that same famous football cliché, Davis said, “We’re going to take what we want.”
