Baker Mayfield’s Chemistry with Mike Evans & Chris Godwin: Trust & Timing | Bucs Total Access

Published Sep 8, 2024, 4:54 PM
Team Reporter Casey Phillips sits down with former Buccaneers TE Cam Brate and QB Baker Mayfield after the Week 1 victory vs. the Washington Commanders. They discuss his natural connection between Mike Evans & Chris Godwin, the joys of fatherhood and the Mario Kart rivalry amongst the team.

Bootleg rolled out plot by Ris Dodd White.

He's got a plot er fort forty its side, the thirty outside the numbers touch twenty ty up fifteen ten five plush non right touched out Tampa Bay. This is Buccaneers Total Access. Far La Cannon tubut Play brought to you by Hooters. Hooters the original wing joint sets nineteen eighty three, Fuble Football and twod win be a little twenty fifteen ten five touchedout Tampa Bay, Winfield Well the recovered fabulous Schoofer Store. Now here are your co hosts, former Buccaneers tight end Cameron Braid and Bucks team reporter Casey Phillips.

Welcome into Buccaneers Total Access, brought to you by Hooters, the original wing joint since nineteen eighty three. I am so excited here for week one. It could not be better than this. We have a new co host with me this year, Cam Brad, and a perfect first guest for the year, Baker Mayfield, the friendly neighborhood QB one who just put on a show this weekend. Bakes, thanks for being of us, Thanks for having me. This is amazing. First of all, congrats on the win, huge, huge game. By you, the offense, the whole team a win at home. You're twenty four to thirty two in and eighty nine yards, four touchdowns, zero interceptions. Is this basically the ideal opening game for you, the team, the offense, especially having a new offensive coordinator.

Yeah, I mean I think efficiency wise, yes, you know, I mentioned it postgame.

Need'd be better in the red.

Zone, finishing with touchdowns, seat of field goals early on, But you know, the way we finished with the ball in the second half, I think was really what you want to see. That just the physicality running the ball when he needed to take time off the clock.

Yeah, it was. It was a good week one to build off of.

How'd you feel going into this season maybe compared to some others, that attitude, the mindset for you personally as you walked out.

Their week one really clear minded.

Just the chemistry with the guys, a lot of the same pieces, obviously added some new ones, familiarity with Liam as well. Just excited, excited with the group that we have and just you know, the potential and just read to get out there and play somebody else besides their own defense.

I can't imagine. I mean, I feel like last year, the team really exceeded outside expectations. I know those were different from the internal ones here, but you know, you guys were able to kind of ignore all the haters out there knew what you had internally. Does it feel similar again this year? Do you feel like that's still kind of happening of the outside versus inside expectations of it.

I do.

It's you know, every the preseasons, the preseason for a reason. You know, everybody talks about the new acquisitions by teams, and you know, last year, I think everybody was talking about the Saints with Derek showing up, and now it's Atlanta with Kirk and a.

Few other pieces.

But this team's had the stable veterans that have had unbelievable careers for a long time now, and it's just kind of the way it works around here in Tampa. I've realized is, you know, our studs don't really get the recognition. I mean, Mike Evan's Levante, David Googols and some of these guys that have been playing for a long time at a very high level, they just kind of fly under the radar. But it's you kind of enjoy that our guys just go about their business to throw up on Sundays and make a lot of plays.

So yeah, I think we enjoyed it.

Caim, what did you see from them week one? Watching this offense from the outside now and seeing just how they looked and knowing what it feels like internally, and then to know watching outside, what's it out to you about watching this guy and especially the rest of the offense.

Yeah, So, obviously brought in the new OC that presents a ton of new challenges. Obviously you had some familiarity with him, so you just don't really know what to expect, especially as a spectator watching the first game. I had a bunch of takeaways from the game. First, I want to say, Bake very mobile, very strong in the post. Well, so I'm going somewhere with this, So I just need to know. I feel like there's a lot of buzz, like, hey, Bake looks really good. You're gonna put a lot of work in this offseason. So are you going to attribute your mobility escapability to Suka in your workouts or is at the dad strength kicking in.

It's a little bit of both.

The strength to resist some tackles, that strength mobility though, Yeah, go back to Suka.

Okay, and then wait, explain what that is for people who don't know.

Yeah, it's a local gym, not affiliated with the Buccaneers.

That yeah, Bay came in.

Uh you know, he got some great workouts and he worked really hard.

Yeah, so it was working out with Cam that was essentially, No.

Let's let's get one thing straight in the off season. I'm gonna work out at a normal time. This psycho is going to show up at five a m. For no reason at all.

Retirement responsibilities now, you know, as a as a new father, Uh, you know, I have things I have to do the rest of the day apparently.

Yeah, but you know we're gonna roll with it.

No, but it's just a it's a good community, Like you can get some retired guys over there working out, but it's like that community feel with ex athletes current athletes. Just the competition level. Everybody's kind of pushing each other. So yeah, it was a part of my off season program.

Do you think the Dad's strength is real?

It actually is.

So you had a great game yesterday, great games camp first throw down field though, third down to tray sail there a little, so you're just adjusting you think, because the rest of the game really settled in.

You know, yeah, fourteen passes.

Luckily they called a penalty on that one.

Got it.

You know, he's he's running across the field and I saw what he was doing. I thought the dB was going to undercut it, so I tried to put it with air, but I put it too far inside instead of leading them towards the sidelines.

So yeah, thanks for reminding me of that.

No, but you played great.

I would love to stay for the record. Players always like me on the media is so negative the moment this guy becomes media, he's bringing up the one incompletion out of a game, right, you gotta find the one.

Yeah, yeah, it wasn't You didn't have the perfect passerrating.

No, No, it could better. It could have been better. Yeah, it could have been better.

This is is this your job to keep him humble?

Is that what we have?

We've assessed here. You don't want to get into big.

Head after it, but like, especially especially like the first third down of the game, you're like, oh, we have this play drawn up for man coverage, it's working, and then screwed it up. You know, It's one of those you look back on it, like we have the design, it's just execution.

He bounced back.

I appreciate it.

We're talking to Baker Mayfield here on Buccaneer's Total Access. We've talked a little bit about Liam Cohen, new offensive coordinator coming in. You had a little experience with him before. What has it been like watching him come in here now and the response from the team to him, what he's put into place, and just overall looking at this offense and the mark he's been able to put on and already.

I think he saw a lot of you know, the mental side of the game, how well he called the game first of all, but it's asking the guys a lot to learn multiple play calls at a time, to be prepared for whatever look they're going to present us. And so we were able to get into great calls. But Liam's giving us the options when he's doing it. And I think you saw the variety of the run game, the motions, the play actions, some of the dropback stuff, just giving them a lot of similar formations and looks but having different plays off of it.

And so that's that's part about this offense.

Once guys realize it and learn it and become second ature and they play fast. It's a really explosive offense.

And it looks like Mike Evans and Chris Godwin's still very good at football.

Confirmed, confirmed, confirmed.

I mean even just in the first half you're ten for eleven when you throw to them one hundred and fifteen yards in a touchdown, does feel like, just in general, good call to throw to either of them as much so. Now Godwin's touchdown makes him number two all time on the receiving touchdown, So he's sole possession of second place in franchise history in career receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. Second only too, obviously, Mike, in all these categories. For you to know you have the top two in franchise history at the same time at your disposal as a quarterback, how does that warm your heart?

It makes my life a lot easier.

I'll tell you that one on one coverage, those guys are different breed.

You know, Chris is the type of guy somebody could be draped all over him.

He's so strong through the catch, physical, and you know, we moved him back to where he's best at in the slot, being able to work on some of these smaller dvs, finds owns and just be a smart football player. And that's what I don't think he gets enough recognition for that. He's extremely intelligent and understands the concepts timing of it. And then Mike's just I don't even know how to explain it, Like.

How awesome is it? Just like in your back pocket, Like.

Just put the ball up for thirteen, He's.

Gonna catch it.

If it's one on one. It's you.

I said it last night. It's not a fifty to fifty ball. It's much more in the in the chances of Mike catching it.

That's wild. Tell me for both of you when you're watching, in particular that first touchdown catch Campbell. I know you're at home, smoking stuff on on your grill, living your best retired life that play happens. Tell me what goes to your mind. And then for you on the field as well.

I mean I saw that for nine years.

He's got this Like you're like, I'm bored at this at this point, you know, is like.

He makes it look so easy, like it has such a hard catch, like he's fighting through someone positioning his body and like he's got like what's again, stretch arms, strong arms, it's ugly like Mike, like his arms just keep going and he makes that catch like above his head, arms like palms facing in. Looks so easy and it's so hard. Like I sucked at that, Like I had to catch the ball like this, Like Mike makes that look so easy and it's so hard.

Yeah, he's an incredible player.

And me as a fan watching the game yesterday, I was just so excited to see how Chris was being utilized again because like you said, he is so smart having a guy like that, especially on third down, finding ways to get him matched up one on one, Like, no one's gonna be able to cover Chris on one. Even if they're covering him, he's gonna like contort his body in a weird way and make a catch like yeah, So that was for me as a fan, Like going forward, I think that's gonna be huge.

Yeah, it's special.

Yeah, that first catch my bike, it's I mean, the guy probably couldn't have played it any better. Waldam all the way to the sideline didn't have a whole lot of space, but just giving him enough air to somehow beat the guy and stretch his arms out. But like Cam's saying, he catches the ball out in front of him, and then there was one on the sideline where he's running this way and he catches it like like he's rebounding a basketball, and very few people can actually do that. They got to catch it fundamentally. Don't let it cross your eyes. But somehow he gets his hands and he's got some he's got some mids on him.

Now. He did recently put you in Slytherin in a discussion we had when I asked him to name some people in the Hogwarts houses. Yeah, so it took it a little personally. Did we agree or not agree with the sentiment?

I agree?

Yeah, you can't even I can say as much as I want, but I.

Agree with that.

I like that. What's Cam over here?

You think? For sure? I was thinking help and puff over here?

Nothing wrong with health puffing, wrong with it.

I'm cool with helping.

You accept it for me?

Yeah, to hang out, Yeah, we can hang out.

What is Mike? What does Mike saying?

Of course he says he's a gryffin and then he was very quick to put bag and s like that was his very first thing.

There was no hesitation there wasn't.

I wondered if that if that hurts you, or if it's like he's good enough to catching the football that you're like, you know what, that's all right.

I'll take it. He keeps doing that, you know, he can say whatever he wants.

Also, so this was at an event we had recently where it was a big panel discussion, and one of the things that also came out on this panel discussion was that Coach Bulls He's already laughing. It's just how good it was that Coach Bowles was a radio DJ back when he played football.

Honestly, like, I'm not all right, it's like a little surprising at first, but I can totally see it.

I can totally see it.

And he guesses on the DJ name.

Yeah, there's so many great options there. No, do you remember what he said of the show.

Is called Funky t.

No, Yeah, that was great, and then that would be your name to incorporating golf there. But yeah, he said that his show was Land of Love.

Coach he said he only played like R and B.

Soothing jams.

I can see it.

And he was like anonymous. No one even knew he was like an NFL player doing this is just what he wanted to do in his off season, and we brought it up and watching Baker Mike ants when they were all up there and their faces as they learned this information was the best moment ever. And yeah, I loved it for you. You're like, I'm not surprised.

I can see it.

I can see it, like the music taken over and him really like getting into it. Yeah, I can see it lowkey like on the side exactly. It's like a hobby, like one thing he didn't know about me and Coach Bowles.

Yeah, that's great. What would what would your radio show be like?

I don't know.

It'd probably be very very chaotic, taking a lot of calls and requests and then not listening to those calls in requests and really doing my own thing.

Is this how Liam Cohen would describe you as a quarterback?

I hope not hope.

That's a sorry. We're gonna have more coming up here on Buccaneers Total Access brought to you by Hooters, the original wing Joints since nineteen eighty three. This is Buccaneers Radio.

Buccaneers Total Access continues, brought to you by Hooters, the original Wing joint since nineteen eighty three. Once again, back to your co host Cameron Braid and Casey Phillips.

Welcome back into Buccaneers Total Access, brought to you by Hooters, the original wing joint since nineteen eighty three. We are here with Cam Brait Baker Mayfield after an amazing win. You know, we were talking before the break about Chris and Mike and just the incredible chemistry you guys have, and I'm sure that's a big part of the continuity for you and how great that is. We hear about that a lot of the chemistry and the importance of that. Tell me what that tangibly means. What are some examples of what can happen when you have chemistry with a wide receiver and maybe specifically with those two guys.

Yeah, just it's a lot of trust in you know, understanding and they know how my footwork times up with the route concept that they have to get to a certain point. I'm expecting them to be at this yard or wherever it is out in the field on the timing of it. So coverage is like nothing ever goes the way your installs its lines on a page, and nothing ever goes that way in a game. But they understand the timing of it of where they need to be and just being there for me. So it I mean it comes into play on one of the third downs, you know, when Rush is getting there and I have to I have to let the ball go pretty early, just for Mic on an outbreak, things like that, And and Chris understanding, you know, like on a third down coverage what his leverage is on how to win the Manda Man matchup and that he's gonna make the end break and I'm gonna put it on time and We've got to beat one defender inside and they just they understand that and that that only comes with reps and guys having that natural feel that you really can't teach.

And they both have that natural instinct.

So because obviously Jalen has a big role with the team, and I feel like it's harder to develop that just in practice. So like, how are you guys working that out? How how do you think it went yesterday?

Like going forward to I think it went really well, especially with Jalen. You know, you never know how guys are and react in their first real NFL game. You know, preseason's one thing, but when it really matters. I think he handled everything well, and it's just to get that with a guy that you don't have as many reps with. It's just the over communication and then he's always listening to what I'm saying to Mike and Chris and obviously always over communicating with him too, But it's just you got to make sure you're on the same page because you know, when the ball snapped, anything can happen.

What do you remember, Cam about being on the other end of the chemistry side and trying to build that. What's that like being the person receiving the ball? And I'm thinking about Jamis Tom very different quarterbacks that you're having to build chemistry with, right, tell me what that's like on your end and what you remember about doing that.

Like Baker said, it's all about reps, And you know, I do think there's a big difference between getting those reps in practice first getting them in a game and going along with that.

You can only really.

Develop the trust in games, and so yeah, I mean, no one worked harder than Jamis and he was pretty much my first quarterback here, So me and him took a million reps after practice get on the same page and it was probably diminishing marginal benefits to that. You know, I think it's getting a little tired sometimes, but I think establishing that connection with him it was able to build a little bit more trust going into the games, and then that's when the big incremental improvements and timing trust, just being on the same page with one.

How it really happened now.

I know Cam earlier brought up your mobility, that you were taking off running a few times, getting some stuff with your legs. I feel like you love doing that. You love throwing a stiff arm, you love popping up. You did quite a dramatic first down point after one of them, was pretty great. Is there something about those that gets you particularly fired up?

It's just, you know, I said it yesterday, trying to let the defense dictate where the ball needs to go in, you know, in our passing game, and if they drop back, can they do a good job of covering it in zone coverage or man, there's gonna be lanes for me to run and take advantage of that. But it's it's more so just taking what's there now. The celebration, though, I got a little confused on which hand to use. So if you slow it down. I started to use the right one should have been the left the whole time.

This is the first game.

It's the first game for me to so for next time to keep in mind what the camera perspective is.

So your back was to the camera as well. Oh so now you got to face the awareness rating on that, and.

This is that will help you in terms of getting you know, a little things a homing pigeon, just something to thinking about.

Okay, I'll take that.

I'm assuming this is what happens in film sessions. This is what you're watching and studying for. Yes, and also for cam to be the one telling you how to either celebrate or trash talk or talent. This is very funny to me, of all people to be giving you advice.

Yeah, well yeah, it's like like a goofy white guy, Like, dude, you gotta just spike the ball, like like the quarterback, but quarterback is different, Like you can do a little bit more.

As a fellow goofy white guy, but like you can do your own touch on it.

He's less goofy, he's less goofy.

Okay, yeah, Like what's the dancing video of you at Oklahoma? Like you got some rhythm like there's a little was TODs radio show if he was mixing it up, like you would be able to like vibe for that. Like me, I'm just standing there. I'm doing the hitch.

I think his radio station. It's mostly yeah six inches.

You could do a little more than I'm out here.

It's all right here.

Ye did you ever even try to trash talk? Like even once?

I did one time? And really I still think about it.

I still think about it. It haunts your dreams.

So the guy ended up he lives in Tampa.

Well that was a bad move already.

Yeah.

It was to alex Anseloon, the linebacker who now plays for the Lions.

Something I said something back.

Do we get to know what that meant?

No? No, no no.

But then like I saw him later and like someone else, like he had told someone else that I had said something to him. The whole thing is just a nightmare for me. And yeah, I'm not going to do it ever again at any capacity.

I'll bring it up to him this week.

No you don't have to.

Yeah, he'll remember because it was like awkward, Like it was like incredibly awkward from both sides.

If you make a play against him, I think you should just be like Cam Braid.

Says Hi, Yeah, beal rat him.

They will. I'm always looking for an advantage.

I know you got famous last year for yelling at someone to get their weight up, which is one of the more creative trash talks I've heard In a minute, didn't I hear you lost some weight this offseason? So now do you feel like that's not an option to bust out? Can you still yell at? How do we feel there's a.

Time and place to use it. I'm not the biggest.

Guy, so it was an interesting choice.

I can look at somebody and know that I can say that there's very few people in the field that I'm actually bigger than.

So I'm going to take advantage of the opportunities when I have them.

How often do you trash?

Doc? Not a lot.

I'm not really the instigator.

Most people say that.

I don't know how often I believe it.

But if you say something to me, I'm I'm gonna keep going and probably push the limit.

Yeah, that's seems Sair, we're talking to bigger Mayfield. You have said in the past you you almost feel like you need a bit of a chip on the shoulder or you have always had one anyway, and then you feel like it's a big part of how you played. You got a new contract, you're the guy here. Do we still have the chip on the shoulder? Do we need it? So? Where's what's it from? What does it look like? Has it changed shape and size a little bit since this time?

Yeah, there's there's always definitely a chip on the shoulder.

It's just I think at this level you gotta have that edge to compete at the highest level. Some guys are different, but for me, it's getting into the mentality of you know, nobody believes in us. Just it's almost a sick, twisted way in the mind of tricking yourself. But yeah, just playing with that edge or something I need, but also having fun at the same time. It's just kind of a fine balance to walk.

I'll make sure it's my personal responsibility to keep him level headed.

I mean, you are the one if he gets too high.

And then we can give you some rhythm and trash talk.

All right, perfect, What a partnership.

This is going to benefit everybody.

Business acquisition.

So take me through the process of for you getting that new deal, what it meant to you what it meant to know what the Bucks thought of you and to have that consistency after a lot of moving around, a lot of turmoil earlier on.

Yeah, I mean my NFL career and journey so far has not been what I envisioned by any means, just the bouncing around, all that instability. But you know, to sign the one year deal last year on a proven deal, and it's it's pretty plain and simple. It's either you play well, you get extended, or another opportunity somewhere else. Or I was looking at being a backup for somebody and so knowing that they believed in me gave me this chance. It's it's very settling, a very comfortable feeling. But it's just the opportunity to be able to improve on what we built last year and try and take the next step.

I also feel like Tampa fits you, and you fit Tampa. Do you agree with that?

I do? I really do.

Tell me why that is?

I think one the way of life down here.

Everybody's outside enjoys it, happy about it, and it's a sports town, kind of an eclectic group people from all over. I feel like it's very rare to have somebody born and raised in Tampa that still is here. So it's people from all over that join in with the sports world but enjoying it competitive and I think it's almost the underdog mentality, you know, Like we mentioned earlier, people kind of always let the bucks slip under the radar, and it's always like we have something to prove.

So tell me what you do in your free time here in Tampa. If people were to come across Baker Mayfield out and about where would they find you?

Probably something with a dog.

He almost wants you to say, hanging out with Cambraid.

Maybe hanging out with Cambraid.

There's a few local watering holes that adventure too with the fellas, and you know there's a judgmental face going on over here. But it's all about team chemistry.

Oh that's that's yeah.

Englfing, that's it.

The whole motivation for the watering holes is just the team chemistry. Absolutely, Yeah, that's that's the whole thing.

That's dictly.

Winning in the NFL is hard, so it is you gotta celebrate. You would have to. Did you celebrate accordingly?

No?

They left me hanging. I'm sorry.

Now, everybody had family in town for the first game. I won't take it too personal. I'll just be thinking about it for the next three weeks, all right, Just win again on Sunday and yeah, and then get to enjoy some you know, Mario Kart and the plane ride back home.

Yeah, funny, you should bring that up. A little birdie that was walking down the hallway this morning, maybe a big berdie for being honest about it, said I should ask you who's better at Mario Kart.

Tristan said, this.

Birdie not so secret. Tristan wanted to know who was better at Mario Kart. You were his and.

It pains me to say this. He might be the best Mario Kart player ever seen. It's unbelievable.

He will be shocked you said that. He was like, he won't say me, but he should say me.

Why would I not say him?

He's we're keeping an account of the winnings for the year. It started when we went to Jacksonville. He honestly is It's stupid how good he is. They'll do him and Hainesy and some of the other guys will look at like they'll go to YouTube and look up like the time trials for certain courses and tracks on Mario Kart and they'll race against like the world record and they're pretty competitive with it, and it's so it's pretty intense on the plane rides on.

That's amazing. I love this. And how often do you win? Do you ever win against him?

I win every once in a while.

There's a there's gotta be some other factors that play in for me to win. Definitely not a head to head matchup though. So do you guys play on like what system is it? Nintendo switch switch? Yeah, you don't need Wi Fi or anything, it's just Bluetooth connection. We get about seven or eight guys in there play some Grand prixse.

Do you think is it all mental or is there some physical? Is it dexterity in the fingers?

Is it?

There's a lot of there's a lot of mental with it.

Understanding have a special one that's got a special giant controller.

Like it might be hard for all the controls it once, yeah, no one.

Yeah, he's got a little special thing going on for him.

It's that's great. It's fun though, outside of him kicking your button. Murray Cart, you guys, it seems like you'll have just such an awesome relationship. I mean and how important of all positions on the team for that to be your guy. Feels pretty well selected there. Tell me what it's been like for you guys to get to have this journey together is not only teammates but friends.

It's been unbelievable, you know, getting to know him really quickly last year and then obviously both found out that we were going to become dads around the same time, and it just like that new chapter of your life and new beginnings. It's just a fun thing to be able to go through that with somebody that you're that close with makes it even more special. And then yeah, and other guys in the team that are having babies as well, we get the outsiders now former Bucks.

Yeah, it's not your dads as well, the.

Water in the facility, it's anyone that's ever been a Buccaneers having a child.

But it's just fun to be able to go through that with friends. I think Cam's got it figured out the best out of all of us.

But it's it's fun to be able to go and go through Koten Actually, as you gotta take that back, I take that back.

Yeah, that was a really short lived moment you had there of like you.

Well, I don't have a job, and so like I'm kind of like stay at home dad. I got a lot more time to vote. You're doing greatihood thank you. I appreciate it. What do you think you as a father?

Strengths and weaknesses, strengths and being able to adapt on the fly.

You know, you're such a routine guy that I feel like if there's a wrench.

Thrown into it, I don't know, I need to see you in the chaotic moments.

Like we don't want to Yeah.

No, it's fun though, just rolling with the punches, trying to figure it out as we go.

It's it's so much fun.

No weaknesses.

Weaknesses, Oh, stinky diapers are my weakness.

Okay a wait, wait dude, she's not even really eating solid food yet.

She just started and it's just started trying, and it's it gets worse.

I'm not having fun anymore changing the diapers.

It gets pretty bad pretty quick. Yeah.

Also, you said that's basically your only way to contribute at the point.

At this point, she won't take a bottle, so yeah it is.

And you're already just like this one thing is not what I want to be doing anymore.

I think I need to get like a gas mask or a clothes pin, but on the not.

Keep on handy. Yeah, thank you.

I like that. How about you and Kim.

Strengths and weaknesses, Weaknesses.

Strengths As a father, I'm really good, like good tempo, good maneuverability on the stroller, like even if it's not a level playing field, you know, like pretty good and uh, you know, keeping her happy in there, which is hard because I got Archie.

Too, I got the dog.

Archie's tiny.

Yeah, he's a Pisa, he's a BISA. Weaknesses.

Is a father, doesn't skip like day weaknesses.

Cares too much?

Yeahdvoted hard.

No, he's a super dad. He really is.

Well, thank you, Baker. I don't know.

I definitely have some weaknesses, but it's just coming to take so many strengths.

We can text your wife and the break we need.

No, that's okay, that's okay. I'm sure she's got plenty.

He's like, that's that's not important.

All right.

We have more coming up your own. Buccaneers Total Access brought to you by Hooters, the original wing joints since nineteen eighty three. This is Buccaneers Radio.

Buccaneers Total Access continues brought to you by Hooters, the original wing joint since nineteen eighty three. Once again you're a co host. Cameron Braid and Casey Phillips.

Welcome back to Buccaneers Total Access brought to you by Hooters, the original wing Joints since nineteen eighty three. We were just talking about the new dads here in the room. Has been a dad changed you in any way or changed your approach to football?

Ooh, I definitely have a lot more patients now. I don't get as irritated as quick now. Still there's still definitely a little little man syndrome in there. I don't think that'll ever go away, but definitely have more patients when it comes to, you know, trying to get our point across of what we're trying to get accomplished and scheme wise and whatnot, and just making sure we over communicate it. And I think that's something you know, just have to have as a parent.

I like that. So let's think about the different phases of Baker. We got high school Baker, college Baker, early pro career and then now buccaneer Baker. Do you feel like are the biggest similarities and differences in these different phases of your life.

Oh, most similarities rolling with the punches.

I think, no matter what the situation is or wherever I'm at, finding a way to.

Make it work.

When whatever it is, everything happens. You know, you can have a plan, There's going to be a wrench thrown into it. That's just the way life works. That's the way a game of football works. Just being able to adapt on the fly with that. Biggest differences just priorities in general, realizing what really matters, you know, the relationships, you know, setting a good example, and just being consistent for everybody in the building outside of the building, you know, not not letting the little things weigh on me too much.

I like that. What have you seen of watching Baker as a friend and from Afar and taking on this new rule camp. What do you feel like are the biggest things that if you had gotten a chance to play with him, that you would have liked?

That I would have liked about Baker. I was honestly just thinking about that when we were talking. I think there's a He's just very authentic, which is probably the number one attribute you can have as a leader, is just being yourself and not trying like too hard to be the leader, right. I feel like people are just naturally drawn to Bake, and he has a great job making everyone feel included in the group, kind of picking his spots when he needs to get on guys, but also being the guy who goes over you.

Know, you drop your first fasting the NFL.

I'm sure Bake was the first guy by Jalen, you know, and it paid off. You know, Jalen made a huge play later in the game, and yeah, I think it's not something you can teach.

I feel like he naturally has that, you know.

Thanks Cam.

Requests for that later. Yeah.

Yeah.

How much would you pay him to say all this man's Is that what that new deal money went too? Is bribing Cam to say all these nice things? I know, especially we talked about your relationship with Tristan, but you did build relationships with a lot of the guys and especially the whole O line. I've heard you're almost sort of a indoctrinated member. You get to be part of the dinners. Is this accurate?

This is accurate?

Tell me what O Line dinners are like as especially an outsider getting to witness them.

There's a lot of.

Airing of grievances. Yes it is festivus, Yes, Festivus for the best of us. No, it's it's such a special group. You know, those guys they never get enough credit for everything that they go through, so like it's always they have that herd mentality.

They all stick together. But it's just so fun to be around them because most.

Of them are gentle giants and just being able to be outside of the building with them, eat, enjoy a meal, tell stories, you know, obviously, air the grievances, and then go from there just just to have fun. It's an awesome thing. And it's such a it's such a special room already, like any o line room, so should be a special room. But this group is so tight knit, and that's what makes it so much fun to be around those guys.

Your amount you eat versus what they eat at dinner, what does that look like?

It's not even close. You know.

When we go to these places, First of all, we get there at like four thirty. It's like an early bird special dinner. We going to Denny's, yeah, basically, and they we always let like Hainesy or just in school, order the appetizers and they come out and it's just like non step appetizers.

It's like four of everything.

Yeah, and they're like, okay, you guys are ready to order andres I'm like, I've been done since the second appetiser came out and these guys are just still housing food.

So no, but it's it's fun.

And you know, we do our weigh ins on Thursday, then do dinners on Thursday night. So depending on how the guys are are weighing in weighing out, yeah, they might eat a little extra.

That's great.

I love that.

How about just what you've seen from them all pre season, A couple new guys on the line, the way they've been able to gel in pre season, and then this first game.

Yeah, I think there were a lot of questions outside of the building about Luke last year going back to tackle, which is his natural position from college, and Luke is he's a stud. He's the guy that he's the enforcer on our line. He's going to talk the most trash, He's going to be the one annoying it till the very end of the whistle with his hands on you. And I just just seeing how consistent he's been this offseason, you know, perfecting his craft getting better.

Cody's gotten a lot better.

Adding in a guy like Ben Bretteson who's got a lot of game experience, he's able to communicate with Graham. You know, playing center is not easy in the NFL. Transitioning from college to the NFL when you haven't played center in a long time is even harder, so for those guys to be able to communicate with him, and Graham's handled it really, really well.

And you know, Robert.

Hainsey has been a great guy for him to be able to bounce ideas off of to help him out, and there's no ego about it. Obviously Hainsey wanted to play, but being able to help him out understanding that we need that whole room together. It's just it's so much fun to see those guys work together and support each other, and it's extremely happy with the way they played. The defensive line for Washington is very good. They've got a lot of first round talent up there, guys that have a lot of potentials, so it wouldn't need easy matchup, but they handle it really well.

What are the first impressions of Graham that you had and watching him in the way he's already grown from coming in here at the beginning to now and just kind of the type of center you think he's going to be.

I think he's going to be extremely intelligent, you know, identification wise, getting everybody on the same page.

Now there's being a.

Rookie, it's always you know, you kind of hear, just shut up and do your job, rookie.

But as a center, you have to be vocal.

And so you've seen him from the beginning of OTAs through training camp get a little bit more vocal. I think the season goes on, you'll see him grow more and more in that leadership role. But right now he's just trusting what he's seeing and you know, calling what he needs to. But it's fun to see him slowly start to come out of his shell a little bit and see that personality show.

How are you too working together in terms of calling the protections, the way that you're trying to help him as a rookie, and the way he's needing to step into being able to do a lot of that.

It's a lot of prep work during the week of understanding what looks we're getting, here's here's what he's seeing, making sure that I'm on the same page with it, and then you know, when it comes to protection, if I see anything in the secondary that we might need to fix or flip the look, but we'll go from there and adjust because I don't want to. I don't want to put too much on his plate that there's already enough for him to have to handle. So just being able to adjust in the fly and do that prep work during the week.

Do you make your centers wear a towel down their pants the way a certain former Books quarterback did.

I don't make them, but there is a difference when they don't wear it.

Wow, And Graham quickly was told to wear a towel by somebody that shall not be named.

I like that. I still think that's hilarious, like learning washing the hanzy and all of this, of like everyone learning this and I love that. Now you're just like, I'm not going.

To make them the baby powder trail, Yeah, incredible.

The verbal abuse that I heard was endured by our centers. It's hilarious. They're only slightly scarred from it.

Especially because he's a rookie. On rookie oh yeah, so he got it like twofold and just don't.

I mean the baby powder. I remember you could just see a cloud at the beginning of practice. I'm like, you know what, though, I get it. It makes a lot of sense. Like you said, it does, it works.

It does. It makes sense and it works.

It's so funny, you know. How about the Tidan group. I feel like, first of all, it's amazing that in a roster that, you know, making the fifty three, there's every position. It is so important of who gets what spot and do we pull from this one if we need an extra guy here. For four guys to all say that they needed a spot and make them keep four verse three means that obviously the team sees the potential in all four of them. Tell me, with those different guys, what you think they're gonna be able to bring the offense into you as a quarterback.

Yeah, we'll start with Devon Cope, our new guy from the draft. Devin's a guy that is extremely athletic, can really flat out just run. Now he's gonna he's gonna have to learn the game that comes with time, but he's got the potential there and so we're excited about what he's a you know, capable of bringing to the plate.

For us.

You know, obviously Coke a guy that's extremely physical, a guy that you can kind of plug into different packages. Obviously huge, got to get the ball, huge playmaker.

Of perceptions, is incredible when targeted exactly.

Touchdown to catch ratio is really good.

Secret weapons some might say, but he's a huge teams guy, so like, you can't you never take that for granted, and.

So feels so on brand for like a kind of blocking tight end of the long red hair, and he's like in his garage when he gets drafted and like he just I'm like, I love it so much.

We love co It's just the physicality that he brings, and I think it's the the pure joy he gets out of the physicality of the game. He knows he's not going to be the pass catching tight end, but just to come in there for run game, just set the tone with those guys. So he brings that aspect pain. Durham's brought a lot of potential just to be able to get into twelve personnel two tight ends, and he's a good pass catching tight end, but he also worked really hard on putting some more weight on to be able to block better. And just he's pains a goofball. I love Pain. He's so much fun to be around. You never know what he's gonna say. He's kind of the wild card of the group. And then then you add in kid, mister consistent, Mister.

Cad is just a.

Sweetheart, like he's always going to be where he's supposed to be and on time. He's mister consistent, kind of a swagless wonder with no gloves. He's just I think he's, you know, taking after.

We didn't mean.

Ad is truly being sincere the number one Power rankings for me, nicest human being I've ever met in.

My life, which coming from maybe the number two nicest human being I.

Got dark side. Caine has no dark side.

No, he actually doesn't know.

He's truly like the kindest human being in the world. Do you know what I was thinking about too? It was a preseason game last year. You guys did a reverse to Kate and you guys never ran it. Can we get that back in?

They got like ten yards?

They got like like ten yards?

Yeah, no, okay, all right, all right, we'll just we'll throw it to him.

A couple of screens to him, the reverse not his forte Yeah.

I feel like Kide's a good fit in this offense so and I feel he is. Yesterday it wasn't necessary really to feature the tight ends kind of the way that Washington was playing. But I think going forward, kind of like looking Higbee did in LA, like kind of a perfect fit for what Kid does. So I think Kid's gonna bring a lot.

I really do.

And that's what I'm excited about, is you know, this offense is able to adjust to whatever they're going to give us, And yesterday was a lot of the outside matchups and it's not always going to be the case against certain defenses.

And yeah, you're exactly right.

You look at what Tyler Higby's been able to do in LA on some of the play action stuff, And yeah, I mean Caid's so reliable that we know that the games they want to take Mike and Chris away, Kid's gonna.

Have a big one.

And how do you see Liam's offense baby being a little bit different from last year in terms of the tight end usage. We've heard a lot about, Oh, like, he does a little bit more than just one tight end out there potentially, do you see? But then they again they chose to keep four they chose to keep guys that are definitely receiving tight ends. What do have we maybe overreacted to that of like, oh, it doesn't seem like they're going to be as big a part of it, or is that how do you just kind of see his offense wanting to deploy them.

Wise, we're definitely gonna live a lot more in the eleven personnel with just one tight end three receivers on the field, But that doesn't mean they're not involved in the past game. It's just, you know, what this offense is able to do with the motions and whatnot to give them the same personnel with a bunch of different looks and so that that's just scheme wise, but they'll still be very evolved.

What did you say that Caid gave you as a Christmas present?

Sick?

It was a Levi's g jacket, But it wasn't like a cool one.

It was just like it was like a functional one.

It was like the farm work work jacket. But he gave it to us like totally serious, Like no, but like I do think he was kidding, but it's hard to tell sometimes. So all of us were just like, oh, thanks dude, Like we really appreciate it slagging out in our Yeah, we all wore it on the next away trip.

Do you wear a hard hat and bring your lunch pail.

It's an incredible jacket. I'll wear some time. Yeah, I still have it.

That's amazing.

Kind of jealous.

I don't have one, you know, I'll talk to k He also gave us socks too. It was like it was like a very nice Christmas. It was like nice he gave us like stuff he thought.

We would do, gave you.

So I really enjoy that very functional Christmas kid it was.

I still wear THESS socks all the time.

I three. I mean, that's that's what a deal? What a deal over there. I feel like we've gotten we we've we've slightly roasted Kate a little bit. I feel like we should turn the tables now.

And roast Baker perfect.

Absolutely. I would love to listen to you try to roast anybody. I don't go ahead, go ahead?

I scared?

Yeah, wow, where to start? No, I would never do that to Bake too nice of a guy.

That's not true.

That's what I do.

That's not true. You still got to do it on a camera. He's too nice. Of a guy.

You, however, are not so I think go ahead.

Did you have your filet and ten eggs this morning? You?

Psycho comes a little later, You wait till I had a little something.

This morning, fill a and ten eggs.

You don't pare him up.

It's oh yeah, that was the that was the craziness, said the other.

Yeah, I can't have I'm touching on the plate.

God forbid that.

I'm picturing him with one of those kid clown plates that have the separators. So I'm sorry.

No.

Ten eggs was the chaotic part of what he just said. I feel like, do you eat ten Are you gasing on from beating the beast? What is happening?

Dude? That would be sick. Guess I mean that guy's kind of stud huh.

We just found his role model.

Yeah, so like I'm uh, I feel like if I don't well, I know, if I don't eat like that, I'm gonna be skinny.

I don't want to be skinny. I have a hard time gaining weight.

You were one of those that had to work to be Yeah.

Very hard.

I know Baker has a problem too, absolutely, but yeah, I mean I still eat a lot.

Yeah, Yeah, that's wild ten eggs every morning.

That's insane.

It's like quick, cost effective efficient.

You know, there's that swag we were talking about it. There it is.

And you know how like guys are so excited to get to the NFL because they don't have to do school anymore.

He goes back to school, like exactly Harvard man goes back to school, but.

Predictable, what are we in school? Harvard wasn't sufficient. We had to go back.

I went to the Harvard of Tampa, University of Tampa, there you go.

Yep. So yeah, I'm back in school right now, trying to find some direction, you know, where to go.

Listen. I admire it. I just I could never do it.

I believe you would never do I'll sponsor you. Yep.

It's a waste. That is a waste.

Did you did you graduate?

I did graduate?

Was your degree? Did you graduate? I meant that more. I meant that more so, like because like you're so good at football.

It's like I was in business school and changed my major and it took me a year and a half to tell my parents that's okay.

I was like what was it? What was it?

And then what did it become?

I was gonna do.

I mean, I truly didn't know what I was going to do in the business side of things.

It's like general business.

Just business of anything.

Business Baker made business man. Then switch to communication. M M that really really high level degree.

Yeah, you're a great communicator.

I feel like I should.

I feel like I should be ahead of Nelson and Mike at this the stage of my career.

Perfect.

They love to hear that too.

You know, my phone doesn't go off in the middle of press conferences. So let's air our agrievances. Now.

I love it. It started roast cam and turned into roast Oar PR Department, which I'm here for.

Don't get me started on Stephen.

Now we've turned to the producers. Everybody.

Hey, Stephen, didn't even know.

He was in here. A sorry, I didn't see the amazing We're gonna take a quick break here. We're gonna have more on Buccaneers Total Access brought to you by Hooters, the original wing joints since nineteen eighty three. This is Buccaneers Radio.

That's some a degree man.

Buccaneers Total Access continues, brought to you by Hooters, the original wing joint since nineteen eighty three. Once again, back to your co host Cameron Braid and Casey Phillips.

Welcome back to Buccaneers Total Access, brought to you by Hooters, the original wing joints since nineteen eighty three. We have Cambraid, we have Baker Mayfield. It's time for our final segment. We're going to look a little bit forward now to this Lions matchup. Before we get into that one specifically, tell me for you, Baker, what is watching film like? What are the biggest things that you pay attention to watch learn from and how has it evolved over your career?

Ooh, the most important thing now I'm looking at is protection. What are the certain looks that we have to make adjustments to to really get blocked up and be able to get.

The ball out.

You look at that, and then you start looking at coverages and tendencies of what they like to call in certain down and distances. Obviously you kind of split it up when you watch third downs and all that based on personnels.

What are they doing formationally you split it up.

So it's just for me, it's evolved of being able to recognize. I guess my film study is way more efficient now. It doesn't take as long, still watching the same amount of tape, but the recognition and memorization is definitely it evolved a lot.

And so now getting into this lines game, does it feel like a bit of a revenge game, like it had a little more weight to it, maybe e than some others.

It's just an exciting one anytime.

Anytime you finish the season against somebody and you have them at early the next season, it's obviously a great opportunity to be able to go back, and especially when you're playing there again, to be able to go back and still have that taste of the loss in your mouth a little bit.

But every year is different and it's a long season.

Obviously, we're excited just about being able to go on the road for the first time this year, see how our team handles it, how they react. I love away games, and so to see what this group's going to do on the road early on against a tough opponent, I'm really excited about it.

Yeah, you get two and a half hours of Mario Kart there two and a half back as.

Well, that's the most important.

Part as a as a fan, I'm so excited for Sunday, Like I think two of the best teams in the NFC. You know, we lost to them last year in the playoffs. Both teams pretty much returning the same nucleus of guys. Did you watch the game last night at all?

I watched, Yeah, I watched the end of it. It was an exciting one.

Yeah, it was a great game. So I'm looking forward to it.

I mean, we got Carlton Davis on the other side, Carlton Davis revenge game, So I mean there's a lot of storylines going.

You know, there's a lot of stuff to be to be told and written about this week.

So yeah, it's exciting.

Yeah.

Their defense, it's interesting because they were the bottom third of the league last year. I know that they were a very good team, but some of the things in their secondary was kind of part of one of their weaknesses that they had a bit. They've added some pieces now, including our friend Carlton Davis. What do you see about their defense? And it worked incredibly early in the week as far as game planning, So I'll put a little ass risk there. But what do you see about their defense? Front, part back, part of what could make them even more challenging this year.

I think a guy we mentioned earlier Alex Angeloni that is playing at a really high level for them, a leader on that team that has brought kind of a not brought, but helped provide the physical aspect that Dan Campbell wants to play with. And obviously you got Aiden Hutchinson up front, he presents his own issues. And then just you know, revamp in the secondary. You bring in a guy like Carlton and some other guys. I know that little pieces here and there are different, but it's just that physicality they play with and so for us it's going to be a good matchup and I'm excited about it.

We're talking to Baker Mayfield. I know that you prep for their defensive side, but you obviously know about their offense. Two degree. Tell me guys like Jared Goff and I mean you got Iman Ross, Saint Brown, and now you got their brand new rookie guy that's or their second year guy, Jameson Williams. That looks amazing. Yeah, what do you notice about their offense? It's challenging.

I think when you look at personnel of our guys on offense and there guys on offense you have, you know, they're fast guys outside you got Amoro, they can kind of do it all. Sam Laporta presents his own issues. Then you have a one to two punch with Jamier Gibbs and Dave Montgomery. They have a lot of weapons of I think their offense as well, like they got play calls that whatever the defense presents to them, their guys are expecting to win these matchups. And so that's kind of how we're at right now looking at it is. However, you guys want to play our receivers and tight ends and backs. You know, if you take this away, we'll attack you in a different area. So it's it's a good it's a good matchup, but I think it's going to come down to who's the more physical team.

You talked about what Dan Campbell kind of brings and wants out of his team. Very unique coach in his approach to things. If you were to be a coach, are you more Todd Bowles a little more reserved on the sideline, or are you more Dan Campbell?

I would love to be able to say that that would be more Todd Bowles, but there's zero chance that would be even keel, no chance.

You're freaking out.

I see like young ba right here.

You know what, I'll take that amiment this.

It's not too shabby. I I enjoy that. I also loved you and Coach Bowls with your excited moments in the press conference last week. I mean that was a whole other version of Bulls that the media and outside people don't always get to see. Was that as surprising to you or I feel like the team inside gets to see another.

Version of him. I'll tell you what.

I was not expecting him to do that in the middle of the press conference or beginning, but uh, it's fun to see that. You know, he's always I always say he's a very good trash talker behind the scenes. He always knows how to just like absolutely low jab to somebody get him going, rile him up, and so for him to be able to show that, I think that's fun.

That's awesome. Well, I mean, man, Bigger, thank you so much for coming on. This was a blast, and again congratulations on week one win. Absolutely killing it out there. Can't wait to see you guys take on the lines this next week.

Appreciate it.

Thank you Cam, thanks for being our co host first, all the books you did great.

Thank you so much. I'm Thank wow. You guys are too kind. Baker, great job yesterday and today. Thank you a real honor and privilege on my end, so best of luck to you.

Thank you.

Awesome.

All right, that has been Buccaneers Total Access, brought to you by Hooters, the original wing joint since nineteen eighty three. This is Buccaneers Radio