With beginning quarterback Baker Mayfield not enjoying within the first preseason sport, it was Kyle Trask who acquired the primary crack of working this new Liam Coen offense for the Bucs. Though typical preseason offenses are vanilla and solely give a short window of what it’ll appear like for the common season, it was nonetheless good to see Trask have a possibility to indicate some progress within the new system as he makes an attempt to ascertain his position because the backup quarterback.
Kyle Trask Lays Down Constructing Blocks For Bucs Offense
There have been some good and unhealthy moments for Kyle Trask because the Bucs defeated the Cincinnati Bengals on the highway 17-14. He orchestrated an eight play, 77-yard landing drive on the staff’s second possession that included passing performs of 24, 21 and 19 yards. Trask additionally had two turnover-worthy throws, together with an interception in the direction of the start of the second quarter, however fortunately the Bucs protection was in a position to pressure the Bengals to punt.
Following the sport Trask evaluated what it was like attending to play to begin the 2024 season.
“It was good to get on the market, get some reside reps and get rhythm going,” Trask stated. “Undoubtedly some issues to study off, as at all times. There’s at all times going to be some issues that aren’t essentially clicking, particularly the primary sport on the market, however some nice studying moments, and we’ll put that beneath our belt going ahead. However I felt actually good general.”
Trask performed simply the primary half, ending with a stat line of finishing 12-of-20 passes for 144 yards with one interception and being sacked as soon as. He had a quarterback score of 61.2.
Out of 5 drives, two of them ended up with the Bucs both scoring or being in scoring place, as Chase McLaughlin missed a 51-yard discipline aim try. Tampa Bay had additionally gotten simply over midfield when Trask thew an interception, so which will have resulted in one other scoring alternative.
Advantages Of Teaming Up With Liam Coen
Kyle Trask’s landing drive was after all the spotlight of his night time, powered by these large passing performs. Operating again Bucky Irving ultimately scored the opening landing for the Bucs, speeding from 5 yards out. Trask made the proper reads and hit receivers in stride, and that allowed the Bucs to maneuver the chains on that scoring drive. Fast, rhythmic throws are staple of what Liam Coen’s offense is all about.
“It’s good once you name the play and also you need it towards a sure protection, and we acquired the protection we needed,” Trask stated. “It’s good once we can execute it. That’s type of the entire philosophy of this offense, is we wish to run the proper performs versus the proper protection, going to the road with a number of performs in our pocket. I’m simply actually pleased with the fellows for the way they executed and communicated all night time.”
Pertaining to working with Coen particularly, Trask complimented on how a lot of assist he was in the course of the night.
“Liam’s been nice within the headset,” Trask stated. “Very clear communicator, and permits you to get out and in of the huddle, and offers you little pointers alongside the way in which. I believed he was superior, I believed it was nice.”
Backup QB Competitors Is Not Over But
Head coach Todd Bowles will at all times say that everybody is competing for a job. That may be coachspeak at occasions as we all know gamers like Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans, Tristan Wirfs, Lavonte David and Anotine Winfield Jr. don’t have to fret about their job safety.
However Bowles is truthful relating to backups and different position gamers.
Kyle Trask is within the ultimate 12 months of his rookie deal after he was drafted by the Bucs in 2021. He had a legit alternative to win the beginning job final 12 months however was beat out by Mayfield. Since Mayfield is the starter transferring ahead, Tampa Bay might transfer on from Trask following this season if the staff looks like it could actually improve on the backup QB place.
Making issues attention-grabbing this season for the yet-to-be-determined winner of the backup QB spot is that John Wolford is again for a second season in Tampa Bay and is aware of the offense most likely higher than anybody contemplating his time spent with the Rams. Wolford had a strong outing in Cincinnati as properly, serving to the Bucs to 2 scoring drives as he went 12-fo- 18 for 131 yards and was sacked twice.
So is it a real competitors for the proper to again up Baker Mayfield? Bowles made it sound prefer it was, whereas additionally declaring that there’s nonetheless an extended approach to go earlier than a winner is set.
“It’s just one sport,” Bowles stated. “They’ve acquired two extra video games to see how this performs out. They each made some good performs, they’d each wish to have some performs again, clearly. Kyle threw it mushy a few occasions and he’s acquired to let it go. John made some good throws beneath when he was beneath strain, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a contest. There’s nonetheless two video games to go. It’s nonetheless shut.”