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What are the expectations for the Bucs this season? To the players, they’re the highest they can be. Tampa Bay is coming off a season of high confidence knowing they’re offense is in the conversation with the best in the league but it’s also shadowed with disappointment with a first round playoff exit.
Tampa Bay has gotten off to a good start in training camp. Highlight plays have been made by the offense and defense, which is a good sign that neither side is lacking early. That’s probably in part because the offense specifically has everyone back, plus the additions of Emeka Egbuka and Tez Johnson at wide receiver. And even though Tristan Wirfs is out for a bit, the team is too talented to let a couple of missed game derail them.
Bucs Mentality Is “Be Hungry” And “Be Killers”
While overall there’s excitement over what this team could be. If they don’t take it seriously enough the Bucs could be looking at another early round exit again.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
“We know we have potential. I think everybody in this building knows that,” Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield said. “The roster that Jason [Licht] has built, the chemistry that we have, the standard that [Head] Coach [Todd] Bowles sets each day. Elite is the standard. We realized that we have had mid-season lulls. We have had to scratch late in the year to get into the playoffs. The mindset is to be hungry, be killers, and finish it out early. That is whether the games or the season clinching our division. That is the whole mindset when you stepped on this field.”
Mayfield is right. At times it feels like only the Bucs can get in their own way. That might be why he chooses to think more about correcting the negatives than reflect on the positives. Mayfield and Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow were the only two quarterbacks to throw for at least 4,500 passing yards and 40 touchdowns. But it’s the 16 interceptions that tied for most in the league that bothered him more than anything else.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and OC Josh Grizzard – Photo by: Jeffrey Jones/PR
“It’s exciting knowing that we have the same system,” Mayfield said. “The starters are back, same guys, chemistry continues to build. Anytime you can have that — when you are on the same page – good things are going to happen. But, I’m more focused on the other stuff from last year. Sixteen interceptions, how can I elevate that. And that in turn, helps the whole team out, helps the defense. When we punt it, we want to get them down deep and let them drive. So, I’m more concerned about that specifically.”
Bucs’ Super Bowl Expectations
When asked about if he feels extra pressure to win a Super Bowl for the Bucs with the expectations of this team, Mayfield pointed out that he wants to win a Super Bowl every ear just as much as everyone. The difference is this year feels like more of a reality than it ever has. Tampa Bay just needs to make sure they stay the course to reach it.
“You want to set your own expectations,” Mayfield said. “That is a perception. When you look into our roster from top to bottom, it probably should be the guess and the bet. But we set our own standard, and our standard is we win the division the last few years. We are not just trying to do that; we are trying to take it to the next level. So, when you set the standard, you try and live up to it each day. That is what we are trying to do in training camp right now, elevate each other, get better each day at whatever you are trying to focus on. So yeah, the goal is Super Bowl.”