Introduction
Baker Mayfield has emerged as a legitimate MVP candidate through six weeks, throwing for 1,539 yards with 12 touchdowns against just 1 interception while completing 66.2% of his passes. His 7.9 yards per attempt showcase his downfield efficiency. In Tampa Bay’s commanding 30-19 victory over San Francisco, Mayfield’s poise and decision-making were on full display, cementing his case as the engine driving the Buccaneers’ 5-1 start and Super Bowl aspirations.
This film study will examine how Mayfield diagnosed the 49ers’ coverage schemes, manipulated defenders with his eyes, and delivered accurate throws under pressure.
All Dropback are linked with the All-22!
First Quarter
Dropback 1
The Buccaneers open with play action on a designed rollout. The 49ers are in a Cover 2 concept, and Baker reads it well. His first look is to Egbuka on a stop route matched against a linebacker, a matchup he likes. He throws with anticipation and accuracy for a seven-yard gain. Smart read, clean mechanics, and a confident start.
Dropback 3
The 49ers rotate into Cover 6, and the Bucs send Shepard on a post, Egbuka on an out, and a deep over from the slot. Baker starts by reading Shepard, but Fred Warner sits right in the window, so he turns it down. Before he can reset to his checkdown, pressure forces him out of the pocket. He escapes and throws back across the field to Shepard, but it’s a risky pass with almost no upside. The 49ers had the perfect call for this look, and Baker would’ve been better off throwing it away.
Dropback 4
San Francisco stays in zone, this time Cover 3. Baker diagnoses it quickly and delivers one of his best throws of the quarter, hitting Egbuka on a deep out with perfect timing and placement. The read, anticipation, and accuracy are textbook.
Dropback 5
The 49ers send six with a corner and linebacker blitz and play Cover 1 behind it. The protection picks it up well, and Baker fires to Otton on an out route. The linebacker makes a great play to undercut the throw. The process was correct, but sometimes the defense just wins the rep.
Dropback 6
The 49ers show a simulated pressure with Cover 2 behind it. Mayfield reads the go route first, but doesn’t move to the out route that replaced the flat defender. He tries to work back to the dig but gets pressured before he can get the throw off. Baker makes one man miss, but drops his eyes instead of keeping them downfield. Two hitch routes came open, but he never saw them. He missed his first read, then panicked under pressure, leading to a sack.
Dropback 7
The 49ers are in Cover 2. Egbuka runs a corner route while the other two receivers run short hitches. Baker reads the flat defender’s depth, sees him sink, and hits one of the underneath hitches for a short gain. Simple, correct, and on time.
Dropback 8
San Francisco busts a coverage, leaving Egbuka wide open on a crosser. Baker sees it but throws behind him, missing what should have been an easy completion for a big gain.
Dropback 9
On third down, the 49ers send five and drop into Cover 1. The stack look confused their corners, leaving Egbuka open again. Baker throws to the right spot, but the two can’t connect. It looks like an overthrow, but Egbuka drifts instead of sitting in the soft spot, throwing off the timing.
End of 1st Quarter:
The run game was clicking early, and pass protection was solid. Baker looked in rhythm and decisive for most of the quarter, but he missed a few easy throws and a couple of potential big gains. The command and poise were still evident, though.
Second Quarter
Dropback 10
The 49ers bring five and rotate into Cover 3. Otton’s hitch draws the linebacker forward, leaving Egbuka open on a slant right behind him. Baker reads it perfectly and hits him in stride for a first down. Excellent design and execution.
Dropback 14
Cover 2 zone with man on Egbuka. His crosser pulls the flat defender out, opening the flat for White. Baker sees it right away and delivers a well-placed throw for a solid gain.
Dropback 15
The linebacker sinks deep to cover the intermediate route, giving Otton plenty of cushion on a stop route. Baker throws on time for an easy 10-yard completion.
Dropback 16
The 49ers line up with five at the line, but disguise who’s coming. They drop the left side and blitz the corner on the right, fooling the protection. A free rusher runs through, but Baker stands tall and hits a wide-open Kameron Johnson for a touchdown just before taking a hit. Great awareness and toughness.
End of 2nd Quarter:
Aside from one blown protection, the offensive line kept Mayfield clean. The screen and run game worked well and consistently put him in manageable downs, allowing him to play efficiently and confidently.
Third Quarter
Dropback 17
Play-action bootleg to the right. The tight end misses his block, leaving a free rusher in Baker’s face. He turns down a risky corner route and tries to hit Tez on an out, but the throw sails. Tough throw on the move, but one he needs to complete.
Dropback 19
Third and long. The pocket collapses immediately, but Baker somehow escapes multiple sacks, sheds a defender, and fights through contact to reach the sticks. It’s an absurd play that captures his trademark competitiveness and strength.
Dropback 20
On the next drive, the 49ers blow another coverage. Tez breaks off his route and runs past everyone. Baker recognizes it instantly and delivers a perfect deep ball for a 45-yard touchdown. Great chemistry and awareness from both QB and receiver.
End of 3rd Quarter:
Pass protection held up for most of the quarter, and the run game stayed efficient. Baker mixed calm execution with the occasional playmaking flair, keeping the 49ers defense off balance.
Fourth Quarter
Dropback 21
The 49ers are in Cover 2. Otton’s hitch route draws the linebacker, and Sheppard’s slant opens up right behind it. Baker hits him in rhythm for a big gain. Excellent recognition and timing.
Dropback 22
Third down, same coverage. Kameron Johnson runs a seam route between the safeties that’s NFL open, but Baker checks it down instead. Safe decision, but it’s a throw he’ll need to take to close games to beat top-tier teams.
Dropback 24
The 49ers are in Cover 4. Otton’s hitch again pulls the linebacker up, leaving Johnson open on a slant behind him. Baker hits him for a key first down. The Bucs have now run this three times and have had big plays every time, and Baker continues to execute it perfectly.
End of 4th Quarter:
The Buccaneers protected well down the stretch. The run game slowed as they milked the clock, but Baker stayed sharp, managing the game with confidence and precision.
Technical Takeaways
- Processing and Poise
Mayfield’s command of the offense is impressive. He consistently identifies coverage rotations and gets the ball out quickly. Even when pressured, he maintains composure and makes smart decisions. - Decision-Making
Baker’s processing speed has noticeably improved. He identifies coverage rotations early and trusts his reads. Even when pressured, he keeps his composure and minimizes mistakes. - Playmaking and Poise
While thriving within structure, Baker still delivers off-script when needed. The third-down scramble and deep-ball touchdown perfectly balance controlled aggression with creativity.
Final Thoughts
Even if Mayfield’s production stems from a system that consistently presents open answers, his ability to execute at such a high level is undeniably impressive. Whether or not he’s the MVP, Buccaneers fans should be thrilled that the offense looks sharp, balanced, and dangerous after the loss of Cohen.
If you liked this I will be posting a All-22 review every week this season!
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