TAMPA — The Bucs began the week eying a new backup quarterback. On Saturday night, Kyle Trask gave them a reason not to look past him so quickly.
TAMPA — The Bucs began the week eying a new backup quarterback. On Saturday night, Kyle Trask gave them a reason not to look past him so quickly.
The former Gators star, fighting for his job against newly-signed veteran Teddy Bridgewater, proved more than capable in the Bucs’ 29-7 preseason win over the Titans.
It wasn’t just his efficiency passing the football. Trask went 12-of-16 for 129 yards and led the Bucs to a touchdown and two field goals.
It was more about how cool he looked under pressure, standing tall in the pocket and taking hits when he released the ball, proving again to be more of a gritty gamer than a pretty practice player.
Yet Trask still is waiting for an explanation from the Bucs on why they signed the 32-year-old Bridgewater, who despite a cameo appearance in a playoff game for Detroit, spent last fall coaching Miami Northwestern High to a Class 3A state football title.
“I never got a direct answer,” Trask said. “... (But) they told me, or I’ve heard through the grapevine, he brings a lot of experience. I’ve met him and I’ve been around him for about a week now and he’s great, he’s a great person to be in the room. He has great ideas. It’s always a good thing when you can bring in experience in your quarterback room and bring in some extra knowledge. It’s never a bad thing.”
Say this about Trask, he plays better when the lights come on.
On the first play of the game, Track fired a 25-yard pass to receiver Jalen McMillan. A few plays later, he connected on a 21-yard strike to first-round pick Emeka Egbuka.
“It’s great. He’s super mature,” Trask said of Egbuka. “He’s a quick learner. He plays hard. I mean, he’s just a great player to be around and I knew he was going to be fired up to make some plays in his first NFL action.”
When he needed to use his feet, Trask did that as well. He scrambled for one first down and sneaked 2 yards on fourth down for another. He took hits and delivered the ball accurately.
“Those are the best moments as a quarterback, to be honest, when you stand in there and get through your progression and that’s when you get those big hits, when you’re able to stand in there and the guys open for you down the field,” Trask said.
“... It was one of those where the crowd started cheering and I was on the ground and I was like, ‘All right, that probably went well.’ ”
Trask also made receiver Ryan Miller look like an All-Pro. Miller led the Bucs with six catches for 66 yards, including a 21-yarder. Miller was evaluated for a concussion but returned.
“He’s always made plays the past couple years,” Trask said of Miller. “I know he’s someone you can count on in a game-like scenario. … I thought he played great. He knows how to uncover, get open and feel the right spots to get in."
The fact is that playing well in the preseason is nothing new for Trask. He’s done it well enough to stick around for a fourth season after signing a one-year contract worth $2.787 million.
But since the Bucs fancy themselves as a legitimate Super Bowl contender, they clearly didn’t feel comfortable with Trask as the only insurance in case Baker Mayfield gets hurt.
Bridgewater, who dressed but did not play Saturday, gives the Bucs an experienced veteran who has played in 79 regular-season games while Trask has appeared in only seven, throwing just 11 passes.
Trask also doesn’t wow anyone in practice. He admits he can play better in games.
“Sometimes, yeah,” he said. “The main thing Coach said to us was we want to see the plays we’ve all made in practice, but he wants to see can you go make them in a game-like scenario when the lights are on? I think a lot of guys were ready to go make plays when the lights appear.”
Trask has been Mr. August his entire career. No matter how well Trask plays in the preseason, he may not be able to convince the Bucs that he’s a better choice than Bridgewater to win games if Mayfield goes down.
‘I thought he played very well," Bowles said. ”... He made some timely throws down the field to Emeka and one or two to (Jalen McMillan). ... So he did a very good job controlling the offense. He was poised in the pocket. As far as being a gamer, we just need more evidence. But he’s off to a good start this preseason. Practice wasn’t as sharp last week but he came in the game and played well."
At Pittsburgh next week, we may see Bridgewater and what he has left in the tank.
Has Trask already lost the No. 2 spot or is this really a competition?
“That’s out of my control,” Trask said. “I don’t have an answer for you. I’m just going to try and do what I can do and see what happens.”
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Category: General Sports
