No Competition At Backup QB For Bucs?

Bucs QB Kyle Trask – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

Will Kyle Trask beat out Blaine Gabbert for the Bucs’ backup QB job behind Tom Brady? That was purported to be one of many extra anticipated coaching camp battles this yr.

But it surely seems to be like that battle is over even earlier than it started.

The rationale? Trask’s “gradual, regular growth” as he enters his second yr in Tampa Bay.

And the truth that Gabbert, who has been Brady’s backup the final two seasons, has 4 years price of expertise within the Bucs offense.

After investing a second spherical decide in Trask in 2021, many needed to see him supplant Gabbert because the workforce’s No. 2 quarterback. In keeping with Bucs quarterbacks coach Clyde Christensen the percentages are stacked towards that occuring.

“I feel it’s extra of a studying yr,” Christensen mentioned relating to Trask. “I don’t see him competing with Gabbert this yr. Though you recognize, he can do it it’s simply all the percentages are stacked towards you. You’ll be able to’t rep all people. It’s laborious sufficient to get Gabbert sufficient reps. We’ll put together Gabbert because the quantity two. There’s all the time competitors. There’s all the time somebody on the lookout for you job, however I don’t see that being an both/or. I see Gabbert as being the backup and Kyle being the developmental man. And we’ll rep them that method.

“He wants one other yr. He’s all the time sort of been that gradual, regular developer, proper? In highschool, in school and I feel this follows according to precisely that. … He’s not the man that simply is available in and simply flashes instantly. He has a methodical growth to him.”

Not A Knock On Trask

Whereas followers could also be upset about spending such prime draft capital on a participant that might be No. 3 on the depth chart, it’s not a knock on Trask.

“It completely shouldn’t be,” Christensen exclaimed. “That is Tom Brady we’re speaking about right here. And also you’re speaking about one of many high backups within the league [in Gabbert] – a man who was beginning, a Prime 10 decide within the NFL Draft. You’re speaking about an awfully good participant.”

Trask can have his shot to compete for enjoying time sooner or later and can simply want to indicate the identical persistence he displayed in highschool and school to see it play out.

“He is aware of his time is coming,” Christensen mentioned. “He is aware of what the plan is, and he is aware of he’s going to get his crack. Now he has to ensure he’s prepared for his crack. As a result of it’s no layup, it’s no gimmie that you just’re the inheritor obvious. That’s and earned place and he’ll need to show that he can do it.”

The Bucs plan to make use of the OTAs to get a protracted prolonged analysis of Trask, who will get nearly all of reps over the following month.

“These OTAs are going to be actually vital for Kyle – an evaluation,” Christensen mentioned. “It gained’t make or break him, however will probably be an evaluation – right here’s the place we’re. Right here’s how far we’re from attending to the place we have to go. I feel we’ll get an awesome evaluation. We’ll come out of this factor with an awesome evaluation of Kyle Trask.

Leftwich Wants To See It, Too

Whereas Christensen was extra definitive in his reply, Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich appears to have a extra open thoughts. Trask has been doing all the precise issues behind the scenes, however has but to have it translate on the sector because of the very restricted reps he obtained final yr.

“We like the place Kyle is at, we simply haven’t seen it,” Leftwich mentioned. “None of us – none of us have seen it. The one factor we’ve obtained is preseason reps. I feel he’s gotten drastically higher from the final time he stepped on the grass. We’ve simply obtained to see and he hasn’t had the chance to be on the grass taking part in. It must be a enjoyable summer season for him – offseason for him – the place he’s going to play a bit bit and we’ll get to see him. I like the place he’s at from an consciousness and understanding level. Now he simply has to the touch the grass and have trial and error. Actually that’s the place he’s at as a creating [guy] from the quarterback place.”

Leftwich says he might want to see his development on the sector earlier than awarding any spots on the QB depth chart behind Brady.

“They’re simply taking part in – no one has a spot,” Leftwich mentioned. “We’re simply training and making an attempt to get higher proper now. We’ll play all of that out when the time comes.”

Or maybe Leftwich doesn’t need to shake Trask’s confidence heading into coaching camp by declaring the backup battle over.