How has Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield done against pressure?
When the Vikings open up their season Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium they'll not only be debuting rookie first-round receiver Jordan Addison, but also Brian Flores' much anticipated new-look Vikings defense.
Last season the Vikings, under then defensive coordinator Ed Donatell, allowed the second most yards and fourth most points of any defense in the NFL. Part of the defenses woes in 2022 has been credited with a lack of willingness to rush the passer. The Vikings finished with an 18.2-percent blitz percentage, 24th in the league, and had a pressure percentage of just 19.5-percent, 23rd in the NFL.
Those woeful blitz numbers are expected to pick up under Flores. The 42-year old defensive coordinator is known for his blitz-heavy defenses he employed as head coach of the Miami Dolphins. In his final year in charge in Miami, the Dolphins' defense had the second highest blitz percentage and third highest pressure percentage in the league.
Dolphins blitz % under Flores
2019 - 31.6% (11th)
2020 - 40.8% (2nd)
2021 - 39.6% (2nd)
Dolphins pressure % under Flores
2019 - 16.5% (32nd)
2020 - 24.8% (11th)
2021 - 28.5% (3rd)
Dolphins pass rush grade under Flores
2019 - 56.1 (32nd)
2020 - 72.2 (14th)
2021 - 73.4 (14th)
Minnesota didn't show off their new defense much in the preseason so there's a lot unknown as to how well a heavily overturned roster will perform when the real action starts. Their first test will come against a quarterback who has been pretty bad against pressure throughout his career.
Mayfield's undoing on the field has been his inability to deal with pressure, seeing his career 61.4 completion percentage plummet to 45.7 percent when he's pressured, throwing 22 touchdowns to 24 interceptions while under duress.
Baker Mayfield passing grades under pressure
2018 - 58.8
2019 - 61.5
2020 - 41.0
2021 - 35.8
2022 - 30.8
Compare those abysmal grades to when he has a clean pocket and the game plan for the Vikings becomes clear.
Baker Mayfield passing grades when kept clean
2018 - 86.1
2019 - 76.3
2020 - 91.2
2021 - 74.0
2022 - 63.5
If the overhauled Vikings defense can bring the pressure Sunday against a Tampa offensive line, decimated by injuries, then Flores will have passed the first test of the season ahead of brutal early stretch of games.
