Quarterback Baker Mayfield is helping Bucs with his arm and his feet

TAMPA — Baker Mayfield already is nearing a career rushing mark only six games into the season.

But when you ask him about his running style, he insists he's more Shake than Bake.

"I think you can look at the numbers," Mayfield said. "I'm not even close. I'm more of a phone booth guy. Side to side, small, short, quick areas."

Mayfield has 21 rushing attempts for 136 and two touchdowns. That's only 29 yards shy of his career rushing mark for a season. And his 6.5 yards per carry also is a personal best.

But Monday night against the Ravens, Mayfield's feats afoot will pale in comparison to those of Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson, who has already rushed for 403 yards and two touchdowns this season.

"I would not put myself in that category with those guys by any means," Mayfield said. "It amazes me when you get to watch some of these guys on tape. Lamar, Jayden (Daniels), Josh (Allen), the things they can do. Extending plays, just the vision that they have, that's a God-given gift that they have. I'll do what I can, but it's not to that level."

The truth is, the Bucs would prefer Mayfield to remain in the pocket, but they're not adverse to letting him flee if it means escaping pressure or picking up a first down or two.

That said, they want him to pick his spots.

"He's running intelligently," head coach Todd Bowles said. "If everybody has got their back turned and there's a lane there, obviously he's smart enough to take it and understand when he has to get down. He makes some very calculated runs. We don't need him to run, but every now and then they cover all the guys and you have to make a play, and he makes a play."

For the past two seasons, the Bucs have ranked last in the NFL in rushing offense.

But after rebuilding the offensive line by drafting center Graham Barton from Duke and signing former Giants guard Ben Bredeson, the Bucs have improved to sixth in the NFL in rushing offense with 821 yards and are tied for second in the league with a 5.3-yard average.

Credit rookie Bucky Irving (328 yards, 2 TDs, 5.7 avg.) and second-year tailback Sean Tucker (143 yards, 1 TD, 8.9 avg.) for boosting the rushing attack.

But when the Bucs need Mayfield to pick up a first down with his feet, he's usually been up to the task. In fact, he scored the game-winning TD at Detroit on a quarterback draw.

"It's a lot of a mindset," Mayfield said. "It comes down to the mindset of third down, trying to get a first down. Who wants it more in some situations, and obviously still being smart at the same time when I am scrambling trying to get down, and if it's the third down trying to get it."

However, Mayfield has to be more selective with the way he runs and how hard he falls.

Take last Sunday's game at New Orleans. While attempting to scramble for a first down, he fell hard on the football and bruised his ribs.

"Felt like my ribs were through my spine," Mayfield said. "Landed on the ball. Felt really good. Thought I was close to the first down. It would've been a lot cooler if I got it."

Of course, later in the half, when Irving was zig-zagging and reversing field for one of his patented long runs, Mayfield was out there trying to throw a block for him and putting his body in harm's way.

"It did not surprise me," Bowles said. "Baker is a tough guy. Initially, I thought he had hit his head on the turf and got a concussion, but he just got the wind knocked out of him, so I was happy about that. He was trying to make a block, as long as he didn't hurt himself.

"... He's a football player. You've got to make blocks sometimes. Punters have got to tackle, kickers have got to tackle, quarterbacks have got to block or they've got to tackle here and there. It's part of the game. He's a football player, as opposed to just being a quarterback. He tries to make plays."

Sometimes, with his feet.

"He's mobile enough to get the yards we need," Bowles said. "You don't have to be a fast quarterback to be a mobile quarterback. He understands the pocket, he understands when he has to run, and he's great at that."

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