Mariucci: Lovie “Gauging” Switch To Glennon

September 17th, 2014
"Keep grinding, my son."

“Keep grinding, my son.”

Former NFL head coach and quarterbacks coach Steve Mariucci, a former college quarterback himself, offered no defense for Josh McCown’s boneheaded plays yesterday.

In fact, Mariucci was confident Lovie Smith is thinking about making a QB change.

Speaking on the Ron and Ian show on WDAE-AM 620, Mariucci, now of NFL Network, praised Mike Glennon and wondered aloud whether McCown has lost the “magic” he displayed in Chicago in five starts last season and whether Lovie has lost confidence in McCown.

“I think Lovie at some point would probably need to at least consider, you know, ‘Is this our guy for the now and the future, or do we start getting somebody else some reps?’ I think it’s still a little early. They can certainly snap out of this and start winning some games. But I think in the back of his mind he’s got to be gauging this and watching it closely to see if he should make a change, at some point, not yet.”

Joe will make it simple: McCown must avoid the foolish mistakes that have plagued him through the first two regular-season games. If not, then there’s little point to having him on the field, especially if the Bucs are racking up losses.

The Mike Glennon Mob is energized this morning.

(You can listen to all of Mariucci below, via 620wdae.com audio.)

52 Responses to “Mariucci: Lovie “Gauging” Switch To Glennon”

  1. SteveK Says:

    Booya!

  2. Bill T Says:

    He better be entertainining the idea. It’s plain to many of us that McCown can’t lead us far. The biggest question can Glennon be better than his good season last year? If we stay with McCown and go say 4-12, what does that accomplish? Get Glennon in there before week 5. If he plays real well, great. If he doesn’t, draft a QB with possibly a top 5 pick.

  3. robert9 Says:

    at this point i dont know if lovie is a. that smart and b. willing to put aside his ego and admit his mistake

  4. The_Buc_Realist Says:

    I don’t see why Joe and some media are giving Josh McCheckdown a pass for having a below 5 yard attempts. They killed Glennon last year that all he did was check down and now that josh does it they point to his completion percentage!!!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeDzn78MYg
    show me Lovie that you are trying to win and I will root for wins as well!!!!

    Its time for the Cannon!!!!!!

    Go Bucs and Go Beer!!!

  5. rayray1 Says:

    Don’t think Lovie will be quick to yank McCown. Look how long Rex Grossman’s leach was in Chicago. Lovie is cut from the same coaching cloth as Tony Dungy. Great men but very stubborn as coaches.

  6. RastaMon Says:

    Back To The Future ?

  7. Bobby M. Says:

    “McCown must avoid the foolish mistakes that have plagued him through the first two regular-season games”…AND HIS ENTIRE 12 YR CAREER AS A BACKUP JOE.

    McClown is a turnover waiting to happen which is completely counter to Lovie’s style of game management. What good is a guy that is athletic if his stat line reads as follows through two games:

    2 Passing TD’s
    2 Rushing TD’s
    3 INTERCEPTIONS
    2 FUMBLES
    4 SACKS
    75.1 QUARTERBACK RATING

    WE LOST BY 2 PTS LAST GAME BECAUSE MCCLOWN THREW AN INT ON 1ST DOWN IN THE REDZONE……GREAT PRACTICE LEADER, AWFUL DECISION MAKER WHEN IT COUNTS.

  8. Hawk Says:

    If Lovie comes out of the tunnel carrying a ‘Shepard’s Hook’…

  9. biff barker Says:

    This presumption is a greatly underestimates the legendary Lovie stubbornness.

  10. Espo Says:

    I have a feeling we’re going to spend the whole season arguing about which of these two turds is the shiniest.

  11. Greg Says:

    By the time Lovie decides to make a change the season will be over and the players will have nothing to play for.
    How will that give us a true feeling for who Glennon really is?
    Doesn’t seem like a fair shot to me.

  12. BuccaneerBonzai Says:

    Misleading article title. It should be “got to be gauging” switch. That’s what Steve actually said.

    Sorry, but your comment is ludicrous.–Joe

  13. robert9 Says:

    amen greg

  14. BuccaneerBonzai Says:

    Espo Says
    “I have a feeling we’re going to spend the whole season arguing about which of these two turds is the shiniest.”

    I agree. With the condition this team is in, I don’t believe Mike Glennon could do any better whether he is fated to be good or not (probably not).

  15. Architek Says:

    Glennon is not a starter !!!

  16. Tom Edrington Says:

    Keep in mind that Lovie is a large limb off the Tony Dungy tree. If Tony had a football fault, it was that he was terribly loyal. He was loyal to an offensive coordinator that wasn’t producing meaningful offense. Tony wouldn’t change coordinators and that was the genesis of his departure from Tampa.

    You have to sense that Lovie might think about it, but he won’t do anything until the season is well out of hand.

  17. Phillip Says:

    Lol idk if I would want Glennon in there right now if I were apart of the glorious MGM… Seriously with the confusion of the run game going on… Tedford isn’t fully healthy yet to call plays… Defense still looks extremely shaky so he could be playing from behind a lot…

    Part of me wants him in honestly but after this Thursday’s game so he would have 10 days to get ready to be the starter… I want Lovie Licht and the rest of the MGM to realize he’s not going to be anything more than an average starting QB in this league.. The quicker the coaching staff finds this out the quicker we go and get a true Franchise QB.

    BTW just because I don’t believe he can be anything more does not mean I’m not pulling for the kid and hope I’m wrong. His stats from last season can be viewed from complete opposite sides of the spectrum… 19-9 but 40- 50 sacks in 12 games along with the 27th ranked offense and shortest pass attempt in air I believe… Nice QB rating but total QBR one of the worst in the league.

  18. Unislookgoodunislookugly Says:

    Sorry but the QB play is the least of our issues. Our D is surprisingly terrible. Where are the big hits, swarming to the ball? David and Mccoy was supposed to flourish. Neither has. The D was supposed to be a top 5 as said by others including leaders of this site. Where are the 3 and outs, sacks, tackles behind the line of scrimmage, interceptions? This D played much better under the old regime I hate to admit. A stop in the last game and a sure interception in the first game and this team is 2-0.

  19. Joseph Mamma Says:

    I for one thought Glennonn should of been starting from day one. McCown had his chance, or chances to develop into a quality starter, and since it hasn’t happened yet, it probably never will happen. Eventually if the losses pile up, Glennon’s going in period.

  20. johnnytheMOON Says:

    I will never understand how after 1 year folks have Glennon figured out and say he sucks and will never improve …but after 13 years of sucking McCown is the man and will all of a sudden get better …If the crappy McCown play continues put Glennon in and if he has not improved draft a QB .

  21. The_Buc_Realist Says:

    BuccaneerBonzai Says:
    September 17th, 2014 at 8:01 am
    Misleading article title. It should be “got to be gauging” switch. That’s what Steve actually said.

    Sorry, but your comment is ludicrous.–Joe

    @Joe

    LOL, Bonzai has had 4 months or more of ludicous comments, and you choose this one!

  22. Ryan Says:

    I am not nor have I ever been a part of the MGM, but if McCown continues to make these painfully moronic throws this Thursday night, Glennon should be given 10 days of starters reps and start against Pittsburgh. I can confidently say that if Glennon was our starter in weeks 1 and 2, we would be 2-0 right now.

  23. Chef Paul Says:

    “Sorry, but your comment is ludicrous.–Joe”

    Misleading comment. Should be, “Sorry, but ALL your comments are ludicrous. -Joe”

  24. Phillip Says:

    @unis

    If you read Joe ALL summer he has been saying they wouldn’t be dominant right away.. Now no one could predict the injuries we would have 2 weeks into the season… AC MJ GMC Jenkins Foster I feel like I’m missing some plus the injuries during TC with Verner Bowers(lol) Gholston Goldson Jenkins again.. Kinda hard to be dominant when missing that many pieces

  25. RealityCheck Says:

    I’m with you johnny. Seems like the only sensible thing to do. Test what you have and if Glennon isn’t developing as he should, move on.

  26. iamkingsu Says:

    What’s Tedford’s status Joe? I’m willing to give josh one more shot but ONLY if tedford is calling plays because maybe he can simplify things for him like Trestman did last year

  27. bucrightoff Says:

    Glennon has to start after Thursday, assuming they lose (how can anyone assume otherwise?). McCown was brought in to help lead them to the playoffs now, and at 0-3 staring at 0-6 that simply isn’t happening. So why keep wasting time on a 35 year old who has revealed himself to be who he’s always been? This isn’t a team that’s a QB away, there are many holes on this team still (mostly on defense), so assuming drafting a Winston or Mariotta instantly means playoff contender is kind of naive. This team has a long way to go.

    So Glennon has to play because no matter what the people who hate him or think he’s a backup choose to believe, 99% of rookie QBs would have done horribly in the dumpster fire that Glennon was thrown into. We need to see more to determine if there’s a long term starter here. People need to stop acting like Drew Brees/Peyton Manning level QBs are easy to get. But Glennon can be at least as good as a Joe Flacco or Eli Manning and they have Super Bowls. Elite QBs are not the same as QBs you can win the Super Bowl with. I think Glennon can be a guy you can win the Super Bowl with. So let him play and let’s find out.

  28. billy buckaroo Says:

    Week1 – Offense line without Mankins-Offense a Disaster
    Week 2 – Offense line with Mankins-Extremely better
    I’m more interested in how McCown does now that the line is performing much better and I expect it to perform even better this week which should hopefully start things rolling finally for the offense.

  29. johnnytheMOON Says:

    The ‘Mike Glennon Mob ” is nothing more than a Myth like Bigfoot…Fans of this team for 35 years like myself just look at whats in the cupboard and just feel like we would of been better going with Glennon with a possible upside after ONLY 1 season ..hey if the Bucs would of traded for somebody established like a Cutler, Romo type i could understand and agree but i a am not even sure if McCown is the best QB named McCown in the Division …the funny thing is all i heard is Glennon only throws short passes well what the heck has Mccown done so far ?

  30. RCH Says:

    We lose tomorrow he needs to go!

  31. BoJim Says:

    Architek Said:

    Glennon is not a starter !!!

    _________________________________

    Guess you forgot what he had to work with last year. How convenient.

  32. lightningbuc Says:

    but i a am not even sure if McCown is the best QB named McCown in the Division

    ________________

    LOL!

  33. AJ Says:

    I know I don’t have the football IQ of Lovie, Tedford, Licht, the Joe’s, or the “big log”. But what the hell is this fascination with McCown? Or better question…why the Glennon hatred? What did that kid do last year that made you think that McCown would be a major upgrade? I thought Glennon showed promise on a very bad and dysfunctional team last year. And has way more upside than the 12 year veteran. McCown shot his wad last year in that 5 game stretch for Chicago. We know what he is and we are seeing it play out. I say quick hook Thursday night.

  34. Buccfan37 Says:

    I’ve been wanting to see more out of Glennon since day 1 this season. Those fans who still find little to like in his play so far are still down on him and reluctant to even give him another chance. You are not going to change their minds, though a few are coming around watching McCown’s errors. Lovie saying he needs a running QB is trying to damper the criticism on McCown. I’d say Glennon can run if needed and has picked up at least 1 first down I can think of. Let’s see if Glennon can handle the pressure and complete the passes. McCown is probably capable of a good game, he is certainly due one. Go Bucs!

  35. Shane Marco Says:

    McCown has 1/3 the interceptions and 1/2 the fumbles after 2 games in comparison to Glennon’s 13 games AS A ROOKIE ON A GARBAGE TEAM WITH HORRIBLE COACHING. Anybody that cant see that Glennon has way more upside, including Joe’s buddy big duche, is completely blind or knows nothing about football….so I guess that would have to include the current regime.

  36. d-money Says:

    McCown’s INT in the Rams game while stupid and costly did not lose the game by itself.

    There was also a blocked chip shot FG and a Blocked punt that gave the Rams a guaranteed 3 points on top of the 2 times inside the redzone with now real attempts to get a first down.

    McCown hasn’t been stellar but he played better in the last game and to blame all of the teams problems on him is just naïve and making a knee jerk reaction to switch QB’s this early ignores the real issues with the team.

  37. Jim Says:

    Make the change to Glennon so L & L can see he is not the qb of the future. I sure would hate to see the Bucs stay with McCown this year then decide to go with Glennon next year. This would mean TWO wasted seasons back to back.

    Make the change so now so the Bucs can address the qb position in the off season, once again.

  38. Warthog Says:

    Preach it, Jim. McCown is a waste of time for this franchise. Let’s answer the Glennon question now so we can move forward and draft a qb next year if we need to.

  39. Shane Marco Says:

    If not for McCown’s pic, we very well may have won that game, that being said I certainly recognize the other isuues with the team. Lack of pass rush, even when we were healthy, lack of turnovers created, inability to get off the field defensively, even on third and long situations, and bad play calling.

  40. Soggy Says:

    Hey iT’s a buisness right? If we do not play glennon soon, {our so called future}, to find out if we do need to draft or not, Thats piss poor buisness and management needs to be BEOTCH SLAPPED>> If that makes me a MG MOB member than so be it.. It’s got to be better than JM MOB.. MAMA Says alligators are so angry because they have all them teeth and no tooth brush.. Your’s truely the water Boy..

  41. Arealbucsfan Says:

    Im not part of MGM, but if Glennon is “our guy” then he shouldve been starting game 1. Time to put him now and what he can really do. I honestly think he’s our best option.

  42. Tackleblockwin Says:

    Glennon needs to start. Like him or not, he needs to be evaluated more on game day…with other first teamers…playing games that matter.

  43. Abuc40 Says:

    It is a known fact that if you pressure ”Josh the circus McClown” he will make mistakes. Everyone knows this on every NFL team. This is why we need to air the ball out, whether it be him or Glennon. Give our big guys a chance to go get the ball. I would much rather live with an interception where one of our guys had a fighting chance to get the ball. Chances are we could get a P.I with all the new rules. Lovie and all his puppets says the same thing ” We want to be balanced” Newsflash Lovie, you are not balanced because you run more than you do pass! Welcome to the new NFL Lovie, You have to pass to set up the run. My gosh do something to at least give you team a spark. An end around, a reverse screen, a flea flickr, i mean something, anything! If you are running 2 wide receivers a tight end and a running back on one play, someone has to be open. Everyone cannot be double teamed. It comes down to you quarterback finding that person. New NFL rules you cannot touch the receivers pass 5 yards, Use your physical players you have in your passing game. This is a talented team that is not be utilized the way they should.

  44. Louis Friend Says:

    McCown was brought in to ‘win now’. Well if you’re not winning eventually he gets cast aside. It’ll happen. HOPEFULLY it will. Not that I believe in Glennon but I’d like to see him get a shot so as to not walk into 2015 with him as the new unquestioned starter. All the while ignoring the draft for a franchise QB.

    Putting Glennon the field is a must if McCown keeps losing. NOT because Glennon is the answer, but to validate we need a new QB in 2015.

  45. billy buckaroo Says:

    Highly unlikely that you will see Glennon in there until Lovie is confident the offense line can pass block and protect.
    When they get to that stage and IF Lovie thinks he needs a qb change even with the line doing a good job he will make the change.

  46. bob in valrico Says:

    agree with d money and would add worst coaching since schiano.both interchangeable losers so far.same conservative loing style. you play to win the game. would rather see team try to win and lose,than watch tentative
    coaches trying and failing not to lose.

  47. JonBuc Says:

    Wow this is depressing….I agree that it’s Glennon time as early as week 4 but more likely during bye week. I hate that I’m already looking forward to the next regime. Lovie-ball is nerve-wracking to watch and leaves a feeling of hopelessness. I know it’s only two games, but we’ve seen this movie before. Over & over & over again.

  48. JonBuc Says:

    And Lovie won’t draft a quarterback high IMO….Probably McCoy’s replacemnt instead.

  49. BuccaneerBonzai Says:

    The_Buc_Realist Says
    “LOL, Bonzai has had 4 months or more of ludicous comments, and you choose this one!”

    Coming from the record holder, I take that as a compliment. Btw, say hi to your mom…I forgot to leave a note this morning.

  50. ToesOnTheLine Says:

    Screw it I won’t open with “I’m not part of the MGM but..”, I am and have been absolutely 100% part of the fictitious JBF Glennon Mob and have no reservations about it. Best case scenario for me is McCown continues to be McCown, Atlanta goes up 20-0 at the half, someone wakes Lovie up on the sideline and tells him “you might want to score some points coach, we’re almost in the 4th quarter!”, Glennon steps in and throws 3 TD’s…no make that throws 2 TD’s and runs one in (Lovie likes those running QB’s after all) and the Bucs win 21-20. Oh how sweet a Bucs victory in Atlanta and with Glennon leading the team with. 4th quarter come from behind victory would be…the agony of Joe and Big Dog having to give Glennon credit for engineering a 4th quarter comeback win would be priceless! 🙂 Then again this is Lovie, so he’d probably put McCown back in the following week and lose again 🙁

  51. Bobby Says:

    I have to agree that if we lose Thursday night we’ll be making a switch to Glennon. It wouldn’t make sense not to if Lovie really feels that this is his QB of the future. You have to find out if you have the QB you want or if you need to be looking elsewhere. One thing is for sure….we know the QB of the future is NOT McCown so it’s either Glennon or you have to go after another next year.

  52. buctebow Says:

    McCown has certainly contributed to our losses through his bonehead decisions turned into interceptions, but he did not lose those games on his own. As one example, Goldson could have won the first one for us with an interception and in the second game, if the Oline could block on special teams we would have not had a blocked field goal and would have won that one as well. There are many examples of how the whole team was responsible for losing. Everyone contributed. Blaming the QB alone and putting in Glennon would not solve anything, in fact it would make it much worse. At least McCown can run the ball, Glennon could never do that and that is a requirement with the offense that the Bucs are calling.