Banking On McCown’s “Mobility?”
April 1st, 2014
Yes, the Bucs offense is a big mystery, highlighted by the mystery of what Josh McCown can actually offer as a full-time, season-long starter. McCown hasn’t been handed the keys to an opening-day offense since the Raiders’ in 2007.Interesting emphasis from Lovie at the NFL Owners Meetings last week was directed at McCown’s athletic talents. Lovie was excited about what McCown can deliver outside the pocket.
“He’s a very good athlete. He won’t get the credit for the athlete that he is. He brings mobility to the position, makes good decisions,” Lovie said.
Also during the same chat with Joe and reporters, Lovie talked about how Mike Glennon is the prototypical pocket passer and needs to improve his in-pocket movement. (Joe’s yet to hear any Bucs official speak about anything McCown needs to improve or any flaw in his game.)
Lovie’s words left Joe wondering just how much the Bucs expect McCown to play on the run in their new, “up tempo” offense? That seems like a tough challenge for a 35-year-old QB who is a stranger to the likely season-long punishment he’ll be expected to absorb. Is it even wise to want your old QB to move around much?
Lovie’s focus on “mobility” also had Joe wondering if that’s a tip-off to what kind of quarterback the Bucs will draft. Joe believes it is. And yes, Joe fully expects the Bucs to draft a QB this year. Jeff Tedford will give Lovie is a list of QBs he believes he can mold, and Lovie will get his hands on the first one he can score.
April 1st, 2014 at 10:30 am
Mark Treismans offense was up tempo at times…doesnt mean that the qb will be running all the time.
April 1st, 2014 at 10:40 am
Manziel is mobile and makes plays on the run…
April 1st, 2014 at 10:41 am
“Jeff Tedford will give Lovie is a list of QBs he believes he can mold, and Lovie will get his hands on the first one he can score.”
I agree with the first half of the sentence but not the second.
I believe Lovie & Licht will draft someone other than a QB with their first pick.
April 1st, 2014 at 10:45 am
I dont beleive a guy who has been mediocre(except for that half a season last year)should be relied upon as our full time starter.
April 1st, 2014 at 10:56 am
With our talented and deep RB core, I see Robinson as the best key fitting player/position of this draft. We’re gambling and buying time with McCown. A deep threat WR would be next on my list, then QB. We should have a competent D…
O line was our achilles….we FINALLY have people in place making decisions and righting this ship!
April 1st, 2014 at 11:02 am
Wow, just checked out Josh’s combine results and they are much better than Manziel’s. In fact, Josh had combine numbers that rank near the top for QBs. Do we know how accurate these numbers are? His amazing athleticism would leave me to believe that this is the reason he was drafted as high as the 3rd round even though his college numbers were atrocious.
April 1st, 2014 at 11:09 am
You can’t get much more athletic than a 4.59, 120 broad, and 38 vertical at 6’4″ for the QB position. If Tedford’s offense needs an athletic QB, then they already have their man, Glennon is going to be traded, and an athletic backup QB will be drafted this year.
April 1st, 2014 at 11:10 am
Yes Believe it or not, McCown does have some mobility. He’s not Colin Kap, but if the play breaks down he has the ability to pick up the first down with his legs. I know it’s easy to question this guy’s ability, but don’t underestimate him.
April 1st, 2014 at 11:12 am
Josh McCown as a starter? = Big Mistake
Josh McCown as MG8’s backup? Now we’re talking.
April 1st, 2014 at 11:12 am
I’ve been warming up to the idea of J. Football or at least the idea of another QB.
No thanks to Bortles or Bridgewater. I do like Garopollo and Murray at the right pick.
April 1st, 2014 at 11:12 am
And no, I don’t believe there will be many designed QB runs. He’s good, but not THAT good.
April 1st, 2014 at 11:16 am
Joe says
” (Joe’s yet to hear any Bucs official speak about anything McCown needs to improve or any flaw in his game.)”
Can you imagine the Glazers reaction, after plunking out MILLIONS on a 35 yr old player, that he now has ‘flaws’?
“Also during the same chat with Joe and reporters, Lovie talked about how Mike Glennon is the prototypical pocket passer and needs to improve his in-pocket movement.”
Imagine that. A rookie, with poor coaching, needing improvement with his transition into the NFL.
” That seems like a tough challenge for a 35-year-old QB who is a stranger to the likely season-long punishment he’ll be expected to absorb.”
Actually, the biggest advantage McCown has, to make it a full season, is that his body has ‘low mileage’.
” McCown hasn’t been handed the keys to an opening-day offense since the Raiders’ in 2007.”
Officially, he still isn’t an ‘opening day’ starter. IIRC, both Lovie and Licht have said he is the starter as of the first day of training camp. I’d be willing to bet there are few players who’s status is written in ink. McCown isn’t one of them.
“Jeff Tedford will give Lovie is a list of QBs he believes he can mold, and Lovie will get his hands on the first one he can score.”
If the only one left, at #7, is a Murray, are you saying that Lovie/Licht will gamble their careers with that high a pick, or take their chances on missing him by the second/third round?
I, too, believe they lean towards selecting a QB, but I don’t believe it will happen unless it’s a ‘value’ pick.
April 1st, 2014 at 11:20 am
Being up tempo and getting a QB killed are two totally different things. I don’t recall Nick Foles getting blasted more often than other teams that don’t run up tempo. Peyton or Brady either, I’m not sure they are related in the least bit.
That being said, big-time value pick for the Bucs in round 3.. Wyoming QB Brett Smith, everything you like about Manziel, without all the things you don’t like (Height, off field drama).
April 1st, 2014 at 11:53 am
I can’t wait for the draft to be over with and someone else to draft Johnny so you can move on from your unhealthy obsession with him. Somehow I doubt it will end as every good play or game win he has you’ll probably write a piece about how the bucs could’ve had him.
April 1st, 2014 at 12:02 pm
I’ve been warming up to the idea of Manziel in pewter not because of Joe’s sledgehammer-like writing but because of the way LL is building this team. JM could thrive in this offense with two big bodied receivers who make their money by skying for the ball at its highest point. It doesn’t hurt that he’ll need to run for his life quite often behind a patchwork offensive line. The more I think of it, its hard to imagine an offensive setup other than the Bucs that would suit him any better.
April 1st, 2014 at 1:07 pm
Mike glennon is done in Tampa get over it!! Nike and the team out a hold on the garbage #8 jersey ! ever wonder why you can’t buy them on our shop?? yea because his waste of a third round ass is done in tampa we will be lucky to get a 5th round pick when we traded him after the draft
April 1st, 2014 at 1:12 pm
Hello Franchise ! or lets hope Johnny manziel a Winner
April 1st, 2014 at 1:16 pm
Schiano wasted a pick on Glennon.
We will not be wasting a pick on a QB until Tajh Boyd in the 7th.
We will draft 3 players that are needed NOW.
McCown is our starter. Glennon is a great backup withs starting experience.
We will not draft a QB for the next two years.
We will build defensive depth. FS, CB, DT, LB, OG
Lovie will draft a guard in the second.
And third round will be a defensive player.
April 1st, 2014 at 2:52 pm
@Barry Says:
“…Josh McCown as MG8′s backup? Now we’re talking…”
Step away from the Kook Aide Barry, you’ve had way too much buddy.
April 1st, 2014 at 3:18 pm
I agree with teacherman on everything except a wasted pick on Glennon. Glennon showed enough last year on a disgusting team that was also plagued with some incredibly bad luck…MRSA…kicker’s achille’s tendon…Carl Nicks..
And of course our man made bad luck in Josh Freeman. By any measure Glennon lived up to a third round draft pick. Even his detractors are calling him an adequate NFL backup, and that’s ok for a 3rd pick.
This is another reason I don’t want to go QB in the 1st round. Such a HUGE gamble. The list of first round failures at Q.B. is far too long to type.
I think teacherman is correct though when it comes to how the Lovie Light machine will build the Bucs. We don’t really NEED a QB until the rest of the freaking team improves.
And so will McCown turn out to be another Jeff Garcia…or another Brad Johnson? McCown actually has far superior physical talents than either of these guys.
April 1st, 2014 at 4:56 pm
Lovie had rex grossman and were NFC champions… I think well be fine with josh. I like Connor Shaw as a later round prospect.
April 2nd, 2014 at 9:36 am
WE NEED JOHNNY WE WANT JOHNNY!!!
April 2nd, 2014 at 1:01 pm
StPeteBucsFan Said:
“I agree with teacherman on everything except a wasted pick on Glennon. Glennon showed enough last year on a disgusting team that was also plagued with some incredibly bad luck…MRSA…kicker’s achille’s tendon…Carl Nicks..
And of course our man made bad luck in Josh Freeman. By any measure Glennon lived up to a third round draft pick. Even his detractors are calling him an adequate NFL backup, and that’s ok for a 3rd pick.”
I agree.
“And so will McCown turn out to be another Jeff Garcia…or another Brad Johnson? McCown actually has far superior physical talents than either of these guys.”
Actually, Jeff Garcia moved around pretty well outside the pocket.