“Clearly So Much Worse”
January 5th, 2015
There was more than one Sunday when Joe watched turnover-prone Josh McCown bumble his way through. It was both sorry and painful, if not revolting.
The Bucs’ head coach really thought this guy could lead a team to a playoff run? Really? Seriously?
Sometimes, Joe wonders what the heck was being passed around in Lovie Smith suburban Chicago basement.
Starting McCown over Mike Glennon sure made Joe scratch his head. And Joe was not alone. Vince Verhei, of FootballOutsiders.com, ran the numbers and watched the tape and said it was appalling how far apart the two quarterbacks were this season. He ranked McCown the second-worst quarterback in the NFL.
In McCown’s case, he was clearly so much worse than Mike Glennon that there is no logical explanation for why McCown should have been starting by the end of the year — unless the Buccaneers were deliberately tanking for the top pick in the draft, in which case, hey, mission accomplished. Glennon should make a decent enough backup for Marcus Mariota; McCown has somehow accumulated 12 NFL seasons under his belt and should be ready to enjoy a long retirement. (No, seriously, Josh, please retire.)
If the Bucs draft a quarterback, then Joe would be very, very surprised if Lovie got rid of McCown. If you think about it, McCown is the perfect bridge to a rookie quarterback.
If the Bucs do draft a quarterback, sitting him for a year sure as hell would be prudent and very smart long-term. Sit the guy for the season, barring a rash of injuries. Give him time to learn and adjust to the NFL.
January 5th, 2015 at 6:27 am
Joe your correct that would be the prudent thing to do. But since when has anyone ever accused Lovie of doing anything prudent when it comes to the. bucs?
January 5th, 2015 at 6:48 am
Here we go with this Mariota penciled in at number 1 ish smh. Keep them coming with your Jameis threads Joe!
January 5th, 2015 at 6:53 am
The most logical move is to use Glennon as the bridge. McCown had his chance and failed miserably.
It’s doubtful they keep the Cannon though.
January 5th, 2015 at 7:01 am
Joe, there’s a long-detailed scouting report at NFL.com by Bucky Brooks pitting Winston vs. Mariota AFTER the bowl game. It’s worth a read and probably a repost.
January 5th, 2015 at 7:09 am
pay mccown 5 million or< pay glennon like 700k
January 5th, 2015 at 7:29 am
How could Glennon back up Mariota?
I mean, if the Bucs draft Mariota, you’d like to think they would be embracing at least some aspects of a style of offense that Glennon seems uniquely ill-suited for. I hate to say it, but McCown might be a better backup in that case, and Glennon could be a bit of trade bait to get them another pick somewhere later in the draft?
January 5th, 2015 at 7:31 am
Perfect bridge QB? I don’t think there will be a fan base if McCown starts for another year.
January 5th, 2015 at 7:47 am
So Joe is discounting that McCown played an entire season without the benefit of a true offensive coordinator. Beating a dead horse w/ the McCown thing. Time to move one. We’re going to likely use our first pick on a QB, McCown will be the bridge until mid season – and then the franchise moves in another direction.
January 5th, 2015 at 7:49 am
McCown has to start another year sadly. It’s not worth putting any rookie behind that utter piece of crap line, we don’t need to David Carr the franchise QB. Sacrifice McCown’s body one more year while the rookie learns how not to play QB from watching McCown.
January 5th, 2015 at 7:57 am
Lovie had to justify bringing McClown down here and paying him all that money. BULLHEADED
January 5th, 2015 at 8:18 am
If the bucs draft Mariota, than yes sit him and let him learn. If the bucs draft Winston, start him. I want Mariota but Winston’s game is pretty much better than McCown right now. Lol
January 5th, 2015 at 8:26 am
I’ll take “lovie is that stupid” for $100 alex
January 5th, 2015 at 8:33 am
McCown… a bridge?!? Really, Joe?
As I see it…
First of all, the Bucs MUST get a QB coach who will fit the type of QB the Bucs want to go with. THAT eliminates the need for McCown (as QB).
*IF* the Bucs were to draft Winston, then Glennon would be a better (cheaper) bridge, with the possibility of still winning a few games.
*IF* Mariotta is the pick, then getting a Vick or RGIII (if available) would make more sense than McCown.
BTW, with all the conjecture of what the Bucs will do with that first pick, has anyone thought of what would happen to it’s value if either Mariotta or Winston were to stay in school for another year? Now you have only ONE first round QB available. The value of the Buc’s pick would, seemingly, sky-rocket.
For that matter, the opposite could happen if BOTH were to stay another year. Who is out there, that a team would want to trade up for?
A LOT can happen in the next few months.
January 5th, 2015 at 8:41 am
@Brandon,
Good article. IMO, right on every point. Thanks for the heads up
January 5th, 2015 at 8:55 am
A bridge to a rookie QB? He was awful, so I guess we want to lose every game until the new rookie starts? Cut McCown, he was terrible, not even worthy of being a backup. His leadership is suspect at best. He is nobody I would want a rookie QB learning anything from.
January 5th, 2015 at 8:55 am
yea after seeing mccown play I would have gladly dealt with captain checkdown instead but only problem is glennon wasn’t smart or didn’t have enough experience to run an offense that didn’t have a offensive coordinator and theres no other reason that you sit the better quarterback other than not wanting to get him killed….oh there is the obvious idea that glennon would have taken double the sacks mccown did, I hope we get a good draft pick for him
January 5th, 2015 at 8:58 am
Mariota is probably texting Chip Kelly to see if he’ll trade up for him before deciding whether to declare his eligibility. Then again thinking back to the trade that happened between the Giants and Chargers (Eli Manning/Phillip Rivers) it worked out well for both teams in the end…maybe something like that happens this year if both QB’s declare their eligibility?
January 5th, 2015 at 9:07 am
Never know bucs4lyfe Glennon may end up being the Bucs starting QB next year? Lovie seems to know only one style of football (assuming he can accomplish it) and that’s field a top 10 D/ST and roll with a QB who protects the ball well. Some fans will lose their mind if it happens, but I could see Smith and Licht going pass rush and OL his year in the draft and rolling with a guy like Glennon.
January 5th, 2015 at 9:11 am
McCown is mobile when he wants to be….it seems to me that he would be a good bridge to Mariota in Mariota’s new system……either that or bring in a FA that fits the new OC’s system.
I also think the plan has been to trade Glennon all along.
January 5th, 2015 at 9:24 am
The perfect bridge QB and the best and most helpful developer of a young, rookie quarterback is Matt Hasselback. He has successfully done it before, has no long-term aspirations and is a solid QB on the field.
January 5th, 2015 at 9:29 am
All these QB questions are being asked of the OC candidates….so we will have the benefit of tremendous input from many experienced coordinaters……that is one advantage to our looking for an OC…..
January 5th, 2015 at 9:31 am
McCown can be mobile when needed TBF because he can’t read the coverage.
He simply waits too long for the play to develop.
We need to move on.
But it’s Lovie’s call and I doubt he’ll make the change.
January 5th, 2015 at 9:47 am
Again, a first round first pick QB will not “EVER” have the luxury to sit and learn with a Head Coaches job on the line each and every year. Because of media involvement these days, the day of giving regimes time to implement their plan has been thrown out the window. Hell, if it weren’t for the Glazer’s standing strong and not bending to media pressure this year, Smith could have been one and done.
So with that in mind, what makes you think that Smith or any HC for that matter, that selects a QB with the first pick without an elite QB already on the roster, would risk not starting that QB right away? They don’t have time to groom players anymore unless they don’t mind doing it for the next regime. Give coaches at least 3 year guarantees and that may change but in today’s hostile media world forget about it.
January 5th, 2015 at 9:48 am
@ biff barker
I was merely comparing McCown’s ablities vs Glennon….my preference is that we have an entirely new QB corps….and that is possible with the new OC…..I do know that McCown would have to take a huge paycut.
The top FA contract in 2014 is Matt Moore at 5.5 mil (McCown’s salary)……
The only FA that I think could start for us for a year while Mariota develops is Matt Hassleback….but this QB class insn’t rich and there are many teams needing QBs.
Bucs, Bears, Titans, Bills, Jets, Cardinals, Rams
Hasselback will be in big demand…..and the trade stock of Glennon will be up!!!
January 5th, 2015 at 9:53 am
Do we really have to endure another year w/ Mccown at QB, even if as a “bridge” ? Usually what happens in this scenario is the “bridge” QB starts 0-3 or so, and then the fanbase chomps at the bit and the rookie is inserted (see, Jacksonville). If they want a good bridge type QB who actually could come in that isn’t on the doorstep of retirement and gives us at least a viable chance to win, might I suggest Matt Moore?
January 5th, 2015 at 10:00 am
I like Matt Hasselbeck and all, great mentor, etc etc…but he’ll be 40 in September. I think he’s closer to being a QB coach at this point than a bridge QB to actually start games while a rookie waits.
January 5th, 2015 at 10:08 am
I think we should let the drafted QB compete with Glennon and the winner starts. The Bucs have almost surely ruined Glennon for now, I feel bad for the kid for being put in a bad franchise, but hey that is the NFL life right.
January 5th, 2015 at 10:38 am
They sat Vinny Testaverde and that was a disaster for everybody. Not again thanks.
January 5th, 2015 at 11:02 am
QB Competition during the off season then put the best QB in on day one..
January 5th, 2015 at 11:12 am
Mord makes an excellent point. Mike Glennon has some ability but not as a backup to Marcus Mariota. Their skill sets are polar opposites. Mariota can be trained to sit in the pocket longer but he’ll never be the statue Mike Glennon.
I think McCown is a stand up class act even if he’s not a good QB. He probably has a coaching future in front of him if he wants. Lovie can probably get him to take a tremendous pay cut to be a backup and QB Coach. If the new OC feels comfortable with McCown.
Marcus or Jameis should both start and start very early. We don’t have playoffs on the line, we don’t have a better QB ahead of them.
Draft Marcus and design an offense that will utilize his talents and disguise his liabilities.
January 5th, 2015 at 11:13 am
It’s not like McClown has some sort of insight on our offensive scheme next season. We MUST dump that trash and get us a different veteran as a “Bridge” . Hell Jason Campbell is better than McClown and he’s been running for his life since the Redskin days. There will just be too many respectable candidates available to mentor a new QB that are leaps and bounds better than McClown and they won’t cost you but barely league minimum. Hell, even Orlovsky will be available for crying out loud. Fans should not be subjected to the Pis-Poor play of McClown any longer. One season felt like an eternity.
January 5th, 2015 at 11:18 am
It all really depends on what OC we get and what playbook we have. The Bucs could ruin either Mariota or Winston to be fair. I wouldn’t put it past the Bucs to do that, but I’ll wait and see who the OC is first.
January 5th, 2015 at 11:25 am
Skyline,
Even though I’m a Marcus fan and believe he should be our first pick, I think the Bucs have a far better chance of ruining him than Jameis.
If Jameis keeps his head on straight he can survive anything. Marcus will need a team with an offensive plan that includes more than run-run-pass-punt get the defense back on the field as soon as possible because in Bucball it’s the defense who are the stars not the offense.
I’ve pretty much come to the conclusion that Jameis is more fool proof…as in Lovie proof than Marcus, but Marcus is a better face of the franchise/teammate.
If we plan on playing Lovie/Dungyball then I’m off any bandwagon anyway. I’m sick of 15-10 football games. They’re ok in a tight playoff contest but watching them week after week as in Lovie/Dungy ball gets really old.
Put some freaking points on the board!!!PLEASE
January 5th, 2015 at 12:01 pm
StPete, any offense that uses Run-run-Pass-Punt is going to ruin a QB. That stuff doesn’t work, but we didn’t have an OC this year either, we had a QB coach calling plays. Lovie tanked the team on purpose. I agree I would love to have a team that puts up more than 20 pts a game. With Lovie though, I just don’t see it.
January 5th, 2015 at 12:20 pm
Draft MARCUS and let him learn for a year. Difinitely get rid of McCown because he’s the worst QC in the league. Make Glennon the starting QC and he will be great as long as there is a new line upfront.
I blame Lovie, completely, for the past year and his awful choice at QC. His pick of Evans was great but everything else was a bust. Really, if we have another year like this one, he and the whole staff will be gone!
January 5th, 2015 at 12:21 pm
I love the idea of McCown starting again a better oline and he can make some throws and his dumbass will take stupid sacks and you know sometime in the season he might just get injured enter Mariota. Then McCown can just chill on the bench and like help him out with that vet knowledge. He been around a long time.
January 5th, 2015 at 12:45 pm
As soon as losses start piling up, they will panic and start the rookie, before he’s ready. We all know this.
January 5th, 2015 at 12:46 pm
“Joe wonders what the heck was being passed around in Lovie Smith suburban Chicago basement.”
i agree joe, whatever it was he consumed in that basement that made those free agents look good to lovie last year, he ought to use some of his 5 year contract to buy some and share with all the fans.
January 5th, 2015 at 9:33 pm
Quit hating on josh, that had to be the worst o-line in history, and that o-coordinator , don’t get me started, if u want 5 yrd passes put in glennon, the guy would take 2 steps back from center and just wing it, but to take advantage of vjax and Evans , u need a tough guy that will stand in there and let them get down field. Speaking of tough I thought josh was going to the hospital after that det game. So thank you josh mccown for ur service this year, and u true bucs fans can’t tell me he wasn’t giving it 110%
January 5th, 2015 at 11:36 pm
I won’t shed any light or opinion on what the bucs will do this offseason and with the #1 pick, I just can’t wait for next season. I’m as always hopeful.
January 6th, 2015 at 8:30 am
Sometimes I just can’t believe how short sighted Bucs fans can be. You sling such venom and vitriol about Josh McCown’s poor play at QB, but not one of you can honestly say how much better that gutless wonder Glennon would have been as the O-Line got worse with each quarter of football played. You could insert any QB in the history of the NFL behind that wretched excuse of an O-Line, and unless you chose Otto Graham or Fran Tarkenton, your QB plays miserably. Everything starts and ends with your O-Line. Including the career of your QB. Unless you’re playing flag-football, any QB will get crushed, and then condemned by this fan base. Un(CENSORED)ing believable.
Get a (CENSORED)ing Offensive Coordinator. Get a (CENSORED)ing better O-Line. Then let’s see about getting our QB of the future in here without worrying about getting him crushed before he develops.
January 7th, 2015 at 2:29 am
If Smith even thinks about keeping McCown around he should be Fired , that’s right if it were up to the Fans he would already be gone !!!!! McCown was such a joke everyone is still wondering what the heck was Lovie Smith thinking , it looked like he made the decision at the start of the season to Tank it and go for the 1st round pick in 2015 for his sake I sure hope he knows what he is doing but if he keeps McCown around that would prove that the man has no clue !!!!!!