Carlson: Garcia, Leftwich Wrong For ’09 Bucs
February 18th, 2009
JoeBucsFan.com analyst Jeff Carlson is a former Bucs QB who now coaches quarterbacks of all ages through his company, America’s Best Quarterback. He also co-hosts The Game on ESPN 1040 AM, Sundays at 11 a.m.
Former Bucs quarterback Jeff Carlson, now a local media personality and quarterbacks coach, says the Bucs must stay far away from Byron Leftwich
Jeff Garcia told the media that the Bucs don’t want him back in 2009. Supposedly, Jon Gruden told Garcia he was wanted back next season.
The front page of Tuesday’s Tampa Tribune sports section says that saying goodbye to Garcia is the right call. I agree, but not for the reasons columnist Joe Henderson offers.
I thought Garcia was the best choice of the rostered QB’s in 2007 and 2008, but Garcia wasn’t the right QB for this team, with Gruden or without, in 2009. His frantic style and quick departure from the pocket (even when he has good protection) destroys so many plays before they even develop that a lot of offensive production goes to waste.
I’m no fan of Gruden’s offensive genius, but there could have been much more production within the design of the play than what we saw because it was broken down by Garcia’s nature to make everything happen on the move.
The re-signing of Luke McCown is a positive, and he should be given a chance to compete for the starting job. We will see if that comes about, but if Tuesday’s Tribune is right and the Bucs think Byron Leftwich is a good fit for the new offensive coordinator’s schemes, shoot me now.
McCown and Leftwich should be trying to start in the same offense like Brandon Jacobs and Reggie Bush would fit in the same style backfield.
Remember how many balls Chris Simms got batted away at the line of scrimmage? Byron Leftwich winds the ball so far below his waist on his delivery that he either takes bigger hits than anyone else or doesn’t throw it at all because he knows how long it takes to get rid of it and that just equals more sacks.
I don’t know who else the Bucs might add to the QB roster before training camp, but here’s hoping it’s not Favre, Leftwich, Garcia, Namath or Unitas.
February 18th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
I hope not. Byron Leftwich has a terrible and SLOW release. OK he filled in nicely at Pitt but I dont want him. I’d rather take a QB with our 1st pick and I dont want that. A starting DT and we cant go wrong. It’s our biggest weakness on our D if you ask me. No depth and whats their is back up talent at best.
Stop the RUN and the Bucs would of been in the playoffs. I said it right after we lost to Carolina on MNF, but I knew that we couldn’t. You can’t get back lost morale that late in the season. They got EMBARRASSED that game.
February 18th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
Carson, with your knowledge of Luke McCown and the available FA’s for the QB position whom would you like to see the Bucs sign to go into training camp(s)?
On the opposite side do you think that any of the QB’s in the 2009 draft, whom would be available for the Bucs (i.e., not Sanchez or Stafford) would be able to come and immediately have a chance for a starting job?
February 19th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
http://www.tboblogs.com/index.php/sports/comments/anderson-trade-a-possibility-for-bucs/