Is The “Career Backup” About To Be Demoted?
August 16th, 2010
As is always the case, the most popular guy on any football field is the backup quarterback. So Joe understands why Bucs fans have so much love and affection for “career backup” Josh Johnson.
But it seems movers and shakers at One Buc Place may reevaluate their quarterback rotation, perhaps picking up a more veteran backup than 24-year old Johnson, he of the four career NFL starts and 126 passes attempted.
Woody Cummings, of the Tampa Tribune, noted earlier this afternoon, via the TBO Bucs Twitter feed, that Johnson’s poor outing may require the Bucs to make a move for another backup quarterback before the Cleveland opener.
One player who needs to pick his game up is QB Josh Johnson. He’s forcing the Bucs to rethink their plan to keep just two quarterbacks.
Well, certainly Rudy Carpenter is not the answer as the Bucs second-string quarterback. Put that thought to rest right now.
If the Bucs do move to get another second string quarterback, Johnson would have to switch official positions from quarterback to wide receiver or running back if the Bucs are to dabble with a Wildcat offense, which has been discussed.
It’s not like there’s much roster room available at wide receiver or running back as it is.
August 16th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
Yup, knew that one was coming. JJ is too different style wise from Freeman. Would force bucs to have two game plans! Not likely!
August 16th, 2010 at 2:45 pm
“Would force bucs to have two game plans! “, correct, one using a QB, and one..well, not.
JJ just isn’t getting it done.
Brown had a step on the corner and safety (coming over late) and the ball was under thrown and wide left. Pick.
August 16th, 2010 at 2:46 pm
They should call Garcia. That would buy us a year to find a legitimate backup. They won’t though. If not JJ it will prob be rudy.
August 16th, 2010 at 3:00 pm
Additionally, this would give Joe a chance to post many more photos of Carmella.
August 16th, 2010 at 3:03 pm
Is The “Career Backup” About To Be Demoted?=yes
August 16th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
I would test him next week with a couple of plays with other than a no-catching Wr and a running back that is averaging a 1.6 yards a rush. Then decide if he is NFL ready.
August 16th, 2010 at 3:23 pm
Relax the ball was wet from the rain and mud.JJ. will be fine. He just made a bad read on the interception. Did u see that run? He is very instinctive and goes through his progressions fast. Give him a chance. And do you guys remember Garcia leaving plays out on the fieldwhen receivers were wide open to run for peanuts. Think about what you are asking for.
August 16th, 2010 at 3:28 pm
tcaviar…Yeah, we need to give him another shot this week.
August 16th, 2010 at 3:50 pm
He will get more than another shot. There are 3 more games left. Don’t worry tcaviar, they won’t cut him before he has a chance to prove. Personally I like JJ and hope he does well the rest of the preseason. If he does poor we need to find a backup. If that happens I would like to see Garcia. Garcia has been in this system and knows it very well. He may have left a lot of plays on the field, but we are talking about a second string qb who has been to the playoffs with this team and would be good short term insurance should anything happen.
August 16th, 2010 at 3:52 pm
By the way, when I said he knows the system I’m referring to the Chinese fire drill Olsen runs. Chucky’s offense.
August 16th, 2010 at 3:53 pm
I agree Blackmagic, and again, Joe copuld posy more pics of Ms Garcia…Maybe he should give us a preview of what could be…
August 16th, 2010 at 4:17 pm
I was agreeing on the post about bringing in Garcia, not the firedrill. sorry about all the typos today.
August 16th, 2010 at 4:22 pm
If it means more pictures of Carmella, then Garcia is the Man for us!
August 16th, 2010 at 4:38 pm
Here’s a really crazy thought…
…try Spurlock at Quarterback. That’s what he played in college. No one felt he would make it as a QB in the NFL, but consider this:
If the Bucs keep only 2 QBs, keeping Spurlock on the roster would assure we have a floater that can step in if both QBs go down in a game. Kind of like John Lynch was our backup kicker for years.
I know…it’s insane, but I’m crazy like that!
AS TO OUR CURRENT BACKUPS
I think Carpenter is being underrated. I realize this was only a preseason game, and the first one at that, but I was watching how he handled himself. He did all the things JJ doesn’t do.
He quickly works through his progressions…very quickly. He did not ‘stare down’ a target receiver…he looked the other way then suddenly snapped the ball out at an unexpected target.
He also has a high, fast release. He’s certainly improved his timing since leaving Arizona last year. Still not agile enough, but then neither was Brad Johnson.
It would be great to have someone that could go long accurately, but lets be honest, if there was a backup that had the whole package, he would be a starter, not a backup.
August 16th, 2010 at 4:39 pm
@all
Garcia cannot come in. Two reasons:
1) He hates the Bucs now
2) He signed a contract with the UFL…so he cannot sign anywhere else this year.
August 16th, 2010 at 5:29 pm
Please-not Garcia.Carmella is hot but he is not.I still remember that Giants playoff loss where the defense kept us in the game and Jeff was like a dear caught in the headlights when their defense blitzed him.
August 16th, 2010 at 5:35 pm
damn I need spellcheck.I meant defence and deer.
August 16th, 2010 at 6:00 pm
@Lakeland Bob, sorry but it’s defense.
August 16th, 2010 at 6:00 pm
We should demote the GM for re-signing Clayton & Ward.
August 16th, 2010 at 6:05 pm
See why I need spellcheck.It’s hell to get old.At least the damn deer spelling was right.
August 16th, 2010 at 6:10 pm
WESTAMPA..ur a fool
August 16th, 2010 at 7:28 pm
@ tcaviar I agree. If he could ever get over the mistakes he is a scary QB when running.
August 16th, 2010 at 7:56 pm
You can’t bring Garcia in… he’ll do what he did in Oakland and start mouthing off, claiming he should be starting etc. No way the F.O. wants that kind of distraction for Freeman.
August 16th, 2010 at 8:31 pm
@Mr.Hands
Garcia won’t be a problem here. I’m sure the “mouthing off” he did in Oakland probably wasn’t a big deal.
You also probably remember him being upset during 2008 when Gruden was keeping him out in favor of Griese. I’m a Gruden fan, but I have to admit that he screwed around with Garcia the whole season keeping him out like that because Griese was stinking up Ray Jay every game he played.
August 16th, 2010 at 8:51 pm
Sadly, Jeff Garcia really doesn’t wanna be a back up. Might be disruptive for Freeman. Even more Tragically, I still think it’s a good idea if it means more Carmella photos! If she would agree to walk around the stadium in a g-string every game, I would suggest benching Josh in favor of Jeff! And I think Josh is THE MAN! Buuut, ya gotta have priorities, and she is that hot!!lol. Jeff and the Bucs – not a good match, but there are usually a few decent Backup Qbs out there. Find some UF, FSU, or Miami alumni and sign him up! Carpenter played well, but doesn’t have the Arm to make the throws ya gotta make in this league, nice kid, though!
August 16th, 2010 at 8:56 pm
Is Brian Griese off the sauce?
He knows Chucky’s offense.
August 16th, 2010 at 9:04 pm
@Eric I didn’t think of that. You may have something there. Hmmm I wonder.
August 16th, 2010 at 9:08 pm
I think it’s a reach to say JJ will be demoted. It was the first game. The field totally sucked balls. NFL teams play in Rain, Snow and Frozen Tundra, but they don’t play in mud without any grass growing in it. You can’t get a bite when everything slides under your feet. You need 2″ spikes on your cleats, steel. The Dolphins are stupid. The field sucked and was unfit for a Monster Truck race. JJ had fits trying to pass and handle the ball, so did Ward. Everyone on both teams had trouble when they were in that part of the field. Hence Miami’s fumble in the red zone recovered by Biggers. It is what it is, but look for JJ to bounce back.
August 16th, 2010 at 9:22 pm
I think Kareem Huggins should be the backup, seeing how he is the savior for so many.
August 16th, 2010 at 9:25 pm
Chad Pennington or Tyler Thigpen could be a possibility since it is highly doubtful that the Dolphins will keep 4 QBs…. Either one of them has done FAR GREATER accomplishments than JJ which wouldn’t take much….A quality QB on the roster would be an upgrade!
August 16th, 2010 at 9:47 pm
Brian Griese is terrible. If you want 3 ints per game then he’s a great option!!
August 16th, 2010 at 10:04 pm
Griese isn’t that good, but neither is JJ! And Griese would be great for the local economy! Bar Business would have a spike like we haven’t seen Lawrence Taylor used to come to town!
August 16th, 2010 at 10:51 pm
Why would you sign a old-ass veteran QB if you are supposedly “building for the future” ??
It’s not like we have to worry about continuing to win if our starter goes down. We aren’t going to be winning regardless….so you might as well let the young guys like J.J. take thier lumps.
August 16th, 2010 at 11:11 pm
Since when does age matter in a backup QB?!? It’s just a guy that fills in for the short term while Freeman is injured.
I like Johnson and he does have talent. The guy can run and I hope they figure out some way to get him involved in the offense this year (wildcat or something). However, he’s throws a lot of picks and he needs work on his throwing. If Freeman goes down, I can’t see him winning many games for us.
August 16th, 2010 at 11:16 pm
Oh, and Brian Griese is retired btw.
August 16th, 2010 at 11:49 pm
Big Mac said:
“The Dolphins are stupid. The field sucked and was unfit for a Monster Truck race. JJ had fits trying to pass and handle the ball, so did Ward. ”
I’m sure glad you cleared that one up!
Stupid Dolphins! LMAO.
August 17th, 2010 at 2:19 am
# Ben Says:
March 31st, 2009 at 3:21 pm
If Freeman is drafted, I’m moving to oakland.
# Mr Lucky Says:
March 31st, 2009 at 6:27 pm
What’s up with the cloak and dagger crap? The Bucs aren’t going to take Freeman unless he drops to the 3rd round.
# MTM Says:
March 31st, 2009 at 8:26 pm
There are so many QB’s that the Bucs should pick ahead of Freeman. That could be available. They need to stay away from poor passers (60%) completion in a poor defensive conference.
Bucs need defense with the 1st pick.
# Justin P. Says:
April 1st, 2009 at 1:28 pm
I’ve been saying this for 2 months now.
August 17th, 2010 at 2:58 am
Goodfellajay- saying what? If you had a point there, you hid it well
August 17th, 2010 at 8:37 am
@Pete…I remember reading about the UFL before the first game, and it said all UFL contracts include a clause that allows players to leave for an NFL team. It is one of the reasons allot of vets end up their, they are hoping they will be picked up by an NFL team and still be in football shape.
August 17th, 2010 at 8:55 am
If Olsen would just call plays that allowed JJ to play like Vick, instead of trying to make him play like Manning, he’d be electric and probably a top 10 back up. Instead we ask him to sit in the pocket and throw deep with accuracy. Quit highlighting his weaknesses and feed his strengths instead Olsen! Bootlegs, roll outs, play actions, short to medium passes and alot of runs.
August 17th, 2010 at 11:01 am
As I’ve been saying for months, that is the problem with JJ! His skill set is the exact opposite of Freeman. Your Backup should be able to come in the game and continue the Gameplan. With JJ, you need a different Gameplan- and that doesn’t work!
August 17th, 2010 at 11:21 am
TODD COLLINS?
August 17th, 2010 at 3:07 pm
Anybody see the job McCown did for Jax against the Eagles the other night? 11/15 244yds and 3 TD’s. Could have been a solid #2 for us, much better than we’ve got as of now.