Bucs Have A New Backup Quarterback
March 15th, 2012
Yesterday when Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik said that the free agent grab the Bucs were in was “just about at the tail end,” there was a little wiggle room short of an absolute closing of the door from Dominik’s statement.
As Joe hinted at earlier this week, the Bucs have gotten journeyman quarterback Dan Orlovsky to sign on the dotted line, per Buccaneers.com.
Orlovsky, whose seven previous NFL seasons have been spent in Detroit (2005-08), Houston (2009-10) and Indianapolis (2011), is coming off a strong finish to the 2011 campaign in which he started the Colts’ last five games and led the team to its only two wins of the season. He appeared in eight games overall in Indianapolis, completing 63.2% of his passes (122 of 193) for 1,201 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions, leading to a strong passer rating of 82.4.
This pretty much signals the end of Josh Johnson as a Bucs quarterback. A cool dude and a smart guy, Johnson is still looking for his first win despite five starts. In none of his starts did Joe have any confidence he could pull out a win.
Unless Johnson, also a free agent, agrees to be more of a “Slash” kind of a player playing all sorts of different offensive positions, it’s a good bet Bucs fans have seen the last of him in a Bucs uniform.
March 15th, 2012 at 11:03 am
The Benn’d around play would probably work (better) with JJ running it. He’s super duper quick. OR if we ever actually threw the ball to him when he lined up as a wideout then him being a decoy might actually… you get the idea.
March 15th, 2012 at 11:07 am
Sullivan probably chose this, knows what he would like to work with, if–God forbid–Freeman went down.
March 15th, 2012 at 11:15 am
I’d like to see what JJ could do as a return man.
March 15th, 2012 at 11:18 am
Paraphrasing Dom, “This team is now looking primarily at the draft.” Doesn’t mean they’re done with FA–there’s still the post draft period if nothing else–but the Bucs’ lack good depth and I would be surprised if they didn’t address that with some 2nd tier FA’s.
March 15th, 2012 at 11:24 am
@mjmoody…exactly.
March 15th, 2012 at 11:33 am
Dan Orlovsky was the starter for 4 years at the University of Connecticut while they moved into the Big East conference. That being said I think that Coach Schiano has had some experience with seeing Dan Orlovsky play and having to defend against him. Must have liked what he seen, being 6’5″ 230 don’t hurt either.Has been a back-up for 6 seasons and has sown some moxie when he has gotten a chance to play.
Welcome to Tampa Dan Orlovsky.. here is your clipboard.
March 15th, 2012 at 11:35 am
darn small keyboards…. sown = shown
March 15th, 2012 at 11:39 am
Lofton is a tier 2 FA with a tier 1 price tag. Once he realizes he’s too high, maybe we can sign him. I won’t hold my breath though. It would appear FA for us is all but over.
March 15th, 2012 at 11:40 am
I just have to say once again that the players we got in FA are not only quality athletes but just seem to be great people too. The interviews on buccaneers.com where they have ‘one on ones’ with Nicks, Wright & Jackson just show the belief these guys have in where this team is going and are very well spoken and relatable. Fans should have no problem liking these guys both as players and as men.
March 15th, 2012 at 11:40 am
Oh, welcome Dan.
@RustyRhino – agree
March 15th, 2012 at 11:44 am
Welcome to Tampa Bay, Dan!
Glad we got another arm in here and glad its a veteran player.
March 15th, 2012 at 11:51 am
Excellent signing – I follow a couple of national sports bloggers who were reporting that Dallas had signed Orlovsky – meaning we beat Jerry Jones to the punch!
I agree that Sullivan had input, but Greg Schiano coached against Orlovsky in college. This is not JUST a move to lock up a solid backup (who’s actually won NFL games coming off the bench), this guy can push Josh Freeman!
Not sure how many more signings there will be, we still have to sign Ronde…
March 15th, 2012 at 11:51 am
Stupid why not take garrard
March 15th, 2012 at 11:51 am
Going by your logic then Joe Freeman losing 10 games in a row should be cut.
Is JJ the next Payton manning. NO
JJ needs a legitimate oportunity.
One thing is for sure I know Doug Williams knows more about QB’s then you, me, all of the last years coaching staff and all of this coaching staff and without question he has always maintained Josh has the ability to start in this league.
I tend to agree with him.
He will end up in San Fran and prove me right.
March 15th, 2012 at 11:58 am
kujolw
Garrard hasn’t played in a over a year and has had recent back surgery! So, not so stupid!
March 15th, 2012 at 12:03 pm
Bobby Says:
March 15th, 2012 at 11:15 am
I’d like to see what JJ could do as a return man.
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I would love this here…especially since Spurlock is aging now.
On topic:
I’m going to get this off my chest…and then I’ll fall in line.
This signing SUCKS. Probably the worse signing in the history of Mark Dominick. I would rather have Orton, who at least can win some games. He was willing to go to Dallas to back up Romo, so he would have been willing to back up Freeman.
The thought of Freeman suffering an injury and Orlovsky playing is a nightmarish thought.
RUDY CARPENTER has more potential! In fact, I bet Rudy beats him out for the #2 spot in camp!!!!!!
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Breathing deep now
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That said…welcome to the team. I hope you over-achieve and prove me wrong.
ON Josh Johnson:
I think he would be good on kick returns AND as a Wide Receiver. I recently (yesterday actually) sent him an email to ask if ANY teams have made contact…but have not gotten a response yet.
I think these teams are missing a great opportunity in not at least bringing him in for tryouts.
March 15th, 2012 at 12:11 pm
Bucbuckeye Says:
March 15th, 2012 at 11:51 am
This is not JUST a move to lock up a solid backup (who’s actually won NFL games coming off the bench), this guy can push Josh Freeman!
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Have you even look at his profile???!
Not only could he not break 3,000 yards in 20 games, he averaged 1.4 FUMBLES in each of his 5 starts last year!
You really think he had a hand in winning last year??? Against the Titans he had 82 passing yards and -3 rushing yards!
“Push Josh Freeman” my arse!
March 15th, 2012 at 12:30 pm
JJ should have converted to WR when he first entered the NFL.
March 15th, 2012 at 12:32 pm
Pete
I thought you were one to embrace Buccaneer moves?
March 15th, 2012 at 12:43 pm
J J wil prove all the doubters wrong.
He still is young.
He is a quarterback, not a receiver , not a punt returner, not a running back.
He will get it done in this league.
http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Why-I-keep-talking-about-Bucs-QB-Josh-Johnson.html
March 15th, 2012 at 12:48 pm
@OAR
I am…but sometimes I need a day or two to adjust my thinking 😉
March 15th, 2012 at 2:51 pm
Pete
Me? Sometimes just a drink or two!
March 15th, 2012 at 3:17 pm
I like this signing. Better QB than JJ. Plain and simple.
March 15th, 2012 at 4:08 pm
I liked Rudy Carpenter too. Now, Justin Pawloski will have some company with Orlovski 🙂
Both are Polish !
March 15th, 2012 at 7:06 pm
Dropped the ball not signing Bennett and getting rid of K2. At 2.5 mil that was reasonable.
March 16th, 2012 at 7:20 am
Marques. You are delusional. JJ is terrible.