Making The Leap
June 9th, 2014
NFL.com believes Bucs QB Josh McCown will “Make the Leap.”
This morning, NFL.com, in an effort to keep eyeballs on the site from now until training camp begins in some six weeks, kicks off a list of 25 players who its various writers believe will “Make the Leap” into stud NFLers.
And in the first installment, Chris Wesseling believes none other than first-year Bucs quarterback and NFL veteran Josh McCown will make the leap from journeyman and backup to a top shelf starter.
When I went back and studied all 224 of McCown’s passes, what first jumped out was his excellent pocket awareness, escapability and willingness to hang in and take hits while still delivering accurate strikes down the field. In his first month under center, McCown made more plays while being hit than Matt Schaub has pulled off in his last 20 games.
Typical of most 11-year veterans, McCown went through his reads and showed impressive ball placement and timing. Atypical of aging quarterbacks, McCown also demonstrated uncanny athleticism, improvisational skills and a willingness to attempt difficult throws in traffic.
As soon as he was within striking distance of the red area, McCown was aggressively attacking the end zone, exploiting mismatches granted by the size and athleticism of Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery and Martellus Bennett.
That is exactly what the Bucs are hoping to duplicate with their Chicago South mentality; have big receivers for McCown and have a Matt Forte-clone (Charles Sims) in the backfield.
And who better to create a Chicago South than Lovie Smith?
Joe just hopes that, as often is the case, with an offseason to study McCown, defensive coordinators have not found his kryptonite.
June 9th, 2014 at 7:20 am
I’m neither a member of the MGM or on McCown’s bandwagon. However given the circumstances I’m not unhappy at QB going into the season.
AGAIN….yes QB is the most important position..he touches the ball on most offensive plays or close to half the game. But he is not out there alone. Does anybody believe Russell Wilson is better than Peyton Manning? In fairness to Wilson his career is still ahead of him but better than Manning?
And so think back not just to Oakland’s Rich Gannon but to Al Davis really genius QB move. He picked up a four year backup from Buffalo who was written of as a “career backup”. Gee have we heard that title thrust on to either of the Bucs QB’s?
Davis traded for the guy who would be known as the “Mad Bomber” Darryl Lamonica and won a championship while Lamonica won AFC MVP.
I’m not on McCown’s bandwagon. But I honestly wouldn’t be even the least surprised if he turns out to be terrific. Alas given the Bucs history he might be a big bust or perhaps a middler like Jeff Garcia.
If you can’t carry some level of enthusiasm for McCown’s potential then you must be pretty negative. Skepticism…yes….panic…no.
June 9th, 2014 at 7:29 am
@ MGM
Glennon won’t be starting for 2-3 because McCown will take us to the promised land. Hmm… Who would we rather have playing QB, the guy who is the best performer under pressure in the league or the worst? Seems simple to me. McCown is the answer for the next few years. I understand that he needs to prove himself over a full season, but people will come around when he’s playing like an All-pro & we’re sitting at like 8-2.
June 9th, 2014 at 7:31 am
*years
June 9th, 2014 at 7:38 am
As a fan, all I ask for is hope. Not blind faith, but hope. Both of out QB’s give me that. Our guards however is another story.
June 9th, 2014 at 8:18 am
VJax and Evans split out wide, Wright and ASJ in dbl TE set with one in motion to the slot, Martin or Sims as a lone back with McCown under center – that has potential for a very sweet set up.
Now, if the line can block and Tedford does not have an NFL learning curve, the Bucs could have a great season and many more.
June 9th, 2014 at 8:42 am
I don’t think that anyone who supports Glennon would have a problem with McCown starting. That was never the issue! I’m going to support whoever starts game 1 of the regular season. Most of us who support Glennon just wanted to see him get a chance. I for one did not see a franchise QB in THIS years draft. Players like Andre Luck only come around every couple of years. When a team purposely stops trying to win games because of a draft pick then you know that player someone to build a franchise around.
June 9th, 2014 at 8:50 am
I think a fair comparison-To where they both were in prospective careers-
(A solid comparison)
Rich Gannon vs Josh McCown
• Both had 10 years of wasted opportunities, before they got it
Both NFL journeymen
• Rich Gannon (MIN, WAS, KAN)
• Josh McCown (ARI, DET, CAR)
Around the 10th year- Both came under the tutelage of meticulous, Innovative minds-
• Rich Gannon (Jon Gruden)
• Josh McCown (Marc Trestman)
Mission Statements to play in both Jon Gruden & Marc Trestman
• Understand Protections
• Understand where your Vulnerable in those Protections
• Footwork
• The Concept
• The Quick Read
We can only hope Josh, has similar production over the next 4yrs
Rich Gannon (after-34)
• 1999* 34 (W-L 8-8-0 ) (CMP% 59.0) (YD 3840) (24-14)
• 2000* 35 (W-L 12-4-0) (CMP% 60.0) (YD 3430) (28-11)
• 2001* 36 (W-10-6-0 ) (CMP% 65.8) (YD 3828) (27-09)
• 2002* 37 (W-11-5-0 ) (CMP% 67.6) (YD 4689) (26-10)
June 9th, 2014 at 8:50 am
I know I certainly wouldn’t be butt hurt if Glennon does not win the starting job. Even if it means losing my bet with Harry.
We’ve gotten all we wanted since January. Which is basically just to not throw Glennon to the side and not give him a chance. Well he is still on the team, and has a chance to win the starting gig. Good enough for me!!
June 9th, 2014 at 8:57 am
Josh McGown (2013)
-Protection, The Read, Footwork /Slide to Protection, The Touch-
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-cant-miss-plays/0ap2000000290506/WK-13-Can-t-Miss-Play-Jumpin-Jeffery
June 9th, 2014 at 9:00 am
*CAR/CHI
*Mission Statements for both Jon Gruden & Marc Trestman Hybrid West Coast Offenses
June 9th, 2014 at 9:20 am
Josh McCown highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJhGgnM8Qo
June 9th, 2014 at 9:45 am
Chicago South offense and Lovie’s Tampa 2 version is a winning combination IMHO…
June 9th, 2014 at 10:59 am
Chris Wesseling says
“…what first jumped out was his excellent pocket awareness, escapability and willingness to hang in and take hits…“
uh huh…if he is willing this year he’ll be lucky to make it to game 4.
June 9th, 2014 at 11:06 am
LUVMYBUCS Says:
“Josh McGown (2013)
-Protection, The Read, Footwork /Slide to Protection, The Touch-
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-cant-miss-plays/0ap2000000290506/WK-13-Can-t-Miss-Play-Jumpin-Jeffery“
(First thing, I really like your posts. Right up there with BamBam)
That was a very nice play, but something stood out to me. I’ve seen very few players get thrown out of games in the NFL, and after seeing the contact the player made with the official, I don’t think he deserved it.
Secondly, Josh McCown still lost that game. In fact, the Bears lost both games to the Vikings.
June 9th, 2014 at 11:12 am
@Buccaneer Bonzai
Thank you brotha..and good point about the officials. Bears defense was horrid last year-Allowed 478 points (29.9/g), 30th in the league
June 9th, 2014 at 11:13 am
How many great players all the sudden flourished after 10+ season? Not very many. The likely hood that we got one is very very small but yet this is the what you are hoping for. I’m not against McCown, if he’s the best we got then I am hoping for the best but you all make all these asinine opinions about Glennon then counter that by saying we got the next Gannon. Ridiculous.
— LONG LIVE THE MGM!!!
June 9th, 2014 at 11:26 am
@Luvmybucs
Thanks so much for that comparison chart. Very informative. I wonder what Lamonica’s numbers look like from his first four years to his last?
June 9th, 2014 at 11:30 am
I actually like Josh McCown. I love that he is Christian and a good leader. I like that he’s come in to say and do the right things with the team. I like a lot of the plays he made last year.
All of that said, he still lost 2 of his 5 starts last year and I have major concerns about his durability.
The durability would not be an issue if our oline was at least as good as the Bears, but our oline, on paper, is the worst oline in the league at the moment. I don’t see McCown surviving hit after hit…even though he is a tough guy.
But let’s consider best case scenario for a minute.
Let’s say we get to the NFC Championship game this year and Josh doesn’t get injured.
Josh McCown was a snails pubic hair from retiring this year. If we get that far what are the chances he decides to end his career on a good note and retires after this season? I question his motives. Did he decide not to retire because of a paycheck? Did he realize that, because of his popularity after the 2013 season he would get paid more than he ever has and he wanted a good nestegg?
I would be very happy getting to the NFC Championship game, but what’s the point if we cannot do it again next year? The man has a 2 year contract and only the first is a lock.
Saying Mike Glennon will be a good replacement is nice, but it doesn’t make it a reality. Sure, he might end up being great, but we’d have to sit through growing pains first. And what if we discover he won’t be the guy the MGM thinks at the end of it? 3-4 years from now?
I hate the thought of spending my money in that time and not having anything to show for it.
Maybe people think I’m being negative. I am. I admit it. I want the best and hope for the best, but I also have been through Gruden, Morris and Schiano without seeing the best (was a fan long before that but Dungy was the best to me). Gruden had a great first year, but after that he blew. Division wins mean nothing if you can’t use them to go all the way.
I want Superbowls. I want to dominate for an extended time, not feel like a yo-yo.
June 9th, 2014 at 11:41 am
@StPeteBucsFan
Your welcome
Daryle “the Mad Bomber’ Lamonica vs Joseph “Willie” Namath.
Now those W/L numbers might shock a lot of folks.
June 9th, 2014 at 11:43 am
@Couch Fan
I’m supporting whom ever we have as a starter-Let the Best Man Win
June 9th, 2014 at 1:37 pm
The main thing I like better about McCown is that he is more mobile and he performs better under pressure. He has more physical tools to work with than and he is able to make plays downfield in situations where Glennon would either have to take a sack or throw the ball away.
June 9th, 2014 at 4:35 pm
yaaaaawnnnn…