Textbook Backup Blunder?
September 23rd, 2014
It’s gets pretty high energy when notorious chatty former offensive-minded head coaches Brian Billick and Steve Mariucci join forces for their podcast on NFL.com.
One of their topics today referenced Josh McCown, among other notorious backups who went on to flop when handed their own team.
Billick talked about how it’s a tradition for the ages, from the hype around the immortal Cody Carlson running Warren Moon out of Houston, to Rob Johnson mania in Buffalo, to recent Kevin Kolb and Matt Flynn flops.
“Everybody gets all giggly, ‘oh, this guy’s going to be good,'” Billick lamented.
And then he said McCown might be this year’s bad news: “We saw Josh McCown, 13 touchdowns, one interception. Some people thought, ‘Hey, get rid of Jay Cutler; Keep Josh McCown.”
Billick noted how McCown’s bruised thumb might give him an incomplete right now, but the message from Mariucci and Billick was clear: backups don’t usually pan out. Mariucci explained how watching Flynn in practice left him and many others around the league wondering how anyone thought he was starter material.
Of course, Kirk Cousins and Drew Stanton are this year’s hot understudies after three weeks.
Joe’s confident the Redskins won’t part with Cousins, and Joe sure is hopeful a Drew Stanton Mob doesn’t emerge from moonlight shadows of Sand Key and the old oak trees of South Tampa.
September 23rd, 2014 at 2:30 pm
Hire Mark Helfrich & draft Marcus Mariota…
September 23rd, 2014 at 2:30 pm
Some players are career backups for a reason…
September 23rd, 2014 at 2:30 pm
The only “mob” I want to join is the MMM, The Triple M, 3M… Marcus Mariota Mob!
September 23rd, 2014 at 2:39 pm
The 1st pick Mob!!!
What a embarrassment!!!
September 23rd, 2014 at 2:49 pm
It’s almost as funny as listening to fans insist a former high draft pick with lots of raw athletic talent but a flop on other NFL teams “just needs to be coached up” by the staff on whatever team said fans cheer for.
September 23rd, 2014 at 2:52 pm
Kirk Cousins is the real deal. Josh McCown unfortunately is not. Teams don’t let go of real deals, but Chicago let McCown go. That should’ve been a sign. Washington will hang onto Cousins come hell or high water. Or trade offers.
September 23rd, 2014 at 2:52 pm
^^^ Vince Young is one of my favorite examples though Josh Freeman gave him a run for the money with delusional Vikings and Giants fans eventually seeing the light. Get ready for Pryor to fill that role for delusional Bucs fans if he gets signed
September 23rd, 2014 at 2:53 pm
How about the “Just Get One Damn Win” Mob!
September 23rd, 2014 at 2:53 pm
Ya know, I’m kinda glad that we’re finally going to get high enough in the draft to be able to get someone that has a really good chance of being a real superstar, landing David in the second notwithstanding. Wwe’ve gone too long hanging out on the lower rungs of the league but still getting picks in the 5-15 range. At least now we can get the legit best player in the draft and hope that he can bring about some better play.
It’s obviously a loser’s mentality but our team is a loser so it fits.
September 23rd, 2014 at 2:55 pm
Let me amend my comment: teams EXCEPT FOR THE BUCS don’t let real deals go. Reference Doug Williams, Steve Young, etc, and fast forward to recent history and reference Michael Bennett.
September 23rd, 2014 at 2:55 pm
@Jeagan – I’m with you there. I’d be cool with 1-15. Don’t want to be lumped in with the 0-16 Lions team but still bad enough to get the #1
September 23rd, 2014 at 3:03 pm
sure wish we had Bortles mob
September 23rd, 2014 at 3:10 pm
is the top 3 pick and top 7 pick not high enough to get good talent ?
September 23rd, 2014 at 3:11 pm
I can’t blame the Bucs for going after McCown. He was the best of the (pretty bad) free agent QB class. And we all said, “He can’t do any worse than the #32 ranked offense, can he?”
September 23rd, 2014 at 3:15 pm
This was obvious from day one. Just because McCown got hot for 5 games under Marc Tresman doesn’t undo a 12 year history of being a career backup.
September 23rd, 2014 at 3:16 pm
The one that got away for me was Bridgewater. I think passing on him (as far as he fell) was a colossal screw up. We could easily have drafted him at 7 and traded up a few spots to get Benjamin.
September 23rd, 2014 at 3:17 pm
The other thing people forget – before you hang McCown – he’s working without an OC or anyone else who understands this offense very well.
The dude is lousy, but he’s been forced to fly solo. I don’t think a lot of QB’s are going to succeed in this crap.
September 23rd, 2014 at 3:29 pm
A 12 year nobody getting the job just handed to him blew his opportunity. Who would of thunk it? (sarcasm). Thanks lovie.
September 23rd, 2014 at 3:39 pm
I am on the kum ba ya crowd until lovie leaves or stops the brainfarts..
September 23rd, 2014 at 3:40 pm
How bout the woulda coulda shoulda mob?
September 23rd, 2014 at 3:59 pm
I think the Bucs are great!
They can still turn it around!
September 23rd, 2014 at 4:04 pm
yeah. woulda coulda shoulda our way to being a decent team. The hard part is now what, that we suck major gigantic rhinocerous balls.
September 23rd, 2014 at 4:09 pm
That sure sums up Tampa bay fans. Exactly how the conversation went before bobby Rainey subbed for Martin last week
September 23rd, 2014 at 4:13 pm
Mama say’s she does not want me playing that foolsball so I can’t help.. Sorry Buc fans..
September 23rd, 2014 at 4:15 pm
Whatever happened to Buc the Haters? He had such lofty expectations for a Bucs winning season. 12-4 and a playoff spot, hey where did you go? it’s not that bad, just much worse. It’s early yet. Most everybody thought the Bucs would contend.
September 23rd, 2014 at 4:19 pm
Austin Davis from Sr. Louis will be the next up and comer. He beat us and shredded the Cowboy. Like to see him in action against better defenses but so far he is hardly the third string talent Joe points him out to be. lost his best WR against us in the first half and still beat us.
September 23rd, 2014 at 4:24 pm
Not sure about that article.
If McCown or Glennon was playing in Chicago this year as backup or starters I think they would both be doing much better- MUCH
Same kind of receivers
more “seasoned” line
whats the difference then?
Coaches and scheme
Hmmm
September 23rd, 2014 at 5:16 pm
@billy buck
The drop off on offense when comparing Trestman and company to Lovie Smith and Arroyo is hilarious.
Glennon/McCown – even Peyton Manning would be dead meat running this game plan. Manning might fire Arroyo personally.
September 23rd, 2014 at 5:27 pm
@louis
Manning would certainly be calling audibles most of the game
September 23rd, 2014 at 5:31 pm
I wonder why Billick didn’t mention the biggest blunder of them all. Releasing a Super Bowl champion qb in favor of Elvis GrBac. I guess it doesn’t count since he wasn’t a backup when signed.
September 23rd, 2014 at 5:50 pm
this about sums up the QB situation, and the coaching staff situation the last couple of years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmdCaDPfYo
September 23rd, 2014 at 6:42 pm
At this point, I would take Mark Sanchez. At least he made it to two Championship games.
September 23rd, 2014 at 6:47 pm
Is Sanchez bringing an elite Rex Ryan defense with him too? Cause without them Sanchez is a 5-11 type guy.
September 23rd, 2014 at 7:01 pm
This Mariotta talk is hilarious. 5 weeks ago these folks wanted Jameis. But. He dropped a F bomb on a college campus. Now he’s persona no grata.
That silly. Mariotta isn’t half the QB Winston is. Just draft Jameis. He’s a winner. He’s got it all. Something Tampa has NEVER had. What does Mariott have Winson doesn’t that’s actually valuable?
September 23rd, 2014 at 7:12 pm
Winston will not be a great NFL QB. Sorry Kalind. I have family and friends who are Noles fans who all agree that his behavioral issues will trump his abilities. I do not get to see to much of Mariotta since he plays out west but I do not here his name in negative situations. Just my opinion though.
September 23rd, 2014 at 7:40 pm
FLBoyInDallas-
even Lovie Smith let McCown go in chicago. i don’t know what Lovie saw last year, but it left him believing an interior OL and an above average QB are not necessary to build lasting success in the NFL. maybe he also discovered the beauty of drinking your way through an NFL sunday during his year off…
September 23rd, 2014 at 8:27 pm
And now you guys see why Jon Gruden tried his damndest to trade for Brett Favre?
September 23rd, 2014 at 9:01 pm
@rayjay
Big Ben says drafting QBs with behavior issues is stupid and will never win you a Super Bowl in the NFL.
September 23rd, 2014 at 9:10 pm
what happened to all of the Johnny Football chatter?
Remember when he was suppose to be the answer….
I hope the bucs just run the wild cat with Raniey and Martin
September 23rd, 2014 at 9:28 pm
Winston is just too risky to draft with what will be the 1st pick overall; lots of issues with the kid and yeah I know that if the kid was a true “gangsta” someone from the affluent Bama/Auburn/Gainesville boosters would have dug it out by now and leaked it to the media. However there is enough smoke around the kid to tell me he is simply too immature to expect him to excel as a franchise QB in the NFL. I am not saying he is destined to be a Crying Leaf, Akili Smith, Tim Couch or a Jamarcus Russell but lets face it for every Peyton Manning drafted you have 3 or 4 of the above mentioned busts dragging down a franchise who wasted a very high first rounder on a so called ‘can’t miss” qb…. The odds are stacked against Winston; I say go MMM and take Mariota (still a dice roll) or trade down and get an extra 2nd (and perhaps more) and draft the marquee player at another position of need (which is about anything on the current Bucs roster).
September 23rd, 2014 at 11:07 pm
“What does Mariotta have Winston doesn’t that’s actually valuable?”
Character
September 24th, 2014 at 12:59 am
Most of the QB needy teams drafted their guy last year ! We’re in prime position!! Marcus Mariota Mob!!
September 24th, 2014 at 1:47 am
Rich Gannon would be a notable exception I think. Oh and a guy named Tom Brady.
McCown played against some lousy defenses in that run he had. Pretty easy to pad numbers then.