Lovie: “Players On The Team, Everyone, Looks To The Quarterback”
October 4th, 2014
Josh McCown was hired by Lovie Smith to be the face of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, to be a leader immediately, to be “the guy” Lovie could trust starting a new regime.
Speaking to the New Orleans media this week, the Bucs’ head coach offered more insight into how he views the QB position.
A lot of people will look at quarterback as an obvious position of leadership, how much does your team look to the quarterback for guidance and leadership when gets into a bind?
“I think they definitely look to him for leadership when you are going through adversity, when you are not dealing with adversity also, I think just in general. Players on the team, everyone, looks to the quarterback no matter what you’re going through. He sets the tempo with everything, and most quarterbacks like that, they realize that and they’ve been in that position all of their lives. Similar to how a Mike linebacker is, the guys that normally bark out the signals. Mike linebacker, quarterback, they are in control of the game most of the time.”
Lovie, of course, had to make a decision when he took over: Trust Mike Glennon, draft and develop a rookie, or go buy a QB he trusted to lead and not flush games away with stupid mistakes.
We all know what happened.
And now we know Lovie is being forced to watch and see if Glennon has the intangibles Lovie sought in March.
As Lovie said, “everyone” is looking to the quarterback. That’s the NFL. If Glennon plays well, there’s no reason to strip him of the No. 1 job. But if Glennon struggles Sunday and the Bucs lose, then they’re 1-4 with three division losses, and the season is thoroughly toast. So there’s no reason not to continue with Glennon to get him experience.
Lovie should just go all-in with Glennon and let the kid benefit from that blessing — with everyone watching.
October 4th, 2014 at 12:43 am
I think MG8 will play well. The last game had to be a confidence booster for him and the whole team as well. NO is playing poorly so we have a legitimate shot to win this. GO BUCS!
October 4th, 2014 at 1:59 am
I am a Glennon fan and expect big things from him over the next several years! GO BUCS!
October 4th, 2014 at 2:02 am
I don’t count on NO leaving cow patties on the field, I want to see our guys get their confidence level back up and get on a roll. Another win on the road and this year is not completely lost. Lovey listened to our sports radio when he got to town and probably on Iheart before that and got scared because he believed the crap being spewed about Glennon. Hate is infectious. He’s starting to get his eyes opened. Just hope he is a big enough man to tell Glennon he was wrong. Glennon has certainly been a man about the way he was treated. I know Joe that if Glennon lights it up Sunday you would say on the JoeBuc’s hour you were wrong. Give anything to hear the wild K9 admit he was wrong about anything. GO BUCS GO!
October 4th, 2014 at 5:00 am
The focus on Sunday as far as quarterback will not be solely on Glennon. If the Saints lose the bigger story may be Drew Brees and the Saints. Typical David and Goliath story. No one is particularly expecting the Bucs to win. Brees can not lose to the Bucs. I say leave Glennon in as much as possible this year, draft a QB next year for competition, and keep McCown as a QB coach/player at that time.
October 4th, 2014 at 5:22 am
I want to believe that Glennon will do well, but I am still finding it hard to expect big things from a Lovie Smith offense. Sure, we won last week, even though we had no buiness doing so, but there were still so many things wrong with the team. Many people forget that we only had 64 yards of total offense in the first half. Luckily, the defense put us in a good position to get that first TD. I’m just tired of having a mediocre to poor offense. Hopefully they let Glennon open it up a bit, like they did in the second half of last week’s game. We need to be the aggressor, not the “run 1, run 2, throw 3” team that everyone expects.
October 4th, 2014 at 5:44 am
What are we supposed to read into the fact Lavonte David was stripped of his role as the “defensive QB”? Disturbed me then, disturbs me even more in light of this statement. Would be curious to know if something happened behind the scenes.
October 4th, 2014 at 7:04 am
You guys need to slow down before you start giving up on our season!!!
It is not out of the question for every team in the NFC South to be 6-6 going into the final stretch of games!
The NFL is crazy, players get hurt, teams fall apart
we are NOT going to fall apart
we are going to UNITE WITH HEART!!!
Who’s with me?
POSITIVE ENERGY affects our team! its called QUANTUM PHYSICS!!
GO BUCS!!!!
I love my team like they are MY TRIBE!!
In good times and bad, I am a BUCS FAN!!
All you haters? Go away!!!
Its a POSITIVE DAY in TAMPA BAY!!!
October 4th, 2014 at 7:18 am
What he said.
October 4th, 2014 at 7:28 am
Even if the Bucs go 0-3 in the division at the Saints that does’nt mean the season is lost. The team could win the next 3 division games and split 3-3. That may not win the division, but it’s too early to say. Atlanta is 2-0 and leading the division, so they are the early and likely winners of the NFC South. No other division foe of the Bucs plays 3 out of their first 5 in the division. Yeah, losing at the Saints puts the Bucs at a big disadvantage to win the division. After the winless 3 game start few give the Bucs a shot at making the playoffs. Most had the Bucs around .500 before the season started. That’s still how I expect them to finish the season, and after the start that would be a fine finish.
October 4th, 2014 at 7:55 am
Interesting is Lovie laying the verbal groundwork “QB leadership/is looked up to”…after the bye each QB McClown & Glennon will have 3 starts. He should have a preety good sense of what the PLAYERS react to as which QB is the leader of the team.
October 4th, 2014 at 8:09 am
The Amendment 2 ad just alienated me.
October 4th, 2014 at 8:25 am
Lovie will realize Glennon is just a better qb than josh but he’ll never own up to his horrible evaluation of this team, it’s quarterback, o line and josh experiment. It should have been a quarterback competition from the very beginning
October 4th, 2014 at 8:43 am
What Bonzai said. +1
October 4th, 2014 at 8:49 am
What Bonzai said. +2
Slippery slope Joes……political paid advertising….
October 4th, 2014 at 9:31 am
What Bonzai said… -4, see I cancelled you out. I think that the reminder of the Amendment 2 is highly worthy of mention and the importance of a YES vote is crucial to freedom of medical choice. It is not a political question. The deck is stacked against freedom of choice with over 60% of voters needed for passage, while a majority is any number over 50%. This is Florida’s government against the people. Thank you Joe for bringing this to the forefront. I would of liked to respond under the article but no comments.
October 4th, 2014 at 9:47 am
This is Joe introducing a political endorsment into a Sports Blog…..there is all ready enough disagreement.
As far as pot goes….it should be decriminalized ,not legalized,which is nothing more the the governments getting into the TAX action under the guiese of ‘Medical” just as they got into taxing gambling Lotto “education”..pot has been mainstream since the 60’s and has not caused any harm other to personal lifes via the legal system
October 4th, 2014 at 9:55 am
So if Glennon plays well, keep him as starter.. If Glennon stinks up the joint, keep him as the starter.. Huh.? So we never get to see Mccown play with an improved line and an offense that has finally been opened up somewhat. Yeah that’s a fair deal. If Glennon loses the next 2(highly likely), I think we all know he’s not the answer. How many games does a guy need to know if he’s the guy? If we’re 1-5 going into bye the team needs to go back to McCown to finish season, draft a QB, then let Mccown start next year while the rookie learns. Glennon is not improving as a player.
October 4th, 2014 at 10:30 am
“The Cannon is only an effective weapon when you fire it”…..#FireTheCannon!
October 4th, 2014 at 11:04 am
Gooberville… If Glennon plays well in the Saints and Ravens games and still the Bucs lose those games, why would you take him out and start McCown? That makes no sense at all. So it’s all on you Glennon, win these next two games or you’re benched, no matter how the rest of the team plays.
October 4th, 2014 at 11:08 am
“Glennon is not improving as a player” says the Head Goober of Gooberville.
October 4th, 2014 at 11:54 am
I think Glennon will be fine as long as our OC can dial up creative plays and throws the ball. I realize the run is a very important part of the game, but if your down 14 points in the first quarter, which has been the story of this team for the last five years then you can’t sit there and run the ball on first and third downs. In that situation you have to give your team a chance and open things up.
As long as Glennon is not restricted, I like his chances
October 4th, 2014 at 3:11 pm
Why the political AD Joe! I’m sure, you being a respected journalist, will now post an AD for the other view point. Right? By the way. We already have medical marijuana in Florida. Amendment 2 is a Trojan Horse for those persons who all of a sudden have a “mysterious” ailment and need to smoke marijuana to ease their “pain.” Yea right! Pain……. now I have a bridge to sell you.
October 4th, 2014 at 5:05 pm
I’m as liberal as they come and even if I agree with the ad, I agree with those saying you probably want to stay away from political ads on both sides of the spectrum. We come here for (Bu or football related) sports and to get away from the craziness of the rest of the planet as such. Seriously don’t want to have political flamewars muddying the waters between us fans who should be united in one thing…support of the Bucs! Divisive stuff Joe…just my two cents
October 4th, 2014 at 5:37 pm
Warren. Agree with you 100%.
October 4th, 2014 at 6:23 pm
Lovie brought in the best QB free agency had to offer – someone with experience that he knows who had a great few games last year. He didn’t want a QB controversy distraction from the getgo so he named McCown the starter and went with it. Besides – from all accounts – McCown looked better in camp than Glennon. He sure looked better in preseason games. But McCown lost 3 games and looked not very good to bad in all 3 (as did the whole team). Glennon came in and looked pretty damn good in his 1st start (and seemed to lift the team to play better as well) – so its his job to lose at this point. Pretty obvious to all I would think despite Lovie’s unwillingness to verbalize that and make it “official”
Joe – you surely knew there was no way closing the comments on the Amendment 2 ad was going to keep comments from being made elsewhere.
Had comments been open – I would have commended you for using your platform to put attention on an important issue facing all Florida voters in Nov.
Those complaining this is a “political ad” should know the difference. If Joe had run an ad for either bozo running for Governor – then I would understand the disdain. (BTW – there is a third candidate)
If you truly don’t believe that a natural plant which helps a large # of medical conditions without side effects and no deaths should be an option for Drs to prescribe for their patients – then you are either biased by decades of false propaganda and/or need to do some additional research.
Tbucsfan Says:
October 4th, 2014 at 3:11 pm
” By the way. We already have medical marijuana in Florida.”
Um – not really. Only one strain of cannabis is currently “legal” and Charlotte’s Web, while very helpful for some conditions, is not a viable option for the majority of health issues for which MMJ is prescribed. I’m guessing you fall into the “need to do more research” group
October 4th, 2014 at 6:36 pm
Not “using a platform.” A political outfit had a check to cut. No soapbox.
October 4th, 2014 at 7:10 pm
Well – I’m sure that keeping the lights on at JBF is something all here can get behind. (or at least tolerate if they don’t like it.)
October 4th, 2014 at 7:15 pm
@Gooberville, the offense wasn’t “opened up”, Glennon just took the shots McCown wouldn’t, and didn’t turn it over in a panic.
There is no reason for McCown to ever see the field in a Buc uniform again other than an injury.
If Glennon struggles he should still be given an opportunity to improve. Playing McCown is absolutely and completely pointless. We have 12 years of evidence on that.
People forget that in a great many ways Glennon is still a rookie. Hasn’t played a full season, Hasn’t had a full offseason getting reps with the #1s, and id in his first year in a new system. He SHOULD struggle somewhat. He has to learn. Some of you guys act like he sprung fully developed from the Brow of Zeus or something. Expectations are ridiculous.