Judging Josh McCown
November 9th, 2014
Once upon a time, about six weeks ago, Lovie Smith proudly provided insight into how he evaluates quarterbacks.
”You do judge quarterbacks on what they do late [in games],” Lovie said while he praised Mike Glennon’s finishing of the win in Pittsburgh.
So what about Josh McCown’s crunch-time screwup today?
Trailing 27-17, the Bucs had 1st-and-goal from the Falcons’ 4 yard line with 1:56 remaining and three timeouts. That’s a ballgame, folks. Next, McCown tossed a needless and costly interception in the back of the end zone. He threw too low to Vincent Jackson.
The Bucs were in the game, and McCown threw them out of it.
Sure enough, the Bucs then burned those three timeouts, forced a Falcons punt, and McCown underthrew Jackson and was picked off.
In the fourth quarter, McCown was 10-for-13 for 127 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. He also ate four sacks, some of which should have been throwaways.
Look, Joe judged McCown after the first loss to Atlanta. With an 0-3 record, Joe judged McCown to be the backup for the rest of the season.
Lovie disagreed.
But what does Lovie think now, using his own criteria, “judging quarterbacks on what they do late?” The cold reality is McCown saved his worst mistake for the red zone at a key fourth-quarter moment.
Joe sure hopes it’s back to Glennon next Sunday in Washington. There’s just no point to continuing the McCown experiment.
November 10th, 2014 at 12:04 am
Maybe Josh knows that? Which would explain his emotional response to what he had already declared his “last chance” (according to the Fox pregame chatter)…
November 10th, 2014 at 12:04 am
No, I think Lovie will stick with McCown at least for the next game or two then depending on the results we might see a return go MG but to yank McCown after just one game would make Lovie look ridiculous, wont’ happen.
November 10th, 2014 at 12:05 am
Lovie didn’t hand pick Mike Glenon, It’s that simple.
It’s becoming quite clear that Lovie is going to finish up 2014 with a clueless QB,and a rookie offensive coordinator. The rest of us are wrong for being unhappy… Because Lovie sees progress with his hand picked dumpster fire!
November 10th, 2014 at 12:05 am
“Glennon sucks! He’s the worst QB EVAR!”
“No way man, McCown sucks! Give Glennon a chance.”
“You’re dumb!”
“I’m not dumb, you’re blind!”
That’s about how I expect these comments to go. Throw in some stats for good measure.
November 10th, 2014 at 12:08 am
What do we do as fans?
I am sure 75% of us posting on here can do a better job as head coach or general manager than the two clowns we have.
When the Glazers wanted a winning caoch they went out and got Gruden.
We need to have that same type of mentality to players.
There is no QB in the Draft which I would waste a First round pick on.
I would trade our pick for multiple picks. I would get Marshawn Lynch and Brian Hoyer, draft O-line and defense.
November 10th, 2014 at 12:10 am
At this point it’s a disservice to any QB you throw in there behind that offensive offensive line.
November 10th, 2014 at 12:15 am
I find it comical that there is even a debate. Both are not good, they are back ups. Did you watch Aaron Rogers against the Bears in the first half? You think either of these are still worth arguing over.
Joe Mamma – u have the same post all the time: fire Lovie move forward with Glennon. Tough to argue with you on Lovie but please get off Glennon he is brutal. Arizona has win with 3 QB’s this year, we lucked out in Pittsburg when Glennon sailed 4 attempts the drive before. I can think of at least 3 QB’s who will go in round 1, we better get 1 of them.
November 10th, 2014 at 12:16 am
@Joe
I don’t get to watch buc games living in VA and dont get toseeccown’s awfulness cowncbut I refuse to go through another year with josh at the helm. I’m hearing rumblings of Manziel tell lovie he better not dare. He’s going to have a top pick for free so why give up one for johnny?
November 10th, 2014 at 12:18 am
Seriously, who cares anymore Joe?
Jets won, we lost… We’re in the Top 3 for ’15…
The Backup QB vs Backup QB debate is dead…. All that matters is if its gonna be Winston, Mariotta… or a trade for Johnny Football..
Clevelands got 2 1st rounders… I say we swap em for one, give up a 2nd for Manziel…. Then drop Glennon off at their front door and run off before they can say no!
Reunite Johnny Football with Godzilla!!!
November 10th, 2014 at 12:20 am
Lmao I didn’t even read this article or watch the game or know how it ended. Josh had another redzone blunder?? Lmfaoooooooo. This guy is the absolute friggin worst
November 10th, 2014 at 12:20 am
Joe, what is your beef with Josh? Quit being so prejudiced, defense lost this game, not Josh. You really think Glennon could have done better? Know what, if you honestly think Glennon would have been better and you pin
the loss on Josh, the hell with your blog. You lost a reader, please be objective. Opie would have gotten his cookies stolen from him today.
November 10th, 2014 at 12:21 am
Joe can you ask Lovie why most of the fan base now thinks that we are the worst team in the NFL and if he agrees with that assessment?
November 10th, 2014 at 12:23 am
The Ether…I concur 1000% at this point!
November 10th, 2014 at 12:26 am
Trade for Johnny after the season though if you have to.
November 10th, 2014 at 12:31 am
whats Joe beef with Josh??????? I watched the last 6 minutes of the game . Same beef I have with Josh he isnt very good ..Lovie Smith is starting to remind me of Raheem Morris babbling baffoon
November 10th, 2014 at 12:31 am
@iamking
You don’t watch but still comment anyway on someone’s play? Interesting, there was more to the game then that play: our defense sucks, when we do stop the other team this year something yellow always appears. Our punter would get cut from almost any top notch local High School team. Our oline seems to get at least 2-4 false starts a game at home. It’s basically the same game in 6 of our 8 losses.
November 10th, 2014 at 12:40 am
“Trailing 27-17, the Bucs had 1st-and-goal from the Falcons’ 4 yard line with 1:56 remaining and three timeouts. That’s a ballgame, folks. Next, McCown tossed a needless and costly interception in the back of the end zone. He threw too low to Vincent Jackson.” – Joe
On that play, Jackson stepped out of bounds and was the first to touch the ball. By rule, that makes it an incompletion, so the pick should not have been the result. The refs reviewed to see if the ball touched the ground, but it should not have even reached that point. The play was dead as soon as Jackson touched the ball.
AND THEN the refs called for a review of that play just as the next play was completed (for a Bucs TD). Again, by rule, once the next play starts, a review is not permitted. Yet, of course, the refs ignored the rules.
Aside from the obvious holding and pass interference plays that went uncalled against the birds, the refs made so many bad calls in this game that they should all be fined or fired. Lovie won his reviews for a reason. Had he more reviews the Bucs would have won.
November 10th, 2014 at 12:41 am
Bogiedr Says:
November 10th, 2014 at 12:20 am
Joe, what is your beef with Josh? Quit being so prejudiced, defense lost this game, not Josh. You really think Glennon could have done better? Know what, if you honestly think Glennon would have been better and you pin
the loss on Josh, the hell with your blog. You lost a reader, please be objective. Opie would have gotten his cookies stolen from him today.
______________
@TheETHER – You don’t get to speak for Joe. Yes, Joe stands behind everything he types here. As for you, Bogiedr. Joe’s opinion has always been front and center here. Joe is not objective, doesn’t pretend to be. –Joe
November 10th, 2014 at 12:46 am
@Joe
you make an assumption that Lovie is smart enough to make good decisions.
November 10th, 2014 at 12:52 am
Lovies inability to get these guys to stop making the mental mistakes is what is ruining this season, at least for me it is. How many stops did we get early in the game on 3rd down, just to have a stupid penalty called which gave the Falcons a first? You cant win like that and it seems to be a new player every game that is falling on his sword. The sad part is how poorly the Falcons play on a weekly basis, but still manage to rip us apart. At home none the less, as usual. Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Life long fan and absolutely no signs of mental illness yet. Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 10th, 2014 at 12:56 am
Patrick,
Getting a Veteran QB (Brian Hoyer) getting Marshawn Lynch and then then trading our top pick for more draft picks and maybe a player is the way to turn this team around fast.
We can pick up Hoyer and Lynch without trading anyone.
With extra draft picks high impact additions our receiver corps I think that should be enough to win the south and get to the playoffs.
November 10th, 2014 at 12:57 am
“@TheETHER – You don’t get to speak for Joe. Yes, Joe stands behind everything he types here. As for you, Bogiedr. Joe’s opinion has always been front and center here. Joe is not objective, doesn’t pretend to be. –Joe”
Well let me speak for The Ether then…. Joe’s backup QB vs backup QB non-issue is getting stale…
Its all about ’15 and the next Franchise QB… the next OC… whats the deal with Marinelli… cause apparently Frazier is as shtty a DC as Arroyo is an OC… We all know Lovies staying at least another year…
Just saying Joes, itd be nice to give us some topics to look forward to. Re-hashing this nightmare season week after week will drive a man crazy….
Tank it For Jameis!!! (or make a trade for Manziel!)
November 10th, 2014 at 1:00 am
The nfl is rigged
November 10th, 2014 at 1:10 am
Joe
Is it possible that Lovie is watching a different game then we are each week, because nothing else makes sense with what he is doing unless he was watching Charlie Brown play football with Lucy in his basement.
The player selection in free agency and keeping some of what was there was atrocious. What is going on with the linebackers? Please ask Hardy.
November 10th, 2014 at 1:11 am
I just saw Josh McCown Crying like a B1tch in the post game.
If there is no crying in baseball there is certiantly no crying in football.
November 10th, 2014 at 1:32 am
“Trailing 27-17, the Bucs had 1st-and-goal from the Falcons’ 4 yard line with 1:56”
Really struggling with seeing this above scenario as “a ballgame”, given the absolutely porous nature of our defense, but I do see your overall point.
November 10th, 2014 at 1:34 am
@jo
You are assuming both will be available, we will see. Seahawks oline is so much better then ours.
November 10th, 2014 at 2:10 am
Mccown might be crying because of that hit he took near the sideline. He got rocked hard.
November 10th, 2014 at 2:39 am
FIRE KOENAN ASAP! There must be some one on the street that can punt a ball beyond the 50!!!!!!!!!!!
November 10th, 2014 at 3:01 am
****In the fourth quarter, McCown was 10-for-13 for 127 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. He also ate four sacks, some of which should have been throwaways.
This has to be the most misleading distorted stat I have ever seen. How did you come up with it? Take his total at the end of the 3rd quarter and included his last play hail marry interception? Unbelievable, hard to take anything you say seriously after that. Everyone call for the guy to put it up and let the big WR make a play and when he does you bash him. It was a good throw and Vjax just didn’t make the play or prevent the def from making one. Anyone who plays FF or follows FB knows most QBs get at least half of their passing yards at the end of the game. McCown had a good game and was hardly the issue no matter how much you try to twist the man’s statistics.
What “twist?” These are McCown’s fourth-quarter numbers. Check your reading comprehension. You’re really going to give McCown a pass on an interception on 1st-and-Goal at the 4 yard line with the game still in play? Really? That was not a good throw at all.–Joe
November 10th, 2014 at 3:37 am
Gents, the problem here is Lovie…all Lovie. We got the Josh we all expected we’d get, I think. He was animated, used his legs, made some good reads, took some bad sacks, floated a couple of balls, badly telegraphed a near pick and closed out the game with a great ball to allow Evans to make a play then the ball to the corner of the end zone where he thought Jackson had better position than he did. He’s up/down. Always has been a player with good moments but limited upside. At 35, I’m not sure how anyone could’ve looked at his signing as anything but him being a stop gap, short term solution to allow Glennon time to develop…at best. anyone but Lovie, that is. No, Lovie sees this guy as the answer to his prayers at the position. He sees no limitations, no deficiencies. Now, I’m not saying Glennon is the answer. He was downright terrible against the Browns. What I am saying is we need to draft and develop a legitimate option at QB. I’m also saying that I seriously doubt that the man how has allowed Marcus Arroyo to continue to call plays unassisted is capable of doing what needs to be done in this regard. Listen to McCowns presser…the guy has passion…maybe more than all but a small handful of others on the 53 man roster. Can Lovie process any of this, can the Glazer boys? McCown has value as a teacher, leader. Glennon has value in that he will be a 10+year player in this league. Neither is the long term answer…and Lovie just doesn’t see that.
November 10th, 2014 at 4:40 am
The o line stinks the d line stinks until we improve both we will be in the basement
November 10th, 2014 at 6:50 am
It seems to me McCown is suffering from PTSD. He was getting whacked from every angle yesterday. This poor excuse for an O-line is going to get him or Glennon seriously injured. Can blame the guy for being emotional. He just might be angry out of his head or frustrated beyond belief, but it just might be that he is looking for an opposing D-lineman to jump on him when he rounds the next corner. Pathetic excuse for an NFL team. Someone please remind me why we got rid of Penn, Zutah, and #75?
November 10th, 2014 at 7:36 am
Yes bring Glennon back to practice the following:
1) How to keep in mind where the 1st down marker is at all times.
2) How to run out of bounds towards the 1st down marker.
3) Magically become more accurate on those long passes
4) improve his decision making during a roll out
5) the more he sees Evans waving his hands The Cannon will understand is time to use “The Cannon” and aim in front of Evans towards the end zone.
Or Keep McCown in…. to practice the following:
!) Make quicker decisions to avoid sacks
2) Stop having tantrums while he is on the field
3) Remember he is the leader when he is playing
4) show leadership specially during the last 2 minutes of the game
or bring in the 3rd string QB to secure the #1 Pick!!!!!
November 10th, 2014 at 8:12 am
@Joe
I listen to you on the radio and read your articles all week man, and I like what you put out, but you are so highly critical McCown it is to the point of ridiculous dude. Do you not read your own article as you’re setting up the scenario for all of us? We’re down by 2 scores with less than 2:00 left in the game. And we’re going to hammer McCown for choking the game!? Dude, seriously? Am I the only one that thought us coming back from 2 scores down to win/tie in less than 2 minutes was wishful thinking?
Was it McCown’s fault that our first drive of the game, where we sustained a drive, ate up clock and worked our way down the field, was then stalled for a long field goal? No, as I recall that guy kept the drive going LIKE MANY OTHER possessions with his legs. Glennon would have never gotten those yards and would have been useless behind our O-line yesterday. McCown was under pressure all damn day.
McCown isn’t our problem. And I realize you think this should be an evaluation period for Glennon, in order to prepare for next season, no matter how poorly he does or how many games we lose. But I think he’s been evaluated, he’s 5-13 as an NFL starter, he’s not the answer.
McCown will win us a few games down the stretch in hopes we can salvage whatever fan-base is still left after a miserable season… perhaps give us something to look forward to going into next season.
November 10th, 2014 at 8:51 am
I think the Bucs lose them all for a 1-15 finish. McCown’s effort was there, but the rest of the team would have needed a near mistake free game to get the win. I don’t see anybody on the schedule weaker than the Bucs. There might be a freak upset, I can’t discount that possibility.
November 10th, 2014 at 9:03 am
After watching the bears and packers play last night I figured out two things
The bucs might get 1 more win this season playing against the bears
The bucs will likely have 1 more huge blowout loss playing against the packers
November 10th, 2014 at 9:07 am
I wonder who McCown’s performance is going to be spun in the afternoon.
Glennon should have started!
November 10th, 2014 at 9:11 am
It doesn’t really matter who the Bucs have in at QB, we’re going to be facing the same outcome, regardless. Put Glennon in, teams are just going to rush up the middle because they know he has no mobility. Keep McCown in and teams are just going to keep dropping six into coverage because they know he can’t beat them with his accuracy. Until this team gets help on both the offensive and defensive lines, it doesn’t matter who they have at QB.
November 10th, 2014 at 9:23 am
there is no crying in football . wtf? mc clown is a bitch. that was the worst show of being a pu#$y that i have ever seen in my life. we need new qb. better refs no your penalty bullshit. and a d line that can maybe sack and run . and a o line that can block and give the ? wtf ever qb. a chance to get a throw. and a qb that DON’T CRY. AND LOOK LIKE A BITCH. we lost that game to bad calls. stupid mistakes. and we were playing a beaten down team with injury and low self pride. but they still kicked are ass.
November 10th, 2014 at 9:24 am
Given that both QB’s make me vomit, I’ll take the sh*t sandwich I’ve eaten less of at this point.
November 10th, 2014 at 9:25 am
Bucs avg 13.7 points per game under Josh McCown. Only two NFL games have been won by teams scoring less than 14 points this year. Now consider that McCown’s 3 1/2 games have been played against the # 24, 25, and 28 ranked defenses in the NFL. Glennon has played the #3, 6, 13, and #20 ranked defenses and has led the team to score nearly 22 points per game.
If the goal is to tank and draft at the #1 or #2 slot, then McCown is our guy.
November 10th, 2014 at 10:08 am
Tebow! Tebow! Tebow! Tebow!
I have to agree with Joe that McCown is a waste of time and being tired of hearing the Big Poodle’s incessant blah blah blah about the Glennon mob, I think it is time to bring in Tim Tebow! The stadium will be sold out…there will be at least one (1) player on the field who loves football and wants to compete, and he has won more National Champtionships in College and more playoff games in the NFL than more than half (50% for the Big Poodle) of the starting QB’s in the league.
At least the media circus will stop the blah blah about how the team is still competing for the off season. I petition that WDAE stops putting Lovie on All Access and lets someone else talk…anybody!
As for Sefarian-Jenkins (what his wife would let him take her name) that kind of behavior is Lovie’s fault and why he should be fired immediately. The Bucs are 1-8 (ok 1-7 when he did that) and this bonehead believes Lovie’s drivel that they are still in the hunt to win the division??
Bring in Tebow….let him play QB…Let him play D line…Let him play Special Teams…at least someone will actually hit someone (exception GMC)!
Greg Schiano
November 10th, 2014 at 10:30 am
I think its still a matter of dumb and dumber. I mean its a pick your poison does it really matter? WE NEED A QUARTERBACk. Does it really matter which incompetent backup qualified guy we start from here on out? They both are backups and always will be. If we think Glennon is our “backup of the future” then I guess great get him some more reps but either way we stink plain and simple and the Bucs have never had a true franchise quarterback. Wow.l
November 10th, 2014 at 11:03 am
It doesn’t matter which QB we start. They are both awful.
November 10th, 2014 at 2:56 pm
something is seriously wrong with you Joe…..what an ignorant one sided take for a guy who is supposed have an unbiased opinion you make it so obvious. Josh McCown experiment? MIKE GLENNON was the experiment, how is this an experiment when we all know the guys been a back up his entire career. this team already looks bad enough and lovie is supposed to say screw it and put his job in even more jeopardy because you think a head coach and a football should give up on winning because season is over…..but now I see where the name joebucsfan comes from because that’s not a professional take if you cant see this offense was clearly better when not getting penalties and the receivers were so happy that they had a decent qb throwing them the ball
November 10th, 2014 at 3:00 pm
@Frank Pillow
please don’t say anything about mccown floating a couple balls after watching glennon float about 5-6 a game since he came in this year are you insane?
November 10th, 2014 at 3:13 pm
ColiBUC Says:
November 10th, 2014 at 11:03 am
It doesn’t matter which QB we start. They are both awful.
The Bottom Line!
——————————————————
Young buc Says:
November 10th, 2014 at 1:00 am
The nfl is rigged
I’m really starting to wonder about that myself. A # of referee (bad) “judgement” calls against the Bucs yesterday were real game changers. Seems to happen a lot these days.
November 10th, 2014 at 7:22 pm
Career backup McCown is 0-4 ! What is the question ? Glennon is a young kid with upside on a crappy team. Wouldn’t be surprised if he went on to another team and becomes a solid starter.
November 10th, 2014 at 10:10 pm
The point that is missed Joe is the fact that both the left and right tackle were horrible. I can honestly see why this team need a mobile qb with the lack of execution by the o line. Add in the drive killing or momentum stopping penalties, then you have a recipe for disaster. This season is a rebuilding season whether we like it or not.
Both McCown and Glennon isn’t our franchise qb.
The players are the biggest issues for this team. The defense sucked for 6 years with majority of the core players being apart of these horrible defense.
For a long time no one step up to be McCoy’s Robin.
For a long time Barron is the one making a tackle on a play he was beat. But if he play his zone correctly, then it would have been a pick or swat.
These guys need to look at themselves in the mirror. They need to do more than the minimum to get by practice. They need together on their own time to work hard. The need to take the basic things seriously like offside, turning their heads when the ball in the air, and other basic techniques.
This team badly need leadership on the players level. There isn’t a leader on this team like Hardy, Brooks, Sapp, Lynch, and Barber as a players. There isn’t an Alpha dogs on this team. There are quiet leader, but not talk the talk and walk the walk leaders like Ray Lewis. I’m beginning to think that the teams full of boys scout type players is hurting this team.