Struggling Josh McCown
December 17th, 2014
The spreadsheeters put McCown under the microscope
The plight of journeyman Josh McCown as the Bucs’ starting quarterback seems to personify the team’s struggles.
McCown each week proves why he has never been franchise starting quarterback the way he plays Santa Claus with opposing defenses.
Last week against the Panthers was tough to watch. He made a helluva play scrambling for a touchdown, but that was about it. Gordon McGuiness of Pro Football Focus documented how cringeworthy McCown’s performance was.
Josh McCown, QB: -4.5
Breakdown: Struggling for the fourth game in a row now, McCown had a tough time getting the Tampa Bay offense moving, and was under heavy pressure for much of the game. Failing to complete any of the six passes he attempted of 20 yards or more, he couldn’t challenge Carolina downfield.
Signature Stat: Finding himself under pressure on 17 of his 33 drop-backs, McCown had an Accuracy Percentage of just 41.7% on these plays.
Joe finds it funny how so many Bucs fans jumped on the anti-Johnny Football bandwagon Sunday when Manziel had a bad game in his first start as a pro. This just in: Johnny Football had a higher completion percentage in his very first start, with zero help from his defense, with zero help from his offensive line, than a 12-year veteran like McCown.
Mock Johnny Football all you want, he passed better than McCown did last week.
Will McCown make it to a fifth consecutive bad start? We might know a bit later today.
December 17th, 2014 at 12:54 pm
This is a shock. Who would of thought a 12 year back up would perform like this? Lol. This year should of been all about Glennon. I’m not saying Glennon would of done well but at least we would of been able to tell for sure whether or not we needed to use a 1st rounder on a QB. Now we basically have to guess… and with Lovie running the show, the guess will probably be wrong.
December 17th, 2014 at 12:56 pm
@joe,
when did mccown make a good start? 4 bad games in a row. does that mean 5 games ago he had a good game? is the bar that low?
P.S. If the bucs with there high draft pick, selected JF it would be another 1st round bust in a long line of 1st round busts for the bucs!
mccown sucks, but did not waste a draft pick to get get him.
December 17th, 2014 at 1:01 pm
I’m sure that makes Cleveland fans feel much better
December 17th, 2014 at 1:04 pm
YAAAAAAY! A johnny football reference!
December 17th, 2014 at 1:06 pm
So what Joe is saying is that John Manziel was the 31st best QB this past Sunday.
December 17th, 2014 at 1:10 pm
the idea is to trade Glennon for as much as possible, why on earth would you play him any more, so other teams can see that he is not as good as they might think? I support Glennon, but not here.
December 17th, 2014 at 1:12 pm
My biggest fear is McCown will get hurt & Glennon will pull a win out of his a$$, thus costing the Bucs the top pick. Then we will have suffer another year with Glennon, our QB of the future!
December 17th, 2014 at 1:14 pm
Two games at the end of a dumpster fire season under the worst QB evaluator in the NFL will not hurt Glennon’s value. Everyone knows QBs under Lovie look like pure garbage.
December 17th, 2014 at 1:15 pm
If you couldn’t trade Glennon last offseason, assuming they wanted to, what makes you think they’d be able to trade him this offseason, without playing him?
December 17th, 2014 at 1:19 pm
mccown vs manziel is like choosing between a giant douche and a turd sandwich
December 17th, 2014 at 1:26 pm
Mccown sucks? Hmmmm never knew. That’s a shocker there.
I especially love how he single handedly loses games for us. Great choice mr. smith.
December 17th, 2014 at 1:30 pm
@Joe
Oh noes! You just made a McCown Johnny Football comparison! I thought you liked JF.
BTW JF is so freaking unpopular with his $$$ fingers gesture that a National political host used his unpopularity and how everybody hated his arrogance and couldn’t wait to jam that “finger rubbing salute” back in his face.
How great was it watching the Bengal players and their fans all rubbing their fingers together in that arrogant little prik’s infamous..look at me I’m money.
I know I’m in the distinct minority here. I view sports as entertainment and not life and death. I’m not entertained by arrogant a holes. Yes winning covers up a lot but it wears me out to be embarrassed by conceited morons.
Give me DB55..Ronde..and most of all Warrick Dunn.
This is my concern with Jameis. I haven’t totally written him off yet but I think another year in school to prove he’s actually grown up when he turns 21 next month would make me a lot bigger Jameis fan. Is that too much to ask.
Just one more year Jameis. Show your true colors!!!
Jimbo has out Sabaned Nick this year. He already has FIVE…FIVE..5 star recruits committed and his class is going to easily be the best in the nation.
Again the Noles do not rebuild under Jimbo. They just reload. Jameis would have enough talent to make another run for a title and another Heisman. IF nothing else he could prove to the world that he has finally grown up.
Stay in school Jameis. And though I’m no Nole I can’t imagine they wouldn’t like having him back next year.
December 17th, 2014 at 1:31 pm
Speaking for Pablo
“Pablo loves “Juannie” Football….running around……with really cute chicks!!!, Pablo also likes Josh McCown’s haircut…..these are the only things important to Pablo”
December 17th, 2014 at 1:32 pm
It’s hard for me to comment on McCown. He’s displayed more class, more courage and cojones under fire than anybody I can remember in recent times.
But he simply does not have what it takes to be an NFL starter. Great guy. Mediocre on a good day as a player.
December 17th, 2014 at 1:35 pm
@TBBF
I’m enjoying your buddy Pablo’s observations. Every blog..political or sports can always use a little levity. We’re not doing brain surgery here and some of us seem to take ourselves too seriously. Fortunately Pablo seems to be a laid back hombre.
December 17th, 2014 at 1:36 pm
When hasn’t McClown struggled in his career? Being a career backup QB is the very definition of a guy who struggled his whole career…
December 17th, 2014 at 1:37 pm
Stpetebucsfan
Thank you for calling me an outstanding person yesterday. I try my best. You’re not too shabby yourself.
December 17th, 2014 at 1:39 pm
Tbbf
The best thing about mccown is by FAR his hair. Boy got that good hair.
December 17th, 2014 at 1:43 pm
YAY! Johnny Football played better than journeyman McCown. Now that is an accomplishment LOL
December 17th, 2014 at 1:54 pm
@ SPBF:
I think that the FSU heirarchy is already sending subtle signals that Winston would not be welcome back at the school next year….
December 17th, 2014 at 2:00 pm
Football Outsiders >>>>> PFF
December 17th, 2014 at 2:06 pm
McCown is like a junkyard dog QB. He huffs and puffs a lot, but the wreckage piles up around him.
December 17th, 2014 at 2:08 pm
@SPBF
TBBF & Pablo thank you for enjoying our posts…..you’re right, sometimes you’ve just got to enjoy a sense of humor. As a long time (from the beginning) Bucs fan….sometimes that’s all you really have.
I choose to take the most optimistic & positive track….It’s just who I am. It makes me feel much better about being a fan. It doesn’t mean I’m content with losing or don’t have most of the same feelings everyone else has….but it seems to me that the negativity has plenty of exposure…..
December 17th, 2014 at 2:17 pm
Speaking for Pablo
“Pablo was really disappointed to find out that Marcus Mariota is part German & part Samoan…..Pablo thought Mairota was Mexican…..If the Bucs go into FA for a QB….Pablo wants Sanchez…..Pablo wouldn’t mind the Bucs giving Jeff Garcia another chance…..and yes….Pablo has a bias….Pablo can’t help it”
December 17th, 2014 at 2:42 pm
I can’t help but wonder what Manziel’s completion percentage would have been behind our o-line last week. Or what McCowns would have been behind center in Cleveland. Joe tries to defend Manziel but Manziel has a better o-line and he still did marginally better than McCown. And stop with the “He’s a rookie” or “He didn’t get first team reps all year”. He’s had all season to study the playbook and did worse on his first outing on a better team than Glennon did being thrown into the fire at the last second. Joe knows QB’s? BS
December 17th, 2014 at 3:16 pm
@ SPBF:
I think that the FSU heirarchy is already sending subtle signals that Winston would not be welcome back at the school next year….
@Tom
IF that is true, and I honestly do not support or deny your supposition because I just don’t know…but IF you are right…that should be the final nail in Jameis coffin as a #1 pick.
Again folks…and I like the Gators…but I also root for the Noles…but Gator fans watch out. Jimbo has loaded up…5 count em…5 5 star recruits already committed to what will be the best class in the nation.
If Jameis has a brain…he’ll come back next year…IF he’s welcome. The team will be loaded.
Conjure me this folks…what would Jameis value be if he came back and won another Heisman and also competed for another national title along the way AND STAYED OUT OF TROUBLE.
Jameis and his agent could make as much money as he could cram into his bank account. His value would go off the charts! Yeah the rookie salary limit would hamper his NFL earnings but his endorsements would be crazy wild with his 1000Watt smile. The kid is a walking piggy bank if he could just get it together.
December 17th, 2014 at 5:23 pm
So Johnny Fa**it is playing at the level of someone we all feel will lose his job in 10 days?
You can’t prove someone doesn’t s*ck simply by blaming his line.
December 17th, 2014 at 5:53 pm
Oh Joe.. So bitter because you backed a loser . Just admit you don’t know how to evaluate a QB any better than 90% of the NFL . Of course you must love the bashing being you’re supporting 2 more QB’s that won’t amount to anything in Glennon or Winston. Just stick to Buc articles and leave the evaluations for people that get paid for it.
Sorry, you don’t get to insult Joe or lie about Joe. Joe is not bitter in the least. Take your lies [most deleted here] somewhere else. Additionally, the only evaluation Joe has made this season about Glennon is that, since mid-September, he should be starting over McCown.–Joe
December 17th, 2014 at 6:22 pm
The Carolina game was definitely McCown’s worst since he returned from injury. Usually he would weave a few awe inspiring plays in between his boneheaded ones. Against Carolina, he sprayed the ball all over the field like he was the second coming of Mike Glennon. His accuracy on timing passes was extremely poor, which had been one of his few strengths, and other than a nice run or two, he was pretty awful.