An Easy Decision For Lovie
April 11th, 2014
When the dinner bell rang to start the free agency signing period last month, it took Bucs general manager Jason Licht and coach Lovie Smith all but a few hours to find their man to lead the Bucs offense: Josh McCown.
Many are willing to start digging Mike Glennon’s grave with the Bucs as a result. But in an NFL Network interview that aired last night, Lovie explained the decision to go get McCown came down to two factors: knowledge and numbers.
“4-12 isn’t good enough; it is simple as that,” Lovie said. “As a coach you base your initial starting rotation — is what I like to say — based on what you know about players. And I know an awful lot about Josh McCown. I’ve seen him play. I’ve been in meetings with him. I’ve talked to him. I know his football knowledge. I know his leadership ability.
“Everything you are looking for in a quarterback, he has. So that was an easy decision. It’s not a knock on Mike Glennon at all. It’s about improving and strengthening the quarterback position and that is what we have done.”
One thing Lovie always said when he spoke about players from last year’s squad, he always qualified his offerings with, “But we were 4-12.” Translation: The Bucs stunk, as if you didn’t know. What Lovie didn’t say — he was being a diplomat — was that the Bucs also had the No. 32-ranked offense last year, led by Glennon.
But another element why Lovie got McCown he also touched upon. It was both a comfort level and familiarity. Lovie had never met Glennon until he was named Bucs coach. So in a span of maybe nine weeks, Lovie had to decide if he was going to hand the keys to his offense to a guy he didn’t know, a guy with a poor record and little experience. Or Lovie could get another driver he did know and trust, someone who showed at least a modicum of ability to get the job done last year.
That doesn’t seem all that difficult to grasp.
April 11th, 2014 at 7:25 am
…but it’s Josh McCown. Does anyone think we are winning playoff games with this guy, much less the SB?
Trade Glennon on draft day for whatever and get a QB at 7. If a QB is not taken at 7 then we know they are not serious about winning now.
April 11th, 2014 at 7:31 am
We are not taking a qb at 7. Everyone is to impatient to sit through growing pains right now and if we take one at 7 there will be too much pressure to start him.
April 11th, 2014 at 7:32 am
Well he did go to the super bowl with Rex Grossman
April 11th, 2014 at 7:36 am
That is all well and good, but it doesn’t automatically make McCown the better QB. I hope there will be true competition for the starter’s role in training camp. If Lovie allows both the chance to the win the job equally, it will go a long way to show us fans that its not going to be the old rehash of the Bucs past coaching mistakes of playing “their” guys, not the best performers. That being said, I think as of right now, both QB’s are essentially backup players. Hopefully one of them will breakout this season and bring us some wins.
April 11th, 2014 at 7:36 am
The problem I have with McCown is that he obviously isn’t our future, and he isn’t going to win us a Super Bowl now, so why bother starting him. Glennon showed some promise last year but had more downs than ups. We need a quarterback for the future and McCown is just a waste of time. I would rather Glennon/pick #7 to get that valuable playing time.
April 11th, 2014 at 7:39 am
Espo- I am not impatient as I have called this a rebuilding year since the new regime was hired and took a bunch of crap for it. Just acknowledging that we are not winning meaningful games in January with our hot new backup journeyman QB. Draft a guy at 7 or don’t expect to win much now.
April 11th, 2014 at 7:40 am
“Lovie said. “As a coach you base your initial starting rotation — is what I like to say — based on what you know about players. And I know an awful lot about Josh McCown. I’ve seen him play. I’ve been in meetings with him. I’ve talked to him. I know his football knowledge. I know his leadership ability.”
__________
Lovie went on to say that “I like McCown so much I once cut him in favor of Jason Campbell.”
April 11th, 2014 at 7:47 am
Which means he’ll take Campbell over glennon…..I second that notion lol
April 11th, 2014 at 7:48 am
@DallasBuc;
Calling for the Bucs to draft a QB at #7 is not being impatient. Its an obvious need for those who have their eyes open. Besides, the likelyhood is the rookie QB will sit for several games to learn and be groomed. Our offense has a very questionable O-line, one WR, a OC and QB coach with no NFL experience, etc. It is definitely a rebuilding year. I am in full agreement with you.
April 11th, 2014 at 7:48 am
I like how Joe ” knows what Lovie did not say” . all I know is that Glennon is still on the roster. And all I have heard is that McCown is taking the first snap in practice. And being on the current roster is a lot more than the Oline, FB, TE and Wr can say.
April 11th, 2014 at 7:55 am
You guys didn’t see McCown play last year. Look at his stats..he played quite well. Now that no doubt involved many factors, but the guys can play at an average level most of the time. Yes, he is still the 4th worst QB in the division. But much more a Brad Johnson than a Josh Freeman. He could get us to the playoffs, though that would likely be about it….and if we can do that a year or two and we can get or groom the guy to take us the next step by then, great. I think that is the plan.
April 11th, 2014 at 8:02 am
That’s all fine and dandy, but you don’t name a starter till after camp….big mistake Lovie….
April 11th, 2014 at 8:04 am
Watch for it…Glennon will be traded for a pick this year…we will take Evans in Rd1, Garappolo in Rd 2 and another Wr in Rd 3.
April 11th, 2014 at 8:40 am
The starting spot is wide open. Just because Josh is the starter going in doesn’t mean a thing.
April 11th, 2014 at 8:50 am
Wide open? Did Lovie whisper that in your ear?
April 11th, 2014 at 9:10 am
Johnny @ 7
Based on reading this site multiple times a day and the superior knowledge that Glennon mob possess I can’t wait for the bucs to get 2 first and a 4th for Glennon. # jokes
Johnny @ 7
BTW Joe, get your numbers correct Glennon mob has calculated he led the 27 worst offense not 32nd. Same members of mob also calculated 8 million sign ups for ObamaCare.
April 11th, 2014 at 9:21 am
So by that logic why not sign a #1 wide receiver too? Cause Vincent Jackson was on the 4-12, 32nd ranked offense, and Lovie didn’t know him either.
What they are trying to say but nicely is that Glennon stinks, and even a guy like McCown who played 5 games last year and won just a little more than half against mostly lousy defenses looked like an improvement.
April 11th, 2014 at 10:22 am
Lovie needs a proven QB like McCown? Are you kidding me with this crap? I hope with all my heart that Lovie has little to no say with the offensive personnel but I know he does and will.
April 11th, 2014 at 10:22 am
“but it’s Josh McCown”
We won the Superbowl with Brad Johnson with a dominant D
He took Rex Grossman to the Superbowl lol
Dilfer won with a dominant D
If he plays like he did just last year, he will of been the best move of the Bucs offseason.
Many Bear fans still feel as if the better QB left Chicago.
April 11th, 2014 at 10:27 am
“but it’s Josh McCown”
We won the Superbowl with BJ with a dominant D
He took Rex Grossman to the Superbowl lol
Dilfer won with a dominant D
If he plays like he did just last year, he will of been the best move of the Bucs offseason.
Many Bear fans still feel as if the better QB left Chicago.
April 11th, 2014 at 10:29 am
And your wrong if you think Lovie is not giving the keys to Tedford with 100% control of the Bucs offense.
Unless you think he learned absolutely nothing from his last experience in Chicago.
April 11th, 2014 at 11:21 am
Espo Says
“We are not taking a qb at 7. Everyone is to impatient to sit through growing pains right now and if we take one at 7 there will be too much pressure to start him.”
That’s not necessarily true. Lovie Smith is from the Dungy tree. He will not change his plans because of fan or media pressure. I’m guessing he intends to draft a QB and develop him an entire season at minimum, and then work him into the starting role next season.
Lovie will be willing to do it that way even if McCown is losing games. He would have made that clear to the owners when he was hired.
On a side note, even though Glennon sucked last year, he still won more games than McCown. Even so, I don’t think Lovie trusts Glennon at all. He will not put the keys to the future in his hands. He WILL draft a QB and let Glennon fight for the starting role of the future.
But even if we draft Manziel, Bortles, Bridgewater, Garropolo or Carr…McCown will start the emtire season.
April 11th, 2014 at 11:22 am
Barring injury.
April 11th, 2014 at 11:31 am
Coach Smith has always let his coordinators call the plays. They did bring in Cutler, Marshall. Mike Martz opened it up, but Cutler started throwing picks. Frazier will do his thing. Teds will do his thing. We are in good hands folks.
April 11th, 2014 at 12:02 pm
Jeez, all you of the anti Glennon poohbah experts sure have it in to rid the team of agreeably a good backup QB. He is geeky, skinny, pencil necked, giraffe like, statuesque, slow of foot, and a joke of a starting QB. His supporters make more sense to me.
April 11th, 2014 at 12:16 pm
I think the Brad Johnson comparison is good. McCown could play for 3 years and I don’t see why our def couldn’t become dominate again in that time span.
April 11th, 2014 at 2:34 pm
Take into account what system we are going to run when defending Glennon. I agree that he showed he could be an ok QB in the future, but if this coaching staff is moving to a hurry up offense and incorporating rollouts, moving pockets, some scrambling ability etc…Glennon’s skill set just doesn’t fit. When we trade Glennon on draft day it’s because his strengths don’t fit the future offense. Don’t take it personal – just not a scheme fit.
April 11th, 2014 at 4:43 pm
Bears would have made the post season if mccown stayed the starter after cutler came back. So if you want to look on the bright side we got a better qb than chicago for millions less than they are paying cutler. This is not about who our qb is…its all about the offensive coordinator. With good playcalling you can turn duds into studs. Chip kelly turned nick foles into a top qb his first year as coach. Bears coach mark t came in and made that offense better with the same peices lovie had. Its all up to tedford.
April 12th, 2014 at 2:22 pm
I’m not sure but I think a QB making 5 mill a year will start.