Josh “Right Read” McCown
August 7th, 2014
The candid Xs-and-Os guru of the Buccaneers Radio Network, former Bucs tight end Dave Moore, likes what he sees at training camp.
And much of Moore’s hope and happiness surrounds the man with the Buccaneers on his shoulders.
That would be starting quarterback Josh McCown.
Speaking this morning on the Ron and Ian show on WDAE-AM 620, Moore talked about how McCown looks like a wise veteran QB in command of an offense. And Moore likes the speed with which McCown delivers the football.
“I see him understanding where he’s going with the ball,” Moore said of McCown. “We talked about body language earlier, but when you watch a quarterback, he catches his shotgun snaps and his eyes go exactly to his read. He understands pre-snap what the defense is going to give him. And then it’s a combination route … Josh is very good, at least in practice, at understanding where he’s going and making the right read.”
Moore went on to say his study of practice makes him believe McCown also has the knowledge and patience to buy critical time in the pocket without panicking.
Not surprisingly, Moore saved his greatest concern for the Bucs’ offensive line, and he said the unit my benefit most from McCown’s clear leadership ability.
Joe’s optimistic, too, but there sure is a lot that has to come together in a hurry for the Bucs offense, in addition to relying on McCown playing his first good full season in the NFL.
You can hear all of Dave Moore’s pregame/training camp takes via the 620wdae.com audio below.
August 7th, 2014 at 12:26 pm
I hope the defense is good because if they are just average, then the offense will have to be elite to beat the Panthers and Saints.
I get the vibe this defense will just be average. I’ve heard nothing great about Michael Johnson or Clayborn so I’m skeptical the defense can get consistent pressure on the QB. I also doubt Foster can be the QB of the defense which is critical for the Tampa 2.
August 7th, 2014 at 12:32 pm
offensive line MAY benefit most 🙂
August 7th, 2014 at 12:37 pm
Joe… I think some of your JoeBucsFans.com visitors need to practice a lot more patience, (Wait An See) and much less pessimism. I fail to understand the need to foretell the Bucs 2014 Season outcome before it unfolds?
August 7th, 2014 at 12:42 pm
BFFL – I sort of agree that the defense is being overhyped as top 5, but I really see them as being top 16 this year. They’re going to have some tough learning curves – and the idea that all players will be in top form is crazy. It’s going to take a little more than a few games to work out the bugs.
On offense. It boils down to McCown. If he can do a good job, not a great one. Just a good job along the lines of Jeff Garcia then I see them being competitive. Expecting more than that at this stage is too much.
August 7th, 2014 at 12:45 pm
JW – what you call pessimistic I call realistic. We are all 0-0 on our predictions right now – just like the Bucs. Going to be a fun season regardless of how it shakes out.
August 7th, 2014 at 1:01 pm
@ BFFL I agree our Defense will need to be above avg in order for this team to be successful. I feel we were an avg defense last year, we ranked in the middle of the pack in almost all defensive categories, and that was with no pass rush…..I feel our defensive scheme is now much more improved and I really feel that this defense can be a top 10 defense this year. Lovie is a defensive mastermind and all of his teams have had a really solid defense. Like JW stated just gotta have a little faith and hope that with far better coaching, these players will be much more improved this year.
@JOE – Ive been saying this for a while now, there is so many McCown skeptics and I am not really sure why….Yes he has been a journeyman, but he has also been on teams that have a “franchise QB” or they have signed someone like a Kurt Warner. I feel McCown has been hungry for a while to get his moment to lead a team and he has an amazing opportunity with this team. We saw what he did last year and there is nothing that I can see that tells me he wont do it again. This guy is smart, he’s athletic and he knows what it takes to be a successful NFL QB. Im excited for this season, not saying we are Superbowl contenders, but we are definitely going to be competitive and I feel we are better right now then the Falcons and the Panthers. The Saints will be our true test but I feel we can compete with them…
August 7th, 2014 at 1:09 pm
Panthers will be lucky to win 6 games. They lost 3/4 of a poor secondary. They lost their All Pro Left tackle and replaced him with a guy who has never come close to starting. They got rid of all of their wide receivers and replaced them with a rookie and two aging, slow possession receivers; and they have a quarterback who is not a leader and a conservative coach. They had a good run last year and they are talking big but just go down their roster and tell me where they are better than the Bucs other than at the defensive end position and perhaps middle linebacker. The Falcons have huge questions on the defensive line, in the secondary and at tight end, the position that made their offense go because they clearly lack a running game that scares you. In short, the Saints are the team to beat–though they too have questions–and the Buccaneers have superior personnel to the other two teams in the NFL South. Of course, they still have to perform and injuries will likely decide things. The NFL is a league of attrition. All the focus is on the star players, usually the quarterbacks and wide receivers, but in the end it usually comes down to the 53 players. The only thing that seems clear to me is that for the first time in a decade we have a roster that can compete every Sunday. To me that means anything from 7-9 to 11-5 depending on injuries and clutch plays in the fourth quarter. Every team in the league has its weaknesses and is vulnerable to key injuries. Look at the Packers and Falcons last year as two good examples. What happens if Brees or Graham go down for the Saints; or Brady for the Patriots; or McCoy for the Buccaneers…and I could go on and on.
August 7th, 2014 at 1:28 pm
Is that a slurpee?
August 7th, 2014 at 1:35 pm
Well, I’m saying we’re Superbowl contenders. I’m sure every game will be hard-fought, but I think we’ll come out on top in most of them…. And fyi, we normally play the Saints tough every year; and with far less talent & poorer schemes than we have now. We top 2 or 3 talent-wise in the entire league now, IMO.
August 7th, 2014 at 1:38 pm
*We’re top 2 or 3 talent-wise in the entire league now.
August 7th, 2014 at 3:19 pm
I too agree that it’s too early to throw in the towel, and start prognosticating that we’re no better than an average Dee. Having said that, I too think it may be a little overly optimistic to suggest that we are a Top Five Defense, especially before the first snap of the first pre-season game has even taken place.
Moore’s comments are reason for encouragement, and no doubt, there is a different feel and emotion surrounding this Bucs campaign and the 2014 Coaching Staff.
August 7th, 2014 at 4:04 pm
I think it is fair to say that McCown at 35 years old, with many years in the league as a vet, makes better reads than Glennon who was a rookie last year.
That def is an accurate assessment.
I also like that the Bucs went out and got a vet QB… Glennon will grow from this experience… and whether it benefits the Bucs or not, it should benefit some other team.
Additionally, Lovie Smith essentially validated the Jon Gruden approach… get a seasoned veteran QB to manage the game so the team has a chance. UNTIL you get a stud QB, which none were available this off-season, then the seasoned vet is the best approach.
August 7th, 2014 at 6:58 pm
The problem isn’t with the vet QB approach but rather rolling with one who is such an uncertainty. Lovie and staff are gambling that the McCown the Bucs are getting is the guy who played 5 good games/went 3-2 last season instead of the guy McCown had been every year prior. Are the Bucs going to see Rich Gannon 2.0 or Kevin Kolb 2.0? That is the 5 million dollar question that will be answered soon.
August 7th, 2014 at 7:56 pm
It wasn’t mccowns fault the bears went 3-2 who le he was starting. The bears defense was awful.
August 7th, 2014 at 8:17 pm
I predict this offense will be very good statistically early with the defense being average. As the season plays out I think our offense will be above average due to teams having film to study but still countered by tedfords creativity. The defense should finish the season off with a top five defense down the second half stretch. Thats my guess. No matter what a lot of hard played games and fun buc football
August 7th, 2014 at 11:20 pm
How is it that a network has not picked up Dave Moore? The guy really knows the game and articulates it in a cool but easily understood way.