Mike Glennon: I’m Mobile Enough
October 9th, 2014
The Bucs’ starting quarterback discusses his sneaky feet
A lot of the Mike Glennon haters claim Glennon is not a mobile quarterback, not even by the most liberal sense of the term. Therefore, he cannot be good.
(Joe finds some Bucs fans funny. When you discuss Glennon, these types howl how he is immobile. Yet when you bring up Johnny Football, they cringe as if they have to pass gas in church and bellyache how Johnny Football ran too much. Make up your minds!)
While Glennon will be the first to admit he will never be confused with Johnny Football, he believes he is mobile enough to succeed.
“In the NFL against some of the most elite athletes in the world, there’s been plenty of times where I’ve rolled right, rolled left and I’ve been able to get off a play,” Glennon said. “I’m not the fastest guy in the world, but I can step up in the pocket, I can roll out and make a play down the field. As far as I am concerned, that’s all you need as a quarterback. Obviously it’s a bonus when you can move around as well as some of these other guys, but as long as you can move a little and create a lane to throw, that’s the most important thing. All these comparisons to these athletic quarterbacks, but I’ll just stick to who I am.”
Case in point with Glennon was last week, when he was flushed out of the pocket, meandered far to his left and hit Vincent Jackson for a big first down gain. Of course, it helps to keep looking downfield when escaping the pocket.
“I think I’ve always done a pretty good job of that,” Glennon said. “. The first thing that comes to mind is the Seahawks game last year, two times the same thing I was rolling to the left and made a play. I feel that I’ve been able to do that throughout – even last year against the Bills I had a touchdown of Vincent [Jackson] rolling to the right. There’s been many instances, I don’t think it’s much different than last year, it’s probably just one of the first times I’ve done it or had the opportunity to present itself this year.”
Here is the difference between Glennon and Josh McCown. When McCown was flushed, you expected a circus-like turnover. When Glennon is flushed, you don’t. That’s why Glennon should remain the starter for the season, whether Lovie is irked about being asked about it or not.
October 9th, 2014 at 8:06 am
Also should be noted that Glennon ranks 5th in air yards per pass. Might want to let your radio buddy Steve know that before he goes on his “captain check down” rant.
October 9th, 2014 at 8:08 am
There’s a laundry list of great QB’s (past and present) that weren’t great scramblers. Funny enough, it’s a very short list of great QB’s that are. However, one thing all the greats have in common is the ability to create more time in the pocket by sliding around within the pocket. They make it look easy. I’m not the least bit concerned with Glennon’s lack of mobility. All I really care about is his pocket presence, which appears to have gotten much better.
October 9th, 2014 at 8:13 am
MG, we know you have some mobility, you’re not cement shoes or a statue as has been suggested. You are not the second coming of whichever great QB anyone want’s to compare you to. You do your thing, it’s looking workable, and we will wait for the rest of the team to come together around you. Good luck!
October 9th, 2014 at 8:21 am
Sure….when you look at Russell Wilson you see all sorts of plays happening because of his legs….and he’s also pretty accurate….but players like Wilson is rare.
Look at all the teams that have tryed to emulate Wilson……RG3….Geno & Manuel come to mind….Glennon is tough and smart…..give him a team around him and a solid defense and we can succeed!!!
October 9th, 2014 at 8:30 am
Tampabaybucfan Says:
October 9th, 2014 at 8:21 am
“Glennon is tough and smart…..give him a team around him and a solid defense and we can succeed!!!”
This was already proven in 2002 with tough, smart, “non-mobile” Brad Johnson leading the attack. Of course our Defense has a looooooong way to go to even sniff the things that ’02 Bucs D was capable of…
October 9th, 2014 at 8:31 am
Why in the hell would anyone compare Glennon to a QB that’s sitting on the bench. That’s just ridiculous. Glennon is a starter ( until next year ). Manziel can’t even beat out Hoyer. There are mobile QB’s in the NFL that can be used for comparison. Comparing him to a guy that may not ever start or become successful in this league is a slap in the face. Even for Glennon.
October 9th, 2014 at 8:46 am
I’ve seen others use this term, and it’s the truth: Functional mobility. No Mike Glennon is not Russell Wilson or Andrew Luck, he won’t be coming around the corner to score 15 yard rushing touchdowns. But he is not a stiff, not even close. He actually has some rather outstanding footwork for a 6’6 guy. And if he needs to take off he can, and when the defense gives him 20 yards of green space to run, he can take off and pick up the yards. That’s what you need from your QB.
October 9th, 2014 at 8:48 am
But, but, but…. he’s a statue and he looks goofy. There’s no way way he can have enough functional mobility to succeed. He doesn’t look the way I want my QB to look when I am living my sports dreams vicariously through him so I refuse to believe that he could be a good QB.
October 9th, 2014 at 8:53 am
Joe
It is quite interesting when you look at the present and past great QBs and mobility, the ones last last are not know for their mobility but for their finding the open man and getting the ball there.
Seems like all thc scramblers are hurt and their careers are shortened because when they can’t move, they can’t do the job. Of course, no one hurt can do the job very long and their injuries make them mostly immoble.
October 9th, 2014 at 9:07 am
@ Patrick In VA
Freeman looked really good……I guess you can dream about the past!!!
October 9th, 2014 at 9:08 am
MG is young and getting progressively better. He is strong, relatively accurate, smart, poised and hard working. He’ll really come into his own as he gets quicker in reading defenses and decision-making. Pocket presence and functional mobility are more important to long-term success than scrambling ability.
October 9th, 2014 at 9:15 am
Glennon is mobile enough. I like the way he keeps his eyes downfield to find the open man. I agree that he really does have good footwork for a big man. It is going to make me crazy when Lovie puts in McCown. I truly believe he will put in McCown when he is healed. It is time to move forward to be sure that Glennon is the guy of the future. I really really think he is.I thought he should have been our guy after what he did last year.
October 9th, 2014 at 9:17 am
It may be me, but Glennon seems to be talking more this year too, probably a byproduct of him feeling more comfortable as a QB in the NFL, and also his productivity. I like it! His leadership, as well as his on the field play, are growing!
October 9th, 2014 at 9:20 am
@Baz – or it could be that he doesn’t have Schiano keeping a muzzle on him. Seems to me like there is a lot more player interaction than there has been in a while
October 9th, 2014 at 9:28 am
@Patrick
True, good point 🙂
I’m happy with and for Glennon, the only thing left to see (in my eyes) is that he continue to play at this level, or better, for the rest of the year. It seemed like last year his productivity slipped as the year progressed, either because defenses caught up to him or he just got overwhelmed.
October 9th, 2014 at 9:41 am
Glennon talked plenty last year, as the starting QB is required to do weekly media. Perhaps people are just starting to listen (or pay attention) to what he’s saying now that lo and behold he’s not the terrible QB many around here projected.
October 9th, 2014 at 9:41 am
@Patrick: That really seemed to be the case. I wonder what Schiano was trying to prove by restricting Glennon and make him play as Captain Checkdown which he really was last year. Sure he may have turned the ball over more, but I believe he would also have won us more games like against the Seahawks in Seattle if he wasn’t so damn conservative with his arm in 4th qtr (thanks Schiano). I believe part of the reason Lovie was not impressed enough with Glennon to go all-in on him was that game manager type play. Now Lovie is seeing Glennon revert back to his NCState self where he had to do everything for his team to have a chance.
Anyways, glad the Schiano era was over. I still respect the guy, but he was too firm in his offensive and defensive beliefs and did not understand that you need to be flexible in the league and try a lot of things to see what works best for your players.
October 9th, 2014 at 9:54 am
It is just amazing what two good games can do for a player’s outlook. I’m impressed with Glennon, not blown away or anything though. Most QB’s around the league aren’t mobile, and when they are they’re a lot like Glennon. It’s never been about his mobility though. He could stand like a statue for all I care, as long as he gets the ball out and down the field enough to pick up first down or more he’s doing his job. What stung Glennon last year was his coach ordering him to play it safer than he had to. Or the lack of talent around him which (aside from Wright/Jackson) he couldn’t overcome. Not many other QB’s could.
Anyway, even a guy like Wilson will eventually have to slow down and play inside the pocket – just like Glennon. Mike’s just got a head start on those guys.
October 9th, 2014 at 10:06 am
Wasn’t sure if I was watching mike glennon or randall Cunningham out there on Sunday.
October 9th, 2014 at 10:35 am
I don’t think lovie will go back to mccown. Glennon is gaining confidence and so are his wrs, that familiarity and trust that is built between two players is hard to be just picked up by a guy off the bench. Mccown had trust n familiarity with alshon n marshall but can’t seem to feel anything with this entire offense. Speculating and helping glennon understand how that feels is the biggest contribution mccown can make for our team… AND JOE WAS ONE THE PEOPLE WHO SAID GLENNON WAS A STATUE IN THE POCKET.
October 9th, 2014 at 10:36 am
And a geek shall lead them to the promised land…
October 9th, 2014 at 11:16 am
Mr. Immobile Limited Arm Strength Captain Checkdown has definitely improved his mobility. He moves (not runs) well enough. Technically speaking, his 40 yard dash at the Combine was not much different than Josh Freeman’s, but he always lacked the suddeness and instincts to escape the pocket and prolong plays. He’s done that for the past 1.5 games.
His arm strength seems to have improved as well. He was the only QB at the 2013 Combine that couldn’t bust 50 MPH on the radar gun but he seems to be getting far more zip on his passes than he did last year. His arm appears to be strong enough. As for Captain Checkdown, he was on full display against Atlanta and the first half against Pittsburgh, but he’s come alive since then. He’s been challenging defenses down the field with well thrown, accurate passes.
This does NOT seem to be the same Mike Glennon that I wanted replaced. He hasn’t made a believer out of me, yet. It’s hard to be a believer in young QBs no matter how they look (Freeman 2010) if it’s only for a short time. But right now, if he keeps playing the way he has…and even improves a little more, he’ll be good enough.
October 9th, 2014 at 12:25 pm
I think what some of you perceived as Schiano handcuffing Glennon was actually a good coaching move in theory. The team was intended to have a good defense (which was actually mid-pack, but decent) and win the turnover battle (which it was top two or three at). The last thing any defense minded coach in his right mind should want to see is a rookie QB not protecting the football (see Geno Smith last year…and this, Blake Bortles, and many other rookies who throw a lot of INT’s because that’s usually what happens to rookie QB’s that try to do too much. Glennon would maybe have progressed faster with last year’s staff since he would have been taking first team reps all summer instead of wasting time with McCown?
October 9th, 2014 at 1:07 pm
I could care less about mobility overall.
One of my concerns has been his mobility WITHIN the pocket. He has not been able to move in the pocket well.
That changed in the New Orleans game. He showed that he is maturing. He just has to prove it wasn’t a one time thing.
October 10th, 2014 at 3:43 am
Watch Mike run!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uygMU8GbWPE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNNzGGcPIqI
We need a good game plan and a good play caller with some innovative plays to call. Come on Lovey turn him loose.