Stop The “Farce”
June 17th, 2015
Is Lovie just teasing “America’s Quarterback,” Jameis Winston, and Bucs fans in general? Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.
This notion that, barring injury, the quarterback of the past and the quarterback of the future just might be the quarterback of the present is an ugly tease to Bucs fans.
And not in a good way.
If Lovie Smith would try to tell Bryan Glazer that the backup quarterback for a 2-14 team is a better option than the guy you picked No. 1 overall — and you spent a good part of the last two months proclaiming he is the next Johnny Unitas — then if Joe were Glazer, he couldn’t reach for a bottle of Ketel One quick enough.
Keep in mind that last year the Bucs ripped through tens of millions of dollars on three slugs gifted starting jobs, all now off the roster and one unemployed, and countless thousands and buckets of sweat paving the way for “America’s Quarterback,” Jameis Winston, to come to Tampa.
Clearly, fueling this cruel joke has been Jameis working so much of late with the second team and the camp meat. But Lovie doused the flames saying not just Jameis but the “backup quarterback” needs work, too.
That would be Mike Glennon.
Prickly Pete Prisco of CBS Sports was at One Buc Palace yesterday and saw with his own eyes how well Jameis practiced, and that he practiced with the second team (mostly). Prisco believes it’s time for Lovie to cut out the tricks and mind games and practice Jameis with the first team. For good.
Jameis Winston , who was the first overall pick in the May draft, is far from a backup. That’s why his taking snaps Tuesday with the second unit, behind Mike Glennon, was a farce. You know who the starter will be on opening day. The media knows who the starter will be against the Tennessee Titans. And so do the Bucs.
This is a lock: It won’t be Glennon.
So why even fake it? There is talk that this is a way to keep Winston humbled, rather than just handing him the job. But is that really necessary?
Of course it isn’t. However, Lovie hinted the depth chart doesn’t mean squat in June. That was right about the time he referred to Glennon as the backup.
So it smells like Jameis will be running with the ones when training camp begins at roughly the end of July/start of August.
June 17th, 2015 at 9:07 am
Personally, I like having him pseudo earn his starting spot. Jameis should feel like his is working to earn his spot even if it’s a forgone conclusion. He has, so far, been everything I expected.
June 17th, 2015 at 9:16 am
Why don’t you let the coach make that decision instead of you trying to influence everything Joe. And please stop calling him “Americas Quarterback”, he is no such thing (yet). He is a snot nose rookie trying to make good in the NFL. He has no stats in the NFL and has not thrown a pass in an NFL game yet. Last I remember there are around 52 other players you can spotlight besides this “unproven professional”. Try being a professional yourself and evaluate the personnel in all positions on the entire team.
June 17th, 2015 at 9:19 am
Good WR Prospect for Our Young QB’s
• WR Da’Rick Rogers (Just Released by the Chiefs)
Some off-field baggage-But the kid has the tools to be a good wide out. Good Reclamation/Redemption Project
Review:
Da’Rick Rogers Highlights (+ NFL Combine Performance)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjJyUjfkqQU
June 17th, 2015 at 9:21 am
That is how he becomes a leader, earning his spot on the field.
Jameis is handling it very well, laying low, learning and working hard.
Totally the opposite of what all the haters said about him coming in all cocky and yelling at team mates.
All good.
June 17th, 2015 at 9:24 am
maybe glennon is getting first team reps but if Winston is getting 2nd and camp meat reps maybe he’s getting the lions share of the reps during this time. glennon is only getting first team reps Winston is getting reps with 1st, 2nd and camp meat which means he’s being prepped for july. not that hard to throw to vjack and evans but it’s all the other guys you need to get familiar with
June 17th, 2015 at 9:32 am
“So why even fake it?”….maybe he isn’t. Maybe Jameis will be named the starter when the coaches feel like he’s earned it. When his command of the offense has surpassed his competition. When his body of work…even in underwear football…shows he’s ready to take the lead.
Coaches always say “the best players play”, and maybe Lovie is trying to avoid the type of blatant hypocrisy that is usually reserved for politics…(I.e. “The rich are to blame for “income inequality” in this country…and oh by the way, Bill and I earned $30million over the last 16 months giving paid speeches to Wall St. firms and hedge fund managers!” – love, Hillary.)…. and make Jameis actually work for it! I don’t think it will be long till Jameis is leading the offense, but I have no problem with him actually having to start at the bottom of the depth chart and work his way up to do it! He, and the team will be better off for it.
June 17th, 2015 at 9:57 am
This is an example of Lovie’s bad coaching. Some of this mind game bs WAS fine. But it’s enough now. Lovie is taking away very valuable reps from Jameis with the starters he is going to be playing with. This is not a little thing. Lovie over thinks things all the time and ends up outsmarting himself.
June 17th, 2015 at 9:59 am
We’re talking about the same guy who thought Josh McClown, Anthony Collins (currently unemployed) and Ghost Johnson were the answers to the team’s playoff drought, right?
June 17th, 2015 at 10:01 am
When Titans gave the job to number two Qb in the draft the NFL “experts were screaming he should earn the job” This seems to be what LS is doing.
June 17th, 2015 at 11:07 am
I missed the part where Pete said Winston looked good? From what I’m being hearing Glennon is the better quarterback right now, maybe that has something to do with Winston running with the 2’s.
June 17th, 2015 at 11:12 am
Of course Winston will start the season at QB, that’s what first overall picks do. If a player is picked that high he has to be a guaranteed starter. I don’t know if that is true 100%, but it has to be real close.
June 17th, 2015 at 11:19 am
I just don’t agree splitting reps doesn’t make any sense. It’s no secret Jameis will be the starter and these are valuable reps he could have with the offense he will be running during the season. There is only so much time for him to develop timing and chemistry with the first team offense.yes I realize he doesn’t want to hand position over once to make him earn it and this is some pseudo-motivation tool. But everybody wants him to succeed he needs those first time reps if he’s going to be your starter.
June 17th, 2015 at 11:20 am
I take no issue with making JW earn the spot, especially if Glennon is actually looking better right now.
You put your best players on the field, plain and simple.
I do however, think the JW will be the started come week 1, and hopefully that is cemented early on in training camp so he is able to work with the 1s all preseason long and actually have some good chemistry going.
June 17th, 2015 at 11:38 am
Joe, “We’re talking about the same guy who thought Josh McClown, Anthony Collins (currently unemployed) and Ghost Johnson were the answers to the team’s playoff drought, right?”
Call me crazy but what if his answer to our QB issues are from this same player evaluation skill set of his. Proclaiming a player to be the answer before they even play a single down for your team is not a good idea, how about earning the right to play before proclaiming a player to be the next greatest thing. Kinda like ” Ameirca’s QB ” “savior” etc.
Go Bucs!
June 17th, 2015 at 12:04 pm
@RustyRhinos
He’s also talking about the guy that took “Rex Grossman” to the Super Bowl…
“It’s as simple as that” – Lovie Smith
June 17th, 2015 at 12:20 pm
The General just can’t stop. You wanted Winston. You got him. He will start. Everyone knows he will. We all know Lovie the liar. You can’t trust what he says. But Winston will start.
June 17th, 2015 at 1:42 pm
OneLove
Lovie is also the same coach who has WON only One playoff game in a decade so you keep waiving the flag of the head coach who LOST the super bowl with Rex Grossman. If going to a Superbowl and losing with Rex Grossman is your greatest career accomplishment that is sad… Lovie is a joke plan and simple.
You are what your record says you are! – Lovie Smith 2-14 head coach of the buccaneers. Lovie will be back in the basement where his sorry arse belongs within 2 years.
June 17th, 2015 at 2:02 pm
Yeah, duh… Nothing to see here. Of course Jameis will be running #1 in TC. For now, giving him looks with a variety of players is probably good for his development. It also allows Glennon to get reps in the new offense so he can get comfortable as a backup. There’s no fakeouts here. Lovie’s not trying to fool anyone. Why am I even commenting on a post whose premise is thinner than toilet paper?
June 17th, 2015 at 3:14 pm
SuperSpam, go crawl back under your rock dude. I’m with Rick M. on the “America’s Quarterback” label, this is a nickname YOU put on him joe, and there’s nothing that comes close to him being America’s QB, who makes that call anyways? Most American’s hate the kid, but I do feel he will make many into believers, but he’ll never be America’s QB.
Ok, so your nicknames are cute, some unbelievably long and tacky that make no damn sense at all.
Outside of that joe, I love this site, and your articles and your fairness in letting us bitch at you from time to time, good man!