Glennon Will Need A Football Miracle
September 27th, 2013
Back in June, Bucs quarterbacks coach John McNulty was very clear with Joe when he said that a quarterback in the Bucs’ offensive system needs a few years to master it.
McNulty came to the Bucs with experience in the system from his days as an assistant under Tom Coughlin in Jacksonville.
“It took [Mark] Brunell a few years. It took Eli [Manning] a few years in this system. It takes time to just be able to go out there and just do it,” McNulty said. “So you try to simulate those reps as much as you can in the classroom, because physically it’s just hard to get all the looks and the different plays and all that. And [Freeman’s] been excellent with it.
“And I mean it could tire you out where you get to the point where you say, ‘Hey, c’mon. I got this.” But he’s been very good with [studying.] He’s a very intelligent football player. He knows a lot of football. He’s played in a lot of systems. So, you know, he’s able to funnel all of that knowledge and energy into, “Here’s what we’re doing here.” You know what I mean, when you’ve played in three or four different systems, you can kind of just run them together. So I think the second year with this, what we’re asking him to do, he’s done a great job with it so far.”
So where does this leave rookie Mike Glennon, who’s jumping into the mix with little practice time, let alone a full offseason, with the first team?
Joe’s happy for Glennon that he’s getting his shot in the NFL, but he’s not in an offense that’s going to make it easy for him.
Last year, Joe talked to former Bucs wide receivers coach P.J. Fleck after Fleck left the Bucs to coach Western Michigan University. Fleck was rather candid and said that a lot of the perceived “mis-communication” issues Bucs had late last season with Josh Freeman was more a result of NFL defenses catching up to the Bucs.
Joe doesn’t see how the Bucs and Mike Sullivan have recovered. And now they’ve got a huge challenge of a rookie QB on their hands.
Father Dungy did a radio interview recently in which he stated that Greg Schiano made the wrong move going to Glennon, and Dungy said he would do nearly everything he could to keep a rookie QB — one that didn’t get the starting job in training camp — off the field.
Dungy talked about how he started Trent Dilfer in 1999, made a change to Eric Zeier, then went back to Dilfer to keep rookie Shaun King off the field, but then went to King as a last resort. King went 4-1 to finish the season and led the Bucs to the NFC Championship game, a feat Dungy called a “miraculous job.”
At 0-3 in a struggling offense on a team mired in a media circus and with a head coach under pressure, Glennon might need more than a miracle for a successful season.
September 27th, 2013 at 9:04 am
Oh it’ll take a miracle alright
September 27th, 2013 at 9:06 am
this is based on EXUSES made for frees performance.
this is a new slate. we’ll see.
as far as dungy. when did he ever make a decision on a winning QB. Manning was gifted to him, and that’s who got him his rings.
I’ll take Grudens opinion over dungys.
September 27th, 2013 at 9:09 am
Yeah, we might start losing by putting Glennon in
September 27th, 2013 at 9:11 am
I don’t agree with the Freeman benching. I think they needed to adapt to the player more rather than force him into the system. I think they’re making…made…a mistake. Think of it as acquiring, say…the best man corner in the league and forcing him to play mostly zone – in example, of course. You shouldn’t do it.
That said, what’s done is done and I’m rooting for Glennon. All in.
This coaching move will be boom or bust. Time will tell.
September 27th, 2013 at 9:18 am
Too bad we are 1-8 in our last 9 games.
It isn’t like the results were any different from the QB position.
September 27th, 2013 at 9:19 am
“He’s very intelligent”
Yup! And thats why the switch was made. Lets see how he develops his fast thinking skills at NFL speed. Granted, he’s going to make mistakes…he’s a rookie. But given enough time, I think he can develop into a pretty decent QB (might even be great)…you never know! Only way to find out is put him in and see how far he goes with it.
At 0-3 we’re pretty much out of the playoff picture. Now I dont want to see us lose most games like some would. I actually see Glennon doing a better job than Freeman (of course), and “what if” he turns into a pretty darn good QB? That means we can address other needs with our 1st and 2nd round picks. But if he doesnt do so well, we’ll know what we have in him and will know what to do with that 1st round pick.
But just imagine if he comes out and gives this team some serious spark and has a hand at winning most of the rest of the games? That means give him a 2nd year because we’re developing something here!
September 27th, 2013 at 9:23 am
bucfanjeff,
So after 50+ games starting and all indications of regression rather than progression, why should he still be the starter? As far as adapting to the player, he’s a QB and is asked to complete passes and throw more TD’s than INT’s.. I don’t think that’s too much to ask.
September 27th, 2013 at 9:29 am
Joe, I don’t get where you stand on this issue of putting in Glennon now for Freeman. You definitely seem against it, but then in the next article in describing Freeman you write:
“a guy (Freeman) who leads the league in inaccuracy and has proven time and again to meltdown under pressure or when the slightest thing goes wrong”.
I get the problems in starting Glennon at this point, he is more likely to fail the majority of the time than to succeed. But do you propose keeping Free at QB for even one more game when, as you say, he “…melts down under pressure or when the slightest thing goes wrong…”?
What are the chances for a team that starts 0-3 for going to the playoffs? Right, ZERO. So what do we have to loose? We can see if Glennon is the man, or not. That info provides us the knowledge of what we need to know for how to use that likely high 1st round pick in 2014. That is the benefit that I see.
September 27th, 2013 at 9:32 am
Oh I’m sure the coaches will just toss in the rookie without making any gameplan adjustments and watch him crash and burn. Seems logical.
September 27th, 2013 at 9:35 am
I’m pretty sure Glennon can throw a wicked jump ball too.
September 27th, 2013 at 9:40 am
The season is over. The Bucs are turning to Glennon to see if there is anything there.
If not, we draft a top calibre QB in the next draft.
Plain and simple.
September 27th, 2013 at 9:45 am
my article today goes over every rookie QB the Bucs have started. Glennon, No. 8, becomes the 8th !
I dont count Steve Young even though he was an NFL rookie in 85 he played in USFL.
But back to topic, I dont think Glennon will do that bad. I watched his preseason action again, he didnt look that bad. He had a bad pick but I think were about to see how much Freeman was holding this team back. Now if Glennon goes out and plays good, can he keep that up..thats the question. To steal a line from Game of thrones, “hot QBs are dying like flies these days”
September 27th, 2013 at 9:51 am
Sam Bradford also looks awful right now. Moral of the story? Don’t get your QBs from the Big 12, they all apparently aren’t very good (or are due for a lot of IR time like IRGIII).
September 27th, 2013 at 9:54 am
@Tampamac – read this:
http://nfl.si.com/2013/09/26/tampa-bay-buccaneers-josh-freeman-mike-glennon/
I’m not suggesting Freeman has his faults, he does, but I think the coaching staff is not putting him in position to succeed on many levels – offensive system, playing to his strengths, making in-game adjustments, etc.
I’m all for playing Glennon after 6-7 games and our record still sucks, but saying “Glennon gives us the best chance to win now” is not true.
Our next 2 games will speak VOLUMES.
The Cardinals defense is HURTING, BIG – if we don’t win or even if the offense does poorly – it can’t be ‘blamed on Freeman’.
Glennon is the starter and I’m a Bucs fan first – I’m all in – I just don’t agree with the timing. There are other things that could have been corrected before the QB change.
Go BUCS!
September 27th, 2013 at 9:59 am
Question: If Glennon stinks and Freeman is still on the team, Do they go back to Freeman for the Falcons game? The next two games will speak VOLUMES and the national media is dialed in to the Bucs now, there’s blood in the water. If we lay offensive stinkers for Cards and Eagles – Schiano will be squarely in the cross-hairs.
September 27th, 2013 at 10:00 am
The system should not take a few years to master. Opposing teams defenses have already mastered it!
September 27th, 2013 at 10:03 am
Ha, system…
We have two great WR’s which both get double covered with safety help.
We have a great RB that gets beat up because the LBs cheat towards the line of scrimmage.
Now… if only we had someone to throw to in the gaping middle of the field… sigh
September 27th, 2013 at 10:06 am
Sully needs to take some of the blame. He needs to SIMPLIFY the offense. An offense that takes 2-3 yrs or more to master cannot work for MOST teams
September 27th, 2013 at 10:07 am
There was plenty of receivers open that Freeman didn’t see in the last few games. If we had a great TE, it would just be one more option that Freeman would fail to see when he got open. Reading a defense and going through progressions is something that is sorta innate and Freeman don’t got it.
September 27th, 2013 at 10:08 am
Tebow
September 27th, 2013 at 10:23 am
He doesn’t need a miracle, right now he needs Mike Will and V-Jax and so far both have been MIA. Danger, Danger, Will Robinson!
September 27th, 2013 at 10:26 am
former Bucs wide
receivers coach P.J. Fleck after Fleck left the
Bucs to coach Western Michigan University.
Fleck was rather candid and said that a lot
of the perceived “mis-communication”
issues Bucs had late last season with Josh
Freeman was more a result of NFL defenses
catching up to the Bucs… defenses catching up to the bucs.. nothings changed but the qb boss. good luck freeman hope u get another chance if not here then somewhere u can thrive. Glennon i hope ur ready for alot of constant attacks from the media and the fans lets go man
September 27th, 2013 at 10:27 am
The Bucs run the Kevin Gilbride ”read-option” passing attack, which is hard to master, esp. for a young QB. I think they will have to simplify things for Glennon, with more structured routes,& it’s just possible the result may be beneficial. Plus it will help the young receivers, if they have to play many snaps.
September 27th, 2013 at 10:39 am
All I keep hearing is how complicated this offense is to learn and how it took 2-3 years to learn. Sounds brilliant if your a new coach wanting to win now. That’s right in 2 years when the coach is ejected it will be another offense to install. The Glazers need to hire a GM with a high football IQ, bring in a new offensive minded coach and offensive coordinator. The comment “Jets South” says it all.
I wish Glennon all the success in the world but it is lining up to be a disaster for him.
September 27th, 2013 at 10:41 am
joseph mamma- EXACTLY!!!! That’s why I think the offense quit on him… They see frame by frame tape of every play and I’m sure they see all the missed reads, indecision, and consternation when Freeman drops back.
bucfanjeff- The offense had dinstanced themselves from Josh and quit on him. That’s why I believe Schiano when he said on Monday Freeman was the starter, but after offensive meetings and gauging the the morale of the offense, I believe Schiano laid his case out to the Glazers to bench Josh based on that. As far as going back to Josh, not a chance, especially after he’s gone public saying he wants to be traded. I think theyd give up a low round pick for a Brady Quinn or Jimmy Clausen before going to Josh. I said this earlier, but if they can’t trade him I think they’d Keyshawn him and just deactivate him the rest of the year before you see him in pewter and red again.
September 27th, 2013 at 10:43 am
we should have a new quarterback start each game just to keep the media and opposing teams on edge
September 27th, 2013 at 10:45 am
Why will any HC want a complex offense? I just don’t get it. Why not have a simple offense and add to it while the QB gains knowledge of it and everyone’s it’s on the same page?
Every time you get new players they will have a hard time to learn the offense. No wonder why Brunnell and Eli careers are so up and down.
September 27th, 2013 at 11:00 am
I bet Glennon can see a field better than free. A chimp could.
We’re going to see actual passes over the middles. more than 1 or 2 receivers being thrown to. The TE’s will actually get catches. And I bet Glennon will audible deep when they put 8 in the bow.
all the stuff free should have been doing, but he was too stuck on old reliable…whether that was k2, Vjax or Williams. He rarely looked past any of them in his reads.
It’s a new day and Sunday night will be a celebration!
September 27th, 2013 at 11:04 am
Jim,
Smartest observation in a long time.
We have two, and only two pass recieving options. . Jackson and Williams. No back. No slot. No TE.
Most of the time, the cornerbacks have read the play, and are waiting for our guys- at the spot they are going to. It’s really pathetic to watch how crippled this pass offense has become.
It’s no wonder that Martin can’t get any big runs. They are stacking him up.
If Glennon was a talented young QB-he’d be handcuffed with this sad excuse for a passing game!!
And Glennon isn’t a talented young QB.
September 27th, 2013 at 11:07 am
Ricardo,
Which TE?
Tim Wright???
Yeah right
September 27th, 2013 at 11:11 am
Up till now I never felt Glennon was the answer. I’m still not convinced.
However, I love an underdog. I’m hoping I’m wrong about him, and I will be rooting for him. It sure seems the Bucs can’t find a top 5 QB on their own. Maybe they’ll accidentally find one with Glennon.
Either way, I hope he either lights things up. If not, I would rather the opposite happen so we get a very good pick.
September 27th, 2013 at 11:14 am
Our own QB coach!
Unbelievable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 27th, 2013 at 11:25 am
The man is brilliant, if anyone can he can.
Let’s do this!!!!!
September 27th, 2013 at 11:29 am
The teams that succeed with a rookie QB are the ones who identify the plays from the QB’s college repertoire that he’s good at and can be fit into their offensive scheme. Put him on the field with a package of plays that made you draft him and you have the best chance to move the chains. He doesn’t have to light it up to loosen up the defense he just has to move the chains.
September 27th, 2013 at 11:39 am
@ Bonzai, You’ll support the QB change because you don’t have a choice anymore. I’ll remember the Glennon rancor you were spewing all along. But now your with the mob. Cool. That’s rugged individualism right there!
Same on this board as it always was.
______________________________________
Ricardo Esteban Says:
this is based on EXUSES made for frees performance.
this is a new slate. we’ll see.
Ricardo knows BS when he sees it….
______________________________________
joseph mamma Says:
There was plenty of receivers open that Freeman didn’t see in the last few games. If we had a great TE, it would just be one more option that Freeman would fail to see when he got open. Reading a defense and going through progressions is something that is sorta innate and Freeman don’t got it.
I can see you’ve been trading notes with Ricardo. Truth bomb right there.
_______________________________________
And now for Biff’s rather astute take!
Ready?
All the Freepologists were waving the banner of 4000+ yards passing last season. No other Buc QB could possibly do this!!! Well, most of those yards came before we tanked 5 of the last 6 games. Everyone should remember the Josh Pick O’ Matic late last year?
So, the never accused of wearing his MENSA card out, Field Marshall Josh, can generate these kind of yards in this “terrifying to learn” system?
You can’t say he nailed it and we should keep him and then hide behind the faux complexity as an excuse for him melting down again. He was the only Buccaneer player to regress last year.
Yes, Napoleon is going to struggle mightily because he’s a rookie. But the Free Posse will be ripping him after the very first pick!
Our only plausible option is to get rid of this cancer… quickly too!
September 27th, 2013 at 12:47 pm
for what it’s worth, with both starting WRs possibly out, along with crabtree, glennon might be throwing to the same skill position players he’s been running scout team with while seeing better protection
seriously though, this will get ugly
September 27th, 2013 at 1:00 pm
former Bucs wide
receivers coach P.J. Fleck after Fleck left the
Bucs to coach Western Michigan University.
Fleck was rather candid and said that a lot
of the perceived “mis-communication”
issues Bucs had late last season with Josh
Freeman was more a result of NFL defenses
catching up to the Bucs… defenses catching up to the bucs..
September 27th, 2013 at 5:24 pm
It’s not the system, it’s how well you play it. I remember John Riggins & the Hogs back in the day. Everybody knew he was getting the ball, but they couldn’t stop them. Why? Execution.
September 29th, 2013 at 6:40 am
It doesn’t matter what QB you throw out there – this offense is horrendous.
I mean – the line can’t understand the snap count, the receivers drop first downs and TD passes with no one around them…how’s a ROOKIE going to?
Freeman has talent and as bucfanjeff accurately noted – they tried to force him into a system he isn’t made to run.
Now, add a kid who is sometimes mistaken for a marble statue of Napolean Dynamite – and this could get really ugly…