No decision on Bucs QB today!

[Poundtherock]

Morris hasn't made call on QB

August 23, 2009 4:05 PM

Credit ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas

TAMPA, Fla. -- Although he had pledged last week to name his starting quarterback Sunday, Tampa Bay coach Raheem Morris did not.

Morris said he still needs to meet with the coaching staff to discuss the quarterback decision. Morris even hinted that the Bucs might wait until after Thursday's preseason game with Miami to decide who will open the season as the starter.

"It may go overtime," Morris said.

Morris made it sound like Luke McCown, Byron Leftwich and rookie Josh Freeman all remain in the mix. Last week, Morris said he would follow conventional wisdom and name an opening-day starter before the third preseason game.

I blogged earlier today that this might be the best route to take. The comp has been so close. Of course, if Free has another week, he may end up the starter. Neither of the front runners have impressed me.

 

[Fox1994]

Idk. Rather have him learn from the sidelines then end-up like Joey Harrington.

 

[corbin]

I really hope they give the job to McCown, I'm not a huge fan of throwing an untested rookie in right away just to get hammered... especially Freeman. I say start McCown a couple games and see what he has to offer, I've heard good things about him. If it fails, bench his ass and put Leftwich in and try to nurse Freeman behind him.

 

[Chrispy]

I think its going to be leftwich for a few games

 

[f16harm]

Should be fun Thursday night on national TV. Miami's starters in the first 2 preseason games have been lights out.

 

[Fox1994]

I think it might be Leftwich. I'd rather him than McCown.

 

[Poundtherock]

Should be fun Thursday night on national TV. Miami's starters in the first 2 preseason games have been lights out.

Yeah, I just hope we can stay close to them Phins and don't get too embar-assed. Hmmmm, they meet again in week 10 for real...the Bucs will be all about how their QBs play.....and other things will be mostly vanilla. But it is another NFL Florida team, so that is always a plus. 1 down, 1 to go!

I think it might be Leftwich. I'd rather him than McCown.

Word is down here that the Morris lean was toward Lefty but things are now still open to all three....yes, all three!

 

[Bear Pand]

Thanks for the non update

 

[Poundtherock]

Thanks for the non update

You welcome!

 

[Woy]

^ Not even going to say anything.

Leftwich should start the opener.

 

[JTRaines92]

I don't know a lot about them but does Josh Johnson have a shot at starting?

 

[RyanLeaf16]

I don't know a lot about them but does Josh Johnson have a shot at starting?

If Gruden was still here...Johnson would have had a legitimate shot to start. Gruden was planning on giving him an opportunity this season before he was fired.

 

[RyanLeaf16]

Should be fun Thursday night on national TV. Miami's starters in the first 2 preseason games have been lights out.

Lucky for us, those in Tampa won't be able to see the game...yes...that's right the first blackout in Tampa in 11 years and it is the first of many to come this year.

 

[Poundtherock]

If Gruden was still here...Johnson would have had a legitimate shot to start. Gruden was planning on giving him an opportunity this season before he was fired.

Gruden is not here, and even if he were JJ still wouldn't have any more chance at the #1 job than he has now under Morris because Gruden would be starting Jeff Garcia, lol.

Lucky for us, those in Tampa won't be able to see the game...yes...that's right the first blackout in Tampa in 11 years and it is the first of many to come this year.

You are being so pessimistic of late, lol....businesses and/or groups will most likely purchase any remaining tickets. IDK how many tickets remain....and there's still the 72-hour rule.

On Morris re-thinking his decision not to go thru with his decision of not naming a starter at QB yesterday, he told Roy Cummings at the Tampa Tribune,

"that he is also starting to rethink his plan for keeping just three quarterbacks. There are no givens, Morris said. We once said we won’t keep four quarterbacks here. But with the way they’re all playing, I don’t even know if that’s true anymore.’’

"Veterans Byron Leftwich and Luke McCown remain in a near dead heat for the right to open the season as the starter at quarterback, but rookie Josh Freeman and second-year pro Josh Johnson have both played well, too.

Freeman engineered an 80-yard touchdown drive on Saturday against Jacksonville that culminated with him running 28 yards for the touchdown. That came in the wake of Johnson’s 43-yard TD run a week earlier at Tennessee.

Morris said again Sunday that the youngsters have played so well that there is no guarantee that the veteran that loses the battle for the starter’s job will remain as the backup or even the third quarterback."

Morris also said, "there’s even a chance the decision on the starter will go past the Miami exhibition. It’s certain, Morris said, that the decision on the backup will probably not be made until after the preseason is over."

Credit Contributing, Tampa Bay Tribune

I totally agree. He may have just saved himself from a hasty rookie coach mistake.

 

[RyanLeaf16]

Gruden is not here, and even if he were JJ still wouldn't have any more chance at the #1 job than he has now under Morris because Gruden would be starting Jeff Garcia, lol.

As a matter of fact, JJ would have actually had the opportunity to compete for the starting job. Gruden loved the kid's potential. That's why he sat him the entire first year and was willing to carry four quarterbacks last season. Garcia would not have been here this season. He had a 2-year deal and he was going to be gone. Garcia's little ego couldn't take the fact that the team jumped at the opportunity to get a better quarterback. His 12 TD's a year were not worth he $7-8 million he wanted from the Bucs.

Take a look at how long it took for him to be signed by a new team. Garcia wasn't all that good, I said it when he was here. I also said he was trying to cash in because he knew it may be his last payday and he wasn't going to start anywhere else. Now...he's in Oakland and Cable named JR the starter.

You are being so pessimistic of late, lol....businesses and/or groups will most likely purchase any remaining tickets. IDK how many tickets remain....and there's still the 72-hour rule.

If anything the Glazers will have to buy the remaining tickets through their foundation. Still, no businesses are really all that interested. Especially when you have Mark Dominik GIVING AWAY CLUB seats to anyone who asked for them at training camp. Facts are facts. Heavy media blitz to sell tickets + giving away club seats = trouble.

 

[Poundtherock]

Garcia should not have even been the starter the last year he was here. I do miss seeing his lovely bride, Carmella............

But Gruden is a "used" QB coach, IMO....he lacks the "whatever-it-takes" in a coach to take the time and teach a kid, thus JJ, who I believe can be a starter, eventually, if not here, somewere. Gruden is where he belongs, in the booth, and does a terrific job at it. Garcia's not a starter just like Gruden is not a "starter coach" this year....not sure why, lol. Gruden doesn't want to "build" he wants to take somebody else's work, Tony comes to mind, and enjoy the fruits of their labor without giving he/she credit for anything that I can recall, another reason JJ would not have gotten a chance at starting for the Bucs. There are very few retreaded QBs that should be starters, i.e., Leftwich. Morris almost chose him, then sanity by other coaches, I'm sure, and due to the performance of McCown, Freeman and JJ, saved him from making the same Gruden mistake...choose the retread QB b/c of ego and a lack of patience by a coach.

I just don't see the apathy towards the situation that you do......maybe I should check one of the so-called experts in the radio studio. [Said with tongue-in-cheek].

Love ya, Leaf, just got to get you back onboard the train!

Freeman for starting.....he can handle the job!!! Lol, Leaf reacting to that om: j/k Leaf.

 

[RyanLeaf16]

Garcia should not have even been the starter the last year he was here. I do miss seeing his lovely bride, Carmella............

But Gruden is a "used" QB coach, IMO....he lacks the "whatever-it-takes" in a coach to take the time and teach a kid, thus JJ, who I believe can be a starter, eventually, if not here, somewere. Gruden is where he belongs, in the booth, and does a terrific job at it. Garcia's not a starter just like Gruden is not a "starter coach" this year....not sure why, lol. Gruden doesn't want to "build" he wants to take somebody else's work, Tony comes to mind, and enjoy the fruits of their labor without giving he/she credit for anything that I can recall, another reason JJ would not have gotten a chance at starting for the Bucs. There are very few retreaded QBs that should be starters, i.e., Leftwich. Morris almost chose him, then sanity by other coaches, I'm sure, and due to the performance of McCown, Freeman and JJ, saved him from making the same Gruden mistake...choose the retread QB b/c of ego and a lack of patience by a coach.

I just don't see the apathy towards the situation that you do......maybe I should check one of the so-called experts in the radio studio. [Said with tongue-in-cheek].

Love ya, Leaf, just got to get you back onboard the train!

Freeman for starting.....he can handle the job!!! Lol, Leaf reacting to that om: j/k Leaf.

The Super Bowl team had 22 new players on it and Dungy only drafted Barber. Brooks, Sapp and Lynch were all drafted by Sam Wyche. I guess one could argue that Gruden and Dungy won with the cornerstones at defense that Wyche provided them.

 

[Poundtherock]

The Super Bowl team had 22 new players on it and Dungy only drafted Barber. Brooks, Sapp and Lynch were all drafted by Sam Wyche. I guess one could argue that Gruden and Dungy won with the cornerstones at defense that Wyche provided them.

Lol, good point!

 

[Fox1994]

When it comes down to picking the starter, who is gonna be cut? It won't be Freeman, and I'm pretty sure it won't be Leftwich. Which leaves McCown and Johnson. Johnson somehow seems the odd man out.

 

[RyanLeaf16]

When it comes down to picking the starter, who is gonna be cut? It won't be Freeman, and I'm pretty sure it won't be Leftwich. Which leaves McCown and Johnson. Johnson somehow seems the odd man out.

Leftwich is not invisible here. Everyone seems to think so though. Leftwich can be cut. He has no guaranteed money in his contract. Meaning, unless he's on the roster week 1 (vested veteran) his full seasons salary is not guaranteed.

Luke is the guy that Mark Dominik gave a bunch of money to...plus, he has outplayed Leftwich in the preseason by leaps and bounds. Not sure why they want another week. If anything, it is to try and justify starting Freeman. Other than that, the numbers are pretty cut and dry with McCown outperforming Leftwich.