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If you want to find the definition of disappointment, look no further than to Bucs fans around draft time when they heard Lovie Smith anoint Mike Glennon the QB of the future for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. …and the GM concurred!
But there is a reason that website JoeBucsFan has coined the term “The Glennon Mob”, there are tons of fans out there who are impressed with the youngster whose impersonation of Napoleon Dynamite is unintended yet accurate!
To be fair, Glennon never asked for all of THIS. MRSA, Josh Freeman, Greg Schiano, all fall into the category of THIS. He was drafted by coach Schiano in the 3rd round to send a message to incumbent Freeman that he needed to step up. How aggressive the ‘step up’ part was delivered is up for debate, because whatever it was, it destroyed “the Franchise, ole “5”. By week 3 he was benched, and by week 5 he was gone. Now he isn’t even heard of; imagine if this time a year ago I told you Josh McCown would be the top QB Free Agent and Freeman would be out of work. Everyone except Fran Tarkenton would have called me a nutcase.
Glennon looked every bit the rookie, but he completed the intermediate and short passes far more accurately than Freeman. In his first outing, poor game planning and coaching killed what could have been his first win.
The positives and negatives are many with Glennon, and perhaps we’ve been spoiled with the almost instant success of Freeman. From his first start when he willed the Bucs to a win over the Packers, he was the QB who the game was never over. Glennon never once even hinted a 4th Qtr persona like No. 5 was. But when you look back at the history of the Bucs QBs, the numbers show a future that maybe more bright than some will admit.
Glennon completed 59% of his passes, for an average of 200 yards a game. He played in only 13 games, but he acquired 2600 yards, and more important, 19 touchdowns to his 9 Interceptions. There were 28 plays of 20 or more yards, considered big plays, and 7 of those over 40 yards!
It’s hard to compare QBs to other era’s, so I won’t get into Doug Williams or Steve Young or even Vinny Testaverde’s TD totals. But Trent Dilfer, Shawn King, Chris Simms, those guys are only from the Pewter Era. Glennon’s numbers were respectable when compared to many of the greats too.
Tomorrow we’ll discuss how he was the benefit of many turnovers, and far too many passes were safe dumpoffs. But ALL of the numbers do not lie. Almost 30 plays of 20+ is not someone who is just throwing down.
For right now, Josh McCown is the starter, and nothing short of injury or complete failure will bring that job to Glennon, but at 35 years of age, McCown is a band aid, a stop gap measure until someone can take over and guide this franchise to the promised land; or at least a playoff game, Playoff Win, and a Championship.
There was plenty we saw last year that could tell me Glennon is that guy, with some better things to come as he improves with age and experience.
Tomorrow; The downside that the MOB don’t see!
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