Gruden's got a QB

Well, Jon Gruden certainly is a happy man.

He finally got an offensive toy to play with it: University of San Diego quarterback Josh Johnson, one of the more intriguing late-round picks.

Johnson put up prolific numbers at San Diego, throwing for 43 touchdowns and one interception in 2007. Johnson also is one of the more athletic quarterbacks you'll ever see, running a 4.4-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, first among quarterbacks.

Johnson, the MVP of the East-West Shrine all-star game, led the nation in total offense in pass efficiency and points responsible for. He also was once coached by current Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh.

Bucs personnel executive Doug Williams took an interest in Johnson and has been an advocate for him throughout the pre-draft process. Jon Gruden also has expressed how impressed he was by Johnson's resume and the Bucs also conducted a private workout with Johnson last month.

And no mention of the Bucs adding a quarterback would be complete without a head count. For those keeping track, that's seven now on the roster: Jeff Garcia, Brian Griese, Luke McCown, Chris Simms, Bruce Gradkowski , Jake Plummer and, now, Johnson. Needless to say, they won't all be here on opening day. The addition of Johnson just adds to the intrigue.

(AP photo. Click to enlarge.)

Comments

[Nate Dogg]

great pick!

[Chris]

I an shocked at this pick! Gruden has never made me believe that he coveted the Quarterback position.

Another project, another quarterback, another headache!

[kevinmmills]

So what does this mean?

do we carry 4 QB's and 6 WR's? I doubt it.

Assuming Simms is released does that mean McCown and Greise fighting for number 2?

I think Bruce G. is as good as gone.

I like McCown's upside a lot hopefully he will be given a fair shot and Gruden won't automatically defer to the veteran in this case.

[v]

Say goodbye, Bruce G.

[Bill]

great pick

[Nate Dogg]

I think the picks of Moore and Johnson are outstanding! Great value at both spots...as both have starting potential 3 years down the road.

It's weird how Allen seems to have flipflopped styles for this year's draft: take questionable picks early and make solid picks late...

[Chris]

I hope we can address the Running Back position at some point in this draft...maybe Mike Hart, no that would make too much sense!

I really hope we are pounding the free agents after this draft. The more bodies in camp the better. There will be talent out there that doesn't get drafted!

[DV]

Hey Chris, dont forget: the sky is falling! Oh yeah, also... Tampa will soon be annexed by communist Soviet Union.

[yo]

great pick i played at jacksonville university in 07 san diego was in our conference great player he can make all the throws and can run he is a pure stud

[john]

now get rid of bruce g and brian grease.and resign garcia so johnson will have a great teacher.

[JS]

Great pick!... why are still talking about plummer? If i'm simms and bruce i would pack my bags and mccown next year... when garcia retires johnson is our qb... yesss!!!!!!

[kevinmmills]

Video of Josh, who would be king.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sITaJVOX0BQ

[TH]

YEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!! obviously great for our offense.. imagine a pass/run qb for a west coast offense.. spicyyyy!!!!!... who needs bruce, mccown, and simms?

[Oliver]

Very good pick. Great value, plus he's incredibly mobile.

[cory]

Great pick. Geno Hayes now in a couple picks. I can't believe a top 5 old is still available in the 6th. He's a perfect fit for our system.

[George]

Gruden got his QB of the future!

[cory]

olb*

[Matt]

First, I think I like this draft from the Bucs standpoint. I would have gone Jenkins in the 1st over Talib, but otherwise it looks good. Second, I really don’t get the trading strategy of Gruden/Allen. They won’t trade down in the first no matter how the draft shapes up, but once we get to the 3rd round, they go out of their way to make sure they have picks in all 7 rounds. The bang for the buc just ain’t there guys. Finally, I’ve read a lot of good and mediocre press on Josh Johnson, but at the end of the day, I just don’t think you can get a Franchise QB in the 6th round (Brady notwithstanding). We’ll see. Personally, I would have snagged a RB or CB, or tried to acquire another 2009 draft pick.

[kevinmmills]

well after watching the video I must say as far as projects go he doesnt seem to have a lot of flaws.

Usually they have small hands, weak arm, too short, inaccurate etc. Johnson's only knock seems to be the level of talent he played.

[SnookAU]

Best part of this:

No more Simms and Gradkowski!

What a relief!

[will]

another dexter jackson? another qb named johnson?

gruden's trying to draft another super bowl, if you ask me.

which i completely support, btw. i could think of worse draft strategies.

[Chris]

You called it Cory! Great Call.

"Great pick. Geno Hayes now in a couple picks. I can't believe a top 5 old is still available in the 6th. He's a perfect fit for our system."

[John P]

Counting Plummer is a kind of a reach, don't you think? He's not playing here, and never will.

Gradkowski and Simms are going to be gone - so that leaves 4, and I'm pretty sure Johnson is going to end up on a practice squad. Which leaves 3 quarterbacks and you can pretty much assume it'll be in the order of 1. Garcia 2. Griese and 3. McCown.

[Adam]

We can almost field an arena team with just QBs.

[JH]

Johnson was ranked high on many draft boards. One thing that has not been mentioned so far is that I think that the Bucs might also convert him into a WR. He is built like one (6-2, 213), and he runs fast (4.5 in 40). Of course, very few of us have ever seen him play, so we will have to wait until training camp starts to see how this is going to impact the other six QBs on the roster.

[JH]

John P is right! I meant to say the other five QBs (minus Plummer) on the roster. I think that Gradkowski and Simms are gone at the least. The Bucs may keep Johnson as a WR/QB along with Griese, McCown, and Garcia.

[DV]

another dexter jackson? another qb named johnson?

gruden's trying to draft another super bowl, if you ask me.

which i completely support, btw. i could think of worse draft strategies.

Posted by: will | April 27, 2008 at 03:34 PM

What's in a name? Perhaps by your logic, we should draft any defensive tackle named Sapp? How about any fullbacks out there who happen to be named Alstott? Because having the same name surely guarantees success.

[Oliver]

I would be shocked if they tried to turn Johnson into a WR. Sure he's got speed, but his college career numbers are fantastic. Gruden loves high completion percentages - Josh had numbers like 67%.

And, yes, typically, franchise-QB's are not found in the 5th round, but Brad Johnson was a very late pick back in 1992, and he was our Superbowl QB.

Josh Johnson is everything Gruden is looking for in a quarterback. Whether he is successful in the NFL is another matter - but I am delighted with the pick.

[cory]

He does need to put on 10 or 15 pounds.

[Justin M]

With all the QBs on our roster as it is, Josh Johnson is no lock to make the team. The Bucs took a flyer on him, and we will see how it pans out. He could end up being shown the door along with Bruce and Simms. NO WAY we carry 4 QBs out of training camp like last year.
If you ask me for a comparison, this guy is the second coming of Adrian McPherson.

[Braheem Ackmadia]

Josh Johnson is the "ANSWER"! Garcia can forget about a new contract! Griese, Plummer, and Bucco Bruce are HISTORY! McCown & Newbee Josh Johnson will fight for the back-up job. Oh..Josh will win it. Garcia better not get hurt! Can you say Majakowski/Favre. If Garcia leaves the field he'll never see it again! OUTSTANDING PICK!

[Tom L]

I think depending on how well Simms performs in camp that they should maybe keep him, McCown and Johnson. It all just depends on if Simms is back to his old self or not. We will all see come preseason. Simms certainly has a better arm than McCown.

"If you ask me for a comparison, this guy is the second coming of Adrian McPherson"

I wouldn't even compare a toilet full of feces to Adrian McPherson. Other than the fact they are both black and athletic (is that what you're getting at?) they are polar opposites. Johnson has football smarts, makes solid decisions and is accurate, unlike checkbook boy.

[Justin M]

Similarities I saw between the two were the athleticism, their builds and measureables, big stats against inferior competition, and the hype. In 2005, alot of people here were enamored with McPherson like Johnson.
What makes you think Gruden is going to have patience with this guy? He didnt have patience with Chris Simms, who when he came out of college was far more polished than Johnson.
As things are now pertaining to our numerous QBs, how is this guy going to get reps? In this WCO, reps are essential. I see Johnson on the practice squad.

[JB]

They better not put Johnson on the practice squad. He'll get plucked off there in a heartbeat.

[DV]

1: Garcia 2: Griese 3: Johnson

All others will be cut or traded.

[yofill]

so what did we get in return for drafting down?

[Chance]

This kid certainly has a future here in Tampa!

[DV]

so what did we get in return for drafting down?

Posted by: yofill | April 27, 2008 at 07:36 PM

picks

[maarnold1775]

The Bucs could have drafted Joe Montana, Earl Campbell and Lawrence Taylor and you guys would still find something to wine about with the draft. Maybe the Eagle's fans were right about something in their lives, the typical Buc fan knows pitifully little about football!

[Kevin]

DV, you are a tard...I actually thought what Will said was pretty funny and nothing serious...I guess we should draft a blog expert such as DV and see if we can get great analogies...Pop the foot rest down on your arm chair and go get a life...Will, drafting Johnson and another Dexter Jackson was pretty funny...Maybe Dexter Jackson will be this year's Super Bowl MVP...Maarnold, your typical fan knows nothing about football and its not just Bucs fans...If you really want to compare Eagles fans to Bucs fans then we know what type of person you are...Such as, screaming at Joe Jervicious about his newborn in the hospital...Yeah, that is a typical Eagles fan, so usually when the Eagles fan has something stupid to say about a Bucs fan then we usually don't pay no mind...

[JR]

no one deserve to be compared to adrian mcpherson. he showed promise in college. josh johnson actually performed in college unlike mcpherson who was kicked out of fsu for check fraud or something like that. mcpherson couldnt even prove that he was clearly better than chris rix, and chris rix was terrible. and whoever said that both johnson and mcpherson played against inferior competition was completely wrong. johnson played against weak teams in I-AA, mcpherson played in the acc, a bcs conference.

Johnson should be a good qb for gruden to develop into the starter after garcia contract expires. dont overlook the fact that the system that he played in at san diego was mirrored after grudens west coast offense so the only adjustment this guy has to make is reading nfl defenses and learning a little more about gruden's offense as opposed to learning a whole new offense and learning to read coverages.

[JR]

i was debating going to training camp this year but now i cant wait to see josh johnson at training camp

[throw46]

Well looks like you guys have another norcal qb coming....Sam Keller. Gruden is quite the collector