Not-so-hot preseasons for these guys

Last week, I gave you my list of up-and-coming players who have gained the most from their opportunities this preseason (click here).

Consider this the sequel.

Not everyone has shined during the three exhibition games to date. There are some players whose flaws have been exposed or who have simply failed to produce thus far, casting doubt on just how they'll perform in the regular season or -- in some cases -- whether they'll make the team. (View audio slide show)

CB Eugene Wilson: Signed as a free agent from the Patriots, Wilson was seen as a key piece of the Bucs' offseason retooling efforts. So far during the preseason, Wilson has been inconsistent both in coverage and as a tackler. His miscues were particularly glaring against the Jaguars on Saturday, with one of his whiffed tackles setting up a Jacksonville touchdown. Not saying he'll be cut, but considering the depth in the secondary and at cornerback in particular (Ronde Barber, Phillip Buchanon, Aqib Talib, Sammy Davis, Elbert Mack), the Bucs do have options. Watch him closely on Thursday at Houston. Defensive backs coach Raheem Morris said he will be, too, trying to determine whether last week was an aberration.

WR Paris Warren: He was the darling of the 2007 preseason, the team's leading receiver. His unsightly ankle injury in the final exhibition game was a major setback sidelining him for the season. But during the offseason, he proclaimed himself ready to make another run at the final roster. Problem is, he hasn't yet distinguished himself in the preseason, catching just two passes for 15 yards. With the Bucs already attempting to resolve their logjam at receiver, Warren is, at best, a long shot with final cuts looming Saturday. Coach Jon Gruden earlier today emphasized the fact he thinks Warren is an NFL-caliber player and said "he's in the mix," but that doesn't guarantee him anything.

QB Luke McCown: When he stepped into the starting lineup for Jeff Garcia last season, McCown showed off his athleticism and arm strength, qualities that make him attractive to the Bucs. But if you watched closely, you also saw his tendency to make questionable decisions, some of which cost the Bucs dearly. McCown has said he spent his offseason working to eliminate those from his game, but his play in the preseason has served as a reminder that he isn't there yet. Brian Griese looks like a lock in the battle for the No. 2 quarterback position. Not all is lost, however. Gruden quite often shuffles the order of his backup quarterbacks from week to week, so perhaps McCown can rectify the situation.

K Matt Bryant: He doesn't have any competition in this camp, so the chances he won't kick for the Bucs this season are remote. But Bryant hasn't been steady in the preseason, missing two kicks he almost always converts: from 36 yards against Miami and from 23 yards against Jacksonville. Kickers are probably criticized too often because it's so easy for opinion to be swayed by a isolated incidents, but no one in the organization will tell you they feel good about Bryant's recent misses.

Comments

[CW]

Interesting take on McCown. Any chance he gets released in favor of keeping Simms? Any chance the Bucs release two QBs by Saturday?

[eric]

I'd take Simms over McCown. If Paris is cut, I hope he would end up on the practice squad... when he's 100%, he's a good receiver.

[Matt]

Can Paris be added to the practice squad? He's been in the league 4 years now (I think). It'd be great if he could be, but I think its active roster or off the team for Paris.

Between Elbert Mack and Eugene Wilson, I'd take Elbert Mack any day of the week. If he's this good as a rookie from a school like Troy, imagine what he'll be like next year or the year after.

[Jack]

I saw Mack play real well in the game against the Dolphins and Patriots. He has more of an upside, and the play of Saby almost negates Wilson's possible contribution as a S.

[Tom]

McCown has the most talent out of all of our QBs, including Garcia. But he just doesn't get it. If you were to rate him in the awareness category in Madden 09', I'd give him a "0". Simms, however, has no pocket presence. He doesn't know how to elude pass rushers just enough to get the pass out.

Another player who've had bad preseason games is Derrick Brooks. He whiffed on a couple of tackles. I still love the guy.

[dsg]

Show some respect for Brooks. Without him you wouldnt have in enjoyed football on sunday for the last several years

[Tom]

DSG, read my last sentence. I guess you're not an objective football fan. I love the guy also. But I can see that he is slowly becoming a liability in tackling. As for heart, I'll take DB any day.

[bobbyd]

Stephen,
I really appreciate your analysis. You seem to be one of the rare breed of reporters around here who actually reports with their brain. The rest of these moron reporters can't seem to be objective. I guess they're too busy crying because Jon Gruden was mean to them. Keep up the good work.

Paris has shown nothing this pre-season. My guess is he's either not 100% or he's playing tentative.

Griese should be #2. He's playing smart football. This team is built around defense and efficient ball control. 5 yard passes will move the chains much better than a 20 yard incompletion. It's not as sexy as the bomb, but a 1st down is a 1st down.

McCown over Simms for exactly what Tom said... pocket presence. Plus I think he has nearly as much arm strength as Simms and he's much more athletic. He needs one more season to mature. Ride the pine and let him loose next season.

[Tom]

Sims has been a pleasant surprise so far this season. He is starting to play to his potential. He didn't show too much last year but seems to be really showing some athleticism.

That's Ryan Sims I'm talking about.

[mike j]

Interesting. I too saw Wilson play poorly; he said all along he doesnt want to play CB. Warren, I had hopes for, but looks like he will be crowded out.Lucas & Clark looked more dynamic vs. scrubs for Jax..I like McCown; that was his only pick in 3 pre-season games, wasnt it? He was doing a nice come-back job before Smith's bonehead run.All the QBs looked lost at times. Bryant worries me because of his short KO's.

[mike j]

Interesting. I too saw Wilson play poorly; he said all along he doesnt want to play CB. Warren, I had hopes for, but looks like he will be crowded out.Lucas & Clark looked more dynamic vs. scrubs for Jax..I like McCown; that was his only pick in 3 pre-season games, wasnt it? He was doing a nice come-back job before Smith's bonehead run.All the QBs looked lost at times. Bryant worries me because of his short KO's.

[jeno]

Don't know which preseason you've been watching...McCown was almost flawless in the first 2 games and was the only QB to move the team up and down the field on Sat. with only 3rd string help.

[BigBucFan]

I like the comment I read about cutting the TBO reporters Roy, Ira, & Martin. They are horrible haters on a good day. It's nice to read objective reporting on the team based on facts. I think the Bucs needed to get all that junk out of their systems last week. They'll bounce back strong. Come Sept 7, the Saints won't know what hit them. Smashmouth running, Joey Galloway & Da Bucs Defense.

[Brandon]

What an idiotic analysis of McCown. Check his numbers compared to Griese. Griese's aren't much better but has played far worse football. Griese refuses to put the ball downfield and defenses in the regular season know this, he is not a threat to stretch the field and they will cut off the short game. McCown can make all the throws, he will gain more confidence with experience.

Consider this, McCown's worst pass of the preseason was a ball that he threw behind Spurlock, who still got a hand on it, which popped the ball in the air, and got intercepted. Griese's worse pass was a forced throw into coverage in the endzone that bounced off the chest of Jaguars reserve safety Jamal Fudge. McCown didn't make a very good throw and got intercepted because of the WR, Griese made a terrible decision and a terrible throw and was bailed out because the DB can't catch.

Griese sucked 3 years ago and has done nothing to dispel this. McCown has been solid during the preseasona and has done little to hurt his stock.

"I'd take Simms over McCown. If Paris is cut, I hope he would end up on the practice squad... when he's 100%, he's a good receiver.

Posted by: eric"

If you knew anything about football you'd know Warren was out of practice squad options long ago... Simms over McCown? more proof.

Bobbyd,

That's the problem with Griese, he'll complete 5 yard passes all day, unfortunately he usually does this on 3rd and long. Having a QB that can't/won't throw deep only makes it rougher to run the ball, the safeties are much closer, the LBs don't take as a deep a drop. Having a noodle-armed QB with no down the field moxy only hurts a team.

[Scott]

Has all the pro Simms fans forgot that Simms has more batted balls when he was active than any other QB? McCown, with time, will be a quality QB

[bobbyd]

The problems we all have as pseudo-coaches/analysts is that 1. we don't know what the play call was and 2. we don't have the benefit of a decent camera angle to watch. (Is there anything more annoying than watching the wide receivers run off the side of your television screen just 1 second after the ball is snapped)? That really makes it hard for us to know whether Griese is afraid to throw the deep ball, if the short pass was the play that was called, or if there was simply nothing open.

I still have fond memories of Griese going 5 and 1 before his season ending injury (a roll-job by Zach Thomas). He can be an efficient field general much like Brad Johnson was for us.

[Tom]

McCown has all the tools to become a very good QB except for the most important quality, BRAINS. He is very similar to a former Buc QB that once ran around clueless, Rob Johnson. Let's face it, both Griese and McCown are only good for the backup role. Don't kid yourself into believing either one of these guys can be elite QBs.

[Kurt in Charlotte]

I think your take is spot-on Stephen concerning McCown this preseason; inadequate at best and damn near scary at worst. Griese will get what he deserves; the second string. He may take the first if Garcia doesn't improve his play. All of you Griese bashers fail to realize that the West Coast offense was designed for short passes to compensate for running plays and to keep defenses honest. Griese will get the ball to Galloway when the White Tiger arrives just like he did in '04 when we had the best passing duo in the NFL for the second half of the season.

Griese is playing "within" the system; something most of you haters don't understand. Who cares about tangibles if you aren't putting points on the board? In fact, helping the opposing team by making mistakes which give up field position and sometimes points (even if it is just a little behind your receiver; it's on your 20 yd line where you are responsible to protect the ball!) I love the analysis "Check the numbers...Griese's aren't MUCH better..." not much better maybe on paper, but still better nonetheless and a whole hell of lot better on the scoreboard. And in the huddle, where you see our offense executing like professionals instead of some rag-tag flag football team under Garcia and McClown, much better!

I believe R Gannon had a less than stellar career before he showed up in Oakland, and under Gruden put in 4 pro-bowl caliber seasons. Some of the logic on this blog wreaks of ignorance and apathy. Still, keep McClown and lose Simms; he's proven his worth. McClown is close to being something; just not yet.

[jeno]

It's widely publicized that Gruden's offense is one of the toughest if not THE toughest in the league to master. So that remark about McCown not having the brains is way off the mark. Coaches don't have time to waste on guys that don't have the brains,not to mention the money they invest. I think if McCown couldn't master this offense, he wouldn't be entering his 4th year with the Bucs!

[STIXX]

I would rather see Simms then MCcown, and if Paris is cut hope he`s on the practist squad...he can play.

[warren]

Brandon, McCown is terrible. No need for continued conversation.

[Tom]

Jeno, like I said, McCown is one of the most physically gifted QBs in the league. He has a rocket arm, can make all the throws and can scramble as well as any QB. That is why the coaches have invested time in this guy (as a backup). Just like Vick's coaches invested so time in him. Of course, Vick's talent is remarkable. Does that mean he has it between the ears? I don't think so. I don't think anyone here believes that we're grooming McCown to be a franchise QB. Do you?

[Nick]

Lets say a little prayer Antonio,his knee's, Micheal Clayton, Maurice, the Clark Boys, Don Penn, Paris Warren, the white paper tiger and the rest of the Bucs & Chris Sims....
....Except Jeff Garcia, Ike too old too slow over the hill(ard) and those to waste of acouple draft picks Johnson & Dexter Jackson they can go play for Atlanta if they want to really help the Bucs. Also have the wizard of OZ give Gruden & Allen a Brain, even just one to share between the two of them.
Ps I hope Brett Farve dies Of Gonnaharia n burns in Hell!

[George]

Nick... very eloquent.

[Jay]

Stephen, you know I enjoy your contributions, but you just said something horrendous and unthinkable - Sammy Davis might make the team. There really is no excuse for being so hurtful to us Bucs fans.

[BigBucFan]

I agree 100% about recievers & crappy camera work. That is why I decided to go to all the home games several years ago. You see everything if you watch closely. We had guys open downfield in the last 2 games & the QB didn't even see them. Hockey games on TV are the same way. You only get half the ice and few line changes. Nothing like the real thing. 2 Bucs tickets for 10 games $ = 12 month supply cigarettes $.

[Mitch NYC]

The Times should Hire Nick...

[CVal]

Give it a rest Scott and go chew on your batted balls. When a horrible O-line lets the D-Linemen pour thru, you'll have batted balls, sacks, spleens and all sorts of ugliness. I'd like to see Simms have an equal chance with 1st string O-Line and receivers and RB's. Then we can make a fair assessment. That won't happen for other than football reasons.

[DR]

This is too funny, a QB controversy over Griese and McCown. That's more of a QB nightmare than a controversy. Why isn't ESPN covering this drama? ha.
The thing i've been seeing in these preseason games is subpar offensive linemen play. Maybe the O-line is meeting your expectations because yours are lower than mine, but they need to improve and improve quickly. They're young and have potential and the sooner they get to their potential, the better. A healthy Garcia gives the Bucs the best chance to win. The o-line needs to keep him healthy.
McCown is Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde with Dr. Jeckyl being pretty good and Mr. Hyde looking like a freshmen high school QB. Griese couldn't beat out Rex Grossman for god's sake so you have to wonder what was going on in chi town.
Garcia needs to get rid of the rust and be the better man in the whole contract situation. He should realize by now that there is no integrity in this organization.

[jeno]

mccown needs game experience..there's no substitute for that and he hasn't had the benefit of that...he's ready..go back and look at his qb rating from the games he played in last year and what he's done in preseason this year

[david kilmer]

So far the rookies that appear to be keepers are , WR clark, especially like the little runner Smith. Mack ,appears to have much more upside than Wilsom at this point.I also agree with the comments about Griese. He has looked good in pre season. The problem remains, in a real game the defense will take away the short game , make him throw downfield , then watch the interception. The answer, which will not happen. Release him ,keep Simms and Mc Cowen. Although, I am not convinced Mc Cown wil ever have that sutle awareness, that makes QB's great

[Kurt in Charlotte]

HAHAHA! DR thinks we care what he thinks! That's good stuff!