Morris informs team of QB choice - Leftwich

Raheem Morris addressed his team this morning by telling them the starting quarterback is Byron Leftwich. Leftwich, 29, outplayed veteran Luke McCown in training camp and the preseason to win the job despite a shaky outing in Thursday's 10-6 loss to the Miami Dolphins.
   On Friday, Morris said he had a starter in mind but wanted to meet with his coaching staff and inform Bucs co-chairmen Joel and Bryan Glazer before announcing his decision to the team Saturday morning.
   Morris praised Leftwich on Friday for his leadership ability and said his experience was a key. He led Jacksonville to the playoffs in 2005, despite missing the final month of that season with an ankle injury. He has a career 24-22 record as a starter.
   "If Byron Leftwich is your selection, his leadership, the fact that he's won 12 games in this league before, the fact that's he's a big, strong-armed guy that can make all the throws,'' Morris said Friday. 'He missed a few last night, which was blatantly obvious. But he made a few big-time throws that followed up some of those throws. He has the savvy, has the toughness, mentally sharp -- all the qualities that you look for in a quarterback.''
   Leftwich spent the last two seasons as a backup in Atlanta and Pittsburgh, winning a Super Bowl ring with the Steelers as a backup to Ben Roethlisberger.
   It's another disappointment for McCown, who is in his fifth season with the Bucs and did not take advantage of his best opportunity to become a starting NFL quarterback.
   McCown, who signed a 2-year, $7.5-million contract in Feb., rather than become a free agent, simply couldn't compete with Leftwich's play-making ability.
   Neither quarterback was impressive against the Dolphins Thursday. Leftwich finished 9-of-17 for 100 yards, converting 4-of-8 third down situations and staking the Bucs to a 6-0 lead on a pair of Mike Nugent field goals. His favorite target was 6-foot-5 receiver Maurice Stovall, who caught six for 73 yards.
   McCown went 5-of-11 passing for 38 yards, was sacked twice and called for intentional grounding.

Comments

[Tom]

According to Kurt, this decision was based on race.

[Tom]

I imagine the gameplan will be a heavy does of running with a lot of two TE sets. I don't think we will see any 4 WR looks. Maybe we should keep 4 QBs one less WR. After Bryant, Clayton, Stovall and Stroughter, no other WR is really worth a roster spot unless due to necessity, including Dexter Jackson.

[BucFandango]

I am so relieved, I think I'll relieve myself. What a great choice. Leftwich has to be one of the top 3 QB's in the league. The Bucs should go 16-0 now on the back of this choice. I mean his passes are so perfect and always on the money. His foot work, delivery, quick movement, this guy is the ultimate player. He looks like a complete work out warrior. Quincy Black should take a lesson from this guy. Lookout fans, get your tickets now, because all games should sell out in the next 15 minutes. I'm so glad we got Lefty instead of Cutler. Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water....pow, right upside the head. Oh well, no real surprise here. I just need to be my best self and be happy about it. AYFKM?

[Bucsfan]

There goes the season down the drain. I dont understand the QB choice. Lefty cant find his open receivers, Oline doesnt block well for McCown and Lefty wins the QB.This is really Unfair and a bogus competetion. Also Josh Johnson wasnt even given a chance!!... All for a fair QB competetion.... Get ready for a long season buc fans.

[BucFandango]

Tomorrow's headline:
"Joel Glazer goes all Donald Trump on Raheem Morris"

[Bucs5520]

leftwich is garbage... mccown got robbed. but dont worry, it wont be long before he gets his chance... unless he is traded before then

[Leo In Canada]

Congratulations to Byron. Agree or disagree, he's the starter. It's time to set up the game plans to maximize his stay at the position. Good luck to you Mr. Leftwich....and good health!

[BucFandango]

Friends don't let friends go with Byron Leftwich. Every cloud has a silver lining...except this one. Eeny meeny miney moe, oh heck this won't work. Maybe Raheem needs glasses.

[BucFandango]

Fans, prepare to be mentally tough. Anybody need tickets. Great seats, 1/2 off, 2 for 1, even throw in an autographed Byron Leftwich picture in black and gold.

[Valrico Rick]

It's possible this was the quickest route for Morris to getting Freeman in the lineup. If there is pressure not to play the rookie yet than by picking the player most likely to fail we are sure to see Freeman by midseason after Leftwich goes 1-7. Either Morris is really smart, or... Well I'm hoping he is really smart!!!

[DR]

This was a lose-lose situation for Morris. Freeman isn't ready and these two guys just aren't the answer. Go with a guy who takes four seconds to wind up and throw the ball or go with a guy who can't see wide open receivers down field. Morris has to speed up Freeman and get him ready.
A great point was made about a supposed franchise QB. If you trade up for a guy in the first round and call him a franchise QB, then why aren't you starting him? If he is a franchise QB, he should be able to handle a losing season as a rookie like other real franchise QBs have. If the worry is that losing and playing bad will hinder progression and bring down the player, then you don't have a franchise QB. Look at Matt Ryan. The Bucs defense ate him up early in the season and he learned from it. That's what franchise QBs do.

[WS]

Don't worry Luke fans! BL will be on the IR by week 5.

[Al]

This brilliant move should place Raheem squarley in "The Hot Seat".

[Tom]

After being able to watch the game live instead of on the tube on Thursday, I was convinced that McCown was the right choice. But let's face it, neither one of these guys are going to be asked to do too much. This team will feature heavily on the three stud RBs that are on the rotation.

I have some confidence that we can run this offense well enough with either QB to be competitive considering how good our RBs are.

[Tom]

Some of you guys have this belief that starting one QB over the other will drastically determine Morris' career. C'mon, this is Leftwich vs. McCown!! Hardly a heavyweight battle that is going to make that much of a difference. This isn't like picking Ryan Leaf over Peyton Manning in the draft. Get real guys.

[Burgman727]

This is getting stupid now. Both of the "veterans" have looked incredibly unspectacular. I say that Raheem should have gone ahead and began his marriage to Josh Freeman this season by starting the rook and letting him take his lumps and bruises. At least that way he could get all his jitters out this year and we won't be so upset with him next year when we actually expect for them to win a little more. We stand to fare a whole lot better next year if Freeman is thrust into the fire this year!

[Tom]

This isn't like choosing Matt Cassel over Jay Cutler like what McDaniels tried to do in Denver. That move will make a big difference in that coach's career.

This is Leftwich vs. McCown. Honestly, who cares?

[Tom]

I'm opposed to starting Freeman right now because he doesn't look ready. The kid is only 21 years old. This would be his senior year in college. Throwing him into the fire could have some irreversible damage to his career. Look at some of the promising QBs that were thrown in too early like David Carr. Furthermore, he really could get hurt if he doesn't know what he's doing out there. This is the NFL and we play in a division with Abraham and Peppers.

There are guys like Matt Ryan which is the exception and not the rule. Ryan is something special and not sure if Freeman is there yet.

[DR]

Tom, my question now is, do you really want Freeman learning from Leftwich? Or even McCown for that matter.

[JMoon]

It doesn't really matter, does it? They are not going to challenge for anything and maybe Leftwich will be a bit more entertaining. Don't be surprised to see McCown play in week 6 against the Panthers and then Freeman in there after the bye in Week 8. Let's just hope this rebuilding process doesn't take longer than this year.....

[ref813]

I knew it was coming, but I still can't accept it. I wanted them to bring him in. Once I saw him play, I thought he would be a good no. 2. I'll never ask for them to bring in another back-up QB with some issues (speed, accuracy, wind-up). I may just end up getting something I don't want. He's our QB after what I didn't think was a fair competition. I've got to support him now.

[Matt H]

After Thursday night I hope Jagz runs the ball 90% of the time.

[TBLWNSC04]

0-16. Just lose every game for a couple of years and get Tim Tebow and pick up the U of FL defense... Life will be good again. Like when we drafted Brooks and Dunn from FL..:-) Hey, thats not a bad thought though...You can't deny he wasn't fun to watch...Forget about what the critics say(he can't play pro), it's all about Tim Tebow...

There is absolutely nothing to feel good about this season for us..

I'm from the Tony Dungy era,Alstott,Dunn,Brooks,Sapp,Barber,andLynch.. They are my favorite until I die off......

[Mike Jones]

There was never a so-called "competition." The whole thing was a joke. I thought you had to beat out the starter? Wasn't McCown the starter? He never got an even chance to compete. And who outplayed him? I didn't see anybody outplay him. Nothing against Leftwich--who would make a solid #2 and help McCown learn the game better--but this bozo team, and this bozo town (when it comes to football savy) which has this unexplained negativism towards McCown, is going to get just what it deserves. That's why a so-called "genius" coach would only be an average businessman--the intelligence bar in sports is so low. It's college football for me now for sure. Go Gators!

[TheBucStop.Net]

This is a town of tradition and the tradition is to have crappy QB'S crappy coaches and fans that like it that way losing is a tradition here

[TheBucStop.Net]

I can see the headlines now Dallas 53 Bucs 3 and yes I am disgusted. why do we keep going with players that have no futue or has seen better days gone by

[BigBucDaddy]

The "Smokescreen" is now our starting QB...

[TheBucStop.Net]

yes I did mean future was typing to fast I guess

[Vincent]

It's obvious that when Leftwitch scrambles out of the pocket to buy time, he continues to look down field for open receivers, while McCown takes-off and runs. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. However, Leftwitch just seems to demonstrate better vision of the field as a whole, and so he won the starting position. Let's face it, it's probably going to be a Tandem situation because the Bucs seem to always have injury problems.

From what I've seen, Freeman is already a better QB and could outplay BOTH of them. His passes were sharper, he's already looking off safety's and he runs while simultaneously looking downfield. Most of the Freeman led drives were stunted not by him, but by the inept play of the less talented 3rd string cast around him.

Jags' system looks laden with explosive plays as an offensive strategy, and a run game that has "breakout run" potential at every turn! His play calling is excellent! Play calling was my main criticism of Gruden.

[jerseybuc]

There goes any chance to utilize bootlegs and movement by our QB, I am sure jagz is thrilled. Not as thrilled as DeMarcus Ware is this morning though...this has to be the worst kept secret of the past two weeks. Luke won the job last week, and byron got a do over. came out against the Fins and was underwhelming. I guess QB ratings or getting to play with a better supporting cast mean nothing. Obvious that Freeman is soon to get his chance. If Luke is so bad in their eyes they should cut him.

[Vince]

DR, you are a boob. Ryan and Flacco are the exceptions, not the rule. Freeman left early and by all accounrs is a rough prospect. Brady, McNabb, Rivers . . . all successful, all played little or no games in their first year. McNabb played in 12 games, Brady 1 and I think Rivers did not really play for his first two years. Many other examples. Romo? How many years was he a backup?

[Cinemike]

I can't help but feel like he's our starter because he was handed to Rah by his mentor *Mike Tomlin*

Not trying to be negative here, I've just felt that from the begining

[Adam]

Leftwich - the safe pick with the least amount of questions; the pick that will generate the least media scrutiny and questions when/if he falls on his face. I'm disappointed in Raheem. All that talk about being aggressive and "gettin' after people" and he goes conservative and takes the easy way out by taking the guy who's had some league experience. Tom Brady, Matt Cassel, Tony Romo, Aaron Rodgers... they didn't have game experience when they took the reigns.

If the Bucs were gonna "take what the defense gives you" they should have just stuck with Gruden.

[OhioMiller]

We haven't had a quarterback with a real arm since Vinny. Sure, Byron is a stopgap but he will stay in the pocket and heave the ball. I'd rather watch that than Luke getting chased around and then sat on.

[Tom]

DR, neither Leftwich nor McCown are the guys that will be mentors for Freeman.

I would like to see Freeman as soon as he is ready. It may be this year. But, we really need to nurture the development of this kid. He is really really young. I can't imagine putting him in on opening day against the Cowboys defense with DeMarcus Ware. In my opinion, he is not ready to take over in the NFL. And the idea that you should expose him and just put him in because the other QBs are unspectacular is not a good reason. I think it could really hurt him.

[Tom]

And Kurt, this decision to start Leftwich had nothing to do with race. And Morris is not a racist. Despite what your white hooded Grandmaster told you.

[blindjim]

That makes sense! Lefty was chaeper to keeper! Great! Manchester United will be free and clear way sooner this way! I was re4ally worried. Now the Bucs can get a 5th rnd'r for Luke, and trade down with it, so still less money is spent. I'm suprised the Glazers haven't asked to have the Bucs colors changed to MUs yet. they need to look over there for a kicker or two as well! They don't have any here! What a joke the Glazers are now. Always biting off more than they can chew and spending more than they have.. just like when they got the Bucs. Maybe ticket sales will open their eyes, but I doubt it. MU is the favorite son now, not the Bucs.... regardless what they say publicly. Actions speak louder, and the Bucs have been left to languish now since that deal went down. Thank goodness we'll get to watch a team on the rise as the Dolphins will get plenty of air time... and that's FREE, joel & Brian... compete with that why don't you!!!

[Matt H]

Tom, I think you've made your point.

Besides the first thing Morris did was hire Jagz and Bates and then goes out of his way to move a superior saftey in Phillips out of the way so he can get Piscatelli on the field.

I still think Garcia would have been a better option.

[DR]

Vince, you name guys who had great mentors and were not drafted (Romo was undrafted) to be franchise QBs, besides Rivers. Rivers watched Brees and Brady and Romo watched Bledsoe. Freeman is going to watch Leftwich bring the ball down and pat it with his left hand before throwing the ball? Leftwich should sue his high school and college coach because they failed him big time. That's a high school habit. He has a cannon for an arm and its sad to think how good he would be if he got rid of his horrible throwing style.
Tom, I agree. The first three of four games will be against some of the best pass rushing teams in the league. They'll get Haynesworth but he won't be the guy to worry about. It will be the rookie Apopko. Leftwich may not make it past the first four games if the line has set backs like it did against the Miami Dolphins.

[Andy]

McCown vs Leftwich has a bunch of people worked up. McCown supporters are pointing the one good game he had for us. (his first) He didn't have another good start after that. If you remember correctly Gradkowski had a good first start as well. It didn't take much for NFL defenses to start preparing for those guys after that. Leftwich is damaged goods. Garcia would probably be my pick to start the season, but he may be damaged goods at this point as well... Anyway, BL or LM are both caretakers until our first round pick gets up to speed. Morris didn't inherit a championship level defense like Gruden did. This will be an adjustment year for us and the QB spot belongs to Josh Freeman. If the season starts slow, then Josh may gets some reps in. I'd like to see him run the team for a series in the second quarter during games. Freeman is our best hope for a "franchise" qb going forward. Everyone else on the roster is a dime a dozen.

[me.yahoo.com/a/gP7E8OwvspALc2MOLkD9I5Jq5v2E2HVR]

Raheem doesn't even know that Byron NEVER won 12 games in a season before!!!!! This is inexcusable!!!!! How does a coach not know. I am embarrassed for Raheem. The best he ever went was 8-3 before getting injured. Nice job Raheem.

[Scott]

You McCown supporters are about as sound in your football knowledge as you are in your logic. McCown played in about 10 or 12 games (including pre-season) for us and looked good in two. He has no ability, I say again, no ability to view the field quickly and get rid of the football. The reason that he had no time against the Dolphins is that they blitzed him....something that you would see from all teams because he does not read the field quickly enough to get rid of the ball. It was not an unfair contest on Thursday because it showed us what every team would do to McCown this season. He does not think quickly and you would see blitzes out the ying yang with him in there. I would blitz him on 80% of the pass plays and get sacks or quick throways on half of those. He NEVER sees the quick read. Are you McCown fans blind to this? I guess if Michael Jackson fans can be blind to his weaknesses, you guys can be blind to the fact that McCown is not an NFL quarterback. Leftwich wins this competition by default. It was the right move. Period.

[Drew]

All I can say, is I'll be LMAO all season. And I'll be riding it like a bull on the blogs. There may be value in banning me from the blog. However this is America (Freedom of speech and expression). Don't worry, I'll make it a point to keep it politically correct.

[youkiddingme?]

This staff set Luke up to fail. What garbage! This is so pathetic.

I hope they go winless. I was a Bucs fan, but I HATE this team now.

[youkiddingme?]

Oh yeah, and screw Freeman too. Big waste of money on some worthless punk.

[BucFandango]

I'll give Leftwich credit for knowing what his faults are, overthrows, slow motion, & 2 left feet. Hopefully he can correct these problems in the next 2 weeks. I won't hold my breath, but on the other hand, every time McCown took a snap I closed my eyes and held my breath. So at least we can only have 1 guy that sucks in at a time. I will cheer for Leftwich, but when he screws up twice, I will boo too. BTW can someone remind me why they drafted Freeman? Time for Raheem's comeuppance. Good luck coach, now you've married 2 QB's.

[John]

The Bucs will not win a game until the end of October at the earliest. Why are we suddenly looking more the Raiders organization every day???

[Opinion Master]

the only thing I like aboutt his choice is that lefty has no fear to throw the ball deep, where I felt Luke probably still hears echoes of Gruden to "DUMP IT OFF".

It's just too bad that lefty's accuracy throwing deep doesn't match his fearlessness.

[Vincent]

Leftwitch had some accuracy issues but he found his targets. I think the biggest indictment on McCown was Thursday before the half, when he ran the ball (made a great run), but down field was Stroughter, sitting there, with no one around him ...six points that went to waste. It's not just the plays they make, but the "points left on the field" by which QB's are evaluated. Leftwitch has better field vision. According to the Coaching staff, the bucs are going to be committed to the run, but they want to make the defense pay, and pay dearly, when they make mistakes overplaying the run. That make Leftwitch a better candidate. McCown's running was extremely impressive though.

[Opinion Master]

ps- I'd be happier if/when either Josh (Johnson/Freeman) becomes the starting QB.