Leftwich to open season as Buccaneers' starter against Dallas

[Angus]

Fox: Byron Leftwich to open season as Buccaneers' starter
12:26 PM


It appears the future is not now in Tampa Bay.

Fox's Jay Glazer is reporting that Buccaneers rookie head coach Raheem Morris will go with QB Byron Leftwichas his Week 1 starter vs. the Dallas Cowboys.

Leftwich gets the nod even though Luke McCown had a higher QB rating (86.6) than either Leftwich (72.2) or first-round pick Josh Freeman (48.0) this preaseason.

Our read on this? Leftwich keeps the job as long as the Bucs don't endure protracted struggles. But if they do, Freeman is next man up and second-year man Josh Johnson could also get a look.

As for McCown? He could be trade bait, perhaps to a team like the Jaguars who also wouldn't mind using him to drive down the Chiefs' asking price for Tyler Thigpen.

http://content.usatoday.com/communi...ftwich-to-open-season-as-buccaneers-starter/1

 

[Angus]

Jay Glazer of FOX is reporting that Morris spoke to his team on Saturday morning and told them that Byron Leftwich would be under center when the Bucs host the Cowboys on September 13th. On Friday, Morris outlined why Leftwich could be his choice.

"If Byron Leftwich is your selection, [it's because of] his leadership, the fact that he's won 12 games in this league before, the fact that he's a big, strong-armed guy that can make all the throws. ... He has the savvy, has the toughness, [is] mentally sharp, [has] all the qualities that you look for in a quarterback."

Leftwich started two of the three Buccaneers preseason games this summer. He completed 21-of-43 passes for 224 yards and a touchdown. Luke McCown, his chief competition, was 15-of-28 for 108 yards and two touchdowns.

First-round pick Josh Freeman is expected to be the third-string quarterback, which leaves Josh Johnson's future in Tampa as something to watch as the Buccaneers cement their final roster over the next eight days.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/08/29/glazer-leftwich-to-start-for-tampa/

 

[speedkilz88]

My read on this: Leftwich will have protracted struggles from day one.

 

[Angus]

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.

Posted by Rick Stroud at 10:26:37 AM on August 29, 2009

http://blogs.tampabay.com/bucs/2009/08/morris-informs-team-of-qb-choice---leftwich-2.html

 

[dbair1967]

Fatwich= sitting duck

 

[CF74]

My read on this: Leftwich will have protracted struggles from day one.

He looked pretty good when he filled in for Big Ben last year, I dunno...

 

[DallasDomination]

I'm not worried about this game....

 

[kmp77]

We've got this game. I don't see how we don't win.

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

Wasn't he the starter when the Jags beat us in the 2006 season opener?

 

[dbair1967]

Wasn't he the starter when the Jags beat us in the 2006 season opener?

so?

werent Bill Parcells, Mike Zimmer and Drew Bledsoe out there that day?

 

[Jammer]

Wasn't he the starter when the Jags beat us in the 2006 season opener?

Yes. I remember that the guy seemed to take forever to throw the ball and the Cowboys still couldn't get to him.

 

[dmq]

Wasn't he the starter when the Jags beat us in the 2006 season opener?

He had a very good game as I remember, but also remember no pass rush.

 

[pugilist]

he was sailing passes over the WRs heads left and right the other night against MIA

unless he has some dramatic accuracy and/or touch improvements within the next 2 weeks, the game should be a cakewalk

 

[LongSnapper]

Good for him LOL his performance the other evening sucked and that is putting it nicely
:laugh2:

 

[zrinkill]

I hope they take that 46 point beating we got out on him.

 

[dogunwo]

My read on this: Leftwich will have protracted struggles from day one.

Didnt we lose the last time we faced Leftwich?

 

[adbutcher]

Didnt we lose the last time we faced Leftwich?

Yep but he is streaky with a slow windup release. This plays into our strengths. What concerns me more is the reemergence of Cadillac Williams, if he is healthy he can give any defense fits. It is going to boild down to stopping the run early and teeing off on Leftwhich. It should be a easy game but you never know, that is why the games are played on the field and not on the internet.

 

[Boyzmamacita]

so?

werent Bill Parcells, Mike Zimmer and Drew Bledsoe out there that day?

Too funny.

 

[theogt]

He looked pretty good when he filled in for Big Ben last year, I dunno...

Yeah, I remember him looking MUCH better than Ben, actually. I'm sure he's still the same ol' Leftwich, though he can be really good when he's on his game.

 

[LucaBrasi]

He looked pretty good when he filled in for Big Ben last year, I dunno...

yes he did. He didn't have any trouble beating Dallas to start the season in 2006.

Its never easy to win on the road. The last time the Cowboys were on the road they came up short...by 38.