The Decision Is Made: Bucs Go With Leftwich

[Blake]

By Rick Brown
THE LEDGER

TAMPA | The battle for starting quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was tight throughout the preseason.

Byron Leftwich and Luke McCown alternated making plays and stating their case for being the main guy. Leftwich showed an ability to strike down field in a hurry. McCown showed a more patient approach and ability to use his legs as a weapon. At times, both worked. At others, neither worked.

In the end, the Bucs decided to go with the strike-at-anytime mentality.

On Saturday, the Bucs handed the keys to their offense to Leftwich, the seven-year veteran who once led the Jacksonville Jaguars to the playoffs.

"I'm very excited," Leftwich said. "When I get home, I'll probably scream and let all my emotions out. To work my tail off to get back to this point again, to be a starter week one is what I wanted, and I'll take advantage of it."

Tampa Bay's coaches said Leftwich had a slight advantage heading into training camp, and while McCown made up some ground, he did not do enough to unseat Leftwich.

For the preseason, Leftwich completed 21-of-43 passes for 224 yards and one touchdown. McCown completed 15-of-28 for 108 yards and two touchdowns.

The team, while wary of Leftwich's propensity in the past to fumble the ball on sacks as well as his slow windup on his passes, loved his decision-making and ability to get the ball to the proper receivers.

"The reason it took so long is the competition was so close," said Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski. "The way we ran the football with (Carnell Williams), and some of our backs, we were really encouraged as far as our play-action game and pushing the ball down the field."

McCown, who signed a two-year deal in the offseason to stay with the team, said he got the opportunity he wanted to be a starter and would not request a trade. He will go into the season as the No. 2 quarterback with rookie Josh Freeman at No. 3.

"That's the role that I'm asked to play right now," McCown said. "I don't have to agree with it. But as long as I'm a Buccaneer, I'm going to do everything I can to help this organization win. That's my focus…

"Once they name the starter, it's about whatever's best for this team to win ball games," he said. "Byron's the starter, and I'm going to do everything I can to help him be the best starter he can be. At the same time, I'm going to prepare and get ready to play if I'm called upon."

That could happen this season.

In Leftwich's six previous seasons with Jacksonville, Atlanta and Pittsburgh, he has not played an entire season, although he was a backup with Atlanta and Pittsburgh.

As a starter, Leftwich is 24-22. He has thrown for 9.624 yards, 54 touchdowns and 38 interceptions. He has been sacked 85 times and has 32 fumbles, losing 12 of them.

Coach Raheem Morris said this is Leftwich's team to run with. He will not have a quick hook if Leftwich struggles.

"We picked the guy," Morris said. "I can't really look at failure. If I'm going to sit here and tell you I'll pull him in week 2, I probably didn't pick the right guy.

"I'm not going to sit here and talk about failure with a man we just picked (Saturday). I've got to give him a chance. I've got to believe in him."

Buccaneer Notes

The Buccaneers announced today that they have released DE Jarriett Buie (USF), DB DeAngelo Willingham and G Julius Wilson. In addition, the team waived injured WR Kelly Campbell. That brings the roster down to 76. The team has to get to 75 by Tuesday.

By god we're going to suck...

 

[Pugz]

Bucs>Lions, don't feel too bad.

 

[.GR]

He won't be too bad I don't think. He did good when he filled in last year for Pittsburgh.

 

[Lake Louise]

He shouldn`t be that bad. Crazy how he went from looking like he was going to be in Jacksonville for awhile, to bouncing around teams.

 

[Blake]

He won't be too bad I don't think. He did good when he filled in last year for Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh > Tampa

He shouldn`t be that bad. Crazy how he went from looking like he was going to be in Jacksonville for awhile, to bouncing around teams.

I was just thinking about that. Chris Simms was the same way and Simms was supposed to be our future star.

 

[Gtown81]

Well at least you guys have some good runningbacks to fall back on to