Let’s take a trip back to Week 4 of this season for the NFL. The Buccaneers are in Pittsburgh taking on the Steelers, and it’s late in the fourth quarter. The Tampa Bay offense, down 24-20, takes the field. Quarterback Mike Glennon is starting his first game of the season after veteran starter Josh McCown was hurt in the previous week’s blowout against the Falcons in Atlanta. But it’s not unfamiliar territory for the sophomore signal caller, as he started the last 13 games for the team last season as a rookie.
Glennon stands in the shotgun at midfield with just under a minute to go. To his right are three options: wide receiver Louis Murphy to the wide right; tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins in the middle; and second year wideout Russell Shepard in the slot. Top receiver Vincent Jackson was alone to the left, and running back Doug Martin stood to his immediate left. The 6’6” quarterback surveyed the Steelers’ defense, then calls hike. He drops back and sees Murphy open on a deep post route. His arm whips forward like a slingshot as he heaves the football in Murphy’s direction. The veteran wideout comes down with the ball for a 41 yard completion. A few plays later, Glennon throws a strike to Jackson in the front left corner of the endzone to give the Bucs a 27-24 victory, their first under Head Coach Lovie Smith.
After losing their first two games after the win in Pittsburgh, the team is in the middle of a now seemingly lost season. Glennon is the one beacon of hope that the fans can look to. Ever since he took over for McCown during that embarrassing loss against the Falcons, he has continued to show the potential to be a franchise quarterback.
Despite his 1-2 record as a starter this season, Glennon has performed strongly in each game. After the victory in Pittsburgh, he almost led the Bucs to another road upset over the Saints in New Orleans. The Bucs controlled the contest for the first three quarters before their defense let them down in the fourth quarter and overtime, and they narrowly lost to the heavily favored Saints 37-31.
The signal caller stood tall against a Saints defense that wasn’t on their A-game, completing just under 60 percent of his throws for 249 yards and two touchdown passes. But the young quarterback made his share of mistakes, throwing an interception in addition to not being there to counter the Saints’ late comeback with points of his own.
But Glennon is one of the few things that have gone right this season for the Bucs. With Smith at the helm, homecoming has definitely been a rocky one at best. The offense, which was supposed to be an up-tempo attack led by offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford, has been derailed by Tedford’s heart problems and indefinite leave of absence. Quarterback’s coach, Marcus Arroyo, has tried to implement some of Tedford’s schemes, but has had his hands full between calling the plays and continuing Glennon’s development as the signal caller for the future.
Meanwhile, the defense has been questionable to say the least. Smith’s unit, led by coordinator Leslie Frazier, is currently ranked among the bottom of the league in almost every defensive category. High priced signings such as defensive end Michael Johnson, cornerback Alterraun Verner and defensive tackle Clinton McDonald have failed to make much of an impact on a unit that looked poised to be one of the league’s best. All Pro linebacker Lavonte David, Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy and safeties Mark Barron and Dashon Goldson have not been nearly as effective in the Tampa Two scheme as they were last year in fired coach Greg Schiano’s schemes.
At least Schiano mixed up his defensive calls once in a while. Smith and Frazier seem to stubbornly stick to a Tampa Two defense that seems to be outdated in a now offensively driven league. In order for this defense to succeed, Smith and Frazier need to put McCoy, David, Johnson and the rest of their talented unit in positions to succeed. To do that, they need to infuse some newer concepts and plays into the vanilla Tampa Two. Then we should see some signs of life from a woefully underachieving defense.
The Bucs have been better offensively, but they also still have a lot to improve on as well. Glennon has to establish a better rapport with rookie receiver Mike Evans and Seferian-Jenkins, the second round pick from this year’s draft.
Running back Doug Martin needs to get healthy and return to his 2012 Pro Bowl form. And the offensive line, led by three offseason acquisitions in left tackle Anthony Collins, left guard Logan Mankins and center Evan Dietrich-Smith, need to step their game up, particularly in pass protection. When Glennon has time to throw, he thrives. The Bucs have all the tools, and a quarterback to build around. Smith and his coaches just need to mold them into a team that wants to win.
Jordan Llanes can be reached at jordan.llanes@theminaretonline.com