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Black and Blue Review

Black and Blue Review

Carolina Panthers News and Coverage for the Digital Age

Lovie Smith Plays Coy During Bucs’ Search for New Starter

IMG_1855When the Panthers play the Bucs in 2015, they’ll face a different quarterback than they did last season. Who that will be is a mystery — for now.Josh McCown, who started and lost both games for Tampa against Carolina in 2014, is currently at the NFL Combine meeting with teams after he was released last week. Meanwhile, coach Lovie Smith on Wednesday told reporters gathered in Indianapolis, “You look at our roster, Mike (Glennon)’s the quarterback on our roster.”Hardly a ringing endorsement.The Bucs were 1-5 when Glennon played last year, and it’s hard to imagine they’ll trot him out in Week 1. More likely, they’ll look to trade the guy Smith rarely wanted to play.Tampa’s 2-14 record ‘earned’ them the No. 1 pick in this spring’s NFL Draft, and few expect them not to take either Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston or Oregon signal caller Marcus Mariota.“You’re always looking for a franchise quarterback, and if you’re down there and you have an opportunity, you have to look at that closely, which we’ll do,” Smith said.While Winston and Mariota are unquestionably the top quarterbacks available, they both come with plenty of questions. Mariota’s are about transitioning from an up-tempo spread system to a pro-style offense. Winston’s are mostly off the field.”He’s been accused of a crime. There’s an allegation. He went through our court system. I have faith in our court system. He went through the school justice system. He was cleared. He went through our court system, and he was cleared. Exonerated,” Smith said.”I understand some of the college things some guys do you wish you wouldn’t later on. I understand some of the things that are on his record. You take all of the information you can get at this point. It’s early. We have research to do, and we’ll do that.”So for now, Smith and the Bucs will act like Glennon is in their plans to be next year’s starter. They won’t publicly say what most believe — Winston will be their choice. Unless the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner gives them new reasons not to believe, he’ll likely be the guy Tampa will turn to as they try to get up off the mat.“I know you have to crawl before you walk. We have a long way to go, but at the same time, it’s not like we were blown out,” Smith said. “There were three games we weren’t in. The rest of the time, we had opportunities to win, a lot of those games right up until the last play. This year we’ll finish the job.”

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  • Dylan Bauer

    Good, but if Schiano would of stayed I think Glennon would have progressed. Im glad Lovie dosent have a track record of developing QBs, otherwise we would be in trouble.

  • Dylan Bauer

    Good, but if Schiano would of stayed I think Glennon would have progressed. Im glad Lovie dosent have a track record of developing QBs, otherwise we would be in trouble.