The Buccaneers had a clear need for some quarterback help in the draft, but they’re trying to make it clear that Mike Glennon was chosen as depth, not as an immediate replacement for Josh Freeman.
“I think that’s hard with any rookie quarterback,” Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano said, via the team’s official website. “It’s going to be a matter of how fast he grasps our system and all those things.
“And the fact of the matter is, we have a starting quarterback.”
Well, for now.
Freeman’s entering the final year of his rookie deal, without much progress toward a new one. So if he falters again, Glennon could be in that role sooner rather than later, though the Bucs are trying to make sure Freeman doesn’t feel Sanchez-esque pressure.
“Competition and quality depth across our roster is critical for us to be a championship team,” schiano said. “I think that applies to every position. I’m looking forward to it; I think that’s going to make us a better football team.
“He [Glennon] fits the things we’re trying to do – run the football, play-action pass, throw the ball down the field like we did this past season. You always want to be able to do that. God forbid something were to happen to Josh, you want to be able to continue with your offensive philosophy if you can. You can’t always do that.”
But now that they have someone other than Dan Orlovsky and Adam Weber on the depth chart, it’s easier to give Freeman a gentle nudge, so he knows the job’s not his by default.