The Buccaneers signed quarterback Josh McCown as a free agent this offseason based largely on his play for the Bears while Jay Cutler was injured last season.
McCown thrived throwing to Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery, a pair of tall receivers that win a lot of one-on-one battles with cornerbacks over the course of a season. Coach Lovie Smith said “that was attractive to us” when discussing McCown’s work with the Bears and the Bucs have tried to build their own version of what Chicago has at receiver.
They drafted wide receiver Mike Evans and tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins in the first two rounds, adding them to Vincent Jackson to make a trio of targets that are even taller than the Bears duo. McCown has gotten to work with the rookies a bit and says he’s feeling right at home.
“I’d be lying if I didn’t say there was a comfort zone in that,’' McCown said, via the Tampa Tribune. “It’s very similar [to the Bears], at least on paper. There’s still a lot of work to do. We have to get out there and (Evans) has to learn the offense and we have to start building together, but it was good.”
The Bucs were quick to name McCown their starter over Mike Glennon after signing him, so it makes sense to build an offense that suits his strengths. If that comfort zone stretches into the season, the Bucs passing offense probably won’t finish 31st in the league again.