Batten the Hatches: Don't Expect Much from the Tampa Bay Bucs in 2009-10

(Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

This is going to sound crazy, but there will come a time this season when Bucs fans will miss Jeff Garcia.  Let that sink in for a minute. 

That moment might not come at home against the Cowboys in Week One, because let’s be honest, anyone can look good against that secondary.  There are children at your family reunions that could put up a good quarterback rating against Dallas.

And a cock-eyed, eye-patched Buccaneer optimist might even say Tampa Bay’s projected starter, Luke McCown, can handle a road game in Buffalo in Week Two because it won’t be cold yet.

But some time during the second quarter of Week 3; with the Bucs unable to move the chains against a physical Giants defense, with McCown taking sacks and forcing passes, the boos will come.  And each one of those boos will be followed by the realization that maybe the Bucs shouldn’t have been so quick to let Garcia go. 

Because even the most casual football fans know the NFL is a quarterback league.  You can make all the off-season moves you want; if you don’t have a smart head and a solid arm under center, your season is over before it starts. 

This isn’t an indictment of McCown’s ability by any means.  He’s said and done all the right things this off-season.  When the Bucs used their first pick in the draft on Josh Freeman, McCown showed the appropriate competitive fire by saying someone would have to take the starting job from him over his dead body. 

The problem is, McCown’s game experience has primarily come against second and third string squads in the pre-season.  He’s played in exactly 12 more NFL games than you have. 

And it’s a real shame because, at least offensively, the pieces are there.  Derrick Ward finally has a shot to prove he can be a number one back, and should stay fresh as he splits carries with a healthy Earnest Graham.  Kellen Winslow was a fantastic addition to a team that played tight end roulette for the entire Gruden administration. 

Antonio Bryant turned a corner in a big way last season and gives the Bucs a legitimate home run threat, and Michael Clayton could bring his game out of witness protection thanks to the solid relationship he already has with McCown.

But Tampa Bay’s most important offensive acquisition won’t even put on a uniform.  At Boston College, new Bucs offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski helped make Falcons QB Matt Ryan into what he is today.  Is it crazy to think lightning could strike twice?

In a word: probably.  There’s no telling how Jagodzinksi’s offense will translate from the college game into the NFL, and keep in mind, he had four years with Ryan at Boston College.  He’s had less than nine months to work with McCown.  Also (and this is meant as respectfully as possible), we know Matt Ryan.  Matt Ryan is a friend of ours.  McCown is no Matt Ryan.  At least not yet.

It might not even be fair to judge McCown on this season.  He has to deal with a new head coach, a new offensive coordinator and a killer schedule.  As a matter of fact, Tampa Bay’s schedule is the fifth-hardest in the league next season (opposing teams have a .580 winning percentage). 

Part of that is because they play in the NFL’s toughest division.  Part of it is because they’re lined up to play the NFC East out of conference.  But here’s the kicker: the Bucs have to play a “home” game in London.  Against the Patriots.  With a healthy Tom Brady looking to make up for lost time.  Ouch.

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