A Mobile QB for Lovie Smith

****   Note:  This article was written before the Bucs traded Mike Williams.  So the context of drafting a WR was still a luxury and not a need until after Williams was traded.  With that denoted, Lovie still wants a more mobile quarterback. ****

Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Lovie Smith had a year off from the NFL and gained some perspective.  His forte is creating a top defense.  He also loves a strong run game.  There are a number of other organizations who are built like this such as the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks.  During this past off-season, Lovie has rebuilt this team into his likeness which also resembles the 49ers and the reigning Super Bowl champions Seahawks.  Although they may be alike, there is one distinct difference between those two teams and the Bucs - a very mobile quarterback.

There is this old cliché that says, "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery."  Lovie has seen what a mobile quarterback can bring to an offense, especially when reception options are negated.  Currently on the roster, the Bucs have 34 year old Josh McCown and second year Mike Glennon.  Here's a quote from Lovie on Glennon:

"As you look at an NFL quarterback and what you expect from them, Mike Glennon can make every throw you ask an NFL quarterback to make," said Smith. "Mike isn't the most mobile guy in the pocket, so we will always be working to improve on some of those. He's a willing guy - for a rookie to come in and have success in the league, you have to like that part of it. He has a lot to learn, like most rookies do. As a rookie player to come in and see improvement and know that you can win with them, you play good football throughout. That's what we like right now. We're not a finished product by any means, but it's a starting spot."

In order to see what lays ahead in the future, let us venture to Lovie's past to observe if this mobile quarterback meme has always been an established idea or mimicking a new one.

From the moment Jay Cutler became quarterback for the Bears in 2008, Lovie has had the luxury of a mobile quarterback.  In 2011, the Bears had three quarterbacks run for a total of over 200 yards, which also includes current quarterback Josh McCown.

In Lovie's tenure in Chicago, he made the team get into the playoffs three times:

• 2005 - Lost in a divisional game. QB Rush total for the year: 43 yards
• 2006 - Lost in the Super Bowl. QB Rush total for the year: - 3 yards
• 2010 - Lost in the conference game. QB Rush total for the year: 231 yards

Although 2012 had a great defense and finished with a 10 win season, it was not enough to make an appearance in the playoffs.  Within this quick snapshot of making the playoffs, we can notice two of the three times Lovie's teams have not had a great running quarterback and still make the playoffs.  This would prompt us to look at the team as a whole.

For the 2005 season, the passing offense was downright despicable and yet the other factors such as rushing offense, rushing defense as well as passing defense were above or near the top 10 in the league.  That season provided a season's best of 12.6 points allowed average.  2006 season possessed an even balanced offense combined with a very strong defense that lead towards a Super Bowl appearance.  Again, the defense put up great points against average of 15.9 which was ranked third overall in the league.  In 2010, the Bears' offense was mediocre, but the defense again was stout with 17.9 points against average.  The 2012 season was a very good season for the defense and the team did win 10 games, but unfortunately, the two wild card teams had a better record or better divisional record.  Those teams were Seattle with 11 wins and the Vikings, respectively.

One can win with a mobile and a non-mobile quarterback with Lovie Smith.  The determinant here happens to be a strong defense that can limit the opposition to under 18 points per game to increase the chances of making the playoffs.

Reducing the number of turnovers is a factor in helping the defense to keep a low points against average.  While a TD:INT ratio is not a great measure of how well a quarterback has played, it does paint a picture on scoring efficiency with respect to turnovers.  With a team based upon its defensive aspect first, reducing turnovers or having a higher TD:INT ratio may aid the team in wins.  Take a look at the chart the covers QB's under Lovie Smith.  The best TD:INT ratio was 2008 with a 20 TDs:14 INTs ratio.  Unfortunately for that season, the defense was not up to a superior level as they were ranked 28^th in yards given up defensively.

Mr. Smith will have an old, familiar face and a young one to helm his offense.  Permit me to reveal what they did last season:

These two quarterbacks' 2013 results are the best TD:INT ratio that Lovie Smith has ever incorporated since being a head coach.  If Lovie can bring the promise of a great defense, then he will have two quarterbacks that are cognizant about not turning the ball over egregiously.   That should help the defense keep a lower points per game average.

Take another look at those stats.  Those rushing yards reflect quarterbacks that are not mobile like a Russell Wilson, Colin Kaepernick or RG III.  In McCown's younger years, he used to be a runner, although not like Cutler-like.  McCown started five games, but played in eight games.  In those eight games, he has averaged 228 yards per game throwing.  That number is his best average in the league last year.  It could be possible that McCown sees the light of being a pocket passer under Trestman in Chicago.  Glennon averaged 200 yards per game last year in 13 games and is not as mobile as a giraffe in the wild.  Suffice it to say, these two quarterbacks are not the most mobile in the league and do not expect 34 year old McCown to be runner.

With Culter as Lovie's quarterback in Chicago, we know that Lovie is accustomed to a mobile quarterback.  And with watching teams whose quarterbacks that can run with a strong defense succeed last year, it gives Lovie that much more of a nudge to look for a very mobile quarterback.

The mobile quarterback era is represented in the top four of overall offensive rushing.  Three of the four are listed.  Their quarterbacks make up at least 20% or more of the overall rushing.  Lovie has never had that type of a mobile quarterback.  So he may be inclined to look at a rookie like a Blake Bortles, Johnny Manziel, Brett Smith or Jordan Lynch.

Here is where I become confused.  Jeff Tedford is the offensive coordinator.  His offenses rely on the quarterback, spread offense, good running backs.  There's this notion of ‘speed in space' with specialty players like running backs and wide receivers.  A more mobile quarterback may rely on his run game than identifying coverages and exploiting them.  Both McCown and Glennon seem like a great fit for Tedford, but not ideal for Lovie.

I completely trust Lovie with the defense.  But on offense, it seems as though he is still testing things out.  We have three running backs who all fit a Tedford type offense and leapers at wide receiver with Mike Williams and Vincent Jackson.  We are going to be trying out Jeff Demps at wide receiver to add speed.  This mobility issue seems moot in a Tedford offense, unless you have a quarterback that can be a pocket passer as well as have the ability to run, say like Andrew Luck.  But then you are looking at a franchise quarterback.  If one were to look at Lovie's 2006 Super Bowl run system, then having a strong defense with a balanced offense can lead to great things despite the lack of a mobile quarterback.  (** Note:  Williams was traded days after this article, but left in this article for contextual purposes at the time.  Also note, I emphasize I trust Lovie on defense, but not so much on offense.  The trading the of Williams kind of proves it.)

My question for you, Bucsnation, is to contemplate if Lovie is acting like Captain Ahab in his search for that franchise quarterback or should he play to the strengths of the offensive scheme whilst he continues to focus on producing a dominant defense?  If he is like Captain Ahab, then tell us which mobile quarterback will he be looking to acquire in the draft and where in the draft?