Breaking Down the Quarterbacks

A position that has never been one of the Buccaneers best, 2007 brought in a man that changed the way we think about this position. Although hindered by injury, the Buccaneers still had a powerful quarterback who led the team to victory, along with a few backups that filled in for him. Let’s break down the 2007 Buccaneers quarterbacks:

Quarterbacks

QB Jeff Garcia- Coming over from the Eagles, Jeff Garcia knew the starting job was his. After his performance, there was really no doubt that it belonged to him. Playing in only 13 games due to injury, Garcia had one of the best seasons a Buccaneers quarterback has ever had. He threw for 2,400 yards, 13 touchdowns, and only 4 picks. His interception percentage was the lowest by a Bucs starting quarterback in franchise history. He finished the season with a 94.6 passer rating, 7th best in the league. If Garcia can stay healthy all of next year, his numbers will climb, and his status as one of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks will be cemented.
QB Luke McCown- Having spent most of his young career on the bench, McCown came in and played 5 games in the absence of Jeff Garcia. Showing great poise, McCown threw for over 1,000 yards, had 5 touchdown passes and 3 picks. His passer rating was a respectable 91.7. In his first game as a starter, he started the game with 15 straight completions, en route to an NFC South clinching victory. Having won the backup job, McCown looks ready for a career in the NFL.
QB Bruce Gradkowski- Even though he was the starter for a majority of the 2006 season, Gradkowski spent most of this season on the bench. He played in 4 games this year, throwing for 130 yards and one pick. He is currently the Bucs number 3 quarterback, but should get bumped down to 4th when Chris Simms returns.

As with most teams, the Bucs only have their stellar star quarterback. However, they also have a good backup, one that can be trusted with the team in his hands. Not many teams have that reliable backup, but it appears the Bucs do, whether it’s McCown, or even Chris Simms. Jeff Garcia should be recognized as one of the league’s best before very long.