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Bucs QB Johnson eager to take his turn running offense

Staff photo by MICHAEL EGGER

Bucs coach Raheem Morris announces the change in quarterbacks during a news conference Monday.

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By ROY CUMMINGS | The Tampa Tribune
and ANWAR RICHARDSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 28, 2009

Updated: 09/28/2009 04:38 pm

TAMPA - Josh Johnson is a young quarterback, but he's savvy enough after a little more than a year in the NFL to know that what happened Monday at One Buc Place is virtually inevitable.

Veteran Byron Leftwich was benched and Johnson named the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' starting quarterback after an 0-3 start and Sunday's dismal 24-0 loss to the New York Giants.

Johnson will make his first career start at Washington.

"I was surprised, because I felt like Byron had done a good job and that it was just one of those days where nothing went right,'' said Johnson, 23. "But had I been the quarterback, I know I would have taken the fall, because that's the reality of being a quarterback in this league.''

Johnson's reality is the Bucs' offense now belongs to him. And while it's only been a little more than a year since he came out of college as a fifth-round draft pick from San Diego, he says he's ready to command it.

"Am I surprised? Yes. Am I ready? Yes. Will I prepare the same way? Yes,'' Johnson said. "But it's not just about me turning this thing around. It's about all of us turning this thing around to start getting wins.''

Johnson takes over in part because he gives the offense an element Leftwich couldn't: mobility. But Johnson hopes to bring more to the team than a quarterback who can move around in the pocket and make plays with his feet.

"The reality of the situation is, I've seen the talent we have,'' Johnson said. "I've seen it on display and I know what we're capable of as a team. My job is to put those guys in a position to make plays and that's all I can do - get them the ball and let them make plays.

"If I take that mindset, we'll be all right.''

Rookie first-round draft pick Josh Freeman will be the backup, with Leftwich dropping to the No. 3 spot.

Coach Raheem Morris announced the changes Monday morning, one day after one of the worst offensive performances in Tampa Bay franchise history.

The Bucs had one first down and 86 total yards. Leftwich completed seven of 16 passes for 22 yards with one interception before being relieved by Johnson in the fourth quarter.

"I hate to make this about Byron,'' Morris said today. "Byron wasn't the guy that jumped offsides on the second play of the game yesterday. Byron wasn't the guy who let the three technique into the backfield on a first-down run.

"He missed a few throws. He didn't give us the accuracy we wanted. But at the same time, he didn't drop every pass, so it's not all on Byron; it's not all about Byron. But that position, just like the head coach, is usually the guy that gets the blame.''

Morris said he believes Johnson can give the Bucs' offense a dimension it didn't have with the immobile Leftwich in the lineup.

"He definitely gives you that dynamic,'' Morris said. "He creates a different matchup with people. He gives you a chance to break out of the pocket and make a play with his feet every once in a while. That's not a secret.

"Those are some of the things that go into your decision making process, no doubt.''

Johnson's first NFL experience came Sunday, when he led a 51-yard drive that stalled at the Giants' 5-yard line when receiver Michael Clayton dropped a pass in the back of the end zone and three more passes fell incomplete.

Johnson completed four of 10 for 36 yards and picked up a first down on a 15-yard run.

Leftwich, who beat out Luke McCown to earn Tampa Bay's starting position prior to the season, was not immediately available for comment but said after Sunday's loss he would not be surprised if the Bucs made a change.

"I'm smart enough to understand they drafted a young quarterback,'' Leftwich said. "Going into this thing before the season started, I knew we would have to win some games. And we haven't done that so far. So no matter who's fault it is, we're 0-3.''

Morris suggested other lineup changes may be coming, as well. Though he didn't specify positions, he said there's a good chance some players will give up snaps to others in the coming weeks.

"The secret's out of the bag - this is a young team,'' he said. "And we have to look at all young players and see what they're going to be, what they've got the opportunity to be.''

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