Dissatisfaction shows as Bucs seek to take more downfield shots

It was bound to happen sooner or later, what with the losses piling up one on top of another. And so it did on Monday at One Buc Place. That's when the grumbling began.

Truth be known, it actually began Sunday at FedEx Field, where the Bucs lost for the fourth time in as many tries this season, dropping a 16-13 decision to the Redskins. The dissatisfaction was more distinct on Monday, however.

"I've got to get more opportunities," Bucs wide receiver Michael Clayton said. "I'm a guy that can help this team win. We've got to get our players the ball. Everybody needs more opportunities.

"(Tight end) Jerramy Stevens needs more opportunities. (Antonio Bryant) needs more. You're gonna drop some balls, but you also need an opportunity to make up and redeem yourself. We haven't quite been able to get to that step."

They didn't get to it Sunday because their quarterback was a guy whose last start came 23 months ago for the University of San Diego against Football Championship Subdivision foe UC-Davis.

That, in large part, was how Bucs coach Raheem Morris explained the seemingly cautious approach that second-year pro Josh Johnson appeared to take during his first start in the NFL arena.

Though he lauded him for solid game management and for making some plays with his feet, Morris said Johnson often lacked the assurance necessary to take shots downfield when they were there.

"It wasn't hesitancy so much as it was just having the confidence and just stepping up and throwing it," Morris said of Johnson, who threw just nine of his 22 passes to wide receivers.

"We have to develop our confidence with the quarterback-receiver relationship and take those shots. That's part of the development of Josh Johnson. He has to do that and take those chances, which he will."

Johnson spent most of Sunday throwing checkdowns to his backs and tight ends and completed just three passes of 10 yards or more. He doesn't believe he was overly cautious, however.

"They did a lot of things from a defensive standpoint to take (the wide receivers) out of the game," he said. "But there are ways to get these guys the ball, and I have to do better at that.

"You've got to find that balance between when to go and when not to go. As an offense, once we grow we'll get better at that. As for my development, I feel like I grew up a lot during this game."

If Johnson is going to continue to grow he needs to regain the confidence he showed as a collegian to throw the ball when opportunities to strike are present. Morris said instilling that confidence falls on him.

"When you have something open in the end zone and you just don't fire it, that execution, and that's on me," he said. "That's what I have to stress. It's my job to make sure we practice that and we do it enough.

"What we want is to play fearless, not cautious. Those are the coaching points you give him, and the more experienced and the more time he has to develop those things as a QB, the less you have to tell him to do it.

"I mean, nobody tells Peyton Manning when to throw it down the field. He just knows. And when he checks it down, he checks it down, and that's the result of the play."

The result of some of the plays in which Johnson failed to throw downfield was positive. For example, on several occasions, Johnson tucked the ball and ran with it, gaining critical yards.

"There were some plays that we called and they just weren't there," Morris said. "We were covered well and instead of being second-and-10 because he threw it away, he stepped right up in the pocket and ran and got 3 or 4 yards.

"Now we're working with a manageable down. Unfortunately, that second-down play, sometimes things went awry, like a delay of game on one which was my fault, and it gets you back to second-and-16.

"Now, if you've got an older QB, it really doesn't matter. You call a run or a screen and see what you can get and you try to get a manageable third down and you play it.

"(But with a young quarterback) we've got to work on moving the chains, eliminating the mistakes from everybody around him and himself, and then he'll be a lot better."