NFL Takeaways: Lovie Smith Still Can’t Solve Quarterback Woes

Nov 2, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Lovie Smith against the Cleveland Browns during the fourth quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 22-17. Mandatory Credit: Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports

Forget just the round robin he’s gone through in Tampa, NFL head coach Lovie Smith seems to have a real problem with quarterbacks.  It has plagued him for ten years since he took over the Chicago Bears.  For all the motivational prowess he has and the defensive pedigree he enjoys, Smith continues to come up short at the position that matters most in pro football.  Just for an idea, here is a list of the quarterbacks who have started at least one game under Smith in his tenure as a head coach.

• Jonathan Quinn
• Craig Krenzel
• Chad Hutchinson
• Rex Grossman
• Kyle Orton
• Brian Griese
• Jay Cutler
• Caleb Hanie
• Todd Collins
• Josh McCown
• Jason Campbell
• Mike Glennon

By comparison Bill Belichick has had three quarterbacks start games for him since he took over the New England Patriots in Drew Bledsoe, Tom Brady and Matt Cassel.  Never was the indecision and lack of understanding about the position clearer than when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hinted that Josh McCown could start soon, replacing Mike Glennon.  This after his ugly game in Atlanta where he suffered his thumb injury.

It’s fair to say that Smith will go down as one of the best coaches of a decade but in the end the great asterisk next to his name will be that dreaded “always a quarterback away.”