Was Mike Glennon A Wasted Pick? Questions About Position Battles Heading Into Training Camp for the Buccaneers

Was Mike Glennon A Wasted Pick? Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

What will the starting Offensive Tackles look like?

The recent trade for OT Gabe Carimi has demonstrated the Bucs are not happy with the guys on their roster. Donald Penn has battled alleged weight issues and the acquisition of Carimi could be another wake-up call from Bucs’ management. On the right side, Demar Dotson is a solid starter, but before they got Carimi the Bucs were also counting on him as the starter on the left side in the event that Penn cannot go. Dotson, who like Penn was undrafted, still has a lot of upside. My view is that Carimi will push both starters a bit, but he will probably end up at the start of the season as the top backup at both tackle positions, which gives the Bucs a nice bit of depth that they have lacked for a few seasons.

Who is going to win the slot receiver job?

The Bucs third wide receiver option last season was a disaster. We applaud the low-risk move to give WR Steve Smith a chance – too bad it just did not work out. That means that WR Kevin Ogletree looks like a top prospect to provide some life in the passing game from the slot. Eric Page has a shot here – he finished his career at Toledo with more than 300 catches and 3,000 yards in the Rockets’ pass happy offense. If he can overcome his injury history, he could add real value and maybe even crack the starting lineup over the underwhelming Tiquan Underwood. Former Stanford Cardinal Chris Owusu has potential, too. He can contribute on special teams and has the right body type to develop into a nice slot receiver. He has good balance, good body control, and runs well after the catch. However, his injury history and his route running cause concerns. Outside looking in is the intriguing rookie from Jheranie Boyd who seemed to score just about every time he touched the ball in college, but he has a long way to go before he can make the squad – he may be a practice squad guy.

Can Mike Glennon really push Josh Freeman?

We keep talking about it: Why would a veteran quarterback with Pro Bowl potential need to be pushed? Why would management think a lanky, erratic rookie could be the one to do the pushing? I have stated it before, Glennon was a wasted pick. To pick a backup QB in the third round is way too high, and if you are drafting to replace Freeman, then why wait until the third round or why not address the most important position on the team via trade or free agency when the marquee names were available? It seems like a half-measure and not one that is going to end well. If this is a move to show that management is desperate, it is a strange way to address the supposed QB problem.