The Pewter Plank
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Buccaneers What Would You Do? – Quarterback edition

By David Harrison

TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 29: Quarterback Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers greets fans in the tunnel before heading out to the field to take on the Carolina Panthers at an NFL football game on October 29, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 29: Quarterback Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers greets fans in the tunnel before heading out to the field to take on the Carolina Panthers at an NFL football game on October 29, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FL – OCTOBER 29: Quarterback Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks over the field during warm ups before the start of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers on October 29, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – OCTOBER 29: Quarterback Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks over the field during warm ups before the start of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers on October 29, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /

Sean Eck

Jameis Winston, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Ryan Griffin are the current options for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at quarterback.

Who should be the starter the rest of the season is the question that has been proposed to us, and there is no easy answer.

Firstly, we have our franchise quarterback, the top overall pick from three years ago. He is currently coming off of a shoulder injury which cost him the past three contests. In those games, Tampa went 2-1.

This record has kept slim playoff hopes alive, but it’s a mountain to climb and all the chips have to fall into place for it to happen.

Franchise quarterbacks aren’t just benched, no matter how poorly their team is playing. Winston has only two and part of a third years worth of experience under his belt.

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While you risk a potentially catastrophic injury by putting him out there at less than 100% and missing two of the best offensive lineman in the NFL (Ali Marpet #6 center per PFF & Demar Dotson #4 right tackle per PFF), I’m sure Dirk Koetter has weighed his options carefully and is set to take the calculated risk in an attempt to salvage his season and possibly his job.

Second, we have the grizzled veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick.

While Fitzpatrick performed admirably in Winston’s absence, he is apparently not long for a Buccaneers uniform. Even if the Bucs sign him to an extension in the off-season, he would always be a back-up.

Putting Fitzpatrick in the line-up at the moment makes no sense. It would be benching your young quarterback who by all accounts still has to mature to the NFL professional level. Let Fitzpatrick hold the clipboard and show the team how to be a locker room leader, knowing his role as he did to start the season.

Finally, we have the relatively unknown Ryan Griffin. While at the age of 28 he has yet to throw a pass in a regular season NFL contest. This makes him a risk to the Buccaneers’ dwindling playoff chances, and it could provide a look to the future of the organization.

I’m by no means saying he is the future starting quarterback. It would be good to see if he could be a reliable backup plan should Winston go down to injury again, or should he get suspended for the allegations brought against him recently.

While Griffin has not played in the NFL, he did have a very successful four-year run at Tulane. Playing in Conference USA, he finished fifth in passing yards per play, fifth in pass completion percentage, and fourth in passing touchdowns during his senior year.

It doesn’t necessarily relate to success in the NFL, but it does show the ability to push the ball down the field and at a high percentage.

Koetter has already declared Winston will be the starter this week against the Packers. This comes as a surprise to some.

It is an effort for the head coach to salvage his season and try to prepare for the future. While the Buccaneers took a big step back from where they were at the end of last year, if the organization is committed to keeping Winston as their franchise quarterback, he should be out there every snap he is healthy enough to take.

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