Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie quarterback Mike Glennon will get a chance to win playing time. The Bucs believe he can step in for incumbent starter Josh Freeman and perform at any moment -- if needed.
Bucs coach Greg Schiano told Dan Pompei of the National Football Post that Glennon "can play quickly."
"But our situation will be only if he's needed," Schiano said. "Or if he wins the job. Look, I'm not against that. We have a starting quarterback. It's not like we're looking to find a starter. But competition is competition. Mike Glennon is a fierce competitor. I knew that when he was coming out of high school. Now being able to work with him a little, you can see it on the practice field."
Scouts seemed to have a love-or-hate take on Glennon. The 6-foot-7 quarterback's size and big arm appealed to some, while other analysts defined him as an immobile, sitting duck in the pocket.
Schiano scoffed at the idea that any perceived lack of mobility will hurt him in the NFL.
"He has pocket presence, ability to feel the rush and move in the pocket," Schiano said to NFP. "He can extend the play. Can he tuck the ball and run away from people? No. He is not going to be the guy who makes the 30-yard run. Can he tuck it and keep himself safe? Yes, he shows that he does that on college tape a lot. He takes off to run to get out of bounds."
Conventional wisdom says Glennon will sit and watch Freeman this year. Depending on each quarterback's progression, however, the Bucs might find themselves with a Drew Brees-Philip Rivers conundrum on their hands next offseason.
Follow Kevin Patra on Twitter @kpatra.
