INDIANAPOLIS: If the Tampa Bay Buccaneers use the No. 1 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft on a quarterback, head coach Lovie Smith knows what he wants.
Lovie Smith knows what the Buccaneers want in a QB
There are flaws against both of the top quarterbacks in this year’s draft, but Smith has very specific expectations of what he wants from Tampa Bay’s draft pick.
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
At the NFL Scouting Combine Wednesday, Smith said he wants accuracy, decision-making and leadership from a quarterback. And he wants someone who wins games.
For the most part, those traits properly characterize the draft's two top quarterbacks, Jameis Winston of Florida State and Marcus Mariota of Oregon.
“You’re always going to look for the franchise quarterback,” Smith said. “We like just having options. We like being in that position and seeing what happens in the end.”
The Buccaneers are faced with a roster where the only quarterback is Mike Glennon after veteran Josh McCown was released last week. That could leave them choosing between Mariota and Winston with the No. 1 pick.
“I see two talented players that are different,” Smith said of the quarterbacks. “They have different styles. They’ve won a lot of football games.”
Prior to speaking to the full media crowd, Smith told Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times he would be comfortable in making Winston the face of the Buccaneers.
Smith was dismissive of the previous legal allegations against Winston saying Winston went through the court system and didn’t get charged.
“I understand allegations are against him,” Smith said of Winston. “I understand some of the college things guys do you wish they wouldn’t later on. I understand some of the things on his record right now.
“We’re going to judge James, Marcus on what they’ve done in their careers up to this point.”
Much like Smith isn’t holding Winston’s legal allegations against him, he isn’t holding Oregon’s wide open offense against Mariota.
“I think you just look at a quarterback. I think there’s something offensive you run in college that make it easier,” Smith said. “In Marcus’ case, he ran an offense most teams don’t run. But I seen him scramble around … and make most of the throws he’ll have to make in the league.”
Smith did admit the Buccaneers would have a lot more background work to do on both Winston and Mariota. Despite the past allegations against him, Smith said Winston remains on the Buccaneers’ draft board.
“I think you just start the process. For us, to initially having that first conversation. You just start asking questions,” Smith said. “There’s a lot of people for us to talk to. We’ve talked to a lot of people with both. In the end, you gather all the information you have and make that decision. When you have that No. 1 pick, it’s an organizational decision.”
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