Read-Option: Can Griffin Be The Guy?

Jameis Winston will miss the first three games of the season. That is not a question. The question is who starts in his place?

The obvious answer is Ryan Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick, a 14-year veteran, came in last year and gave the Bucs a 2-1 record in the three games he started in Winston’s absence, and the reason why the Bucs re-signed him this offseason was certainly due to the fact that if the scenario they’re in came up, they’d be able to weather it.

Bucs QB Ryan Griffin – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

But what does this say about Ryan Griffin? Griffin is only 28 compared to Fitzpatrick, who is 35. Fitzpatrick’s value to the Buccaneers is done after this season. Griffin’s might not be. No, it’s not ideal for a guy to take his first regular season snap against a divisional opponent on the road, as would be the case in Week 1, but remember Griffin came from New Orleans. If there were to be any place for him to start outside of Tampa and feel comfortable it would be there.

One would think that Griffin makes the most sense to see what they have in him before his contract runs out at the end of this season by testing him against live bullets. But, if that were the case, and if the coaching staff really does like Griffin, as they say, why didn’t the coaches think play him last year when they had the chance instead of Fitzpatrick?

How would you split up the reps during training camp? How many would Winston get and then how much would you make it an open competition between Griffin and Fitzpatrick for the right to start the first three games – and for the future? How long would you let that competition go? Until Week 3 of the preseason? Week 4?

Do you think there is more than meets the eye to Griffin?

Do you think he has a chance to compete? Or is he simply just a backups’ backup? Is Griffin worth keeping past 2018 or does Tampa Bay need to find a stronger-armed backup QB in 2019?