The winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers have benched
starting quarterback Byron Leftwich and replaced him with
second-year pro Josh Johnson.

Coach Raheem Morris made the move Monday, a day after the Bucs
fell to 0-3 while gaining just 86 yards total offense in a 24-0
loss to the New York Giants. Leftwich completed 7 of 16 passes for
22 yards and one interception.

Johnson played one fourth-quarter series, completing 4 of 10
passes for 36 yards and leading a drive that stalled on downs at
New York's 5-yard line. He also finished as Tampa Bay's leading
rusher, scrambling for a 15-yard gain on his only attempt.

Morris said he was not blaming the loss on Leftwich, but feels
Johnson has earned a chance start Sunday at Washington. The 2008
fifth-round draft pick out of San Diego entered training camp as
the fourth-string quarterback.

"I hate to make this about Byron," Morris said, adding that
the entire team played poorly against the Giants, who controlled
the ball for 43 minutes, 38 seconds while amassing 397 yards total
offense, including 226 on the ground against Tampa Bay's porous
defense.

"I don't want us as an organization to say that game was all
Leftwich ... but Byron is suffering the consequences," the
first-year coach said.

Leftwich drops to third on the depth chart behind rookie Josh
Freeman, who the Bucs drafted in the first round this year.

The seventh-year pro, a former starter in Jacksonville and
Atlanta, won the No. 1 job in an extended battle with Luke McCown
during training camp. Following Sunday's game he was asked if
thought he would retain the starting role.

"Going into this thing before the season started, I knew we
would have to win some games. That's just me understanding and
being smart about the whole situation. We haven't done that so far.
So no matter whose fault it is or what the reason is for it, we're
0-3," Leftwich said.

"Do I want to remain the starting quarterback of the team? Heck
yeah. I feel as though we can still win football games. But we'll
see what happens."

Morris decided to make a change after reviewing tape of Sunday's
game, citing Johnson's mobility as one of the reasons.

Even though Leftwich was not sacked by the Giants, New York
applied constant pressure and the 6-foot-5, 250-pound quarterback
has never been much of a threat to run.

"He provides us more options," Morris said of the 23-year-old
Johnson, who the Bucs drafted out of San Diego, where he set the
NCAA Football Championship Subdivision record for passing
efficiency with a 176.68 career rating.

"He gives you the dynamic that you all know about," with his
ability to run, the coach added. "He creates a better chance to
break out of the pocket and make a play with his feet."

In each of its three losses, Tampa Bay has fallen behind and
been forced away from what they do best, which is run the ball.

After gaining 174 yards on 31 carries in the season opener
against Dallas, the Bucs had just 19 rushing attempts for 57 yards
against Buffalo. They were limited to 28 yards on 10 carries by the
Giants.

Leftwich threw for 276 yards while throwing the ball 41 times
against the Cowboys. He attempted 50 passes against the Bills,
throwing for 296 yards.

"We've still got to establish the run," Morris said, stressing
that Johnson will need a solid rushing attack to have a real chance
to make a difference. "That's where it's got to start."