Christmas In May For Josh Freeman
May 3rd, 2010
Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman seems geeked over his new Christmas toys, including wide receiver Arrelious Benn.
Joe sympathized with Josh Freeman last year. He had such NFL stalwarts to throw the ball, like blocking icon Michael Clayton and Mo Stovall, who actually didn’t do so bad given that he wasn’t asked to do a whole lot.
So when Freeman took a break from his personal workouts Sunday at One Buc Palace to watch his new toys, wide receivers Arrelious Benn and Mike Williams, it was as if Freeman opened up presents under the tree on Christmas morning notes Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune.
Taking a break from his film study and his own on-field workouts, Freeman trotted out to the field get a first-hand look at the new weapons he’ll be surrounded by this coming season. He said he liked what he saw.
“It looks like we have two explosive guys with great hands,” Freeman said of drafted receivers Arrelious Benn and Mike Williams. “I’m really anxious to see how they blend into our system and our scheme.”
Now Joe is trying to keep his emotions in check. After all, it’s only rookie camp and there’s only so much one can gleam from running around cones in shorts. It seems outside of a hiccup, Williams is turning heads. No one has spoken ill of Benn.
As Cummings said last night on WFLA-TV’s Sunday Sports Extra, the flags are out for Clayton and Stovall. Those flags, Joe assumes, are red flags.
May 3rd, 2010 at 8:27 am
I am very optimistic moving forward. Benn, Williams, Stroughter & K2 at TE. What has been a weakness for a decade could turn into a strength in a year or 2. I see Stovall holding the fort as a backup but Clayton should be cut. For his sake and the Bucs sake, they need to part ways.
It is hard to do, but we must temper our enthusiasm, they are young and will take a year or two.
The more I look at that draft, though, the more impressed I am with what they did. They turned their 2 biggest weaknesses (DT & WR) into possible strengths within 1-2 years. I think they got a great fit at CB to help shore up the secondary and they might have even found something in LB D Watson.
People get on them for selecting a punter, but hey, he will start and it is one less thing they need to worry about each year for the next several.
Another draft like this with some DEs, O-Line, and a sprinkling of RBs and we all might be looking at a very good team for a long time.
Of course, there will be hiccups, injuries, etc.. and it will depend on the development of Josh Freeman.
GO BUCS!
May 3rd, 2010 at 8:41 am
Dave – I have to admit that you wrote a pretty even synoposis and I agree with you; especially on the time issue.
The biggest thing people forget is that rookies don’t usually have that much of an impact their rookie year.
With regard to the punter of course he’ll be a starter. how many teams draft a punter in the first place? Just like kickers – most are just FA’s brought into camp for tryouts.
I only hope that Olsen has gotten a simplified playbook for the offense. In addition the O-Line needs to get their shit together. It doesn’t matter how good of an arm Freeman has or how good the WR’s run their routes if the defense spills thru the O-line like the Cumberland river running thru Tennessee.
May 3rd, 2010 at 9:23 am
That pic isn’t Mike Williams it’s Arrelious Benn.
May 3rd, 2010 at 9:35 am
Good call KC. Williams is No. 19 (Keyshawn’s old number, gulp).
May 3rd, 2010 at 9:57 am
Of the two Williams might be a bit more important if he is the speedy long threat, since the opposing defense would have to account for him like they did AB, allowing K-2 more opportunities.
A big key might be how quickly these guys can learn the quick check down patterns and slants in the blitz packages teams like the Steelers will be running.
May 3rd, 2010 at 5:04 pm
Lucky,
The Patriots drafted a punter before the Bucs did…