Josh Freeman Taking Work From Jeff Faine
May 24th, 2010
A lot has changed for Josh Freeman in the past year.
Some 12 months ago, Freeman was fresh from the wheatfields of Kansas. Two offensive coordinators, 13 losses and 11 months later, Freeman is no longer a follower. He’s trying to be a leader.
Sure, we’ve all read the stories of how Freeman prevented rookie receivers Arrelious Benn and Mike Williams from having a booty call in the middle of the night as Freeman wanted to go over tape with his new passing duo.
It’s not just rookies that Freeman is working with. Veteran center Jeff Faine noted that Freeman has taken some of Faine’s responsibilities away from him so the center can concentrate more on blocking, so reports always dapper Backwards Hat, aka Rick Brown of the Lakeland Ledger.
One of the guys who sees the improvement is center Jeff Faine, whose role has been reduced this year by the work Freeman has done in the offseason. For the past two seasons, Faine has been calling out the team’s blitz protections to the line and running backs. This year, Freeman is handling those duties.
“He’s maturing into the leader of the offense,” Faine said. “He’s starting to really take that role and run with it a little bit. He’s able to recognize and see things. Instead of feeling his way through things and thinking he knows what’s going on, now he does it and knows he’s right, and he’s moving forward making the right decisions.”
It’s impressive to see how the Bucs are quickly becoming Freeman’s team. It seems he is holding teammates up to a certain standard.
Nice to see that, Josh. Keep it up. Oh, and lose that ugly Royals cap, will ya?
May 24th, 2010 at 12:25 pm
““He’s maturing into the leader of the offense,” Faine said. “He’s starting to really take that role and run with it a little bit.”
Yeah I guess lying on your back will make one mature faster in the NFL. As for …”running with it”. Without elephant man Penn guarding his blindside Freeman BETTER get used to running with it [the football]
May 24th, 2010 at 12:31 pm
“Some 12 months ago, Freeman was fresh from the wheatfields of Kansas”
and Joe was antagonizing supporters by nicknaming him “Bust in Waiting” Freeman all over his site. So does this mean we are going to see Joe at some point issue an apology for all those “Bust in Waiting” comments early on lol…
Like many Bucs fans, I wasn’t a fan of the pick when it happened, talked myself into it a week later and happy as the next to see how he wells he seems to be progressing this off-season.. at least we as Bucs fan can honestly say if Freeman doesn’t succeed in the NFL, it won’t be because he didn’t try and man, it feels great to know you have a very potential Franchise QB sitting right there for you ready to take control of the team.
May 24th, 2010 at 12:54 pm
@Negative Nancy, thanks for your time. You have done Radio Mushmouth’s job.
May 24th, 2010 at 12:58 pm
ReaderM, Joe’s eating crow now, he’ll be back shortly.
May 24th, 2010 at 1:09 pm
I was not happy about the selection of Freeman either, but the kid has shown a lot more than I thought he had.
Avoid the sophmore slump and cut down on the INT’s and he has the tools to be a big star.
May 24th, 2010 at 1:11 pm
And 12 months ago all we saw on this site was ” Bust-in-Waiting”
Just shows everyone you have NO idea what you are talking about!!!!!
May 24th, 2010 at 1:15 pm
I think Freeman looks funny without his huge hair……
Sorry I had nothing to add and it is a slow day at work lol
May 24th, 2010 at 1:37 pm
look man this guy FREEMAN is gonna be an elite top 5 Qb! Him callin the blitzes out now may seem small but its the reason why Peyton Manning and Tom Brady and why Drew Brees won the Super Bowl last year. You gotta run your O!
May 24th, 2010 at 1:40 pm
Lets not get carried away………………………….
May 24th, 2010 at 1:41 pm
How old is Freeman? 22?
Mature beyond his years……Lord only knows where I’d be right now with that type of fame, money, and free time at 22 yrs old……
May 24th, 2010 at 1:42 pm
Chargedcbh:
When did Freeman make All-Pro? Or could Joe have missed that too. Perhaps you could enlighten Joe?
May 24th, 2010 at 1:43 pm
ReaderM:
Why should Joe apologize? If a guy Joe didn’t think would be a good player proves to be solid and the Bucs win, Joe should apologize for that???
May 24th, 2010 at 1:45 pm
I have never heard so much ridiculuous b.s. from people trying to dig for something positive to say about this kid.
“He changes his own flat tires = H.O.F. QB” was the other day. Now he is recognizing blitzes during OTA’s and people are saying “top 5 qb and big star”
You idiots are out of your minds! The only way to tell whether the kid can play is on Sundays during the regular season
May 24th, 2010 at 1:46 pm
LOL elephant man!
May 24th, 2010 at 1:52 pm
@Thomas
Point well taken Thomas, but wouldn’t you agree the kid at least showed flashes of star quality during Sunday’s last year.
That was about as good as anyone could expect from him, given the circumstances.
May 24th, 2010 at 2:08 pm
I say Joe is correct….”Bust in waiting” is appropriate for at least 2 to 5 more years. This guy could be the second coming of Joe Montana or another crummy draft pick. Lets wait and see. Eric, I like your last comment.
May 24th, 2010 at 2:20 pm
Yes he played better in some games (not all) than I expected from him when he was drafted.
My family is a big 12 family with almost everyone being a Kansas, Kansas State, OU or Mizzou grad – so I watched a lot of Freeman games at K state. He would play great in games against inferior teams and except for one exception (Texas his Junior year I believe) he would look bad. I did not believe the arg that this team was talent poor as the offense had a lot of nfl guys like Jordy Nelson, Yamon Figurs etc.
Due to Freeman’s size he is able to keep plays alive better than most NFL QB’s – very Big Ben-esque. But he still has the same accuracy problems that he had at K state. So until I see that improved on game day – I am reserving judgment.
(Long answer for “yes” he played better than I anticipated.)
May 24th, 2010 at 2:34 pm
Press 1 for English.
May 24th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
Greatest QB of all time……. I mean what other top tier QB changes his own tires….. NONE!!!! Canton needs to start making his bust already….. Like I said slow day at work sorry, GO BUCS
May 24th, 2010 at 8:42 pm
OMG – the QB is able to recognize a blitz during OTA when no one has any pads on!!!!
Let’s fill out the ProBowl forms now, in May.
Its about time Freeman stepped up to do his JOB.
May 24th, 2010 at 9:28 pm
So if Canton is already making his Bust, does that make it a “Bust in Waiting”?
Dam if Joe wasn’t right again.
May 25th, 2010 at 8:02 am
@Thomas: At least Freeman has better accuracy than Stafford and Sanchez, guys that were selected ahead of him in the draft. If Freeman learns to read defenses better (hopefully with his first training camp full of preparation), he will be better QB than them.
May 25th, 2010 at 10:26 am
We’ll all know in about 3 and a half monthes.