Freeman Still Doesn’t Have Command Of Offense
February 21st, 2011
Just how difficult is it to play quarterback in the NFL? Consider Josh Freeman.
The Bucs quarterback, if there is a season, will be entering his third year in the NFL, just finishing a season in which he tossed 25 touchdowns against a mere six interceptions.
Just based on the numbers alone, it would seem Freeman has Greg Olson’s offense down pat.
But hold up. Freeman recently confessed to Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune that he has yet to fully master Olson’s offense.
Urged by offensive coordinator Greg Olson, who continues to expand Freeman’s responsibilities within the system, Freeman wants to reach a point where he can confidently take the Bucs out of a pass play when the defense dictates a run play is the better option.
“When we’ve had run checks built into a run play, I’ve done fine with those,” Freeman said. “But when you get a bad look and you get to an audible or change the play completely, I’ve (usually gone) to a pass play, because my mentality is pass-first.
“But there are so many looks where you’re (best option) may be to check to a run play, and that’s what I’m working on. I was able to do that a couple of times last year, but it’s something Coach wants me to do more, because the more you can do, the better equipped you are to catch a defiant defense off balance.”
Wow, this really came as a surprise to Joe and sort of reinforced Joe’s notion that grasping an NFL offense is akin to learning trigonometry. NFL offenses aren’t just something one can absorb overnight if a soon-to-be third year pro who put up Pro Bowl-like numbers still hasn’t mastered it.
February 21st, 2011 at 11:50 am
This read showcases his work ethic. You gotta love Freeman! That’s the attitude you want in your franchise qb! The attitude of a champion (always room for improvement).
February 21st, 2011 at 12:19 pm
Amar said it all.
February 21st, 2011 at 12:26 pm
I agree Amar, with a lot of 3rd year quarter backs, they say they are going to go into the offseason and refine their game such as accuracy and other fundamentals. Don’t get me wrong, Freeman has said the same thing, but I haven’t heard many other quarter backs have a list of things they know they have to get better at as intricate as Freeman. And the best part about it is if last year was any indication, he should deliver on getting better at all the items he is mentioning this year. I pray that there is a season this year because I can’t wait to see Freeman play. He truly is a fantastic quarterback to watch and when was the last time we could say that about our quarterback.
February 21st, 2011 at 12:36 pm
Has there ever been a bad article written about Freeman. I love his work ethic every time I read something written about him it just gets me psyced for next year(Hopefully).
February 21st, 2011 at 12:37 pm
i can honestly say that i have never been more anxious for a season to start. there is a lot of pressure on this team to deliver with all the promise that they showed.
February 21st, 2011 at 12:37 pm
Yeah… I have not mastered the offense yet. Does this mean I’m still a “bust in waiting”?
February 21st, 2011 at 12:51 pm
Hey Joe,
Hate to say it but I think you got this all wrong. There was no admission whatsoever by Josh Freeman that he lacks command of the offense. I spoke during the Senior Bowl with Greg Olson and asked him what he felt Josh needed to work on this offseason. He said checking into run plays. Last week, while speaking with Josh, I asked him about that and his response is what you saw on TBO.com and in the Tampa Tribune. There was no admission that he doesn’t have a command of the offense. Just an acknowledgment that he does indeed want to improve on an area that shoud make the offense better. Just trying to set the record straight.
Roy Cummings
February 21st, 2011 at 1:00 pm
Easily forgotten how young he is…imagine how good he will become.
February 21st, 2011 at 1:16 pm
Of course he hasn’t mastered it yet, hes only played 24 games in the NFL.
Thats not criticism of Josh, just reality and a testament to how complex NFl offenses are, which is Joe’s point I think.
February 21st, 2011 at 1:32 pm
I’m glad Roy cleared things up. Freeman is always looking to improve & identifying the defense is huge. Fr what I saw last year is he does really well, so if he can improve, he could turn out to be a QB who can dominate a game.
February 21st, 2011 at 1:52 pm
Roy,
I think you missed the point of Joe’s post.
As eric stated, it was simply a commentary on how complex an NFL offense is and how Buc fans haven’t come close to seeing Josh Freeman’s full potential just yet.
I can’t wait to see what Josh can do with another offseason to truly master this offense!
February 21st, 2011 at 1:57 pm
Or maybe your post was simply made to shamelessly plug your website and newspaper on Joe’s website? I hope i’m wrong about this…haha
February 21st, 2011 at 2:06 pm
I still maintain that the entire offense is not grasped by anyone because it is still evolving. The reason: greg Olsen himslef is only entering year two of being and OC and he didn’t have much time last season to implement it, it was, and continues to be, a work in progress.
This is why I have such high hopes for the offense and think they will focus almost entirely on defense this draft. The offense should get better for the mere fact that Olsen, Freeman, and everyone else will have another year in it and another year developing it.
On top of that, they were fairly ineffective in running the ball until 7 weeks into the season (roughly) when Blount emerged.
Can not wait to see what they do on defense and see how this offense progresses. In the meantime, just trying to enjoy the ride as Tampa has a franchise QB for the first time… ever.
February 21st, 2011 at 3:24 pm
You guys covered it! Sooo, like Dave said, I’m just gonna enjoy the ride!! I just can’t wait to see Josh playing again. If we are within a score, and there’s 2 minutes left- I believe we’re gonna win! And that’s cool!!
February 21st, 2011 at 3:59 pm
Bucfan66:
Smart marketing!
February 21st, 2011 at 4:14 pm
You’re absolutely right Pete422. One of the great things about Josh is is undying willingness and desire to improve in every facet of the game. Even the Bucs have been a little surprised by his work ethic. They knew he was dilligent, but his attention to detail is even greater than they anticipated. Adn that’s great, of course. As the unquestioned leader of the offense, if not the team, the hope is that everyone else will follow his lead.
February 21st, 2011 at 4:25 pm
Josh Freeman:
Odd, Joe thought you went to Kansas State. Yet the server your IP address is based from states your are reading Joe from the campus of Arizona State. Strange.
Oh, well, Joe knows Arizona State is famous for the ladies so mad props!
February 21st, 2011 at 4:48 pm
Come on, Josh. I audible all the time. Just click the right thumb stick.
February 21st, 2011 at 5:14 pm
Didn’t Freeman (the real one) say recently “I feel like I have a pretty good grasp of our offense, and I feel great about all the defenses we’ve been seeing, but the league is constantly changing and you have to have a good understanding of those changes,”
February 21st, 2011 at 6:23 pm
Article Title seems a little misleading tbh. When I read it I imagine it being about Freeman’s inability to command the huddle.
February 21st, 2011 at 6:26 pm
Yeah I’m posting from Tempe. I am looking for a house. After I am cut for being a big arm small brained bust, I plan on moving here full time so I can get fat and turn my HIV from negative ALL the way to positive.
February 21st, 2011 at 8:19 pm
I am still waiting for Joe to tell Roy to go elsewhere! Thought that was the standard response to those taking issue with a headline not matching the article. C’mon Joe . . . let Roy have it!!
February 21st, 2011 at 8:19 pm
OMG, even Roy Cummings is hooked on JoeBucsFan. What’s the World coming to? We need to clean up our act boys.
Roy, I think your right about Josh has the best work ethic possible. He has made everyone better already and will continue to do so. Josh is everything you want in a Leader. Wherever he goes, I will follow, he’s the Pied Piper
February 21st, 2011 at 8:23 pm
I know Joe is honored to have Roy here. The only thing better would be to have Roy & Anwar in a verbal cage match in the comments section.
February 21st, 2011 at 9:26 pm
BigMacAttack:
You’d be surprised who reads Joe.
February 21st, 2011 at 9:54 pm
Wish “Ira the Patriots fan” would read JoeBuc. He might learn a Lil about football, and realize we have a team RIGHT HERE in Tampa. You don’t learn stuff like that when BSPN is your only source for your articles and info.