Freeman 9-For-34 On Long Balls
July 23rd, 2012
How unexplosive have the Bucs been over the past three seasons? In 40 career starts, Josh Freeman has only completed nine throws more than 20 yards, per a Mike Lombardi analysis on NFL.com.
The Greg Olson-Raheem Morris Bucs didn’t commit to the run, and they didn’t stretch the field. Lombardi writes that those nine completions came on just 34 attempts.
Greg Schiano seems committed to a 1970s style running attack, but even the Dolphins that perfected the pound the ball and take deep shots style connected on and attempted plenty of bombs to Paul Warfield and others.
With Vincent Jackson and a stacked offensive line, Bucs fans should finally find out whether Freeman can be a legitimate deep threat.
July 23rd, 2012 at 4:47 pm
History is killing the previous administration.
July 23rd, 2012 at 5:18 pm
Joe, part of the problem is having time to throw, the OL had holes that should be filled now. Also they have power and speed in backs, and receivers that can run routes and get open, but most importantly, a game plan that doesn’t have a Benn around or throw to the TE on the wrong route or in coverage. Josh has given up shooting during the season except for throwing.
Can’t wait for you to tell us what you see in pads and the first practice game.
July 23rd, 2012 at 5:31 pm
If Vincent Jackson doesn’t work we are doomed.
July 23rd, 2012 at 5:47 pm
34 attempts in 40 games…. wow, that is an awful stat. How is that even possible when last year alone we were down by atleast 20 every game after the first quarter… So they didnt commit to the run or throwing the deep ball. No wonder we stunk it up. Shows you just how predictable our offense was under that regime.
July 23rd, 2012 at 5:53 pm
We all know he will. It’s quite obvious he’s been running dink and dunk offenses for some time now.
If Schiano holds to his ideas, skies will turn blue and the pewter and red sea will part.
July 23rd, 2012 at 6:12 pm
CBS Sportsline has Freeman throwing 106 completions of 20+ yards and 17 completions of 40+ yards. No one can throw for over 3500 yards with just 9 long balls. I remember a game in 2010 where he had two or three in just one game.
July 23rd, 2012 at 6:15 pm
Since the Bucs were way behind every game last year I think his stats are off for whatever reason. I’d bet he attempted more than 34 just last season (16 games)
July 23rd, 2012 at 6:22 pm
Hard to throw downfield when there are 2 or more defensive men in your face isn’t it?
July 23rd, 2012 at 6:25 pm
According to NFL.com this past year alone he completed 33 of 20+ and 5 of 40+. Lombardi just has a hate on for the Bucs, not sure where he got those stats from.
July 23rd, 2012 at 6:26 pm
Fully understood! Tampa has had the worst pro offensive systems I’ve seen!
July 23rd, 2012 at 6:32 pm
The Buc haters have been coming out of the woodwork as of late. I don’t like Lombardi and I’m not a fan of his spouting off with a lack of research. I believe his numbers are wrong and that Josh has completed more than 9 long passes in the last 3 years. I think he had more than that in 2010′. He had a few in 09′ and I can’t believe he had zero in 2011;, but it was a horrid season and he needs serious improvement to lead this team to wins.
July 23rd, 2012 at 6:34 pm
That was a system? More like the three stooges visit Tampa Stadium! Offense; Larry, Defense Curly, Special Teams; MO
July 23rd, 2012 at 6:38 pm
BigMac,
I’m a firm believer that Freeman will be the team MVP this year and prove everyone wrong.
July 23rd, 2012 at 6:41 pm
I am assuming that he means passes that traveled 20+ yards in the air, versus passes that were complete for 20+ yards. For example, you could catch a screen pass and run it for 50 yards, but that wouldn’t count for what Lombardi is referencing. I actually tend to believe he is right if that is the case. I have spent numerous games just hoping we would throw the deep ball, even if it’s incomplete, just to stretch out the defense. However, it almost never happened. 34 times in 40 games seems pretty accurate to me. Hopefully it changes this year.
July 23rd, 2012 at 7:14 pm
Some people seem confused by what was actually looked at.
Freeman may have had completions that went for 20+ yards but barely any of them were long attempts, it was a case of a shorter route with run after the catch.
July 23rd, 2012 at 7:29 pm
We had no legit deep option at WR last year.
With VJ and TU, we now have 2. In addition, we have a TE in Clark who can seperate. We are improved in this area.
Yes, Free needs more time and he will get it with Martin at RB. Blount was a disaster and Lumpy just overmatched physically.
July 23rd, 2012 at 8:09 pm
as always good stuff joe. ps, thanks for the rock riley update sunday morning. i tuned in and got to listen to my all time favorite player (the a-train) live yesterday at 11am….and this was after church on a Sunday! it was very cool! thanks for all your hard work on joe bucs fan, and go bucs!
July 23rd, 2012 at 9:22 pm
Eric Says:
July 23rd, 2012 at 5:31 pm
“”If Vincent Jackson doesn’t work we are doomed.””
But, If Josh Freeman don’t work out, we are all devastated .
He sure has been working hard lately, that’s for sure!
July 23rd, 2012 at 9:30 pm
Freeman’s numbers are in line with Flacco and Ryan after 41 games played, they are in their 60’s now. Freeman has 11.2 yds per catch and they are both at 11.6 yds per catch. Aaron Rodgers spent his first 3 years watching Farve and even he is only at 12.6 yds per catch. Freeman has almost twice the rushing yards as Ryan and Flacco and higher yds per rush as well. Freeman has much improving to do and he has never had an elite WR, which he does now. His numbers aren’t the best but they aren’t bad, especially considering the pressure put on him. The funny thing is that Freeman, Ryan and Flacco all have 46 INT’s, so this is clearly Josh’s biggest problem, but his receivers weren’t much help. I believe he has drawn much more criticism than he deserves. I also think that this may be the right opportunity for him to breakout and have a 4000 yd season moving into the top 10 ranks of QB’s.
July 23rd, 2012 at 9:36 pm
Hey Joe… If Josh Freeman has lets say a 4-12 year..With pretty much the same stats as last year.. Would Matt Barkley now be on the bucs radar? For me Freeman has no excuses now.. I mean we have Vincent Jackson Doug Martin Carl Nicks.. There is no excuse…
July 23rd, 2012 at 11:23 pm
That’s odd. ProFootballFocus has them Freeman completing 15 of 36 passing attempts targeted 20 yards or more downfield last year alone.
Not saying PFF is 100% correct, but Lombardi’s numbers are so low it raises a huge question mark as to what he is seeing.
July 24th, 2012 at 6:58 am
Cmon people, it was obviuos we had an aversion to throwing the deep ball. There were many times, I wondered, why dont we just give Been or Williams a chance to make a play, by throwing deep. VERY RARELY did we ever have anything resembling a deep passing game. Josh had plenty of time to drop back and wing it, but for whatever reason, did not. All the INTs thrown into extremely tight coverage 10-12 yards downfield, would have been better served to throw deep and let your WR’s try to make a play, like the majority of NFL offenses.
July 24th, 2012 at 7:02 am
Yes, IMO, this is and should be a make or break year for Freeman. His accuracy has been extremely suspect, and his lack of a deep game is troubling as well. Beginning to wonder if he can read defenses and has the ability to throw the ball before reciever makes cut. A top notch NFL QB has to be able to anticipate and thats something Free has not shown he can do…yet.
July 24th, 2012 at 11:48 am
thomas two point two Says: July 23rd, 2012 at 7:29 pm
We had no legit deep option at WR last year.
.
I beg to differ…I think we had the options, but the coaching and game calling was not there. Wide Receivers were blowing their routes constantly, as was Winslow. How many times did we see Freeman yelling at a WR for running the wrong route?
That will change this year.
July 24th, 2012 at 11:51 am
Chris@Apple Roof Cleaning Says: July 23rd, 2012 at 9:22 pm
But, If Josh Freeman don’t work out, we are all devastated . He sure has been working hard lately, that’s for sure!
.
If he can play mistake free and if the WRs run the right routes, we’ll see huge improvement. Schiano’s commitment to the running game when the team is behind will play a large role as well.
July 24th, 2012 at 7:04 pm
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1184295-fun-with-numbers-statistical-oddities-from-the-nfc-south-quarterbacks
This says if you factor in dropped passes, Freeman has the best 20+yard completion percentage in the division, higher than Brees….Conflicting accounts JOE