Freeman’s Regression Continues
September 23rd, 2012
Once a upon a time, Josh Freeman consistently made plays with his legs. He extended plays. He was dangerous, like Tony Romo, Ben Roethlisburger and other quarterbacks that feel the game and deliver the magic that defines an elite quarterback, and Freeman was the No. 2 rushing quarterback in the NFL in 2010.
Nowadays, Freeman looks more like Brian Griese. And Freeman plays like he’s got too much coaching swirling around in his head. It’s as if Freeman’s instincts are in hiding.
Today, Freeman was almost as bad as his offensive coordinator.
There are no more excuses for Freeman.
Decent quarterback play would have won today’s game for the Bucs. It’s not acceptable for a fourth-year quarterback with 40+ starts.
The Bucs are going nowhere fast if Freeman can’t become an above average quarterback.
September 23rd, 2012 at 4:51 pm
Freeman is holding the team back. He’s being lapped by guys who started their NFL career after him, and he’s making mistakes you’d expect from 1st year guys v. 4th year guys (like holding onto the ball forever on a 3-step).
It’s time for a new QB and a new GM to draft him.
September 23rd, 2012 at 4:51 pm
Yep. If he had even been average today they could’ve won this game easily.
September 23rd, 2012 at 4:53 pm
Like Griese? He looks like Eric Zeier
September 23rd, 2012 at 4:53 pm
He needs to get his stuff together- or Orlovsky needs to start.
September 23rd, 2012 at 4:55 pm
holy jesus that was some bad offense. i dont even know where to begin…
September 23rd, 2012 at 4:55 pm
One of the worst games I’ve seen him play. No rhythm or flow. He looks robotic out there.
HOWEVER, if/when he comes back next week and drops 2 touchdowns on the Skins I want the same people who are overreacting to this game to then overreact in a positive way. We’re in week 3 with a rookie OC. Relax!
September 23rd, 2012 at 4:55 pm
Brad Johnson and Jeff Garcia never had a game like this.
Johnson was a 9th round draft pick and Garcia was undrafted i believe.
September 23rd, 2012 at 4:55 pm
Freeman is not the issue …. The WHOLE offense Struggled…
September 23rd, 2012 at 4:55 pm
What about Mike Sullivan & the horrible play calling? The offense lost this game for the Bucs.
September 23rd, 2012 at 4:56 pm
3 OCs in 4 years. Perhaps he’s already turned into Jason Campbell. I certainly hope not.
September 23rd, 2012 at 4:56 pm
We should’ve blown Dallas out!! If Freeman would’ve just gotten INTO FG RANGE 1 or 2 times.
September 23rd, 2012 at 4:57 pm
The guy he’s starting to look a lot like is J.P. Losman.
September 23rd, 2012 at 4:58 pm
I have to agree with this post. I’ve been the biggest Free supporter for the last four years, but I can’t stomach watching this regression anymore. I almost went to this game, and I’m glad I didn’t. Playcalling aside, where is the freeman that used to run and evade defenses he’s playing scared and it’s obvious. Seems like we need to start looking to the future pretty soon.
September 23rd, 2012 at 4:58 pm
@raphael
Jackson, Williams……..very decent receivers.
The line wasn’t great either, but Freeman missed receivers and had some chances.
All he had to do was get us into FG range a few times and that would’ve even been enough for a win.
A 1st round QB that you invest a ton in, should be able to do that.
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:01 pm
On the bright side the defense bounced back amazingly!!!! But Freeman needs to improve vastly in the next few weeks I give him to the game after the bye and see how he improves. We need to throw the ball!!!!!
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:01 pm
Raphael,
Freeman is the problem. Hes the leader of the team does he not know how to audible? Don’t get me wrong the I’ve had about enough of seeing Martin run for 2yard gains on 1st and 2nd down. But you can still see freeman staring down receivers and holding onto the ball too long.
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:01 pm
McNabb is out there……..
Just in case Freeman doesn’t get it together.
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:03 pm
@ raphael
Sully was the #1 issue with Freeman being a close 2nd. Our playcalling was atrocious and that killed the entire flow of the offense. Sully has got to do better. Were there any roll outs away from pressure? Where are our audibles?
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:05 pm
Freeman is the reason we lost this game.
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:06 pm
@sensiblebuc,
Overreacting? What games have you been watching besides everyone else. No OC or not when he isn’t making the throws then what is the justification then? I’m sorry for a guy to show the type of potential that he showed in 2010, I would call that having expectations at this point.
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:07 pm
Like he did last year, he must look for one guy, or get yelled at. Last year it was Winslow in his face, making him force the ball into places. This year we have Jackson and his big contract. And feel he must look for him all the time. He like to look at tape. Well he really need to look at his tape 2 years ago. He’s not even scrambling to avoid the pass rush.
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:10 pm
Love or hate Winslow……….him and Freeman had chemistry between each other.
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:13 pm
Freeman had great throws last week an this week and the last few plays….Freeman is not the issue….The WHOLE offense is….It will get better, relax…..
@Patrick …Winslow sucks
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:17 pm
I’ve been a huge Free supporter. However, coming into this season the single biggest ?-mark was Freeman. We knew bringing in so much talent on the O would serve as the Litmus test for whether Free was the answer. We’re seeing the same concerns we were worried about coming into this year, and the same lack of accuracy critics pointed out when we drafted him. He holds the ball too long, doesn’t step up in the pocket (when there is one), doesn’t elude the pocket when there’s pressure, actually turned the wrong direction on a hand-off to Martin, has very questionable accuracy (i.e. the pass behind a wide-open VJax or Dallas Clark), and as a result has never had a game that I can recall in which his numbers jumped out to me. And when was the last time we saw him making changes at the line to adjust to a defense; you ever hear an announcer refer Free “playing a chess match w the defense” like we’ve heard of Eli last week, or Romo today? As you said Joe, a mediocre QB would have won today’s game – our back-up would have faired better. This is the year it should be coming together and he has too many weapons around him not to be succeeding. I’m not a hater, just an observant, previously over-optimistic, fan.
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:20 pm
@Dallas
Welp, found one person who’s clearly overreacting. LOL. I watched Freeman throw perfect strikes to Mike & Vjax last week against the G-Men. I watched him take care of the ball against the Panties and throw a touchdown in week 1. I’ve watched nearly every one of Freeman’s games and you know what? He’s never been Matt Stafford of Aaron Rodgers.
You know how many yards he averaged per game passing during that magical 2010 season? 215. So you know what? I’m not going to overreact to him having a terrible game early in the season in a new offense with a rookie OC against a defense that absolutely dominated Eli Manning earlier this year. He’s had 2 good games and 1 stinker. If he keeps stinking up the joint then I’ll reevaluate. Until then you’re overreacting and overreaching.
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:24 pm
This coaching staff has got to adjust to the game as it’s being played. It seems like we have a plan A and that’s it. Our receivers got blanketed in man coverage and we couldn’t run with Doug Martin…so let’s keep doing the same thing! That’ll work!
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:24 pm
It isn’t a game-manager’s league any longer.
You need a guy under center who is at least a threat to throw for 300 every time he comes out of the tunnel.
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:24 pm
if he looks like this next week we better start orlavsky after the bye, but i think schiano is to bull headed to recognize free and martin just aint getting it.i was so jacked up going into the regular season but now after these last 2 games it’s going to be a long long season i think. damn it man what coulda been 3-0 start is now 1-2 / 13 more games like this and they might sell our team to LA
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:30 pm
@Mike
Seattle Seahawks game in 2010
5 TDs
Greg Olsons offense at least moved the ball down the field even if they didn’t score a lot of points…and he wasn’t so predictable
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:31 pm
The way I see it: Our players are great, our team is awesome!!, no doubt. I believe they are overcoached, Freeman needs to be “free”, O/C or Schiano are holding him to much, he needs to be more confident, (of course, staring down on his receivers, needs to stop, the opponents see you coming a mile away). What happened to the 2010 Freeman?, the decisive, the run-out-of-the-pocket, the come-back kid, the decision maker??? Again, I believe our problem is the coaching, and the game management. I will always be a Buccaneers, please fix this, ok, I know you guys can!!!!!!!!!
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:31 pm
@sensiblebuc
10/28, 110 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT.
You can thank Talib for setting him up for that one goal line TD he had.
He couldn’t even get us into field goal range.
Regardless of the circumstances, that’s inexcusable.
Freeman didn’t even really have a good game last week. We had a huge lead and he couldn’t have ONE good drive to build on the lead and protect it. Keep in mind our defense played well the first half, but eventually fell apart after the horrible offensive play. They got no rest. He threw a nice touchdown…….when it was too late. Good quarterbacks don’t wait till the end to finally wake up.
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:33 pm
BTW, Legarrete should get more touches, that’s a most!!!
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:34 pm
Freeman wasn’t even any good in college so is it really any surprise? Only reason we drafted him is cause he knew Raheem.
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:35 pm
Okay sensible, we will see how he does next against the redskins. I’m sorry that to you this is his first terrible game. Last I checked the “game managers” of the league at least make plays when they need to. And since your the stat guru I’ll defer to you… Bounce back free is on the way.
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:49 pm
@ Patrick
Freeman had a terrible terrible terrible game. He missed multiple throws, was indecisive & never ran, not once. HOWEVER, the o-line was terrible. The run game was terrible. The wide receivers were covered. The playcalling was atrocious. Everything was terrible. If you want to put it all on Freeman then that’s fine with me but I think Sully was more to blame on this one. No variety in the runs or passes, no Blount after he broke off a few runs, etc., etc. We got outcoached AND outplayed all over the field offensively.
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:49 pm
Freeman and Sullivan need to get a rhythm. I want to see more screens and quick slants. I’d also like to see more plays to get Freeman out of the pocket to use his legs if need be. We’ve abandoned that, so I don’t feel teams take that into consideration he can run because he shies away from it. We’re too predictable, Sullivan needs to change it up more. I want to see Blount start and Martin finish. I want to see more no huddle and Freeman taking control and changing plays at the line, not sold on he’s reading defense. Shame all that money on V.Jax and Nicks and only getting 10 points.
Sullivan needs to take advantage of Tom Coughlin friendship and in the offseason have him help evaluate his play calling.
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:55 pm
@ DallasBuc
I appreciate your positivity Dallas but I think you know why I said he’s had 1 stinker.
Everybody had a stinker offensively especially Free & Sully. Schiano is going to kill these guys in practice this week.
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:58 pm
You could see it in Freeman’s eyes on tv. He looked like a deer in headlights.
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:59 pm
I was behind Freeman up until I had to witness that horrible game he just played. I thought like most of us that he would be the answer for years to come but after that…..more sure now that we need to Draft some young stub that the new staff can better predict or evaluate QB talent and dump Freeeman afer this year…………………….if he makes it through this year………not looking good for him at all at this point.
September 23rd, 2012 at 6:15 pm
@sensible.
Agreed. It was a crappy game all around except on defense. It’s still funny typing that.
September 23rd, 2012 at 6:23 pm
I will cheer for freeman when he gives me a reason to. One thing is learning the system another is bad decisions, inability to progress through all his reads (not just staring down one option), and just flat out inaccuracy. Sorry there no room in the NFL at the QB position for such skitzofrenic play. Get better or take a seat. 4rth season people, not his first.
September 23rd, 2012 at 6:25 pm
@Sensible
I wouldnt say our run game was terrible. 70 + yards were put on the ground and that was roughly with the same number of running plays as Dallas. In most games if you average 70 yards or greater on the ground, you have a decent chance of winning the game, as long as your QB puts up respectable numbers and you limit your mistakes. Something that wasn’t done today.
Also, as you alluded to, no runs by Freeman, He has become statuesque, almost like Eli. If this is something that is being coached by Sullivan, I think it is a huge error as mobility was one of Freeman’s weapons. If you look at Freeman today vs 2010, it was his mobility that allowed him to be successful. The threat, kept the defenders guessing and allowed him to have more options on passing plays. To his detriment, it seems like he chained to the pocket.
September 23rd, 2012 at 6:40 pm
I’m not ready to quit on Freeman yet, but my patience is running thin. He appears to have no pocket presence, questionable decision making, poor accuracy, no grasp of the offense, and he stares down his receivers for what seems like hours. Other than that, he looks great.
September 23rd, 2012 at 6:41 pm
hey sullivan i really hope you read all of these after game commentary’s. but after furthur anylysis i have but 2 words. YOU SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 23rd, 2012 at 6:48 pm
and greg the hammer schiano. if it don’t work for gods sake try somthing or sombody else for a change of pace you egotistical kneeldown rushing non flexible narcissitic godfather looking best 1-2 coach we got,i know it aint much be we gotta love ya peace out biiiaaatch
September 23rd, 2012 at 6:56 pm
how bout we trade freeman our offensive coordinator one of our running backs (pick one it don’t matter) 1st round pick a bucket of chicken and a party pack from taco bell for flacco:-)
September 23rd, 2012 at 6:58 pm
run run pass punt run run pass punt run run pass punt run run pass punt makes me a bitter bitter man
September 23rd, 2012 at 6:59 pm
Freeman definitely deserves his share of the blame but the entire offense was bad today. Every aspect. Play calling, execution, penalties. Just bad. I personally am nowhere near ready to give up on Josh but a few more days like this and it will be hard to defend him. New system or not he needs to play better.
September 23rd, 2012 at 7:00 pm
Listen to what Troy Aikman was saying, Freeman sucks. He can’t even remember the plays, for crying out loud, and messed the pitch to Martin, though he did get us a first down. He threw to Dallas Clark with a man right on him, but Josh had daylight to easily get the first down, had he chosen to run.
Look, we are in the NFC South. Our opponents all have star QB’s, and we do not.
We played one HELL of a defensive game today, yet Josh couldn’t get us a win. I have seen enough, actually I saw enough long ago, just trying to give him the benefit of the doubt. Josh Freeman is holding us back.
I thought we should have kept Rudy Carpenter!
He always seemed to provide that little “spark”, and was a leader.
September 23rd, 2012 at 7:11 pm
Saints are 0-3. They have the Packers and Chargers next. They could get their first win here.
September 23rd, 2012 at 7:33 pm
Stop it with 2010 references! That was 2 years ago and we didn’t make the playoffs…. Freeman clearly is the main problem here… I’d rather see orlovsky playing right now than freeman.
September 23rd, 2012 at 7:35 pm
Freeman flat out sucks… he’s worse than Dilfer and Testaverde combined.
September 23rd, 2012 at 7:36 pm
Bench Freeman’s sorry ARSE and start Orlovsky.
September 23rd, 2012 at 7:37 pm
Well Im not sure what to think. I like Josh. Sometimes he shows flashes of being a great player. But once he gets a little rattled he seems to fall apart. Besides the missed throws today he just spent way to much time in the pocket. The O-line wasnt great. But there were a few plays where he just sits in the pocket for 5-6 seconds. you just cant do that. I think one reason he was so good in 2010 was his scrambling. He kinda did the in the first game of the year. Instead of sitting back there and getting killed inthe pocket why not try to run and pick up a few yards or something. And if you do that a couple times a day it might help the receivers get a little distance or something. But it seems like Josh is in a new system every year. And i still the the OC needs to call some better plays.
September 23rd, 2012 at 7:38 pm
The Offensive Coaching staff also sucks!!!
September 23rd, 2012 at 7:43 pm
Can’t blame this on the Glazer’s.
September 23rd, 2012 at 7:43 pm
Thomas 2.2 has to be walking on Water.
September 23rd, 2012 at 8:08 pm
Freeman wasn’t even good enough to be awful. I will, however, predict he has a great game next week. I’m going to make the (probably wrong) assumption that we aren’t so damn conservative and vanilla on offense next week, and they let him open it up a little. Say what you want about him, but he can make all the throws. I think at this point its time to just open it up and let him go. If he stinks it up, then we will know what we already think we know, that he’s not the answer. However, I’m about sick of watching him throw the ball on one play per series, which is normally third and long.
September 23rd, 2012 at 8:15 pm
This fish stinks from the head down.
September 23rd, 2012 at 9:01 pm
Time to stop the excuses forFreeman he isnt confident accurate or patient .
September 23rd, 2012 at 9:55 pm
Freeman gets frustrated after he misses his first pass. Blames the receiver for the wrong route when he misses the next. Then totally falls apart after a sack and NEVER recovers. There are no more excuses for Freeman. Quit trying to blame everyone else. Coaches don’t throw incomplete passes. Coaches do not stare down receivers telling the other defenders exactly where the ball is going. Coaches don’t hold on to the ball to long.
September 23rd, 2012 at 10:14 pm
Freeman does not seem to be a QB who can break open a game. When I think about his best games. They were all come from behind victories for the most part. He is better freelancing in the 4th. Than running the offense in 1st quarter with the score 0-0. You can almost feel the initial 3 and outs coming. Then wait the 4th quarter is up and everyone is now in the game trying to pull off a win but there’s just not enough time. This has been the Buccaneer way for far too long and its needs to be killed off before they will ever succeed. The defense is for real and the offense is still pretending.
September 23rd, 2012 at 10:24 pm
Not sure about Freeman. Mike Sullivan sucked today!
September 23rd, 2012 at 11:12 pm
Do the Glazers read this site? I hope so. I’ve heard Freeman does but it doesn’t seem to have any effect on him. Keep this kind of play going the rest of the season and he will not get a contract extension. Someone please replace Sullivan . Some one fired the cannons and the Bucs ship is sinking.
September 23rd, 2012 at 11:25 pm
” I’ve heard Freeman does but it doesn’t seem to have any effect on him.”
——————-
With all due respect, that’s a good thing. If Freeman is taking any advice from any of us, we are doomed. The last thing he or any Buc player needs to do is read the comments from some of us. Depending on the poster, they will either think they are an All-Pro or the worst player in the league.
September 24th, 2012 at 12:10 am
^Free’s def playing like the worst QB in the league right now…
September 24th, 2012 at 12:42 am
@MTM, couldn’t agree with you more. But I’ll be honest that that’s been that way since I can remember as a Buc fan.
Additionally, I think the only reason we drafted him was bc of the way Raheem allowed his man-crushes to trump the best business decisions. Where did Tanard Jax and Dez Briscoe go as soon as we cut them… No coincidence. It just sucks that now after being convinced Free was the future, we have to actually sit here and try to believe it – otherwise, even if we draft a quarterback this year, we’re AT LEAST 2 years back. Sucks man
September 24th, 2012 at 12:53 am
Freeman is the best quarterback we can hope to have for many years to come. Did he look like a pile of crap tonight? Uh, yeah, we got our rears handed to us by Tony Homo. But let me ask you this….would you have expected…or even hoped for us to win this game last year? This thing wont turn around in one year. And remember, this is a new system. There is no “lets let Josh just do whatever the hell he wants if he feels like it” offense. Its all sullivan. Josh doesn’t deviate from the play calls. And goddamn if he isnt good even when carrying out someone elses bidding. Its week 3. Theres still some adjusting. But Freeman is here to stay, unlike some of you, thank god.
September 24th, 2012 at 1:29 am
Lol your a fool if you can’t see what in plain site is just horrid QB play by Free that is completely apart from the system.
September 24th, 2012 at 8:59 am
There is a difference between a QB having a bad game and a Qb being inept. Freeman was inept and you can’t make an excuse for that after starting the number of games he has.