“He’d Be Like Public Enemy No. 1”
September 15th, 2012
New York media types don’t get us fans down in Tampa.
Case in point was Evan Roberts on WFAN-AM, New York’s premier sports radio station. This morning Roberts interviewed Roy Cummings, Tampa Tribune Bucs beat writer, and expressed disbelief that Josh Freeman isn’t on a flaming hot seat fanned by Bucs fans and media ready to hang Freeman after leading the NFL with 22 interceptions in 15 games last season.
“Here in New York we eat up quarterbacks,” Roberts said. “He’d be like public enemy No. 1 in New York.”
It’s an interesting point, and a fair one. Collectively, Bucs fans have been very patient with Freeman, likely understanding that he’s still 24 years old, has at least proven himself for a season, and was burdened by a Benn’d-around-loving offensive coordinator who couldn’t figure out how to maximize his best weapons in 2011.
But Joe remembers the Trent Dilfer era very well. Like Freeman, Dilfer’s third season (1996) was heinous (19 picks), but Dilfer bounced back the next year and made the Pro Bowl as the Bucs ended their long streak of losing seasons. Then Dilfer tortured Bucs fans from their forward when it became obvious he wasn’t very good.
This is a critical season for Freeman. Joe suspects his rope is shorter than it appears. And Joe’s confident Bucs fans would be quick to turn him into “public enemy No. 1,” if he became a glaring negative in an otherwise positive season.
September 15th, 2012 at 8:24 pm
I’m still on the fence with Free but as long as he doesn’t have another season like the last one I’m willing to give him until the end of next season to get more acclimated to the new offesne. Just from what I saw the first game he’s doing a much better job at looking off the secondary. Would like to see him go through progressions and spread the ball around but maybe the other receivers aren’t open. Either way you can’t judge anyone on the team based on last season.
September 15th, 2012 at 8:35 pm
it looks like he lost too much weight. same with blount. i thought their weight helped make them who we loved.
September 15th, 2012 at 9:02 pm
Josh looked much better in the first game of this year, and made no horrible mistakes.
He needs a year in this new offense, before we judge him.
September 15th, 2012 at 9:08 pm
If he’s subpar and the Bucs stink, they should draft a QB
September 15th, 2012 at 9:18 pm
At this point, im 50/50 on Free. He played lights out his first year and brought us back on the 4th Qtr many times. Last year was a complete FAIL for the whole team AND coaches.
So i will give him this year with an improved D, New RB, New WR. Time will tell…
September 15th, 2012 at 9:19 pm
This is the perfect game for him to make a statement.
September 15th, 2012 at 9:37 pm
He ought to be able to exploit the Giants suspect secondary. If he has time and struggles against these corners it will be ugly.
I hope the Bucs can smash em in the face with the running game and hit the play-action deep. Bostad better have his big uglies ready!!
Go Bucs!!
September 15th, 2012 at 9:59 pm
Uuummm….Eli had 25 INTs in 2010 and has averaged 20 INTs per year over his career.
September 15th, 2012 at 9:59 pm
If you compare Freeman’s and Eli’s first three years, they both played 41 games and their stats are almost identical. Freeman’s are slightly better.
September 15th, 2012 at 10:03 pm
Good Point Jessup. Sounds like that host doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
ElioT Says:
September 15th, 2012 at 9:37 pm
He ought to be able to exploit the Giants suspect secondary.
.
I kind of doubt that will happen a lot. The Joseph injury hurt us, and although it didn’t show against the panthers, it will against the Giants…who will come at the QB with all they’ve got in order to make a point this week.
September 15th, 2012 at 10:28 pm
I agree Pete. Hopefully Sully can come up with some protections to minimize the giants pass rushers effect on the game. Kind of like Dallas with their makeshift line.
September 15th, 2012 at 10:31 pm
OT
@Hawaiian
Geez, the Sunbelt Conference shows they’re not that shabby. Arkansas State gives Nebraska a scare and ULM almost takes out Auburn.
Oregon wins again 63-14. You’re probably right, this football stuff is just too confusing for us normal doofusses.
Also, I’m pretty sure I don’t know what I’m talking about since I’ve obviously never participated in organized sports but I believe Will Muschamp and the Florida Gators got their asses kicked in the 1st half against the home Volunteers. The coaches despite having to possibly urinate, drink and snack, got together to coach their freaking asses off, made some half time adjustments in able to blow out the Vols in the 2nd half.
Somewhere I seem to remember someone saying that conventional wisdom in football says that the greatest coaches win the 3rd quarter. I could be wrong, but I seem to keep seeing corroborating evidence smack us in the face proving my point.
The local media and the Amen Chorus are in denial about Freeman, but he may be replaced next year.
September 15th, 2012 at 10:42 pm
The new york media are dumb and have short memories.. if they had their way, they would’ve thrown Eli under the bus after his second year.. that would’ve been the best move in history. Ha
September 16th, 2012 at 1:08 am
who helped you type that miguel??
September 16th, 2012 at 3:43 am
They gave a scare to Nebraska? Did you watch the game? They got the crap kicked out of them. Are you actually defending the Sun Belt Conference? And who did Oregon beat? Wake me up when they beat a real team. If you are trying to prove a point, you are failing miserably. As for the Gators and their second half adjustments, talk to me when they beat LSU or Alabama. What halftime adjustments did Nick Saban make today? That would be none, because he wasn’t getting his arse kicked in the first half. You are doing nothing but proving that you know nothing. Great job!
September 16th, 2012 at 7:17 am
New York eats up QB’s. Really? Eli struggled like the first 4 years of his career, and sanchez has struggled as a QB as well though he has been to the playoffs a few times thanks to the jets defense. If they are eating up QB’s they must be starving. Freeman has had 1 good full season and one full bad season under subpar coaching. Plus the whole team played bad not just Free. Eli and Sanchez had good coaching and good teams and still played bad. I call B.S. on this one,
September 16th, 2012 at 9:32 am
I would say that I am 50/50 on Free. I said it once and I will say it again, HE WAS DRAFTED TO BE A GAME CHANGER NOT A MANAGER but at this point he is just simply a game manager. That is somewhat disappointing but at the same time as it has been similar to Eli career path. It is time for him to flash more and that is not what I am seeing. The flashes of going through reads, flashes of deep gut wrenching throws, daggers and plays of that sort. I brought this up and idiots like Mcabee and even Joe tried to be funny, probably out of emotion because the Bucs won, nonetheless a media member ask and its now a valid question.
September 16th, 2012 at 12:09 pm
I see Freeman in the same vein as Eli, taking several years to really blossom into the player he’s going to be while struggling with inconsistency his first few seasons. I’m not a Freeman homer by any stretch but I believe he may just be a guy who comes into his own over the next two seasons and is our long-term starter. Just like with Eli, once he gets it he gets it and he’ll just run with it after that.