“Throw The Ball”
September 26th, 2012
Something was off with Josh Freeman on Sunday. Every Bucs fan could see it. Outside of his four picks against Carolina his rookie year, Sunday’s effort might have been his worst as a pro.
One thing Freeman was doing was holding on to the ball too long at times, which drew the ire of former Bucs guard Ian Beckles this week on the Ron and Ian Show. Beckles was perturbed that Freeman seemed blind to the situations on the field.
“Be aware that DeMarcus Ware is out there, being blocked by Luke Stocker sometimes. The ball has to get out of his hand, even overthrow somebody,” Beckles pleaded. “Josh Freeman is holding the ball on three-step drops and getting sacked and fumbling. You can’t do that. Throw the ball!”
In what seems like a past life, Freeman would have done some tucking and running or creating with his feet Sunday, but that didn’t happen. And you also might have seen Freeman of a previous season throw more balls away and then come back all fiery with his receivers, but that wasn’t seen either.
Joe hopes Sunday was just an off day. Joe’s not ready to write off Freeman so fast like many other fans seem to be doing.
September 26th, 2012 at 8:09 am
There were a coupld times we had 3 steps drops where he had to unload the football and didn’t. He just needs to recognize that and throw it away. On a 3 step, you have little – if any – time to go to option #2.
It’s foolish to write off Freeman, foolish.
September 26th, 2012 at 8:18 am
Who listens to Ron and Ian’s variety show anymore now that we have a real sports station to listen too?
September 26th, 2012 at 8:22 am
Beckles is right. No. 5 wasnt even moving in the pocket to extend the play. Just planting his feet and staying there. I am a Freeman fan, but this better not happen too much more. Get rid of the damn ball.
September 26th, 2012 at 8:33 am
I agree and I am a Freeman fan…It seems like he doesn’t have the freedom to be himself out there, I think They will get it figured out..I wouldn’t be surprised if Free was in Coaches office, just like what McCoy did last week …his running and extending plays is whats missing tho, imo
September 26th, 2012 at 8:54 am
Heard Ryan and Kirwan talking about Josh yesterday on SiriusXM, I don’t always agree with either of them but Ryan made a very good point, he said it looks like Josh is trying to be “To Perfect” within the system, he looks like he’s trying to not make a mistake.
September 26th, 2012 at 9:00 am
In Freeman best year he extended drives with his feet. It kills a defense when the QB runs for the 1st down and gets out of bounds without a hit. It demoralized defense’s and made them keep a linebacker as a spy in most cases. This allowed for better passing situations. The offense has completely abandoned that aspect. Freeman now just stands there until he is either sacked or throw an interception…
September 26th, 2012 at 9:11 am
Freeman and company arent on a long leash. Thats a fact so while I hope they figure it out they better understand the leash is short. If the defense can go from worst to first in a year the offense cant be this bad being they spent big money in the offseason. Tick tock.
September 26th, 2012 at 9:13 am
Not to mention the stadium still cant sale out. Thats a major variable also.
September 26th, 2012 at 9:27 am
Holding on to the ball for too long and being inaccurate is one thing…
Submissive body language, scared and confused facial expressions on the field when you are supposed to be a team captain and a leader is a whole different concern. I was shocked at how bad Josh looked out there! If he doesn’t get it together he will cost this team a lot of wins and himself a bunch of money.
Dont get out-played by RG III Josh, time to step up!
Go Bucs!
September 26th, 2012 at 9:32 am
robert does not want to write off jfor either…….but damn it put the guy in who has the killer instinct…..wants to fight for the chance to be the man etc…..if you see jfor is not doing that (which we do)…put in orlovsky, perhaps jfro will stop being scared and start being aggressive when / if he gets back in the game
September 26th, 2012 at 9:54 am
Shut up Beckles. Nobody really cares about his wavering opinions.
Watch Freeman and the Bucs offense go off in this game. Its just a matter of time. Always happens in the NFL. Remember Romo was supposed to “carve up our secondary.” That man was lucky to get out of that game with head still attached to his body.
Just when one thing looks like a certainty in the NFL, it goes the other way.
Bucs roll on Sunday. 30-13
September 26th, 2012 at 10:17 am
sometimes a man has to fall back before he goes forward. if josh is having a bad day well then its up to schiano to pull him and go with orlavsky. just as when they pull the pitcher in baseball and send in the bullpen for a save. i know,what is this his 3rd offensive scheme in 4 years but damn, it is his 4th year and i’m sure he has seen these defensive calls more than once there throwing at him,that being said schiano tells us he is going with the 53 that gives him the best shot to win on sundays, if so where is blount and why is he not in the game when obviously martin who i personally like and think has a bright future ahead of him is still a rookie and is not ready to carry this team. put freeman in the right position to win greg, i say roll him out of the pocket and let him improvise like he did in2010 his best year. and don’t be afraid to pull him with enough time left to let our bullpen come away with a save. orlavsky is getting paid not just to hold a clipboard! and getting paid damn good money!
September 26th, 2012 at 10:17 am
After throwing 22 picks last year, I can see why Sullivan is trying to put the clamps down on him. But over time, this will gradually open up. New offensive players and coaches and new system– I don’t think the system is terrible, but it will take time to grow into it.
Unfortunately most fans have no patience for anything that takes time.
This offense is not in a microwave, it’s in a crock pot. Wait for it, because eventually it will be really good.
September 26th, 2012 at 10:19 am
I agree with MTM. I remember in 2010 countless of times when the defense had everyone covered free would take off and get us a first down while it kept the drive going and got the defense tired. He defintley needs to get back to that because he is playing like s*** right now.
September 26th, 2012 at 10:24 am
sorry chris but that dog don’t hunt, been patiently waiting since,76 now they got the weapons, it is time we use them. if our offense was average at best, we would be 3-0. i put the blame on schiano and sully and freeman needs to get it together! but i do respect your view brother.from one fan to another.go bucs!!!!!!!!
September 26th, 2012 at 10:30 am
@ james..sry that dog don,t hunt…The Bucs offense did not give up record 500 yrds to the giants and 29 4th qtr points.
September 26th, 2012 at 10:31 am
Freeman has to understand he is built like Ben Rothlesburger so he has to tuck and run to max his potential. Not every time but once or twice a game at least. I have seen 6 or 7 plays this year where Free throws a pick, gets sacked or whatever where there was plenty of daylight to run. What is he waiting for?? His time to make his mark is NOW this season or we could have a different quarterback this time next year. Run Josh run or it may be your last!!!! I hope fear is not a part of this. Getting injured at his size is much less of a chance than say what Michael Vick does game in and game out.
September 26th, 2012 at 10:41 am
I really feel Freeman has confidence issues and is scared to make a mistake. What I don’t understand is why he doesn’t try to EXTEND the play wit his legs?!?! Does he not like running or scrambling??? I just don’t get it!
September 26th, 2012 at 10:46 am
I heard Shiano say he would rather Josh slide after the Panthers game, and ever since I haven’t sen Josh run one time …
September 26th, 2012 at 11:50 am
I had Freeman pegged as Roethlisberger v. 2.0 (minus the whole “should be a convicted felon” thing) after 2010. Now, he’s looking more and more like late-career Drew Bledsoe, standing stoically in the pocket and missing open receivers.
I wish I could drink the Kool-Aid, but he’s just been mediocre at best for 19 games running now.
September 26th, 2012 at 12:08 pm
I dont know if its Josh or the play calling but something is terribly wrong. When Dallas’s second corner got injured our first play should of been to test out the new corner… instead we ran the ball, twice. Then our first 2 plays at the end of the game during the 2 minute warning were once again running plays, which I have never seen before. It’s almost as if Sully has no common sense. I hope it was just one bad game but dam it was just awful.
September 26th, 2012 at 1:13 pm
We’ve been waiting a long time now for a decent offense. Helll we started rebuilding 2 ex wives ago..Sully is not an NFL oc. I thought his credentials were stellar but we all did..We cant be vanilla and expect to win in the NFL..not with our schedule..no way..what scares me is the arrogance of the coaching staff. They just thought they would come in here and run it down people’s throats with Hamster. RGIII is the real deal. The game will not be easy.
Rah totally knows our weaknesses. I hope Sully adheres to the military belief improvising adapting and overcoming or many beers will be drunk in frustration.
September 26th, 2012 at 1:30 pm
Those who say put in Orlavsky are crazy. The games were close, maybe if Josh stunk it up and they were down 21 pts, then maybe. I think the reason he’s not running is because Shiano wants to make him a pocket passer and doesn’t want a run first pass second QB. He did hold the ball for a very long time, but Dallas do have good DB’s and was playing with the safeties over the top a lot.
September 26th, 2012 at 1:58 pm
I wish some of you could learn a brand new complex offense in one offseason and then go out and make split second decisions against an NFL defense. Deal with receivers not getting open and other teammates lining up wrong or running the wrong routes. I wish some of you could actually se how difficult it is to make everything work in unison with so many new schemes and players. Some of you think it’s so easy.
I know Freeman was struggled and I know he looked horrible Sunday. I know it is frustrating. I know the play calling made things worse. But try to remember that this is still a young team with a rookie head coach and a QB that is on his 3rd playbook in 4 years. This is still a team that all the experts predicted to win about 4 games. It’s going to take some time for everything to start clicking on all cylinders. Just enjoy the pleasant surprise of our exciting defense and show a little patience. It’ll come around.
If it doesn’t then by all means head should role!!! But I’m pretty sure you gotta give this team more than 3 games before you decide they are a lost cause.
September 26th, 2012 at 2:19 pm
@jessup…bravo, well said…
September 26th, 2012 at 3:56 pm
Patience wears a little thin when a franchise has lost 12 out of last 13.
The “were learning” or “he’s learning” is not going to cut it. Especially in the fourth year of the rebuild by our glamorous GM. And we have a good veteran offensive line with a pro bowl wideout and a first rounder at RB.
Are we Cleveland Browns south?
September 26th, 2012 at 4:13 pm
Jessup,
I didn’t realize running Doug Martin up the gut on every 1st and 2nd down was considered a complex offense!
September 26th, 2012 at 4:31 pm
Lightningbuc- it’s not. Fact is a lot of other teams in the league have new coaches and none are ranked dead last in offense like the Bucs. Even most of the hardened Free fans have admitted he is playing like crap. The line isn’t living up to the hype, the play calling and game plans are garbage. And the running game is stale.
I will repeat. Other teams are learning new offenses and have less talent than the Bucs yet they are not ranked dead last in offense like the Bucs. Miami has new coaches and a rookie QB and they are ranked 12th total offense. The learning a new offense excuse doesn’t cut it. As a player new pieces are. Put in place every year, it is something that you will always have to deal with. Does it effect the team, sure. But is it an excuse to be 32nd in offense? Nope.
September 26th, 2012 at 4:38 pm
Jbrooks,
I agree. Was responding to Jessup’s excuse of this offense being “complex”. Looked like the complexity of a Pop Warner team last Sunday.
September 26th, 2012 at 4:47 pm
I played pop Warner. We occasionally ran off tackles.
September 26th, 2012 at 4:48 pm
But it was similar in the sense that we had no passing game.
September 26th, 2012 at 7:28 pm
Freeman is not playing well at all ,he was bad in preseason and bad now, we didn’t get a real backup so we are stuck with him . He will get better I hope , but we should have played him as much as possible in preseason to get him ready he has had about 12 bad games in row . Maybe a trade for real backup will get him motivated or maybe he just sucks.
September 26th, 2012 at 9:21 pm
I still believe in freeman myself