Booger Divides Freeman Blame
October 5th, 2012
It seems everybody has a take on what might be wrong with Josh Freeman — and Joe will bring you many interesting takes on Freeman through the weekend — and that includes former Bucs defensive tackle Anthony “Booger” McFarland.
Speaking on the Rich and Booger Show this week on 98.7 FM, Booger said he assigns 30 percent of the blame for Freeman’s 2012 performance to the Bucs’ coaching staff and the “shackles” they’ve placed on the No. 5.
The other “70 percent” was given to Freeman himself. “If they would allow him to play football, then I think Josh Freeman can play,” Booger said.
The question of “shackles,” as Booger called them, is really the greatest mystery surrounding Freeman.
Joe suspects some of these alleged shackles are in Freeman’s head and how he interpreted coaching and let said coaching affect his natural instincts and confidence. Hopefully, extra time in the bye week will lead Mike Sullivan, Greg Schiano and Freeman to gel. If not, then it’s going to get ugly. Clearly, the Bucs need Freeman to return to 2010 form in order to win games.
Before this season, rockstar general manager Mark Dominik and Schiano talked about Freeman hitting “the reset button” and clearing his head and getting back to 2010 form.
It hasn’t happened, and Joe concurs with Booger in that it’s not all on the quarterback.
Joe remains hopeful, however. While many fans already are preparing to run Freeman out of town if he doesn’t turn into Matt Ryan this month, Joe believes there’s plenty of time to right the offense and get the most out of Freeman. It’s still just four games into a new playbook and playcaller.
October 5th, 2012 at 3:40 pm
Wait, wait, wait…. Where is the “15%” amount of blame that can be assigned to Dominick?
I agree with Booger, 70-30, and tilting heavier towards Freeman.
October 5th, 2012 at 4:04 pm
Listening to Free on 620 he rejects that anything is wrong with confidence or how he’s quarterbacking. Until he admits he needs help we are doomed to his impotent play. Maybe he will get the message when he gets a visit from Dom like Trueblood did. This is do-or-die year.
October 5th, 2012 at 4:12 pm
“bust in waiting” the wait is over.
October 5th, 2012 at 4:16 pm
I like Freeman. I am just tired of having these conversations every damn year. When was the last time this team has been dominant over another team for all four quarters. Probably not since 2007 (our last division win). I want him to succeed, but I want the Bucs to succeed more. If he is not the guy, lets get another one next year.
October 5th, 2012 at 4:28 pm
I think the Bucs should try to get Ryan Mallett away from the Patriots in the off season even if we trade Freeman for him straight up. I believe that will be better for all parties involved.
Mallett will get playing time, Freeman will learn the position under professional coaching.
The Bucs can draft Geno Smith and let the two compete for the top spot.
October 5th, 2012 at 4:34 pm
Free Freeman! He is a great QB if they would let him play the game.
October 5th, 2012 at 4:50 pm
Told myself I wouldn’t do this, but can’t resist. That trade has about as much chance of happening as me winning the Hawaii lottery. First of all, there’s this thing called a salary cap that prevents it. Freeman is still under contract, so if he is traded to the Patriots, they would have to pay him his salary. Nobody, especially Bellicheck is going to do something so stupid. They have this guy there named Tom Brady. Maybe you’ve heard of him. He’s pretty good, and not going anywhere.
Second, you rarely see players traded straight up for each other in football, and I can’t think of one QB for QB trade. This isn’t Madden.
Third, Ryan Mallet isn’t the savior. He’s not Joe Montana, he’s probably not even Josh Freeman. Don’t judge a QB by how they do in college or in the preseason. Hell, Colt Brennan has a ton of NCAA records, and threw about a 90% completion rate in the preseason. He’s available, do you want to sign him? There’s a reason why nobody has tried to get Mallet.
Finally, stop swinging from Geno Smith’s nuts. He puts up big numbers, and he might end up being a great pro, but the chances of us drafting him are very slim. Just because someone puts up great numbers against the formidable Baylor defense, doesn’t mean they are the second coming of Peyton Manning. The college game and the pro game are two different animals. Look at the success, or lack thereof, of the majority of the Heisman Trophy winners as exhibit A.
October 5th, 2012 at 4:51 pm
So you are trying to tell me that the coaching staff is telling Freeman to stare down one receiver and only look on one side of the field?
You are trying to tell me that the coaching staff has Freeman so afraid, a 6’6 245lbs man, to throw the ball? In fear of what???? Losing his starting job??? Another team would not hesitate to pick Freeman up if we drop him. And coach Schiano won’t give him a spankin.
I get that the staff doesn’t want him to throw ints (no coach wants that) but he is still responsible for what he does on the field.
I hesitate to believe that the coaching staff is forcing Freeman to play like crap until the game is almost over and then allowing him to do what he wants.
According to how he represents himself in interviews, he is playing the best he can with high confidence (meaning, he is a BUST who cannot do any better).
October 5th, 2012 at 4:52 pm
And by the way, if you draft a QB that high, there is no “competing for the top spot”. It doesn’t work that way anymore. Owners want an immediate return on investment.
October 5th, 2012 at 5:14 pm
@BUCTIME,
Thank you! I’m so glad someone else sees it. Perhaps the coaching staff is telling him to have sloppy footwork as well. Maybe they are telling him not to slide away from pressure in the pocket. I bet they told him to hold the ball 4 seconds on a 3 step drop too.
The way I see it, there’s a few possibilities as to what is going on. Number one, he’s just not very good. I really hope that’s not the case. Number two, he is playing with no confidence and is scared to make a mistake. This seems very possible to me, because he looks like an all-pro at times. Number three, he doesn’t understand the offense yet. This is what I’m hoping for. He looks very confused out there.
In reality, it’s probably a combination of all three, hopefully more so number 2 and 3. I’m over 2010 already, so I’m really tired of hearing that argument. A lot of QB’s are one hit wonders. The good ones do it every year. But this is not on the coaches. I don’t think the play calling has been great, but he’s been missing wide open receivers with regularity. There’s no excuse for that. He’s not converting third downs, which is always a great judge of how good a QB is.
October 5th, 2012 at 5:17 pm
I liked when Joe said Freeman’s shackles are mostly in his head. Granted, the coaches messed with it, but Freeman was off last year. The losing streak might have ruined him.
October 5th, 2012 at 5:42 pm
@Hawaiian
For once, you’re right, Josh is due $8.43 million next year. You are the Google master. Some team will jump all over Free when he’s cleared waivers.
“There’s a reason why nobody has tried to get Mallet”.
Yeah, it’s the same reason nobody wanted Warren Sapp, I believe he was worth the gamble.
I was swinging from Matt Barkley’s nuts but some certain people on this forum dissuaded me from that opinion. Therefore, I have unabashedly jumped on the Geno Smith bandwagon. Also worth noting is that Eugene was a gifted student therefore he will ace the Wonderlic and might even be able to read pro defenses.
You see, I too, can be a master debater using the Google.
Also please note that Oregon is #2 with a bullet with a legendary genius coach. I especially love their uniforms, defense, cheerleaders, offense, special teams and 86 straight sell outs. It’s the complete package, too bad Tampa screwed the pooch on that deal.
In December, following an undefeated 12–0 season and an end-of-season #2 BCS ranking, Oregon was selected to play the #1 Auburn Tigers in the BCS national championship game on January 10, 2011. The Tigers, out of the Southeastern Conference, were coached by Gene Chizik, and had the Heisman Trophy winner at quarterback in Cameron Newton. The Ducks lost, 22–19, on a last-second, 19-yard field goal by Wes Byrum.
In recognition of his coaching achievements, Kelly received the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year award, the Walter Camp Coach of the Year award and was named Pac-10 Coach of the Year for the second year running. Kelly also won the AP Coach of the Year.
October 5th, 2012 at 6:08 pm
@Miguel,
This is the last time I will debate with you on this website. I find myself in a better place when I just skip right over your ridiculous attitude. I don’t even know what you are talking about with the Google comment, I didn’t look at Google. I had no idea what Freeman makes last year, but I know that a first round pick makes more than a third (which is when I think Mallet was taken).
As for Warren Sapp, you are comparing apples to oranges. Sapp was picked fairly high in the first round, mainly because it was rumored he was on drugs. Mallet has been in the league for a while now. Not the same thing. Also, QB is not the same as DT.
As for Smith being a good student so he can read defenses, more ignorant words may never have been written. Hilarious
As for your boyfriend Chip Kelly, good for you you like him. Why don’t you go on JoeDucksfan.com and be part of the Amen chorus. It’s really hard to be legendary when you’ve been there for like 4 years, but more power to you. And again, who gives a sh!t about Chip Kelly. He’s not in Tampa, that ship has sailed. Get over it and move on. The rest of us have.
October 5th, 2012 at 6:42 pm
I have found that my day is not complete without coming here and reading some of the idiocy that Miguel creates in his troll cave.
October 5th, 2012 at 7:03 pm
@HawaiianBuc, lol, you’re my guy.
Ready for Gators v LSU tomorrow.
It’s still early in the season and not time to panic. Bucs will bounce back and if not they’ll draft high next year. No com
October 5th, 2012 at 7:06 pm
Brian Glazer gave me and the boys 50 yd line tickets behind the team last week. It was really cool talking with him and getting the upgrade.
Thanks Brian
October 5th, 2012 at 7:08 pm
I find it odd that Miguel keeps harping about Chip Kelly.
There is nobody else on earth even thinking about this but him.
October 5th, 2012 at 7:11 pm
@BigMac,
That’s crazy! How did you get to meet Glazer? I need an upgrade for the 2 games I’m going to this year, especially when I’m rolling solo in Denver!
October 5th, 2012 at 7:14 pm
Hawaiian Buc, when you come to Tampa lets talk before the game because I may have an extra ticket. We sit in 309
October 5th, 2012 at 7:22 pm
Sounds good BigMac, will do. Thanks!
October 5th, 2012 at 7:45 pm
Why would the Pats want Freeman??
October 5th, 2012 at 8:58 pm
Off topic, but we’re going to Minnesota for our annual pilgrimage out of Alaska. Is anyone going to the Vikings/Bucs game? Does anyone know how they treat fans wearing opponent’s colors? Thanks in advance.
October 5th, 2012 at 9:58 pm
Count me among those willing to pay for Freeman’s one way ticket out of Tampa Bay.
October 5th, 2012 at 10:04 pm
I’d go back and take Brad Johnson or Jeff Garcia over Josh Freeman. Hell Freeman is nothing more than an African American version of Trent Dilfer; just lots more hair.
October 5th, 2012 at 10:27 pm
“he assigns 30 percent of the blame for Freeman’s 2012 performance to the Bucs’ coaching staff and the “shackles” they’ve placed on the No. 5.”
I wonder if these “shackles” are even real or just another excuse for freeman…. The Coaches may want Freeman to do more and he just can’t so this whole “shackle” conspiracy is just a cover up for Freeman’s incompetence….
Maybe the coaches see Freeman struggling in practice and that is the biggest reason for them to push so hard for the run game, so the team doesn’t have to depend on Freeman’s ability to get a win!
October 5th, 2012 at 10:35 pm
Hawaiian bucs fan
Ok joeducksfan that one caught me by surprise hilarious. Thanks for that laugh.
Miguel please keep posting I know at some point you will convince these amateur bloggers that you are the true insider that joe gets all his facts from. Thank you for your vast knowledge of the nfl and everything hard knocks related. If you can’t convince people writing about chip Kelly 50 times a day will make them convinced thank you Miguel the brain washer.
October 5th, 2012 at 11:09 pm
I think the whole lot of you need to shut up :p
What the heck did you guys think would happen when “rebuilding” a quarterback from the ground up? He’s learning new ways of doing things. Yeah…that affects his footwork. Yeah…that affects his accuracy. Yeah…that affects every aspect.
And it will continue to do so. Because practice brings improvement. Freeman isn’t going anywhere at all…and all you whiners clearly have no clue as to what is really going on.
Freeman will be fine. But I dou t any of you will agree because you are blind to the truth. And when time proves it…not one of you will give credit where credit is due.
Freeman will start playing better when he masters the new techniques he is being taught. When that happens he will improve quickly in all aspects of his play. Until then…sure…he is staring down WRs…because he isn’t confident in the system yet.
October 5th, 2012 at 11:10 pm
How many guys after you have conversations like this about really go on to pull it all together?
Smith maybe?
It’s rare. You could go back in time and hear the same talk concerning Trent and Vinnie.
The vast majority of the elites have shown it by this time frame.
You can either play or you can’t. Twelve games to prove it for Free.
October 5th, 2012 at 11:19 pm
If they sat his ass on the bench for a quarter it might get his attention.
October 6th, 2012 at 12:04 am
I’ve been a Freeman fan, but I’m concerned also. I agree, if you sit him, it might wake him up.
I do like the Ryan Mallet idea, but what is it going to take for the Pats to give him up?
October 6th, 2012 at 12:05 am
I Would love Geno Smith. I still give Freeman till the end of this Season though he still is Learning a new Offense.
October 6th, 2012 at 12:19 am
Freeman needs to grow a set of balls.
October 6th, 2012 at 12:22 am
Lmao ^
October 6th, 2012 at 1:35 am
We have an offense designed to run the ball first and take shots down the field. We are 11th in rushing attempts and 17th in deep passing attempts. Freeman has the 4th best deep passing accuracy percentage in the league(8 completions of 14 attempts = 57.1% accuracy percentage).
They are doing what they advertised. The running game is the real issue. If the team wants to attempt to run the ball 11th most in the league, it has to do way better than 20th in yards per game.
Freeman is not Brady, Brees, Peyton, Rodgers, Ryan etc… He is a QB that thrives when the run game is moving. Just look at 2010. Blount came in, started killing it, then Freeman started playing very well.
Not to mention an that an OL ranked 23rd in pass blocking efficiency isn’t really helping Freeman’s cause.
October 6th, 2012 at 1:36 am
@Pete,
You are off base here. First of all, I hope more than anything that Freeman is our QB. I’ve got a home and away jersey of him. I have a damn Freeman fathead on my office wall! I called him King Josh to my friends for the last 3 years!!! Believe me, nobody Nothing is worse for the franchise then having to start over at QB. I think Freeman’s potential is through the roof, and it would not surprise me if he becomes a great QB for us. That being said, accuracy and footwork have absolutely nothing to do with a new system. Neither does staring down receivers. He’s had bad footwork, poor accuracy, and he’s stared down receivers from day one. Have you not read the criticisms from Jeff Carlson on this board for the last 3 years? He’s been saying it all along, and it has not improved. You can blame the new system for him not making the correct reads or not being able to audible or call the correct protections, but not for throwing 3 feet behind a wide open receiver on third down. You can’t blame the system for sitting back in the pocket for 4 seconds on a 3 step drop. Get over that nonsense right now, because you sound straight up foolish by saying that. That’s on him, 100%.
Fact is, more than likely Eric is right. Name me an elite QB that didn’t show it by year 4. And please don’t give me the nonsense about 3 coordinators in 4 years, because Jago was here for 5 minutes and Freeman was third string while he was. Nobody is hoping more than me that he will turn it around (and I certainly haven’t given up on him), but it is certainly not out of the question that he won’t be a part of our future. If not, why haven’t they tried to extend him? This is a prove it year for Freeman. He’s got a 12 game tryout. If he performs well, wonderful! If he doesn’t, we will probably be in the market for a QB. That’s reality. It sucks, but to deny that simple fact is delusional.
October 6th, 2012 at 8:42 am
@ Pete Dutcher,
Freeman cant make a read? Freeman can’t look see both sides of the field?
Last Sunday a rookie QB from
The Big 12 (just like Free) whooped us. Our 4th year QB looked slow, deliberate, and more like the rookie.
Freeman usually has a good
4th quarter, but it leaves on to wonder, where the hell is that QB for the first three quarters.
If you combine Lebron James and Josh Freeman,
What do you get?
All 4 quarters, baby!
October 6th, 2012 at 11:38 am
@Hawaiian – Beautiful post . You summed it up completely
Sorry that you wasted you $ on the Bust shirts…..
October 6th, 2012 at 12:16 pm
I stand by my words. Time will prove things out. I believe by this time next year, fans will be bragging about Josh Freeman.
I am 100% certain he is not a bust. He is not “Trent Dilfer”. He is not Shawn King. He is not Chris, Eric or Luke.
Freeman may be taking a little extra time, but look at it this way…he is only 24. So what if it takes him till even 26 to get things down and be elite?
That would still give us close to 10 years worth of play.
I support the guy. Hawaiian I know you hope for the best. I am just sick and tired of the other wannabe fans complaining about junk they know nothing about.
People need to grow backbones. Learn how to keep fighting and develop.
October 6th, 2012 at 1:21 pm
A couple of these losses this season could have been wins possibly with better coaching at key moments. I think Schiano and his staff are doing well but have a ways to go. As much as the stat geeks get bashed, sometimes you have to play the game all out and do what it takes to win. Schiano likes to play “not to lose”. He has nothing to lose at this point and everything to gain. I say “grow a set, Coach”.
October 6th, 2012 at 1:56 pm
Eli Manning in his fourth year 23 TDs 20 INTs.. Didn’t hit 4k yards until his 6th season.. I didn’t see a lot of Eli back then so I can’t speak about how good/bad his footwork or accuracy was. Either way I wouldn’t say Eli was looking like an ELIte QB at that point.
October 6th, 2012 at 3:22 pm
Look at Eli first 4 years then look at Freeman. Eli wasn’t much better and I agree if there is a potential that he could be elite in two years then I say wait and bear through this. In two years if everything comes along then tis team could be special. Let us hope! GO BUCS!
October 6th, 2012 at 8:23 pm
@Hawaiian Buc, I hope I’m way off. I like Freeman, but he needs to be more consistent with the intermediate throws. I has the physical talent to dominate & Gackrider & Gus make good points with the Eli comments. I think the coaches need to just let him loose & allow him to play the game how he is most comfortable.
October 6th, 2012 at 10:50 pm
Hey Pete 2.2. If your sick of it oh great master. Quit Reading!!