“He’s Improved But Still Not On”
October 17th, 2012
“These comeback victories are great but all it means is you screwed up in the first half.” –Peyton Manning after Monday Night’s win against San Diego.
Joe really enjoyed the candid quote above from Peyton Manning. It simplified Joe’s attitude toward Josh Freeman’s 2012 performances, and represented where many fans stand with Freeman.
Sure, quarterbacks have to be judged on 60 minutes and by wins and losses. Yes, Freeman is still getting on the same page with his receivers and learning a new offense, but there are no excuses for the dead periods in games fans have seen from Freeman this season.
If the goal is for him to be a franchise QB for a Super Bowl contender, then Freeman has to find a way to be more consistent. “He’s improved but still not on,” is how former Bucs tight end Dave Moore and current Bucs radio analyst described Freeman’s play this week on WDAE-AM 620.
Moore noted that Freeman, as he’s done much of his career, looks most comfortable when the Bucs spread out the offense and open up the field.
That, however, is not how the Bucs’ offense is designed to operate most of the time. It’ll be interesting to watch the ongoing development of Mike Sullivan’s plan. Will it quickly evolve to Freeman’s strengths, or will they stick to the plan and wait for him to be consistent?
October 17th, 2012 at 3:17 pm
Agreed. He look terrible before last weeks game and even then he showed a lack of ability to be accurate with short and intermediate throws. Not only are the chiefs just an all around bad team, but if they studied any film before the game they would never have figured we would come out throwing deep like we did. I imagine teams now know we are willing and able to play that style of game and will start ensuring safeties are over top to help stop those jump balls. Freeman will have to get over his accuracy struggles for us to beat good teams.
October 17th, 2012 at 3:42 pm
Over his 4 year career, Freeman has showed he can make all the throws, including the short and intermediate ones. Therefore, I think it’s more between his ears than anything. When he gets hot, he looks like an All-Pro. When he’s not, I would prefer Trent Dilfer out there. Don’t be like Trent Dilfer Josh!!!
October 17th, 2012 at 4:14 pm
Take away the Chiefs turn over problems and they are not a bad team. To say that over and over cheapens the Bucs victory. What will the excuse be this week when they beat the Saints? I can see it now, well the Saints are in shambles without a bunch of starters and their head coach, it will take more if they want to beat a good tem. I am so sick of that crap!
October 17th, 2012 at 5:32 pm
Don’t be like Dilfer? The Super Bowl champion? Find a better comparison please.
October 17th, 2012 at 6:28 pm
Looks like Nicks could be saying, “Dang, Free can run….”
October 17th, 2012 at 7:33 pm
josh has been really bad for like 2 years now the reciviers played out of thier minds last week , he has to throw the short ball way better. or its time to suck for luck,…damm that was last year!
October 17th, 2012 at 8:10 pm
@espo,
I think it’s pretty obvious that I meant the Dilfer that played in Tampa.
October 17th, 2012 at 9:47 pm
Oh the Pro Bowler who was leading this team to the super bowl before he broke his collar bone?
Sorry there’s just no arguing with someone who wants to be difficult just for the sake of being difficult 🙂 I do feel strongly for his defense though
October 18th, 2012 at 12:31 am
@espo,
You are right, Dilfer is a Hall of Famer. What the hell am I thinking? He is definitely regarded as a top QB of all time.
It’s real easy to say he was leading his team to a Super Bowl after the fact. Chris Simms says the same thing I’ve heard. Sorry to offend you Trent, I mean espo, but you sucked. And yes, he’s exactly what I meant. If you don’t like it, too damn bad. But just because you apparently suffer from severe brain trauma which has erased your memory, I’ll say don’t be like Chris Simms. Happy now?
October 18th, 2012 at 6:22 am
That’s actually not a bad middle ground to meet at. They both had/have a beautiful deep ball with a knack of making stupid f-tard decisions at inopportune times.
I never said I, er, um, Dilfer belongs in the Hall. I am 100% confident with the way our offense was clicking that year before he got injured, we would’ve beaten the Rams to go to our first Super Bowl.
I agree with your assessment that Freeman’s problems are between his ears. I think it’ll all snap into place, and soon.
October 18th, 2012 at 1:45 pm
I hope you are right.