Wide Receivers Undercut Josh Freeman
December 11th, 2012
Former Bucs tight end and current radio analyst Dave Moore believes not all Bucs receivers helped out Josh Freeman Sunday.
Yes, Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman is feeling heat after a third consecutive week in which he missed open receivers and played a lackluster game.
Sure, he played OK against Atlanta, but missed critical throws that eventually doomed the Bucs. Against the Broncos, as Joe pointed out before, Freeman vanished when faced with adversity for at least a quarter, which allowed the Broncos to rally for a win.
Sunday, Freeman may have had one of his worst games of his career, and at the worst time no less, since it all but knocked the Bucs out of playoff contention.
But hold up, said Bucs radio analyst Dave Moore on on “The Ron and Ian Show” yesterday on WDAE-AM 620. The former Bucs tight end, while admitting Freeman wasn’t his best self with accuracy Sunday, believed at least a few times errant throws were on Bucs receivers for not running proper routes, not so much because of Freeman’s wild streak. Moore specifically fingered Tiquan Underwood for missing “sight-adjusts” based on coverage.
This is why, Moore said, Freeman often reacted angrily after an incompletion.
“The receivers weren’t adjusting and [Freeman’s bitter response] looks bad,” Moore said.
Moore also talked about how the Bucs lost more because of a lack of execution than anything the Eagles were doing.
“The Bucs were averaging four yards a carry right off the bat that was good. [Failure to move the ball early was] more about the fact the Bucs were not executing rather than Philadelphia was presenting anything they couldn’t handle. Josh wasn’t accurate with high percentage passes which he normally hits. He was throwing high and hard. It happens. If you watch a pitcher in baseball and basketball players, some days you are on and some days you are not.”
To hear the entire interview with Moore, click on the little arrow below. Audio courtesy of WDAE-AM 620.
December 11th, 2012 at 9:16 am
Freeman didn’t have a great day, we can all see that, but any “media” calling for his head don’t appear to see that it is the defense costing us games.
December 11th, 2012 at 9:27 am
Seems Cam and Josh can have a long conversation about how their defense’s gave up 11 point leads at the end of a game. It happens, get over it. Did Josh play poorly in the first half? Yes. Did the defense play poorly to end the game? Yes. It happens get over it.
December 11th, 2012 at 9:33 am
The defense is horrible and has cost us at least 4 games …..not sure why the Coach thinks the defense is all that…Freeman is a stud QB…all QB,s throw bad passes sometimes
December 11th, 2012 at 9:39 am
We all knew the weakness of this defense, I don’t know why everyone is so shocked that it cost us at least 3 games (Giants, Saints & Phil) there are a few good looking CBs and Safeties in this draft, I assume we’ll be drafting at least one of each in the early rounds. I’d also assume they will fit certain physical characteristics 6’1″ to 6’4″ 210-220 lbs, long limbed, and fast, basically WRs who can’t catch. I expect this defense to look and play much different next season.
December 11th, 2012 at 9:39 am
We are who we thought we were.
December 11th, 2012 at 9:43 am
Anyone thinking a bunch of rookie draft picks are gonna solve our problems in the secondary next year is crazy. Its gonna take a free agent signing plus solid picks to make an impact. If we parade a cast of rookie DBs out there they are going to get lit up. I don’t care if they are 1st/2nd or 7th round picks.
Its so bad I am sure that Dominik is exploring trade options.
December 11th, 2012 at 10:06 am
LAMO!! The defense is horrible and cost us at least 4 games. So they were good for 6 and did not lose the others but maybe no more than 4. I know how this works. The great Freeman saved us in 6 games. The same one that most of the time can only get to field goal range when we need 6 because he can’t complete a pass to an open receiver. Or stares at an open lane to the end zone. Or won,t change a line call to a pass( Sunday) or a QB keeper at the goal line. And can’t read a defense. And only throws bad passes sometimes. Well sometimes is unless he plays good teams that know how to rattle his cage and even the coach knows it.
December 11th, 2012 at 10:15 am
I think there’s a mis-conception that there’s a huge contingent of Josh “haters’ out there who cant wait for the next QB. IMO, there’s some animosity that since he’s been drafted, all we’ve heard is “its all about 5”. Well, it’s NOT “all about 5”. It’s about defense, a running game, and 2 of the best “ball skill” recievers I’ve seen on one team, ever. For every “wrong route” run, IMO there are 5 spectacular catches made by VJax and MWill. We NEVER see the 3 step timing routes, the 5 step timing routes that require a GREAT deal of accuracy. We dont see the intemediate crossing routes, where the QB has to hit reciever on dead run, chest high. It’s NOT “all about 5”, its surrounding “5” with guys who can make plays and a defense that can stop an opponent. Freeman, IMO is NOT a franchise, or elite QB, BUT we can win a Super Bowl with him, as long as it NOT “all about 5”, but all about 22. Raheem Morris started this “gaint human walkin the planet” crap, but Freeman is just one piece of the puzzle, he’s not the QB who puts a team on his shoulders and carries em to a SB, but that’s OK, we can win with him but the short stuff has to get better.
December 11th, 2012 at 10:16 am
“giant human walkin planet”
December 11th, 2012 at 10:22 am
@Justin
“Anyone thinking a bunch of rookie draft picks are gonna solve our problems in the secondary next year is crazy.”
Doug Martin – RB issue solved
LaVonte David – WLB issue solved
Mark Barron – 1/2 of our Safety issue solved
I think adding a number 1 CB who can step in and start right away goes a long way in starting to solve our CB issue.
December 11th, 2012 at 10:34 am
Oh Boy I hope Xavier Rhodes is available to us come draft day!! 6’2 220….Keep your damn heads up WRs!!! I hope he decapitates Steve Smith so he cant run his mouth anymore like he always does….stupid douche
December 11th, 2012 at 10:40 am
I might be the only one but I will continue to hope that we can get Sean Smith from the Dolphins. 6-3 CB with good coverage skills will do well in this division. Rework Eric Wright contract or cut him then, draft CB in the 1st, FS in the 2nd, and a DT in the 3rd. Use the rest of the picks on best player available should do this team well. That’s all thanks for reading.
December 11th, 2012 at 10:42 am
I started watching the game with 4 min left in the third and Freeman looked spectacular en route to scoring 14 unanswered points. he looked cool, calm and collected and was hitting on almost all of his passes with long time consuming drives that put points on the board and that should have put the game away. I cant say anything about Freeman in the first half because I didn’t get to see it, but from what I was able to watch he looked damn good and came through by giving us a 2 touchdown lead when it really counted and when we really needed it. what really doomed us was the defense then giving up quick TD toward then end of the game with like 5 min left then giving up another when they needed to come through the most at the end. THIS LOSS WAS NOT ON FREEMAN. he may have been bad in first half, but he was nothing short of brilliant when we need points towards the end. anybody who says we need to get Freeman knows nothing about football and should be shot.
December 11th, 2012 at 11:27 am
@ Andrew – Maybe you should watch the first half before you give an evaluation of a QB’s game performance. I’ll recap for you, we were shutout against the Eagles and it was primarily all b/c Josh Freeman couldn’t get the ball near ANYONE..not even close. When you have a piss poor defense, it’s up to your QB and offense to score more points. 21 points against the Eagles is pathetic.
38, 30, 31, 38, 28, 30 – Those are the numbers put up by Eagles opponents in the six games played before the Bucs. We need points every drive. We only needed points towards the end b/c of how pathetic he played for most of the game. Having a QB that puts together 2 scoring drives in an entire game is not something to be proud of regardless of how well he executed those drives. He finished the game 14 of 34…this surely is “nothing short of brilliant”.
I’m not advocating getting rid of Freeman b/c I still think he can improve and win games for us with a solid defense. HOWEVER, trying to say that Freeman doesn’t share in the blame for this loss is nuts. He scored 21 points (of which one drive started from the 5 yard line and took a jump ball circus catch by Mike Williams on 3rd down to score). That won’t cut it in today’s high scoring NFL with all rules helping the receivers and some of the best weapons we’ve ever seen on a Tampa Bay team.
He needs to be better and nothing is showing us that he can be. That is why people are upset. His completion percentage this year (54.7) is almost identical to his rookie year (54.5) and that is BAD.
December 11th, 2012 at 12:29 pm
Freeman was definitely just “off”. Those days happen except if you’re an elite quarterback, which Freeman hasn’t even approximated yet. He’s still young and developing but his inconsistency is mind-boggling. No one can really blame the receivers (sans Underwood) or offensive line for our struggles against a bad Philly D: it’s all on Josh and he knows it.
December 11th, 2012 at 12:59 pm
39.6% passer under pressure last game. 106$ when not under pressure. The guy needs to have some quick outs when the pressure comes and stop forcing early throws.
At least he isn’t throwing picks though.
December 11th, 2012 at 1:36 pm
They would OBVIOUSLY throw some quick out IF he were accurate enough and could get the ball out quick enough. Problem is, if just the slightest bit inaccurate, or late, turns into a quick pick six!
December 11th, 2012 at 3:00 pm
Will it ever be Free’s fault? Seems like for every bad performance this season there’s always an excuse.
December 11th, 2012 at 3:44 pm
“At least he isn’t throwing picks though.”
He threw at least 3 picks, the Iggles muffed them.
He threw a pick 6 against the Broncos last week, cost them the game according to Schiano.
December 11th, 2012 at 5:46 pm
@ Reality check
I know, your right, I wish I was able to watch the whole game but had to take dog to hospital. Its just frustrating to see everyone want to get rid of Freeman when you see how good he CAN be. I just believe he is the guy for us, and will be proven once he puts it all together on a consistent basis. I don’t want to give up on Freeman. I just having a feeling he is special. hopefully everyone else can realize this once he starts putting it on the field.
December 12th, 2012 at 11:39 am
Give this guy a break, he’s allowed a few clunkers he’s not freaking Manning, Brees or Brady… geeez.