More Freeman Competition Talk From Schiano
February 26th, 2013
I was for competition for Freeman before I was against it, before I was for it again
Poor, Greg Schiano.
He has such a hard time with his message when he talks about competition for Josh Freeman.
At the NFL Scouting combine last week, Schiano backpedaled off his January call for competition at all positions including quarterback, a story that became national news as it related to Josh Freeman. Schiano said those comments about Freeman were overblown by media and, he said, “I have been busy and I hadn’t had a chance to clear that up.” (Didn’t have 90 seconds to instruct your PR staff, coach? Yeah, right.)
Now Buccaneers.com has released footage of Schiano, filmed in Indianapolis shortly after that combine backpedal. Interestingly, Schiano again talked emphatically about competition for Freeman.
“My whole thing is I believe in competition. I think that’s what our country was founded on, right?,” Schiano said. “So that competition at every position is important to me. But I don’t want to make anybody have any other thought. Josh is the guy that I believe in as our quarterback, and I know our organization does, and we believe that he can take us to all the goals that we want to achieve. But is he going to have competition? Sure he is. We’re going to do that across the board.”
Joe finds it interesting that Schiano never mentions backup QB Dan Orlovsky, who remains on the Bucs roster. And it’s always been strange to Joe that Schiano wants competition for Freeman, yet Freeman took 100 percent of the first-team snaps in practice last season.
If Joe were advising Schiano, Joe would tell him to stop talking about competition altogether. The whole notion is a bit of a farce at the NFL level. There are plenty of guys on every team that essentially are guaranteed starting jobs based on their salaries or draft position.
February 26th, 2013 at 4:38 pm
I’m not seeing an issue here. Schiano repeated what he said previously about Freeman being his and the organizations guy and indicated that all positions will have competition. You could easily spin that into Vincent Jackson and Gerald McCoy having competition too. Only reason Freeman is used as an example is because he was asked about that specific player.
February 26th, 2013 at 4:39 pm
Josh has done nothing in this league not to face competition. If he is mad and doesn’t like this then te fans are right. He isn’t a franchise qb.
February 26th, 2013 at 4:54 pm
I can’t wait until we draft a QB this year. That’ll put some juice in this town.
February 26th, 2013 at 5:01 pm
Its guys like Pete “Pinocchio” Prisco and semantics like this….that cause Coaches & Players to NOT wanna talk to the Media. Just an observation…I’m not offended
February 26th, 2013 at 5:05 pm
Amen to Bucfan!!!!
February 26th, 2013 at 5:07 pm
Nobody is guaranteed a spot with Schiano in charge.
February 26th, 2013 at 5:08 pm
Personally I love Competition, I seem Josh make incredible and Dreadful throws, as a Bucs fan I’m hoping for wins which I know he can lead us to. There are too many complaining bucs fans on this site, the 49ers stunk for a long time and now they have something to cheer about. I think we so as well now so support your team please
February 26th, 2013 at 5:19 pm
I don’t see anything wrong here. It’s more on an indictment on Orlovsky than anyone else.
February 26th, 2013 at 5:19 pm
I think this goes back to the definition of competition. I think Schiano is being honest when he talks about it, but he’s not necessarily talking about challenging every starter. I mean, is anybody going to beat out V-Jax as the number one receiver. No… but competition means you have players fighting to move up the depth chart at every position, even if they’re not likely to unseat the starter. This is really about a mindset and always pushing to increase the talent level and performance. 2nd line guys still have the ability to push first line guys. It’s not so black and white. And I think it’s fine that Schiano continues to talk about it.
February 26th, 2013 at 5:23 pm
Why does Joe get the feeling next year in the second round the Bucs draft AJ McCarron?
February 26th, 2013 at 5:30 pm
“Mum” should be the word for Schiano, he just needs to stick to the script and keep this thing moving. After signing DJ Ware & gifting him an immediate role on our offense, while styming Blount and shackling Mike Smith from the get go, I don’t believe any of his competition rhetoric until I see otherwise.
February 26th, 2013 at 5:31 pm
Im with the others who dont see anything wrong with this statement. its the same thing he said before.
February 26th, 2013 at 5:37 pm
Joe,
It’s a bit unfair to say he backpedaled at the combine. Yes, he made the statement that Freeman is their QB but he never once said he didn’t want competition for Freeman. Freeman can be the guy and still have competition. All Schiano has been trying to do is tell everyone that Freeman’s the QB (true statement) but like every other position they are trying to add competition (smart statement). I just think this entire thing has been way over blown by the media but what else is new.
Also, are you implying that competition isn’t necessary in the NFL? If so, I couldn’t disagree more. I’m not really sure how anyone could seriously try to make that argument. Competition pushes people to be better. Even NFL players have room to grow and get better. While I agree that shouldn’t be necessary, these guys are still human. It’s human nature to relax and let your guard down when there’s no one behind you trying to take what’s yours. There is a reason the saying goes “competition breeds success”.
Again, this has become way too big of a story for absolutely no reason. It’s especially annoying when Schiano’s words are being twisted around to create a false controversy.
Still love your website but come on. Give the guy a break and don’t create (report) drama where there is none.
February 26th, 2013 at 5:40 pm
Joe,
Are you advocating for AJ McCarron because you think he is a good football player or could there be another reason….?
February 26th, 2013 at 7:12 pm
Mr. Schiano, I know you’ve been busy, so let me remind you of a historical fact. Mr. Joe believes you may draft A.J. McCarron next year. He may be serious or it may be a ploy simply to get Katherine Webb to Tampa.
But just to jog your memory, since John McKay retired after 2 disastrous seasons in 1984, every Buc coach since then has been unceremoniously fired!
If I were you, I’d be careful who I took advice from!
February 26th, 2013 at 9:02 pm
Competition is good, but you don’t want to take snaps away from Josh if you are trying to see if Josh can be consistent.
February 26th, 2013 at 9:16 pm
Schiano will draft a QB. NFL coaches have a 2-3yr window so they aren’t tied to anybody. Josh is too inconsistent right now for 4yrs in.
February 26th, 2013 at 9:39 pm
Bridgewater before McCaron….although Webb is very hot!
February 26th, 2013 at 9:58 pm
The Bucs are not going to draft a quarterback this year. If Freeman fails this upcoming season, they will address that need in the following offseason. I mean, really, do you want any of this years Quarterbacks??? I sure don’t, none of them will be better than Freeman. This years crop of QB’s is pure trash.
February 26th, 2013 at 10:08 pm
Tyler Bray, Mark Glennon, Zach Dysert: in the 4th?
February 26th, 2013 at 10:18 pm
Jack101,
What the hell are you talking about?
“the 49ers stunk for a long time and now they have something to cheer about.”
Joe Montanandid some pretty cool sh!t in the 80’s, Steve Young also made it happen. Perhaps the 2 most prolific WRs to ever play the game, Jerry Rice and Terrell Owens, were there.
The God father of West Coast Offense, Billm Walsh, rocked out with his you know what out.
Cmon man, this was there 6th super bowl, and they were 5/5 until this past game.
They are one of the Top 3 Franchises of the game, and currently on a top tier level. We are Oscar Mayer Bologna.
February 26th, 2013 at 10:21 pm
Playoffs or new QB next year!
February 26th, 2013 at 10:30 pm
That’s the thing. Schiano and Dom can’t afford another failed season. They want a back up plan behind josh freeman if he fails. Schiano didn’t draft him and there is a reason he’s interviewed EJ Manuel (twice) Tyler bray ?
And Matt Barkely.
I wonder if freeman, if Dom refuses negotiations , requests a trade.
February 26th, 2013 at 10:57 pm
Stevek Says:
February 26th, 2013 at 10:08 pm
Tyler Bray, Mark Glennon, Zach Dysert: in the 4th?
————————-
No, no, and no
February 26th, 2013 at 11:02 pm
Bucfan Says:
February 26th, 2013 at 10:30 pm
That’s the thing. Schiano and Dom can’t afford another failed season. They want a back up plan behind josh freeman if he fails. Schiano didn’t draft him and there is a reason he’s interviewed EJ Manuel (twice) Tyler bray ?
And Matt Barkely.
I wonder if freeman, if Dom refuses negotiations , requests a trade.
——————————–
EJ Manuel??? Tyler Bray???? MATT BARKLEY???? Are we as Bucs fans really that desperate? I mean seriously, if you’re going to call for Freeman’s head, at least throw out an option that’s BETTER than Freeman. I swear, someone on this page has been calling Ryan Fitzpatrick’s name for like the past two weeks. I don’t understand how anyone on this earth could possibly think that Ryan Fitzpatrick is a better QB than Freeman. It’s pathetic. What’s next, Jamarcus Russell?
February 26th, 2013 at 11:21 pm
Brett Favre!
February 26th, 2013 at 11:35 pm
Look if play lime crap u have to know the the clock is ticking. Even the worst gm in the league mark Dominick can figure this one out
February 27th, 2013 at 1:26 am
I laughed when I heard Fitzpatrick.But with V-Jax,Williams.Martin as weapon’s who know’s.
February 27th, 2013 at 1:37 am
Gonna go out on a limb here and say the Bucs pick up a C.B. at 13 and then trade back into the 1st round (with extra 4th rd pick) and pick up a Q.B. also, the question is Who?
February 27th, 2013 at 8:20 am
you guys are so dumb, its mike glennon and him and bray will be gone long before the 4th. Fitzpatrick cant throw the ball farther then ten yds, so that would be a terrible fit. We like to throw ball downfield, we do this often, hence freemans big yardage numbers and low completion rate. We have the qb for what we wanna do. Get over it
February 27th, 2013 at 8:30 am
@Walter,
I’m glad you’ve been comprehending what I’ve written.
Ryan Fitzpatrick had better stats than Freeman did in 2012 and a LOT less to work with.
I’m NOT sayng get rid of Freeman but I do think in a heads up competiton Free loses the starting job t Ryan.
February 27th, 2013 at 8:48 am
mr lucky read this slowly so you can try to comprehend, fitzpatrick throws the worst deep ball in nfl, his arm is weak. Not a fit at all for what we want. His stats were not better either. Buffalo would take freeman in a second over him. How can u really be so clueless here.
February 27th, 2013 at 9:26 am
@Mr Lucky
Ryan Fitzpatrick 2012 Statline
3400yds 24tds 16ints 60.6% comp 83.3 QB Rating
The only thing he did better than Freeman was complete a slightly higher percentage of his passes. I highly doubt he threw as many deep balls as Freeman did this past season though, which explains that difference, Buffalo’s offense is more horizontal. Other than that, he only threw one less int, 3 less TD’s, over 600 less yards, and as far as potential goes, there’s no comparison, Fitzpatrick has hit his ceiling. He really would be a significant downgrade from Freeman. Plus he can’t throw a deep ball to save his life, so he wouldn’t fit our scheme anyways.
February 27th, 2013 at 11:09 am
What about Matt Moore? I like the Dysart kid in the 5th rd.
February 27th, 2013 at 11:11 am
Oh by the way I really like to get Couzins from Washington.
February 27th, 2013 at 11:11 am
Coach needs to keep his piehole shut about competition for Freeman, just do it if he believes he needs to, but there is no reason to alienate your QB during a Contract Year by yapping to the media. If Freeman Balls in 2013 and is Unrestricted FA at 25yrs old. Bucs might severely regret all this blabbing
February 27th, 2013 at 4:41 pm
TOMCIN, its dysert, and cousins and matt moore are not fits, for our system at all, the only qb available that fits our system would be mallet. I am not advocating this im just trying to inform, It seem like everyone simply doesnt get it
February 27th, 2013 at 11:53 pm
Bucs will draft Tyler Bray from Tennessee in the 3rd. I’m happy as long as we don’t draft Manti Teo.