Mechanics, Scheme May Hinder Freeman
August 19th, 2013
Joe knows there is no subject Bucs fans want to pounce on more than Josh Freeman (and the secondary subject pushed by the Mike Glennon Mob, replacing Freeman with an untested rookie third-round pick).
There have been debates both pro and con about whether Freeman can finally turn the corner and be the elite quarterback Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik thought him to be when he traded up in the first round to grab the Kansas State product.
In what Joe believes is one of the most exhaustive studies of Freeman, good guy Doug Farrar of SI.com broke down film as well as consulted with noted quarterback gurus Greg Cosell of NFL Films and former NFL quarterback and film junkie Ron “Jaws” Jaworski. Farrar, like just about everyone else, has no idea if Freeman will be “Evil Josh” or “Good Josh” this season. That has been the nagging tag on Freeman his whole NFL career but one: inconsistency.
Farrar believes Freeman’s current problems lie in two areas: mechanics and Bucs offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan’s scheme.
Scheme and opportunity
Another comparison between Freeman and Flacco – former Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron preferred isolation routes for his receivers, leaving Flacco with a lower margin for error when things went wrong. When Cameron was fired on Dec. 10, Flacco had seven games in the regular season and postseason with new offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell, who brought more diverse concepts to the table. Flacco’s stat line in seven games under Caldwell: 122 completions in 210 attempts for 1,737 yards, 15 touchdowns, and one interception. That includes a postseason with 11 touchdowns and no interceptions, something that only Joe Montana (1989) has done in a single stretch.
Tampa Bay’s offense frequently uses the ISO concept as well, and though the Bucs have receivers who can execute physical wins over cornerbacks in Jackson and Williams, it still leaves Freeman with fewer escape routes than he would have in a more varied offense.
Joe strongly encourages Bucs fans to click the link above and read this article. It is both very fair and very enlightening.
To be fair about how Freeman seems to play much better when rolling out or freelancing, Joe had noticed in training camp several designed roll out plays that the Bucs were practicing, so perhaps Bucs commander Greg Schiano and Sullivan saw on tape what Farrar also noticed. Joe will state again for all the world to read: The absolute best chance the Bucs have at a playoff berth this winter is with Freeman starting. He has already proven he can win double-digit games but has also proven that he hasn’t led his teams to the playoffs.
Freeman, through and through, is a confusing lad to figure out.
August 19th, 2013 at 3:57 pm
Is it saturday yet?
August 19th, 2013 at 4:10 pm
Is it Sept 8th yet?
August 19th, 2013 at 4:13 pm
Freeman gets a half?
over or under?
August 19th, 2013 at 4:15 pm
Im hoping over. It looks like the 1st stringers could use all the play time they can get.
August 19th, 2013 at 4:30 pm
“Joe knows there is no subject Bucs fans want to pounce on more”
err, No. more like there’s no subject bucs fans are more tiered of hearing about.
August 19th, 2013 at 4:33 pm
Im also hoping over, but seeing how things have been played out its probably going to be under.
August 19th, 2013 at 4:41 pm
Okay, so it’s a “mechanics issue” then that’s what the coaches get paid to correct. If the coaches aren’t getting it corrected or at least trying to, then the only conclusion one can reach is that Greg Schiano and his “huge” coaching staff “ain’t all that” and perhaps aren’t ready for prime time.
Same deal with the “scheme.” The best schemes are great but they have to be adapted to the players on the team. If Freeman works better on the move and improvising to a degree, then adjust the scheme to let him do so.
This is the same nonsense we saw with Chucky. Gruden is an offensive genius except when he doesn’t have the players to execute his “works of genius.” That’s when he pushes things and soon everything goes downhill.
Finally, it would really be a shame if the Buccaneers and Schiano haven’t done anything to address Freeman’s “mechanics issues” or adjusted the scheme to take advantage of his talents while minimizing his weaknesses, allowing what was a promising career to flounder. It can get worse for the team, as the Bucs might let Freeman go and then we see another QB in the vein of Steve Young, Doug Williams, and Trent Dilfer all of whom the Bucs discarded only to see them go on to win Super Bowls with other teams and in Young’s case a Hall of Fame career.
August 19th, 2013 at 5:02 pm
Joe- Go check out this nice read. This is exactly what I have been talking about with my fellow Bucs fans. You should re-post this article on your site.
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/tampa-bay-buccaneers-josh-freeman-primed-career-211200480.html;_ylt=A2KLOzJwhhJSPVcAux9N
GO BUCS AND JF5 WILL DO WELL!!!
August 19th, 2013 at 5:10 pm
Nothing new or really enlightening in there Jeff, sorry.
August 19th, 2013 at 5:16 pm
[1987: Joe is not a message board. Please stick to the topic. If you have a link you think is important, please e-mail the link to Joe. Thanks man. — Joe]
August 19th, 2013 at 5:27 pm
It everything to do with the topic..oh well.
So the “Five Things” were all about Freeman’s mechanics and Sullivan’s schemes? C’mon, now. — Joe
August 19th, 2013 at 5:28 pm
Concepts this, coaches that, the Josh O’ Matic random excuse generator continues to work tirelessly without protest.
And Joe has coins those who see the fallacy in supporting Free the dullard the Glennon mob.
It’s not about the greatness of Glennon under center Joe, seriously, who the hell knows how he will fare at this point. It’s more like the “anyone but Freeman” mob.
August 19th, 2013 at 5:28 pm
You just continue to post your negative stuff see how far that gets ya. I’m out of here.
August 19th, 2013 at 5:33 pm
1987:
Geez. So the Mark Dominik story is negative? The Kevin Ogletree story is negative? The Mike Glennon story is negative? The Doug Martin story is negative? Both Darrelle Revis stories are negative? All stories that were posted in the last 10 hours.
REALLY???
Sorry 1987. Joe writes what he sees, both positive and negative.
August 19th, 2013 at 5:39 pm
Joe, very insightful article. Thanks for sharing. I pray we see a more polished product on Saturday.
August 19th, 2013 at 6:03 pm
to be honest, I’m tired of the Freeman debates. This season will give us the answer.
August 19th, 2013 at 6:35 pm
I feel a major component of Freeman’s lack of sustain success is coaching. Look at the other young QBs. Chud, Sherman, Harbaugh, Arians, Shanahan, etc. They’ve had historically successful coaches. Freeman’s had a revolving door of coaches, mediocre ones at that. Sullivan didn’t start calling plays until last season. Before Olson was a bad OC. I mean putting Josh Johnson to run the wildcat? Everyone knew he was gonna run. I think Freeman would be a far better QB with a offensive guru. I was thinking if the Bucs didn’t resign him he’d do damage with a team like the Browns underneath Turner and Chud. But Weeden’s been playing well so who knows if that’s a possibility.
August 19th, 2013 at 7:17 pm
Freeman should ply all of next two games to get ready before these games count, he is not even close to ready right now, needs to read the d way faster.or ………..5-10
August 19th, 2013 at 8:25 pm
Fantastic info in this article Joe, thanks for finding it. Main reason this is #1 Buc site. The still pics really show what is happening compared to Flacco.
August 19th, 2013 at 8:34 pm
REEDMAN:
To be honest, a loyal reader of Joe’s Twittered him the link. It is a really informative article.
August 19th, 2013 at 9:12 pm
I have a question:
If you’re an offensive coordinator and your “scheme” takes a good 2-3 seasons to fully learn….
…why the F*** would anyone hire you?
That would be my first question as Fake GM looking to hire someone. “Can a QB learn your system quickly?” This is BS… “Oh he’ll be better after a year in the system.” WTF. If you made an offense so complicated that it takes YEARS to learn, you’re not a very good OC.
August 19th, 2013 at 11:47 pm
Josh kind of reminds me of fear as it relates to former Bucs 1st rounders Testeverde and Dilfer. Back in the day,the Saints n Bears linebackers had Vinny’s number, and the Vikings John Rhandle single handedly had Dilfer’s number. They both threw the INT or took the sack vs making a play with their feet. Well,it appears that every team with a blitzing linebacker or safety put fear in JF’s heart, n folks want to compare him to Pitts’ Ben
Roethlisberger…not. My belief is that he lost his confidence when Winslow yelled some negative comments at him during a Saints game back in 2011 on National tv. Josh does not interview and speak with confidence n conviction. He does not have the tone of a leader…more pessimistic than optimistic. Gleenon seems to be confidence and ready to take on a challenge whether it be vet or rookie he’s facing.I’m just not sold on Josh…he’s too inconsistent…i do not believe that’ll change anytime soon. David Carr, Joey Harrington, Brady Quinn, Matt Leinart, all 1st rounders that were in the league 4 or more yrs and never amounted to nothing. Why do we continue to pamper Josh. We took him out the game because we didn’t have our starters n and our line didn’t block against the Patriots, what happens if we don’t have our starters n and they do not block against the Patriots week three 2013…he need to show what he can possibly do during the preseason. Speaking of having someone’s number…JF will meet his thief of the nite, yours truly… former Falcons cornerback Brent Grimes against the Dolphins on this Saturday. I’ll say it again…trade Josh now for an late 1st rounder or an early 2nd round pick, then see what Glennon is made of, if he prospers, then use the second rounders on a tight end and OL, n 1st rounder on DE, if not, get a good QB in 1st round 2014.
August 20th, 2013 at 12:38 am
This actually should explain to many fans a lot more than just about Freeman. So many talk about how our WRs continually “bail out” Freeman with “circus” catches. Well, that’s what ISO routes do. Each play, there should be one WR in either single coverage, or late Safety help based on initial read. Often the ball must be delivered before the Safety help recovers. This is why we see so many throws over the CB, with the Safety getting there just after the “circus” catch. You can’t wait for the guy to get “more open”. Freeman has actually done what most say he can’t do, and that’s throw extremely accurate passes, in the only place the WR has a chance, at the exact moment it needs to be thrown, and it’s the WRs job to go up and get it. Fortunately, we have Jackson and Williams that are extremely well suited to do just that.
Now, changing scheme may be even better suited to Freeman and deliver better success. It may also eliminate many of the circus catches. Of course, we may also see more “dink and dunk” WCO style which we all hated in the latter part of the Gruden years (remember complaining about all the 5 yard passes on 3rd and 10???). WCO is a different system which relies on hitting short routes in stride and letting the receiver make yards after the catch. The offense we have now is a deep pass, play action, run based offense. The run game should minimize Safety help over the top and WRs may end up WIDE open over the top (that’s assuming they have enough time to get over the top before the rush gets to the QB).
As for “mechanics”, it’s somewhat ironic that a write would say that, but the position coach would say “we’re not working on mechanics” if that’s truly one of two major issues. Isn’t that the coaches fault then? Or is the writer wrong?
Anyway, I would like to see Crabtree step up as a better outlet for us this year. Or Ogletree/Underwood. Someone has got to step up and take advantage of what Williams and Jackson are leaving open underneath. The RBs seem to be a bit too late getting out of blitz read/pick-up into their outlet routes, so I think it’s going to come down to TE/3rd WR.
August 20th, 2013 at 3:22 pm
Incredible read, very enlightening. Thanks Joe(s)
Hopefully he fixes those mechanical issues and maybe that’s why you’ve seen better accuracy in practice?
Being hopeful I guess..