Don’t Repeat The Freeman Mistake
February 12th, 2015
Six years ago, talented rookie Josh Freeman was buried in training camp and in offseason activities as the Bucs’ No. 3 and No. 4 quarterback.
Then he started the regular season with a part-time-at-best quarterbacks coach, scant practice reps, and no good veteran to mentor him.
It was a colossal organizational blunder that absolutely shouldn’t be repeated. And Freeman still managed to develop like a champ and turn in a phenomenal second season, leading the Bucs to a 10-6 record.
A little more rookie experience, hands-on rookie coaching and seasoning might have gotten the Bucs that 11th win in 2010, and a real run at the Super Bowl that year.
Laugh if you want, but little things mean so, so much in the NFL.
Here we are six years later, and the Bucs, barring a mental breakdown, will draft another talented QB in the first round.
Right now, there is no seasoned veteran to mentor the rookie QB. The quarterbacks coach, Mike Bajakian, never played in the NFL and never coached the position in the league. And young Mike Glennon will be busy learning his third playbook in three years, if he’s not traded on draft day.
Interesting how Freeman really blossomed when longtime NFL QB and veteran coach Alex Van Pelt stepped in as quarterbacks coach.
The Bucs desperately need an experienced NFL quarterback for their rookie QB to lean on. It seemed Lovie Smith wanted Josh McCown to fill that role, but now he’s gone. And good riddance. McCown’s career was marked by being a great athlete who made bad football decisions and played for a string of losing teams? Plus, McCown has no track record of helping mold a successful young QB.
The Bucs obviously feel they can do better. And they can.
Joe’s praying they do. Man, what an asset a proven winner like Matt Hasselbeck could be for young Jameis Winston.
February 12th, 2015 at 1:08 pm
Hasselbeck would be awesome. Buy why would he want to leave Indy?
February 12th, 2015 at 1:09 pm
Hasselbeck…”we want the ball, and we’re gonna score.” Priceless!!!!
February 12th, 2015 at 1:12 pm
It seems people don’t want the Bucs to take Mariota with the 1st pick because he is not NFL ready; how is he not NFL ready enough for the first pick, but in many mock drafts, he’s NFL ready for the 6th pick? can someone explain that to me?
February 12th, 2015 at 1:20 pm
The mistake was not really the quarterbacks coach, it was probably more the issue of head coaches…..I wonder who can explain the reason why mark Dominick couldn’t hire better than raheem morris, greg schiano….look at his offensive coordinators and coaches all inexperienced coaches. lets not forget the jim bates jeff jagodzinski hire also, failure to develop is on the head coach and Gm just as much as it is a quarterbacks coach because if you don’t have receivers or veteran coaching doesn’t matter what a qb coach says
February 12th, 2015 at 1:22 pm
Any tookie QB coming into the NFL finds that it is a totally different new world and they all need somebody to help them through the transition. Most of these kids are still so young, especially the underclassman that that they need somebody to show them how to be a proffesional athlete, such as how to prepare, study film and so on. The position of QB coach is highly underrated
February 12th, 2015 at 1:23 pm
*Rookie* my spell check sucks ^^
February 12th, 2015 at 1:27 pm
Mike Vick would come cheap. He could mentor Winston by showing him how you can lose Everything by being a dumbass and he can mentor Marriota by showing him how to outrun NFL defenses. And how to win from the pocket. At least Vick has a record of winning unlike any other FA qb. I wouldn’t be totally against taking a look at Vick he’d be better than Sam Glassford imo. But what do I know.
February 12th, 2015 at 1:31 pm
Right now, there is no seasoned veteran to mentor the rookie QB. The quarterbacks coach, Mike Bajakian, never played in the NFL and never coached the position in the league. And young Mike Glennon will be busy learning his third playbook in three years, if he’s not traded on draft day.
———————————-
All signs point to retaining the Cannon.
Joe, remember Monte hired Marianelli, Barry and Lovie out of the college ranks because that’s where NFL coaches come from. Worked pretty well right?
Koetter has the NFL experience to mentor Bajakian.
February 12th, 2015 at 1:33 pm
I’m just glat they have a real OC on the staff who isnt getting fired after 1 season.
February 12th, 2015 at 1:35 pm
First off, I’m not too sure significant rookie experience is good for any QB, and I doubt it can be proven that more playing time their first years leads to greater career success… IMO history has proven the opposite. Whaaaattt??–Joe
Secondly, you’re forgetting to mention the vast variation of head coaching staffs that Josh dealt with.
But all of that is trumped by what I think the real lesson is here: that is the risk you run in naming someone the FRANCHISE guy before they have actually earned the title. If Dominic did anything right during his tenure it was to finally buy into that belief and not sign Josh to that mega deal before the season began. This team is scattered w players that are payed as THE GUYS at their respective positions without having earned it…
…. So just think about that everyone that believes your franchise guy is defined by who you draft or pay
February 12th, 2015 at 1:35 pm
The real mistake would be to draft the QB who is almost a Josh Freeman clone (physically & character-wise). Anyone who tries to say that Winston & J Free’s skillsets aren’t extremely similar, almost identical, is a moron.
February 12th, 2015 at 1:37 pm
This guy’s buying me a jersey! ^^^^
February 12th, 2015 at 1:37 pm
The real “Freeman Mistake” would be drafting Winston who will be Josh Freeman 2.0
February 12th, 2015 at 1:39 pm
@87
HA!
February 12th, 2015 at 1:47 pm
Chirp chirp chirp
“What are they chirping about?” Bill Sheridan 2013
The fans are still chirping Jameis.
When will they surrender? I have no idea.
February 12th, 2015 at 1:47 pm
87 I’m jealous….I knew I should have found some HATER to make that deal with
February 12th, 2015 at 1:50 pm
87, ur silly…. You’re buying me a jersey. Watch
February 12th, 2015 at 1:52 pm
Creamsicle, you’re an idiot. I’m not a hater. I just like Mariota and h u s skillset wayyyy more than Winston.
February 12th, 2015 at 1:54 pm
hmmm I thought the issue was a learning disability and liked to do other stuff other than football. Who knew he was a QB coach away from playoff runs!
I am starting to think that Joe does not remember a thing about 2010.
February 12th, 2015 at 1:54 pm
Bring in Hasselbeck, now with the Colts. Great teacher and supporter of young QB’s (see Andrew Luck) and could easy fill in with veteran play if called upon.
BY the way, the Bucs now have over $30 million in free cap money, that ranks them as 8th highest available,
February 12th, 2015 at 1:55 pm
Ok, u draft Winston, and his biggest knock is what goes on between his ears. So you’re telling me it’s best for his development to throw him out there to gain experience?
Look, at most throw him into camp against Glennon to fight for the starting job. At least sit him down for the year and let him mature/wrap his mind around the game, learn from someone else’s mistakes.. But not by getting slapped around behind a bum line
February 12th, 2015 at 1:57 pm
the whole mentor thing is way overrated. A good scheme, OL, and running game is more important.
February 12th, 2015 at 1:58 pm
Erik, Ill give you this….you have calmed down considerably from where you were a few weeks ago on Jameis.
February 12th, 2015 at 1:59 pm
Ok, someone willing to do the legwork for me and list the QB vets out there that are FAs or maybe trade worthy?
February 12th, 2015 at 2:02 pm
Have we cut Koenen yet?
February 12th, 2015 at 2:02 pm
I don’t really understand the need to bring in Hasselbeck. Here in TB he’d be the number 3 quarterback (you can’t convince me that you’d rather have him on the field at this point in his career than Glennon if, god forbid, we were ever in the situation where we needed to start our #2).
As far as the mentor aspect. It doesn’t have to come from another QB. It can come from the coaching staff, other veteran players like McCoy, David and VJax, or from former players who will be part of the support staff such as Brooks or Dunn.
I would be completely shocked if Hasselbeck came to this team as long as Glennon is on the roster. Look for a Mike Kafka-esque (see what I did there?) number three QB on this team come training camp.
February 12th, 2015 at 2:13 pm
Creamsickle, if Mariota wasn’t an option for us, I would definitely be in favor of either drafting Winston or signing Sam Bradford. It would be totally worth the risk for either one of those guys in that scenario. Yes, I equate the Winston risk to the Bradford risk of success or failure.
February 12th, 2015 at 2:14 pm
Jason Campbell is a free agent and Lovie had him in Chicago (in fact he cut Mccown in favor of Campbell at one point)… just connecting the dots here. He’d be alright I guess.
February 12th, 2015 at 2:17 pm
“The Bucs desperately need an experienced NFL quarterback for their rookie QB to lean on.”
That is so over-rated. Did Brady, Manning, Russell Wilson, Montana, Favre, Marino, etc. need an experienced QB mentor? Testaverde had Deberg and he still stunk.
If our next QB needs someone to hold his hand that way then we shouldn’t be drafting him #1.
February 12th, 2015 at 2:20 pm
@87 & Cream
If you do get those jerseys it will save you some money on trash bags later on
February 12th, 2015 at 2:22 pm
If anybody mentions Jay Cutler again ………….ugh
February 12th, 2015 at 2:23 pm
if you develop a Brady Like system that mostly depends on underneath routes ,rubroutes and quick stuff and alot of the running game i think mariota will be a perfect fit quick release great feet and pocket awareness depending alot on the runnin game as well and it will help him continue to learn in the nfl i think winston will struggle with his release and insconsitency it would be like Blake bortles last year he struggled alot
February 12th, 2015 at 2:26 pm
Then don’t draft Winston, problem solved. I don’t think Hasselbeck would be interested in having his family around #TheCreepyCrab Them being a good Christian family and all.
February 12th, 2015 at 2:27 pm
oh patrick, I’m definitely getting a jersey….might actually just go ahead and get it now to avoid the rush on May 1
February 12th, 2015 at 2:30 pm
Finding a good mentor in free agency will be tough. Just about every free agent QB this year needs a little mentoring themselves. If the Bucs decide to trade Glennon, the cupboard will be bare and result in possibly a worse situation than what Freeman had. Barring an unbelievable trade offer, Glennon should be retained. He might not want to stay though. Especially when he could easily be the starter for a handful of teams. If the Bucs draft a QB, Glennons time is all but done in Tampa. Glennon could force a trade, even if Lovie wants him for a transition period. Then again, maybe Glennon is the plan.
February 12th, 2015 at 2:33 pm
What’s Alex Van Pelt doing now ??
February 12th, 2015 at 2:51 pm
Bear, he’s the QB coach in Green Bay.
February 12th, 2015 at 2:53 pm
You can make the case that the the Bucs/Koetter will go with Glennon and draft Fameis…or Marriota.
Cuter can coach a spread air raid/pro-style hybrid, as he did with the poor man’s Tom Brady (Matty Ice) in Atlanta. In that system he could utilize Glennon (ironically, the poor man’s Matty Ice) while awaiting Fameis Jameis to develop (or finish his sentence for stalking underage coeds).
…or you can make the case that Koetter will utilize Glennon while drafting Marriota for a spread-option/WCO hybrid similar to the one Seattle runs.
Should be interesting to watch. The only thing we know is we’ll draft a QB, it still doesn’t give us any clues as to which QB the Bucs will take.
February 12th, 2015 at 3:01 pm
@ Cream
Like I said…….LOL
February 12th, 2015 at 3:50 pm
I don’t care if you put Joe Montana in one of those clown suits, I’m not buying one. I’d much rather buy a “throwback” red jersey and slap Mariota or Winston on the back of it than support one of the Glazer boys biggest blunders.
Ugliest jerseys in the league, and ten Super Bowls won’t change my mind. 🙂
February 12th, 2015 at 4:05 pm
A super bowl run? Lol. Did you forget that we could only beat bad teams that year? And that was needing a lot of comebacks against them. We would of had no business in the playoffs that year and would of got blown out the 1st round. Amazing to me people seemed to think we were actually good that year.
February 12th, 2015 at 4:44 pm
Options, options and more options….there is smoke everywhere.
February 12th, 2015 at 5:28 pm
That’s really funny. Better take is that Freeman was what he turned out to be…a moron
February 12th, 2015 at 5:30 pm
why do u keep pushing Winston down our throat? If you think he should be the face of our nfl team, Would you want him to date your daughter? Don’t include all the money he will have.
February 12th, 2015 at 6:02 pm
Anyone who breathes the words Michael Vick is out of they’re minds. What has he done for Geno? Sure set a good example in the couple games he started last year huh. Vick said after he took over for Geno mid season ” I honestly didn’t watch any tape or prepare to play at all”
Really good leader. We should go get him!
February 12th, 2015 at 6:28 pm
This is football, not who wants to date your daughter. These are men with real lives who arent perfect. If you want your daughter to date a good guy then its your job as a parent to install values and morals into her. Not a professional QB. I want my team to win. I could careless if the QB of my team was a guy I wanted to date my daughter or not. Choir boys usually dont last in this league.
February 12th, 2015 at 8:31 pm
Talk about revisionist history! Josh Freeman could throw the ball through a brick wall…if only he could hit that wall. I watched him blow simple swing passes, passes of every description as well as watching him nail long bombs. He was erratic from the get go. He was NOT all that. At best a poor man’s Cam Newton.
He could freaking run the ball. When they cut his legs out from under him they destroyed his game. For those who keep saying Schiano destroyed his career if it was Schiano who forced JFro to stop running then I agree. They robbed him of one of this strengths.
February 12th, 2015 at 10:23 pm
I remember Freeman stiff arming and throwing DL to the ground and make a play. He could run, he could throw, he was smart and humble….WTF happened?
February 12th, 2015 at 10:32 pm
win it’s in his name
#winninwithwinston #justwinstonbaby
February 12th, 2015 at 10:58 pm
Funny how you mention what happened to Freeman…when you’re pushing for the Bucs to draft the next Leftwhich.
February 12th, 2015 at 11:33 pm
Everything Joe describes was the Rockstars handy work
February 13th, 2015 at 3:41 am
It’s the QB coaches job to mentor and Bajakian will do a great job. He’s been coaching QBs for almost 20 years as well as calling plays as an OC since 2007. So he’s very qualified to do a great job molding a young QB and Koetter will be involved in coaching up the QBs to an extent as well.
We’ll see what happens in free agency – whether they bring in a vet QB or not. My guess is we are drafting Winston and rolling with Glennon and those 2 will fight it out in camp and pre-season for the right to start on opening day.
Glennon may well have the edge initially as I’m pretty sure he will be getting started on learning Koetter’s system very soon if he hasn’t started already.
If we bring in a vet QB – then Glennon will be traded because Lovie does not like to use up 3 active roster spots for the QB position.
February 13th, 2015 at 4:10 am
first big dog goes all out for freeman today and now it seams to this observer that Joe would just be pleased as punch to have freeman back also. I have never seen such hate and disrespect for a guy as ex generals and old golfers do for Glennon. His unforgivable crime was being drafter by Schiano and replacing freeman. Im to the point that I would like to see Lovey cut Glennon like he did McCowen. Let the kid have a fresh start and be able to compete fairly for a job.
February 13th, 2015 at 7:30 am
al121976 Says
“It seems people don’t want the Bucs to take Mariota with the 1st pick because he is not NFL ready; how is he not NFL ready enough for the first pick, but in many mock drafts, he’s NFL ready for the 6th pick? can someone explain that to me?”
The unhappy…and unacknowledged…truth is that none of the players in the draft are “NFL ready.” Some catch on quicker than others once they are here, but none of them are actually at their peak…or even close to being ready.
So, while people are right in saying Marcus Mariota is NFL ready, they are wrong for saying Winston IS NFL ready.
February 13th, 2015 at 7:34 am
whosit Says
“first big dog goes all out for freeman today and now it seams to this observer that Joe would just be pleased as punch to have freeman back also. I have never seen such hate and disrespect for a guy as ex generals and old golfers do for Glennon.”
I can’t speak for Joe or Steve, but my observations are that he just doesn’t process things on the field fast enough. He’s a statue in the pocket because he is taking too long to go through progressions.
And that is why he can’t succeed as a starter…until he overcomes that issue. And it is something he can’t work to overcome on the practice field.
This was his problem his rookie year, and when he got another shot, it was still his problem. He showed no progression. If he had shown improvement, I think more people would be on his side.