Quarterback Coach Critical For Josh Freeman
February 2nd, 2012
Joe wishes he got paid every time he typed the phrase “it’s all about No. 5.” It’s a phrase first coined many months ago by Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik when suggesting the Bucs revolve around their franchise quarterback.
So when Freeman struggled mightily last year, it wasn’t a coincidence that so too did the Bucs.
Now last year’s awful season that resulted in the entire coaching staff, led by Raheem Morris, being jettisoned wasn’t all on Freeman. The defense was a special kind of stench rarely detected outside of a barnyard. However, if Freeman had numbers close to what he had in 2010, perhaps things would have turned out different.
Recently a former Bucs quarterback and currently loud talker on BSPN ranked the quarterbacks in the NFC South and naturally Freeman was No. 4.
ESPN’s Pat Yasinskas decided to also discuss his NFC South quarterback rankings and unlike Dilfer, Yasinskas’ copy is not hiding behind a pathetic paywall forcing innocents into buying a garbage rag of a magazine not quite fit for a birdcage.
That brings us to Freeman. At the start of this past season, I thought Freeman had a chance to jump over Ryan into the No. 2 spot. That obviously didn’t happen and Freeman tumbled to No. 4 in the division. But Dilfer wrote that he still thinks Freeman can become elite. I agree totally.
Yes, Freeman had a bad 2011 season and some of the blame falls on him for that. But I put more blame on his coaching and supporting cast. I think the talent is there and Freeman can bounce back in 2012.
This is why it is critical of new Bucs coach Greg Schiano to find the right guy to right Freeman. Until the Bucs defense is finished with its overhaul, which could be a year or two away, the Bucs will only go so far as Freeman can carry them.
This should be priority No. 1 for Schiano and Dominik.
February 2nd, 2012 at 9:24 am
Hasn’t he had 3 Qb/OC coaches? Its imperative that we provide him with a sound coaching staff and a coach that will be around for a few years so that he can develope him.
February 2nd, 2012 at 9:32 am
I just hope Schiano has the same love for Freeman that Dominik does. At least I hope he recognizes that Freeman is a talent and he doesn’t just load up with a bunch of running backs and turn Freeman into a lowly QB that just manages the game and is told not to make any mistakes. You know kinda of like Dilfer. ESPN should come up with a poll of the top 10 players that got lucky of winning a Superbowl but shouldn’t have. Dilfer would be #1 by far. When Irving says on the NFL network that Flacco didn’t want to turn into Dilfer, that was the worst insult any QB could have. I just find it hilarious that a QB with that rep has a job evaluating QB’s. It’s not like he turned into a great coach or something.
February 2nd, 2012 at 9:33 am
[Dew: Joe has no clue what any of that meant and even further, what exactly did that have to do with this thread? — Joe]
February 2nd, 2012 at 9:33 am
Give #5 a good coach!!!
February 2nd, 2012 at 9:37 am
Who was Dilfers
QB coach in 2000? I want that coach, why? Because, he was a champion that year.
Whatever it takes to win.
Get Freeman speedy weapons.
February 2nd, 2012 at 9:37 am
Joe, any prospects/guesses of potential QB coaches?
February 2nd, 2012 at 9:38 am
I’m sure the Bucs are looking for the best possible QB coach. This is a business and in any investment you always want to protect and nurture where most of your money is and that would be #5. Get him rolling and the team will start to win again. Winning = $$$$. Same thing with GMC on the defensive side of the ball. He stays healthy and he will up the level of play for everyone around him.
February 2nd, 2012 at 9:42 am
Stevek:
Two names Joe heard — nothing more than “heard,” cannot confirm, will be part of a post later this morning.
February 2nd, 2012 at 9:44 am
“This is why it is critical of new Bucs coach Greg Schiano to find the right guy to right Freeman.”
It goes beyond that…we need to find the right staff for the team. I think the OC, DC and maybe even QB coach should have NFL experience. If we don’t take this into serious consideration, it IS a mistake.
February 2nd, 2012 at 10:04 am
bucfanjeff , dang I thought I was on an island…Unlike others who think that you can just pluck quality coaching out of thin air or that anyone can coach, I see NO reason why anyone , fan or Buc personnel should settle for anything but the best available. This team has had to settle for quite a while. And it looks like it will have to do so again. I wonder what we would be talking about if the Glazer girls would have been prepared to move quickly and decisively when they knew they were going to let Rah and the ENTIRE coaching staff go. Several weeks BEFORE the season ended..wow what a concept. But of course WHY take a chance to improve the over all perception in the league that the girls have any football related common sense.
February 2nd, 2012 at 10:20 am
@Bulldog – you’re on no island! I’ve bought in to the Schiano hire and I’m warming up to him. But just like it was a mistake to strip the team of veterans and the leadership and experience that goes with it, the same holds true for the coaching staff. We truly don’t know how anyone will work out, big name or not, college coach or NFL coach, but it’s seems like a BIG mistake to strip our most important positions, OC\DC and QB coach of any NFL experience.
February 2nd, 2012 at 10:31 am
Certainly agree that experienced OC/DC –and sure, maybe even QB coach– help to set Schiano, & this young roster, up for success. A big reason why I liked the potential Butch Davis hire.
February 2nd, 2012 at 10:36 am
@bucfanjeff
I am onboard with the HC hire but i feel that we still need some NFL experienced coaches around him. I am not 100% comfortable with the HC decision just yet.
February 2nd, 2012 at 10:37 am
Butch Davis-DC……….Hue Jackson OC
February 2nd, 2012 at 10:52 am
To all you idiots that continue to think that you have to be a great player to be a great coach or evaluator, what did the hoodie domin his NFL career that was so great? How about Harbaugh? Parcells? Cowher? Coughlin? Just because a player doesn’t have have great stats, does not make them a bad player. Look at what Dilfer had when he was with the Bucs. He started with a coach that didn’t even give him a chance to snap back after a bad game. Neither Dilfer nor Erickson knew if they were going to start the next game. That is a horrible way to start a career.
To say Dilfer shouldn’t have won a Super Bowl is assanine! He deserved it. Think about the opposing QB in that game. Collins had the same opportunity that Dilfer had, but couldn’t do what needed to be done. Stop hating on players you only wish you could have their talent. Start understanding that it takes a superior athlete to play in the NFL and they all could run circles around you.
February 2nd, 2012 at 10:53 am
@ Patrick,
Yes please!
February 2nd, 2012 at 11:02 am
No Jackson!! He can’t even accept the fact that he was behind the Raiders demise this year. He turned everything in the players. At least Raheem accepted blame for his crappy coaching. Jackson’s attitude will not fit with TBA!!
February 2nd, 2012 at 11:04 am
Joe has there been talk of Marc Trestman yet in Tampa?? He’d be a great OC or QB coach and has worked with many successful QBs in the past….not sure he would want to give up his cushy HC job at Montreal
February 2nd, 2012 at 11:06 am
With any success … Hue Jackson would be gone in a year. But maybe that would work for Schiano so he could get his buddy McNulty next year.
February 2nd, 2012 at 11:16 am
Really? Really?
You are going to count his first one, who only worked with him a couple weeks? AND did not even begin a season with him????!
That’s like saying Raheem Morris was defensive coordinator before he became head coach.
February 2nd, 2012 at 11:59 am
Y’all sound like idiots. Let’s not hire Jackson cause he’ll be gone in a year…….wouldn’t it be like that for any OC that does well?!?
That is seriously the lamest excuse I’ve heard for why we shouldn’t hire someone.
February 2nd, 2012 at 12:43 pm
@Pete Dutcher
Yes really.
February 2nd, 2012 at 12:59 pm
SO TRUE! As #5 goes, so too do the Bucs. This is all the more reason I believe we need to snag an offensive playmaker in the draft that Free can grow w & count on. Whether Blackman, TR, FLoyd, etc. our offense can’t afford to be left in the dark at the top of another draft…
February 2nd, 2012 at 2:18 pm
Listen…think this through. If we were just going to ‘settle’ doesn’t it make sense that the staff would already be in place? I think the fact that it is taking so long shows that they are NOT going to settle for anything but the best they can assemble this late in the game.
February 2nd, 2012 at 2:18 pm
No more big slow receivers please, thanks.
February 2nd, 2012 at 9:19 pm
Please just STOP IT with blaming the big slow receivers – THAT’S CRAP!
Josh Freeman tossed to the same big slow receivers in 2010 as he did in 2011. Williams, Benn (when he finally leared the playbook), Stroughter, Winslow, Parker, etc.
The biggest difference in 2011 is that Josh Freeman returned to his TRUE form that he displayed at Kansas St. Get it thru you heads: Josh Freeman is AVERAGE at best.
In 2010 teams didn’t have the tape on Freeman. In 2010 the Bucs played BAD teams. In 2010 Freeman was mobile and got out of the pocket and rushed the ball. In 2011 the exact opposite of all the above happened. Compound that with piss poor play calling, not tossing downfield and Freeman showing poor judgement and you’ve got a crappy season.