Bad Josh Freeman Showed Up Today
December 2nd, 2012
It’s time for Josh Freeman to adapt and overcome obstacles like a pass rush and win a “big game” for a change, like an elite NFL quarterback will do when faced with adversity.
For a minute there today, Joe thought he was watching the 2011 Bucs.
No, it wasn’t the defense which gave Joe a flashback, it was the play of Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman. The Bucs’ signal-caller was off target way too many times in the third quarter, and then there was an incompletion he threw where Freeman tried to force a pass into triple coverage.
If Joe didn’t know any better, Joe would have sworn the intended receiver was Kellen Winslow, Jr.
Oh, and then there’s Von Miller’s pick-six.
Freeman had a bad day. And no matter how many toys Freeman has, if he has a bad day, the Bucs offense has a bad day.
Was Freeman pressured? Sure, but he was only sacked once. Elite NFL quarterbacks find a way to adapt and overcome obstacles. Aaron Rodgers and bratty Jay Cutler would give their firstborn to have an offensive line like the Bucs have, depleted though it may be.
Those two quarterbacks not only find a way to win with inferior (or no) blocking, both quarterbacks’ teams have better records than the Bucs.
Now the Bucs need to run the table and hope Seattle drops a game somewhere. Can the Bucs win the next four? Sure. They have a downtrodden Iggles squad next followed by a mortal Saints team, a very beatable Rams group and finish the season with the Dixie Chicks, who will likely be resting key players.
But Freeman must be more consistent. He cannot have any more games where he goes all milk carton on the team for a long stretch of time.
The next time this season Freeman goes into a witness protection program like he did in the third quarter, you can kiss playoffs goodbye.
It’s high time for Freeman to step up and win a truly big game for a change.
December 2nd, 2012 at 8:50 pm
Uggghh
I guess that this is this still who he is…
December 2nd, 2012 at 8:54 pm
There’s no other QB in the league I’d rather have on the Bucs when he has time and space to throw the ball. But he’s also the last guy I’d choose as my QB when facing pressure. Good Freeman – Bad Freeman. It’s like Jekyll & Hyde. Except whereas Jekyll & Hyde changed over after drinking a liquid, Freeman changes over when a defender gets within 3 feet of him. When that happens he suddenly throws the ball as if someone put a blindfold on him and kicked him hard in the ass.
December 2nd, 2012 at 8:55 pm
Inconsistant and inaccurate. People need to slow down with the “elite” and “franchise” stuff. We always seem to be making excuses for Freeman. There are NO excuses for “elite” QB’s!
December 2nd, 2012 at 8:57 pm
Ron turner will get it straight.
December 2nd, 2012 at 8:59 pm
@joe. Agreed. If it is all about 5, then it is all about 5. Time to win some big games.
December 2nd, 2012 at 9:01 pm
Freeman stares down his receivers making it quite easy for the DB’s to defend passes. Some better play calling to offset an aggressive D-line would help tremendously. Rogers and Cutler seem to be able to have success with their poor O-lines and its not all on the QB. Sully won’t be getting any offers after a game like this one.
December 2nd, 2012 at 9:02 pm
NO! this is on the coaches and Doug Martin. And Legarrette Blount cant even get carries every game for the bucs this year???
December 2nd, 2012 at 9:02 pm
ctord:
Please don’t misunderstand. Joe likes Freeman but it’s time for the training wheels to come off. There are plenty of games Joe has watched where a quarterback is fighting for his life yet finds a way to win a game and doesn’t vanish for an entire quarter.
Time for Freeman to be one of those quarterbacks.
December 2nd, 2012 at 9:04 pm
KEEP BLOUNT!!!!
December 2nd, 2012 at 9:06 pm
Sorry but I don’t care if the Broncos only registered one sack, every time they cut to Freeman on TV he was picking himself up off the turf. He was beaten to a pulp today. How do you stop Tom Brady? Hit him over and over and over again.
December 2nd, 2012 at 9:09 pm
I was really pissed after this game but i wont lie i was not expecting to win today so i wasnt as pissed as last week when we had a legit chance to win. With that said i am really trying to think optimistically, We have 4 games left and they are all winnable games. Next week we play the Eagles who lost to the panthers enough said, then we play new orleans we can beat them we just have to make key stops on d like we had today in the 1st half and then capitalize and score 7!!! St louis scares me because there Defense is great and they beat the niners today so who knows if they will show up or not but we are still better then them, Falcons clinched today so we will probably be playing the Redman led falcons wich is a plus. IMO If the Redskins loose tomorrow night it is a two horse race for the second wild card bucs and seahawks. Yes the seahawks has an easy schedule but they are so inconsistent and with them most likely loosing there two big corners Sherman and Browner, that is going to really hurt them. They have to play Fitzgerald next weekend Stevie Johnson THE NINERS and That st louis D so i really believe we still have a good chance. But it all depends on how #5 plays and i really believe we need a veteran CB like Routt
December 2nd, 2012 at 9:11 pm
Seattle only has to lose one more game. If we won out, our conference record would be better than theirs even if both SEA and TB finished 10-6. Our remaining opponents are all NFC teams.
December 2nd, 2012 at 9:11 pm
agreed with alot that is being said…. Free needs to make good decision and the OL needs to protect.. I saw Free miss a wide open Martin only to throw to Lorig.. smh
December 2nd, 2012 at 9:14 pm
Not sure but Elway may have been right upgrading from Tebow to Manning….
December 2nd, 2012 at 9:15 pm
Wheres all the FREEMAN LOVERS today,keep drinking the Freeman koolaid MORONS,You girls know who you are…Raphael Bobbie…LOL GIRLS!!!!
December 2nd, 2012 at 9:17 pm
Joe, we have all said it before, Josh is just not a franchise guy. Here is the problem, next year is a contract year, do they pay him BIG bucks?? He is still to up and down. You know how many other QB’s would LOVE to have the weapons he has? He still has problems with his decision making, and his completion percentage is still only around 50%. So he can’t be the” game manager” and he still has these moments and games where we as Bucs fans get a headache. Joe, what do you think, does he get the big time extension?
December 2nd, 2012 at 9:17 pm
With all of this being said WTF CHICAGO!!!! This loss would be pretty insignificant and it would be a much more enjoyable night if you as holes won!!! Really You let Russel Wilson drive the ball down with a minute left to take the lead!?!?!?! I thought your defense was awesome SMH super bowl contenders? NO
December 2nd, 2012 at 9:19 pm
All week Bucs fans and media talked about the key to the game was keeping the ball away from Manning as well as KEEPING PRESSURE ON MANNING!!! I know Josh was only sacked once but the pressure was there constantly. The NY Giants have hit Tom Brady in the mouth constantly in two games and they have Super Bowls to show for it. My wife would tell you I love the Bucs to ridiculous extremes but we can’t only blame only 5 for this loss. Not saying he is elite because I don’t believe he is! Yet! But even elite quarters struggle under constant pressure!!! Go Bucs!
December 2nd, 2012 at 9:20 pm
And Philly if you could win tonight that would be great just to take one more team out of the hunt…. But dont gain any momentum please
December 2nd, 2012 at 9:21 pm
Freeman was rattled all game and had no time to throw, Von Miller was unblockable today, Free has lead many comebacks see Carolina week 11. He had a bad game, it happens against good defenses and being down and becoming one dimensional. I’m not being too negative towards him, as that seems to be the theme after a loss these days. Our O-Line is a mess when we can’t run the ball, only one sack yes but hit on almost every play. The young bucs went up against a great QB and very good defensive bronco team, there not there yet but still fought hard. I’m proud of the team for fighting and being in every game, we have the foundation in place to be a contender for years, it starts with Freeman who without a doubt has proven to me that he is a franchise QB and still hasn’t reached his full potential. I can’t wait to see him and these team continue to EVOLVE into a powerhouse in the NFL.
December 2nd, 2012 at 9:26 pm
The Bucs lost to a better team, plain and simple. I thought they played hard and fought for it. The Broncos are a team that can go all the way. We’re just not there yet, but I love the team. Josh made some good plays but he also faced a top 5 or 6 defense. I’m happy with how our team performed and I wish we would have won.
Keep diggin, keep fightin. Go Bucs!!!
December 2nd, 2012 at 9:27 pm
I dnt think free played that bad bucs didn’t hve a run GM today and he was pressured every play also guys weren’t open today of course the loss goes on him but nobody was open today
December 2nd, 2012 at 9:27 pm
@joe. No misunderstanding. Completely agree. The next four weeks will be a terrific test.
December 2nd, 2012 at 9:29 pm
Where were all you Freeman bashers the last seven games? I guess Brees sucks for throwing 5 picks, and looked lost doing it. Give Freeman a little slack, with the o line the bucs have its a wonder he does as good he does! Unbelievable.
December 2nd, 2012 at 9:32 pm
I have a question if someone can answer, Has Freeman ever beat a winning team when they werent resting a majority of there starters?
December 2nd, 2012 at 9:33 pm
The pressure was definitely getting to Freeman today, but it’s not all on the O-line (though most of it is). At the end of the game you could see has making more of an effort to move around, rather than staying static in the pocket. I wish he would have started doing this earlier, but it is what it is. Lesson learned hopefully.
Still, the offensive struggles were more about the offensive line than Freeman. They were terrible in the second half. Giving up pressure, not creating running room, it was just awful.
Also getting hit clearly effected the throw that was picked off for a touchdown. You could see it come out way softer than it normally does. That’s not on the QB.
December 2nd, 2012 at 9:33 pm
A team with a winning record*
December 2nd, 2012 at 9:34 pm
Btw. I have witnessed the disappearing act in some wins as well. K.C. comes to mind. It is a frustrating habit. Time to put in a complete effort in a big game or come through when the odds are stacked against him.
December 2nd, 2012 at 9:35 pm
raphael/SaskBuco:
The Bucs were facing the NFL leaders in sacks today and the Bucs offensive line gave up a grand total of one sack. Joe believes that’s pretty damned good.
Newsflash: Von Miller terrorizes every team. If the Bucs/Freeman didn’t think Miller et al were going to be in their face all day, they were dreaming.
Big Ben, Rodgers, Cutler have horrible offensive lines — worse than the Bucs — yet those guys find ways to win against good teams, don’t they?
December 2nd, 2012 at 9:35 pm
Spoken like someone who watches the games, chipbuc! Couldn’t be said better!
December 2nd, 2012 at 9:43 pm
Speaking of watching games…
chipbuc:
Rodgers, Cutler and possibly Big Ben would kill to have the Bucs offensive line. Again, the Bucs were facing the NFL sack leaders today and gave up one sack. ONE! That’s damn good.
Who exactly thought Freeman was going to have so much time to throw he could finish crossword puzzles today? Bueller… Bueller?
Elite quarterbacks overcome. Freeman — who may be elite someday — didn’t.
Sometimes, the truth is an ugly broad.
December 2nd, 2012 at 9:43 pm
This has been Freeman’s pattern since college. At K-State his senior year they were 5-6… His big games would come against teams like North Texas and he would disappear against any better competition…. Same in the NFL – he will torch weaker teams with bad defenses but can’t so SQAUT against a top 20 ranked defense….
December 2nd, 2012 at 9:44 pm
Wow, it’s amazing to see the overreactions about Freeman. People don’t seem to understand the concept of a franchise qb. Is he elite? Definitely not, but it’s foolish to say that his play this season hasn’t held up to “franchise qb” standards. Every good quarterback struggles now and then, it feels like everyone who comments on this thread seems to forget that. Name one QB who doesn’t have at least 3-4 bad games in a season, you can’t. Freeman went up a great pass rush, had little help from the running game, and made some terrible decisions, simple as that. He needs to work on his accuracy under pressure, but I’m confident the coaching staff will review the tape and have him prepared next week. Let’s not forget, the kid is only 24, he will still go through growing pains here and there
December 2nd, 2012 at 9:45 pm
Thank you bucbucbuc.
December 2nd, 2012 at 9:47 pm
I always get a kick out of coming here and reading all the posts after the game. Freeman has a bad game and the sky is falling. Typical Buc fan response. Forget all the good games….it’s the bad game that makes it all go away. Idiots….. I was all over Freeman earlier in the year but after the bye week he has me believing. We just played a better team today, period. I don’t care who you are, if you get pressured all day long you make mistakes. Seems to me Drew Brees threw 5 picks against Atlanta. Yeah I know….he sucks!!
It’s a team sport boys and when the O-line is like a revolving door the entire day and Freeman has memorized the clouds in the Denver sky from being on his back so much of the day, he gets a little rattled. He’s still only 24 and he’s got a big future ahead of him. Don’t let this loss make you forget the laser he threw to VJ for the TD in Carolina and then the perfect 2 pt conversion throw. Then the throw to Dallas Clark to win the game. That Freeman didn’t show up today but neither did the O-line and I didn’t see a lot of open receivers. Just a tough day for the Bucs. It happens. On to the Eagles.
I have to laugh when everyone is posting like they predicted the Bucs to make the playoffs before the season started. LOL! Admit it. We are way better than you thought we’d be at the beginning of the year. Be happy with progress. It’s a journey.
December 2nd, 2012 at 9:49 pm
That’s loser mentality. “Oh, it’s OK if they lose. They weren’t supposed to be here before the season.” Who cares where a team is predicted to finish before the season? When the opportunity is there to beat teams in order to make the playoffs, grab it!
December 2nd, 2012 at 9:55 pm
Amen Joe! Just because they arent suppose to be winning is not an acceptable excuse for a loss.
December 2nd, 2012 at 9:58 pm
@ grif4foozball
Normally I don’t name call but that’s one of the silliest toolbag-iest posts I’ve ever seen on JBF. Dude I’ve never actually seen you post on the site. In the two seconds it took me to read your post I’ve come to the realization that a) you’re a douchebag b) you have the mental capacity of a grape and c) you’re not really a Bucs fan.
Do yourself and everyone else a favor and go off yourself.
December 2nd, 2012 at 10:19 pm
Watch the game again and watch closely, once Von miller dove at Free’s knees, he did not step into one pass until driving with a few minutes left in the game, pressure will def change the way u play, Free was smacked around today and we cannot let that happen.
December 2nd, 2012 at 10:23 pm
Santos:
There’s a guy Joe knows who used to play offensive line for the Gators with Spurrier who Twittered out the very same thing during the game. He said once Miller went after Freeman’s knees, he was rattled and he never stepped into a throw again (at the time of his Twitter posting). It was during that time that Freeman threw eight incomplete passes in a row.
December 2nd, 2012 at 10:32 pm
I lived in Buffalo until 1995, so I lived through the Jim Kelly years. A hall of fame QB, but he had some horrible games, the media beat on him etc. My point is that all of the greats have had bad games (especially in the first 4 years). I remember Tom Brady making some dumb ass throws in a loss at Miami a few years back (one decided the game).
Of course we stick with Freeman. Draft a rookie & start all over again? I think not. I think Sully abandoned the run too early making the offense too predictable. This allowed the D line to tee off on Freeman.
Oh and remember when Peyton Manning laid an egg in that playoff game against the Steelers a few years back?
Relax guys, it will be ok.
December 2nd, 2012 at 10:32 pm
Guess I wasn’t going crazy, I was screaming, ” step into it free” lol I knew something wasn’t right.
December 2nd, 2012 at 10:36 pm
This what some of was saying since Dallas loss. No harm in stating the obvious. I will repeat my sediment of Freeman. Good enough to always remain in the discussion but never will eclipse excellence. That’s not a bad thing but it is what it is. Just make sure you build a great defense because he’s not the QB that will be an MVP and carry the team consistently.
December 3rd, 2012 at 1:55 am
Wow, and here I thought Freeman brought us within one score by the end, nearly staging a comeback. If the onside kick had gone differently we could have gone into overtime or won (with a 2 pt conv.)
December 3rd, 2012 at 1:57 am
Architek, “never” is a strong word…and I disagree with it. But time will prove one of us right and one of us wrong. Can’t wait to see which one I am.
December 3rd, 2012 at 2:23 am
Funny how Eric has been missing for over a month, and he of a sudden is commenting again. You are truly pathetic man. I feel sorry for you.
December 3rd, 2012 at 2:29 am
I agree with Big Mac. We lost to a better team. They are a legit Super Bowl contender. They were at home, needing this game to clinch their division (I was at the game, it was a big deal for them to clinch this week). Throw in the facts that we have a backup offensive line, no corners, and no pass rush, and this is what you get. It’s not coaching, it’s not Freeman’s fault, it’s just they are better. To think otherwise is moronic. We match up horribly with them in almost every way imagineable. We are all upset we lost, but this was a bad matchup for us from the start.
December 3rd, 2012 at 4:44 am
Josh is our franchize quaterback
December 3rd, 2012 at 4:53 am
@silence the crtics- freeman beat the vikings when they were on a 4 game winning streak an 6-3, an has put.up 21+ points on every good defense hes played so far. Its a TEAM game. Field position is crucial and out of all 32 teams i bet freeman has the worst career sarting field position out of all of them. Its hard to win when ur starting inside your own 10 or your D lets up a TD or field goal an you need to start from.your 15 or 20 evertime. Its a team game. Defense is the key to a good offense. And josh freeman is playin very well and putting up alot of points even with a horrible D
December 3rd, 2012 at 12:35 pm
We are Bucs fans we need to stick to our guns and back our team…..every week we will face a different monster….the other guys get paid too…..Josh trys hard we need some elite d-ends to be considered top tier. Our defense takes its punches. We can do this
December 4th, 2012 at 8:04 pm
Loser mentality??? Joe….you’re not an idiot for that comment but you’re close. I think a correct comment would have been…”you’re absolutely right. We will not win a superbowl overnight and we are much better than expected this early in Shiano’s coaching tenure. Looking forward to what this team does as we grow.” See how much smarter you would have looked???
December 5th, 2012 at 12:21 pm
I agree Joe, an elite quarterback MAKES plays. Josh is almost useless when it comes down to broken or less than PEFECT passing situations. If the situation is absolutely perfect Josh throws a really pretty ball other than that he makes nothing happen. I also have to ask, if Josh actually has legs???? Or his teammates just roll his frozen from the waist down stature out on the field each set of downs. Josh has made maybe two plays with his legs this year. He’s the absolute WORST in the league in making plays happen with his legs.