No “Out Of Gas” Excuse For Freeman
December 29th, 2012
John Lynch says the Bucs are worn out
Joe wrote extensively yesterday about how Greg Schiano openly discussed his team’s energy level and implied that the team is “emotionally tired” from losing, while Schiano also suggested he has not worked the Bucs hard enough in practice.
Now, beat writer Rick Stroud, of the Tampa Bay Times, quotes Bucs icon John Lynch saying the Bucs have been overworked and are “out of gas both mentally and physically.”
If Lynch’s take is accurate, then the Bucs are in far worse shape than Joe imagned.
Out of gas? Is that why Josh Freeman is in freefall?
What exactly could the Bucs coaching staff have done to Freeman to wipe him out physically? Joe’s quite confident nobody’s hitting Freeman in practice and he’s not running sprints. Also, Freeman is a tremendous physical specimen and has been hit less than most QBs this season. And, as all Freeman apologists love to remind everyone, Freeman is 24 years old. If Freeman is physically spent, then there’s a huge problem. And if Freeman is mentally gassed, then he’s got even bigger issues.
The new NFL labor agreement has scaled back the total number of practices in pads, total practices, and length of practice time during the offseason, preseason and regular season. Players have the best trainers and facilities around. There’s no reason why a team collectively should be physically gassed. Some banged up guys, sure, but the team? No way.
The mental side of this is intriguing. If the Bucs are beaten-down mentally, then Schiano’s “one-game-seasons” approach to the game has failed miserably.
Joe’s getting increasingly frustrated, especially since Joe suspects Lynch is echoing weakass comments he’s heard directly from Bucs players.
Hopefully, the Bucs rise above tomorrow in Atlanta. As Joe’s written previously, there’s no way to sugarcoat a complete collapse to close a season.
December 29th, 2012 at 1:30 pm
Joe, Of course these guys are tired they were used to playing in 6 game last year, Now the new coach wants them to play 16 games. That is a 10 game swing.
December 29th, 2012 at 1:31 pm
Schiano deserves 3 full seasons just like the Unqualified Raheem Morris was given. (I miss Rah calling Adrian Clayborn a “boy dog” during pressers.
December 29th, 2012 at 1:36 pm
The moron Freeman was mentally exhausted before the season began
December 29th, 2012 at 1:47 pm
Freeman isn’t mentally tough?
We will find out Sunday.
December 29th, 2012 at 1:56 pm
we’ve already found that out @Stevek
December 29th, 2012 at 1:57 pm
LOL. The only thing out of gas is the Freeman hate group….
December 29th, 2012 at 2:04 pm
@SteveK
Did you hear something???
Nah, nvm
December 29th, 2012 at 2:19 pm
Hey Raphy,
We have the worst pass D in NFL history.
We have the 34th most accurate thrower in the league this year, there are only 32 teams.
33 better options out there, Freeman is playing like a putz.
He needs to nut up or shut up.
It is not hate, Raphael, it’s truth.
December 29th, 2012 at 3:08 pm
I don’t think the mentally/physically exhausted excuse holds water. I think we’re just not a very good team in the defensive backfield or the offensive line. I believe our Bucs will be MUCH better once the starters on IR are back. We definitely need to address the defensive backs in the draft/free agency period. I believe we are just a couple of players away from being a very good football team.
December 29th, 2012 at 3:19 pm
Not a substantial analysis for the reasoning that Joe pointed out. I actually think the labor terms hurt the players by making less contact during preparation and increasing the chances of injury due to lack of being in football shape. Just not a good team overall and need better QB play from a tapped out Freeman.
December 29th, 2012 at 3:21 pm
Funny how Lynch comes in once a month and every one listens to what he says. Shaun King is there almost every day and almost every one attacks whatever he says.
Imagine if it was King who said, “The combined win percentage of the teams the Bucs have beaten this season is .367”
December 29th, 2012 at 3:23 pm
We should have one of the most refreshed teams in the league. Not like we have had to prepare for any playoff games during the Dominik era.
Their “tired”? That’s the excuse?
Oh my what a bunch of losers.
I can just see Unitas saying he was just too tired to play in the 58 championship game.
Pathetic.
December 29th, 2012 at 3:24 pm
Oh, come on guys, it’s not all bad!
http://www.footballoutsiders.com/extra-points/2012/enter-house-lavonte-david
December 29th, 2012 at 3:36 pm
It is a shame that Levonte probably wont even really come close to winning DROY
December 29th, 2012 at 3:43 pm
@stevek
because thats all that matters? a better completion percentage makes a better option
so of course you would take alex smith over aaron rodgers, rivers over brady and of course sanchez, gabbert and cassel over andrew luck
josh freeman is top 10 in touchdowns and yards….point blank period
December 29th, 2012 at 3:58 pm
I don’t think it is a stretch to believe that MAYBE the coach is right in his explanation!
Some BUCS fans seem to want to discount everything that the coach says, grasping for exotic explanations from less reliable sources. Lets make sure we don’t All fall into that approach!
December 29th, 2012 at 4:16 pm
Boo freaking hoo. I don’t feel sorry for a bunch of millionaire football players. Get with the program, do your job, or quit and do something else. Gosh us a confused kid way over his head. Four years of on the job training and he badly or blindly throws most of his passes. We need a new qb. Period. Gosh caused us to miss the playoffs thus year. Go Bucs!
December 29th, 2012 at 4:32 pm
Freeman was born mentally exhausted. How were the ’02 Bucs able to win a Super Bowl under the old NFL practice regime? The Raiders mus have been more exhausted.
December 29th, 2012 at 4:47 pm
@joe didnt ronde say that schianos training camp was the hardest he ever went through? maybe schianos training methods worked for 12 games in collage but the nfl has 16. they are worn out you can tell through the last few games
December 29th, 2012 at 4:53 pm
I love how anyone can say Josh Freeman cost us the playoffs. Did Josh let Eli Manning put up 500 yds? How about Drew Brees’ 300 in 1 half earlier this year? The mere fact that anyone could expect playoffs this year amazes me. Our pass rush/coverage has been abysmal since 2009 and has cost us the playoffs every year.
News flash, the Bucs are ranked 13th (tied with Cinci) in points per game at 24.5. Blame Josh all you want (ignorantly) but if we had half as good a defense as we did in the glory days, we would be prepping for playoffs.
December 29th, 2012 at 5:04 pm
@nic they dont care about stats or anything relevant, they like to make up names like “gosh” and throw inaccurate personal insults with no relevant facts to back them up.
I’m very disappointed in the state of the fan base.
December 29th, 2012 at 5:38 pm
O shut up lol. You can’t say all you want about the stats on the defensive side of the ball. Fact is that while the defense definitely needs to be addressed that doesnt change one damn thing about how awful Josh Freeman is playing right how. THE ONLY STAT THAT MATTERS is whether or not he can lead this team to victories. Throw all the damn excuses you want at that but the FACT is right now Josh is a LOSER and that is all the FO is going to look at because they have their jobs they have to keep and that’s not gonna happen making every excuse in the book for Little boy Free Free. I mean if we had some monumental franchise history at the quarterback MAYBE than would him breaking those records would be impressive but it’s quite the opposite in fact so whoopdifukingdoo please explain how it is at all relevant to winning?
December 29th, 2012 at 5:39 pm
Can*
December 29th, 2012 at 5:42 pm
And please explain how it’s not “backed up” that he is one if the most inaccurate passers in the NFL?
December 29th, 2012 at 7:11 pm
To Nic and bwallstreet and other Gosh apologists. “They” as you refer to myself, a die hard Buc fan who has watched or listened to every Buc game since I moved to Tampa in 1980, have the right to say what I want about our “record setting qb”. Gosh never has improved on his accuracy even though he is strong and can heave the ball 75 yards. I’ll take a Brad Johnson type with a great football sense who throws 65% completions all day. You can have wonder arm Gosh who simply freaks and pads his int totals with any pass rush instead of checking off to a short pass or taking a sack or running or saying there was some type of communication breakdown. Hiw many mulligans do you think Gosh deserves? He is not leading the Bucs anywhere but to the loss column. Go Bucs!
December 29th, 2012 at 7:20 pm
I love Coach.
I love J-Free.
I love John Lynch.
And I love the truth.
Our guys are EXHAUSTED. It’s true.
But we will come back badass ready next year.
GO BUCS!!!
December 29th, 2012 at 9:04 pm
@ Nic and bwallstreet….great post and the heck with the ignorant haterz that don”t understand football or the team concept
December 29th, 2012 at 9:51 pm
Raphael, you are the apologist ignoramous. I love the Bucs, just not a fan of a qb who is disastrously inaccurate. Go Bucs!
December 29th, 2012 at 10:23 pm
Gosh Freewoman aka Captain 3 and out will show the world how much of a gutless loser she is. This game will be a disaster of epic proportions just you watch.
December 29th, 2012 at 10:48 pm
That depends if Jekyll shows up we’ll win and he’ll fuk our draft. If Hyde shows up we’ll lose and he’ll lay another egg as usual. But it will definitely help our draft.
December 29th, 2012 at 11:03 pm
Good thing Jesse Owens wasn’t tired for the fourth gold medal race in Munich.
December 29th, 2012 at 11:12 pm
some of you guys are haters through and through…you need to get that checked out maybe you have a tumor or something
you guys can be blind to the facts if you want
December 30th, 2012 at 12:43 am
Yet you still present nothing of significance. Lol funny stuff
December 30th, 2012 at 7:29 am
@bwallstreet
Its true man!
These haters on here on cancerous, negative minded fools.
We had a rough year but with MANY bright spots.
1.No loafing on defense.
2. A PREPARED defense every week
3. Josh 28 TDs and 16 ints (less than drew brees)
4. Great play by V-Jax and Mikey
5. Doug Martin- great draft pick! And LaVonte!
6. Banged up O-Line still kept Josh clean
Felllas! Wake up! Remember last year? Remember chucky and his cheesy ass?
We are on the way back! So shut up and support us!
December 30th, 2012 at 9:22 am
@teacherman I would add Barron has been very good and I think will be superb when he gets more help back there in the secondary and when Ronde leaves, Rondes not a true FS theyve been using him as a hybrid, putting him in the box more and blitzing him, Barron should be coming down to the box instead…
hell of a team, the way it is right now, if we go sign 2-3 solid FAs and get at least 3 solid contributing draft picks i see us making the playoffs.
I say
Let Miller walk, sign a DT to replace him in FA
Resign Bennett, Grab his brother Martellus
Look for a decent CB or FS in FA(DRC, Goldson, Byrd, Grimes, Cox)
First 3 picks in draft all defense, cb, cb/fs/lb, cb/fs/lb/dt(really depends on our FA)
i.e. Jonathan Banks, Eric Reid, Khassem Greene
draft a slot reciever and an an OT in rounds 4-5
take a flier on a late round 5+ rb and de ….maybe quanterus smith or carradine and ray graham/lattimore
get healthy, Nicks/Joseph/Clayborn all come back and seriously improve this team.
poss. cut quincy or rework his deal for about half what its worth
i dont see how we dont make the playoffs next year
December 30th, 2012 at 9:54 am
@bwallstreet,
You still have one problem in your scenario. A QB that has never produced consistently and doesn’t have the it factor. Turnovers, mental, and mechanics issues. No I can’t see playoffs with INT Man.
December 30th, 2012 at 11:41 am
Jesus Christ guys. Some of you jump all over Freeman like we legitimately have a better option for next season. Cut it out… you are giving the Tampa fan base an even worse reputation.
Here is the truth of the matter: the teams physical exhaustion IS an excuse for his poor outings recently. Last week, how many of Josh’s picks can be placed entirely on him? I think his second to Laurinitis is really the only one. Two picks were the result of sloppy WR play and I’d suggest that’s been the case more than not recently. They’re tired, granted Freeman has missed his fair amount of WIIIDE open receivers, but to act like his recent struggles are all on him is BS.
December 30th, 2012 at 12:50 pm
@architek your just completely wrong
Josh Freeman is an above average QB, borderline top 10
He’s better than Dalton, Schaub, Flacco, Tannehill, Fitzpatrick, Sanchez, Weeden, Locker, Gabbert, Luck, Cassel, Palmer, Rivers, Wilson, Kaepernick, Bradford, whoever plays for Arizona, Cam, Cutler, Ponder, Romo, Vick
He is. plain and simple and most of those guys it’s not even debatable
You have a gift an above average, young, talented QB with loads of potential and all you do is complain.
Is Drew Brees the worst qb in the NFL? He’s got the most INTs. Brett Favre shouldn’t be in the HOF either right most INTs ever.
December 30th, 2012 at 1:22 pm
Your crazy if you think Freeman is better than a lot of those players you just mentioned and then to say its not even debateable is moronic.
Yes Free is a talented player with loads of “potential”. But thus far up to this point in his career it hasen’t led to success. He shows flashes at times but is invisible and downright awful a majority of the rest of the time. THAT is not debateable.
Free is not all to blame for us losing. I am not talking about any other factors other than Freeman. Leave the defense out of it. He shows up only half the game most times. Make all the excuses you want. At the end of the day it’s been the same thing for 4 years now. No improvement. You simply can’t win regularly with a QB that only plays half a game.
December 30th, 2012 at 1:41 pm
Luck would of thrown for 5000 yds in this offense Lmao.
December 31st, 2012 at 5:08 am
Amen Silence
@Colb
And to say that Freeman is physically exhausted…. BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Really??? The QB??? Do you have any idea how moronic that sounds?
Also, your implying because there is no obvious solution that we should just be happy and accept the problem??? Cmon now lol Think