Freeman Defense, Contingency Plan
August 22nd, 2013
Anyone questioning Josh Freeman’s dedication is out of line, says former Bucs QB Shaun King, responding to Warren Moon’s shot at Freeman yesterday and those of others like Boomer Esiason.
King, one of three QBs to lead the Bucs to the NFC Championship game and now an NFL analyst for NBC Sports, issued a stanch defense of Freeman this morning on the Ron and Ian show on WDAE-AM 620, saying Freeman’s personal life hasn’t been worthy of questioning in at least a year and a half. (You can hear the full audio below.)
King did, however, question the New Schiano Order’s lack of a long-term plan and he says Freeman’s limited preseason snaps to date are about the Bucs wanting to see what Mike Glennon can deliver. King also explained why he believes Greg Schiano’s frequent pass-rush games and stunts are what led the Bucs to avoid pursuing an established pass rusher in free agency. Those guys, King said, would insist on pinning their ears back and beating offensive linemen 1-on-1.
August 22nd, 2013 at 11:30 am
shaun queen is the qb bullshit for buccaneers .. do you remember the season 1999 nfc cp .. game ??? hater hater . bucs fans don!T hear that shit
August 22nd, 2013 at 11:31 am
go back sleep
August 22nd, 2013 at 11:36 am
Whaaaaaaaahhhht!??
Shaun King said something positive that i agree with? Makes me wonder if I should rethink my poistion.
August 22nd, 2013 at 11:49 am
Steve White also questioned Schiano’s stunts.
I find it interesting no one has been critical of Schiano as a coach yet.
I guess the Honeymoon is still on ?
However, if Schiano does not win, with all this talent we have given him, the fans here in Tampa will turn on him.
I have a wait and see attitude regarding Coach Schiano, but I know several friends who are far from in awe of him.
They point out he has surrounded himself with a couple of losers in Butch Davis, and Dave Wannstedt.
August 22nd, 2013 at 11:55 am
Haters can say all they want. The truth is this:
The defense has NOT been good in years and the offense was not until last year. And the offensive line got worse as the season progressed last year except for the last game when Atlanta rested their starters.
Hopefully Freeman will have a complete team around him this year. It would put him in a more than fair position to prove himself.
I think it’s funny when fans say it’s all or nothing for Freeman…like the fans have the ability to have him replaced. If fan relations meant that much to the Glazers they’d have at least bought up tickets to home openers the last few years.
August 22nd, 2013 at 11:55 am
I am not a big fan of thr stunts they run up front either. They’re largely ineffective and I think this defensive line would pass rush much better.
August 22nd, 2013 at 11:56 am
Every team in the NFL is flawed. It comes down to who is least flawed. No team is perfect.
August 22nd, 2013 at 11:58 am
Without the stunts
August 22nd, 2013 at 12:03 pm
“except for the last game when Atlanta rested their starters.”
Small point I guess, but I thought Atlanta’s starters were in for most, if not all of that game. I really felt they were lackluster simply dut to the fact that they were in the playoffs . They still had home field advantage to play for, I think, but it didn’t seem to mean a lot to them.
August 22nd, 2013 at 12:05 pm
Chris@Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa Says
“Steve White also questioned Schiano’s stunts. I find it interesting no one has been critical of Schiano as a coach yet. I guess the Honeymoon is still on ? However, if Schiano does not win, with all this talent we have given him, the fans here in Tampa will turn on him.”
Tampa fans turn on everyone. I remember when trading Steve Young was considered the best move possible by Bucs fans. Truth is, as much as Tampa fans claim to know about football, they have horrible instincts. Always have.
Remember Brian Price? When he had a good first year the fans said he was a better pick than GMC. Speaking of GMC, Tampa fans decided he was a bust the moment he was drafted and hugged Goodell.
So they’ve been more wrong than right.
It doesn’t matter one bit what the fans think…because their opinions change with the wind. They could hate a player one week and sing his praises the next.
Look at Freeman. He had 13-14 good games last year and all most fans remember are two.
August 22nd, 2013 at 12:11 pm
I think the Brian Price to GMC comparison is unfair. I too thought that Price would be a better player that GMC and if it wasn’t for a career ending injury he may very well have been. we will never know now.
August 22nd, 2013 at 12:26 pm
@BuccaneerBonza you are the man.
August 22nd, 2013 at 12:27 pm
@Andrew 1 no he wouldnt have been better. He could have been a very good player but not a better player.
August 22nd, 2013 at 12:29 pm
Price was not good. Before he was injured his play had gotten worse.
Another thing fans tend to forget is that offensive line play was so bad in one of the 4 interception games (Rams) that Freeman was hit constantly. He had no time at all. He was sacked 5 times and nearly sacked several more. Once he was almost knocked out of the game.
This is why oline depth at guard and RT was so important going into this year. We still do not have solid depth at guard.
August 22nd, 2013 at 12:34 pm
We get it Bonzai. It’s everybody elses fault around Freeman.
August 22nd, 2013 at 12:35 pm
Your opinion is worth more than mine or anyone elses oh mighty one.
August 22nd, 2013 at 12:39 pm
The stunting drives me nuts and, to be honest, is the #1 thing right now making me shaky on this coaching staff. By the time the stunting develops, the pass is gone. It is way too slow, and it completely wastes McCoy’s best quality – his attacking nature.
And if the stunting was also the reason we didn’t pursue a better pass rusher? Shaking my damn head… I swear…
August 22nd, 2013 at 12:48 pm
Couch Fan Says
“Your opinion is worth more than mine or anyone elses oh mighty one.”
That was a bit childish. I wasn’t stating my opinion, Couch. I was stating the facts. Don’t hold it against me if the facts contradict your own opinion.
I gladly admit Josh Freeman has lots of improving to do. And yes, he partly shares the blame for some of the issues.
But the common theme amongst haters is to discount the other players and circumstances and put it ALL on Freeman. The actual truth is somewhere in the middle.
August 22nd, 2013 at 12:50 pm
And, Couch, I actually Value you opinion. And I don’t just dismiss it.
August 22nd, 2013 at 12:51 pm
i love that win loss stat people use as an argument for josh freeman but guess what drew brees a future hall of famer finished with the #1 offense in the league but the same win loss record as the bucs both with the worst defenses in the league last year so whether josh sucked last year or not doesnt matter because the defense sucked more than he did, THIS year he has no excuse….7-8 passes against the patriots and people talk about how horrible he played because he had 3 sacks one which he held on to the ball to long, since when did that translate into horrible and again you can point to his stats for the game but it probably would have looked better if ogletree hadnt dropped that 3rd down pass that hit him in the hands…we’ve reset our expectations for the defense but continue to beat down freeman for last year? its his last year of his this contract, judge him by it because truth be told all this bashing thats being done to him, if this team gets to the playoffs which we want very badly guess who’s getting a fat new contract from the bucs…its pointless to bash him when he could potentially be here for the next 6-7 years
August 22nd, 2013 at 12:52 pm
Once again I agree with King. Its soooo many holes in this team that have not been addressed. “Rockstar” is more like a cover band, he didn’t do anything to help GMC as far as a pass rush. Quite frankly Freeman’s lack of consistency is in line with a terrible defense and a young QB having to press to get a win. Dominick is bad for business…
August 22nd, 2013 at 1:00 pm
Bottom Lin Bonzai and Couch,
Playoffs in 2013, or changes will be made.
GM? HC? QB? Defensive personell?
August 22nd, 2013 at 1:01 pm
@ Gusjackson
how do you know? how could you possible know? he showed a lot of promise before he got injured. I could say that Freeman will make the all pro team this season and as of today it I could be right. its highly unlikely, yes, but its still a possibility. news flash for you buddy, you cant predict the future. nobody can.
August 22nd, 2013 at 1:04 pm
as it stands right now, we move on. no telling what could have or haven’t been.
August 22nd, 2013 at 1:09 pm
Justin Smith and Aldon Smith make a living doing stunts. They don’t seem to mind.
The pass rush sucks due o lack of talent..has nothing to do with scheme.
August 22nd, 2013 at 1:12 pm
you dont have to know your supposed to assume we are a playoff team just as the team does, who goes into their season opener saying were not good enough….no one but media…defensive ends who says we are relying on rookies as if teo nishiam isnt there the guy who backed up both positions and played pretty well. roy miller didnt play as much as people are giving him credit for and he did have a bad back anyway, there was no pash rush whatsoever from roy miller which is why they had to put defensive ends at the d tackle position last year on passing downs. yea on paper our line looks suspect but everyone is nameless until they prove they got game. and people are worried if carl nicks doesnt play really…as if we didnt win games without him as if we forgot how good davin is…..i dont get it unless your mad because we should be a playoff team guys as of right now everyone is a playoff team because the record is 0-0 were no more out of the playoffs right now than the seahawks…hope for the best plan for the worst just because you used to play football in the nfl doesnt mean you know what the gm or coach are thinking. we play to win the game, its called the nfl because of the 16 games played not because of the offseason
August 22nd, 2013 at 1:15 pm
I dont think Free has any dedication issues. Remember when he organized practices during the strike year. And he dropped all that weight, which doesnt just happen.
What we still don’t know is can the guy make the great throws at the key time of critical games. Thats an intangible that no amount of dedication can influence, you either can or you can’t.
Romo is a good example of a gifted guy who always makes a crappy throw at a key time in a critical game. Like last year vs. skins. Lobbed it right to a linebacker. Romo is also a dedicated guy.
Hope Free can do it. Time to see it is running short I am afraid. We all know what high regard the Glazers hold the fans opinions.
August 22nd, 2013 at 1:17 pm
Will the Bucs have less sacks, as an entire team, then JJ Watt or Jared Allen?
Sad to say, but a few years ago Jared Allen single handedly topped our ENTIRE D in SACKS.
We need sacks.
Bowers and Clayborn need to get atleast 8.
When was the last time the Bucs had a 10+ sack guy?
Simeon Rice…. Long time ago….
If we are relevant, then it relies on pass rush and our QB play, the two most important features in football.
August 22nd, 2013 at 1:27 pm
I feel like a lot of people are down on Dom but can we look at the drafts this team has had before he got here. 2006 could have been the only draft that we got good useful players out of. From 1998 until he got here, our drafts have been laughable.
August 22nd, 2013 at 1:28 pm
clayborn is the best we got, we were killin it on defense until he got hurt. he got 7 sacks as a rookie and was a stud and everyone knew it but now were acting as if we forgot all about him…with all the attention the right side of the line is gonna get, i hope bowers takes advantage of the fact that he’s not proven when he’s getting one on one protection…thats what people should be hoping for not this gloom and doom, these guys have been playing football since they were kids….im sure everyone remembers going out n the yard playing with friends, did you forget anything? if your working on your fundamentals you should be fine, you are who you are as a player when you come into the league and you grow from there. can we say bowers and clayborn have reached their ceiling like we are apparently saying about josh freeman…if not why have anything but high hopes for them because if they show out this year like i hope, who doesnt see us beating out new orleans for the second spot because they clearly have more issues on defense than we do people, yea you look around the league but you look within your division when it comes to making the playoffs first….the saints were number 1 offense last year, that cant improve but going from a 4-3 to a 3-4 is much harder for players than playing under the same front for a new coach….we only have to be better than the saints people
August 22nd, 2013 at 1:32 pm
GusJackson,
Fair point, but until this team is a playoff team, we will be laughable.
August 22nd, 2013 at 1:37 pm
@Andrew 1 I’m saying that Price never showed top 10 in the league potential. He showed that he could be a very good player but not one of the very best. McCoy IS one the best DT in the league. He is easily in the top 10. In order for Price to be “better than McCoy” he would have to play at a top 10 level which he never showed. He “could” have but I also “could” have a chance at sleeping with Rachael Watson……
I feel like a lot of people are down on Dom but can we look at the drafts this team has had before he got here. 2006 could have been the only draft that we got good useful players out of. From 1998 until he got here, our drafts have been laughable.
August 22nd, 2013 at 1:38 pm
@stevek agree. Its put up or shut up time FOR THE ORGANIZATION. Not just Freeman.
August 22nd, 2013 at 1:48 pm
if we know that then lets see what we got, the radio show hosts panic more than i can remember from any year, bennett had 9 sacks last year but he isnt the key to our offense, how many sacks did he have prior to schiano coming to town…. NOW THATS A GOOD QUESTION SO LET ME TELL EVERYONE
2012—9 SACKS
2011—4 SACKS
2010—1 SACK
2009—1 SACK
CASE CLOSED, THE BUCS KNOW WHAT THEIR DOING….LETS NOT EVEN TALK ABOUT HOW MANY SACKS AND TACKLES ROY MILLER HAD… It’s crazy to think that we wont have a top 10 run defense because of bennett and miller, how many splash plays from either in the RUN GAME…its the scheme and not the fact that people would rather throw than pass…we almost always had to throw to keep up now one could argue thats why freeman threw for 4000 yards.
August 22nd, 2013 at 2:24 pm
Can’t believe that I agreed with alot of what King said.
But if he doesn’t agree with our defensive scheme, why doesn’t anyone talk about Bill Sheridan?? Our starting D, as a whole, got carved up last week like Tony Montana carved up Rebenga.
I was never sold on Olsen, (and def not on Morris), but Sheridan looks to be a below average coordinator. And that falls on Schiano.
I dont want to hear about being the best run D. It was because offenses didnt HAVE to run on us. I get the feeling there are 3 Defensive coordinators – Schiano/Sheridan/Davis.
August 22nd, 2013 at 2:28 pm
So with ALLLL the talk about Free, Sheridan gets a pass?? Id rather see Brian Cox running that D, than see Sheridan isolated up in his booth relaying Butch Davis’ playcalling.
August 22nd, 2013 at 3:42 pm
tonyttwocents,
Next year Rex Ryan will probably be available for D Coordinator. That’s what I’m hoping for anyways if this defense doesn’t get it together this year. He can’t and shouldn’t be a head coach. Terrible #1 but an outstanding #2.
August 22nd, 2013 at 3:47 pm
Yes tonytwocents, Sheridan gets a pass. It’s blasphemy to suggest the defense is part of this team and contributes to wins and loses. Wait I take that back, they contribute to wins, but not the loses.
August 22nd, 2013 at 4:45 pm
@ Chef,
I wouldnt mind that at all. He may be a bit pricey though. And personnel wise, we dont have enough depth at DE for his 3-4 scheme. And def dont have the DB depth for his 3-3-5.
I say we bring Marinelli back home. Fu*k Jerry Jones…
August 22nd, 2013 at 4:54 pm
I like that idea too. Another terrible #1. To be honest I don’t feel I know enough about Sheridan to really have an accurate opinion. Other than the results of last year. I probably should have looked into his resume by now. I’ll do that now
August 22nd, 2013 at 5:10 pm
@Andrew: Brian Price was never a good player. It was actually because of him that we were so bad at run defense during the Raheem era, particularly in 2011. What seemed like him getting penetration actually was him being gullible to all the trap blocks which created huge lanes with this fool overcommitting so often. As a pass rusher I barely remember him being a factor. Haynesworth had some moments, but never Brian. So all this talk about “he could have been this, that” is just delusions. I never understood the overrating of Price’s talent by a good portion of our fanbase. We are indeed one of the saddest fanbases with scrubs like Price and Dekoda exciting us with their unbelievable skillzzz that never materializes into on field success.
August 22nd, 2013 at 5:10 pm
Bring Rex back with Revis, that was a super bowl defense.
Freeman could be carried to the NFC Championship game twice in a row, easier than Mark Sanchez did it with Revis & Rex on D.
I will buy that, Rex for DC if we bomb out, again, this year.
We need answers, pass rush and QB are our two biggest question marks.
Marky D. is going to have to dip (and hit) on Free Agency again. We need Nicks back, badly. Paying guaranteed money to an OG (approximately 10% of the salary cap) for this season and last year, we need that kind of costly player performing at a high level and on the field.
I like what Dom has done the last two years, but we need MORE. Just like from Freeman, Dom needs to step it up.
It is bad luck? Sure, but eventually we need to show marked improvement and back in the playoffs.
The last two years our week 17 game meant nothing. We need a meaningful 16 game season at the very least.
Freeman, Dom, Schiano. In that order is the heat on the seats.
August 22nd, 2013 at 6:38 pm
Resigning Bennett and Miller meant we had proven starters at LE and NT. We could have rotated in Bowers/Gholston/Spence instead of relying on them heavily when 2 of them are inexperienced rookies and Bowers has been injury riddled.
August 22nd, 2013 at 6:42 pm
If I see King’s mug, I don’t read the article. This does two things. Gives Joe his hit counts (which Joe is due), and keeps my blood pressure down (which I’m due). Go Bucs!
August 22nd, 2013 at 9:13 pm
The Bucs organization lacks good talent evaluation. From the GM to the head coach to the scouting department. Dungy was the best they had so far. If Jim Harbaugh had this team they would compete for the division. The Bucs look lost. Good coached teams don’t look this disorganized pre season or not.
August 22nd, 2013 at 9:31 pm
@MTM
Couldn’t have said it any better….