Was Freeman Spared To Save Health?
August 29th, 2013
Outspoken scribe Alan Dell is at it again, typing another fun read for Bucs fans this morning in his publication, the Bradenton Herald.
Like Joe, Dell loathes preseason football. If it wasn’t Joe’s job to be at the Stadium in Dale Mabry Highway tonight, Joe would be on his cushy recliner watching college football, cold beer in hand. Preseason football is dreary and the final preseason game is simply dreadful.
Dell thinks the Bucs’ preseason has been painful for other reasons. He claims the past six weeks for the Bucs has been akin to the TV reality series “The Kardashians,” given the drama over Darrelle Revis, the feet of Carl Nicks and Lawrence Tynes, the Jeff Demps mystery, the MRSA outbreak and Tynes’ wife, Amanda, starting a Twitter war with the Bucs.
Oh, yeah. Then there’s the Mike Glennon Mob, which Dell describes as a collection of “rabble,” “Freeman haters,” and those who just love backup quarterbacks for no good reason.
But Dell brought up a point about Freeman that made Joe think. Dell, like many, is puzzled by how few snaps Freeman took in preseason games.
Freeman took 21 snaps in the first two preseason games, which was fewer than every projected NFL starting quarterback except San Francisco’s Colin Kaepernick.
Freeman ranks 25th in snap counts overall in the preseason among the presumed 32 starting quarterbacks. But it’s the uneven approach toward his use that raised questions.
He had 41 snaps against Miami last week, which was one of the biggest increases in any projected starting QB from the first two games to the third. For the preseason, he completed 12 of 26 passes for 101 yards without a touchdown or interception and was sacked nine times, a scary number, preseason or not preseason.
Joe has never heard anyone touch this subject before, but could it be that with the Bucs struggling in pass protection, and Freeman being taken to the ground almost as much as he completed passes, that Schiano purposely held him out of games to spare Freeman futher abuse thus saving him for the regular season?
It stands to reason. Think about it: quarterbacks in practices wear different colored jerseys so defensive players know better than to touch them. If, in make-believe games, Freeman is getting abused play after play after play, perhaps Schiano preferred Freeman on the sidelines versus being lost for the season for nothing?
Capt. Lou Albano is getting raked over the coals in New York for playing Mark Sanchez late in a preseason game and behind a suspect line, damaging his shoulder, rendering him questionable to play against the Bucs in Week 1.
Could Schiano have been playing it safe, hoping the pass protection would clear up soon enough and passing on risk his franchise quarterback, and the 2013 season, in a glorified scrimmage?
August 29th, 2013 at 12:43 pm
Thank god real football starts in a week so we can remember how little preseason means.
August 29th, 2013 at 12:48 pm
yep theres gotta be a reason he picked up the intensity this week. the roster was set in training camp which is why certain players go into the game before others….if freeman needs a bunch of snaps in preseason in his 5th year then god help us because its not excuse, rg3 didnt play at all so the idea that he needs snaps is ridiculous. if a 2nd year qb can do it so can josh with a entire offseason, so can davin joseph and nicks whenever he comes back. if we cant compete with falcons and saints then what did we spend all that money for
August 29th, 2013 at 12:55 pm
Joe it seems if you go to the pro-bowl and are on the Bucs you are not any good, that the preseason games count for what your winning record is going to be, that smart coaches give up their game plans in preseason, plus give their complete play books to all the wantabes in preseason so they can sell them before they are cut, and you put all of your skilled players that injuries can slow in the preseason games so you can win.
The only things real in preseason is the cost of the tickets, refreshments, and parking plus that a lot of people are trying to make a team. Oh also other teams are looking at what you cut.
Preseason also is the official start of professional coaching/GM/owner comments on what they think should happen, is gonna happen, and what they want to happen. In other words, the football juices are flowing again.
Isn’t it great?
August 29th, 2013 at 12:55 pm
he didn’t get as many reps because they offense did not execute.
if he gets 2 3 and out drives that 6 plays.
2 10 play drives and he would have gotten 20 snaps.
they’re just sticking to the plan.
either way he sucked out loud. and yeaah, there were drops…..but where was Free’s reading the D, audibles?…and what about that butt fumble?
August 29th, 2013 at 12:57 pm
^^^^^^^^^couldnt have said it better OB
August 29th, 2013 at 1:10 pm
This is setting up to be one UGLY week 1 football game. I don’t think we will see it on NFL Reply the following week. I just hope Dimke doesn’t get a “tired” leg between now and then.
August 29th, 2013 at 1:11 pm
I think before preseason games, the head coaches get together and tell each other what they want to work on. I think before the Pats game Greg told Bill to blitz the hell out of us to find out what we have in the O-line. See how they handle the blitz. We found out, not very well with the guys we had out there. Then Schiano took out Freeman (and stuck with the plan) because it was a disaster. And I think Bill told Greg he wanted to work on Tom terrific’s timing with Amendola and their new tight end. Anyways that could all be delusional wishful thinking but it would explain the first couple of drives. But still, I do think they do get together and tell each other what they want to work on.
August 29th, 2013 at 1:14 pm
I think it’s going to be ugly too, Scotty. I’m not too worried about that total mess of an offence they have, but I am worried about the defense. They’re D is always good. The one thing that gives me solace, is Rex Ryan Saying they will be a top 5 defense. Rex’s guarantees don’t pan out very well.
August 29th, 2013 at 1:15 pm
Wow so our O Line is so bad our starting quarterback cant get snaps in the preseason? The O Line that was the stregth of our football team? Wow unbelievable we might be in big trouble.
August 29th, 2013 at 1:24 pm
If Freeman could have sustained drives, then his total number of plays would have increased.
Our O-Line has been bad.
We will see how it goes this year, playoffs or…
August 29th, 2013 at 1:35 pm
You have to admit regardless of what side of the aisle that you stand on the preseason for the starting offense left a lot to be desired. Pretty pathetic for a team trying to step up and leave the putrid past as a distant memory. For all it’s worth even with a personnel facelift it’s still the same ol’ same ol’. I hope I am surprised this year. I love surprises!
August 29th, 2013 at 1:37 pm
That makes a lot of sense… I hope its accurate.
August 29th, 2013 at 1:39 pm
Looking at our preseason performance, what is worse?
The 1st team pass D?
The 1st Team Pass O?
Freeman needs to have some time to work.
August 29th, 2013 at 1:40 pm
Nine sacks for the number of snaps he took in preseason is crazy. I saw one or two where he held onto the ball too long, but the rest he was lucky to get a 1001 count before he was running for his life. It will be nice to have Joseph back so we’ll be down to one non starter on the line.
August 29th, 2013 at 1:46 pm
Maybe Schiano held him out because he is a member of the “Mike Glennon Mob” which Joe claims to exist.
August 29th, 2013 at 1:56 pm
No, Schiano wants to see Glennon and this is the time to do it – he doesn’t need to see all that much from Freeman. Schiano made it clear that he expects a big year from Josh this year, as do I, and I am happy we get to see Glennon because IF Freeman plummets at like week 8 or 9, then Glennon steps in and we see what we have for the rest of the season.
I find this highly unlikely
August 29th, 2013 at 2:00 pm
“Mike Glennon Mob”—- Who wants Freeman to fail?
Buc Fans just want playoffs, we don’t care how we get there, or which QB takes us.
Freeman is in his 4th year as starter, and it is time to show us what he can do with our team.
Nobody is sitting here saying that Mike Glennon should start, and I kind of sense that the term was coined and fabriacted upon “Josh Freeman Realists”.
Freeman needs to get it done, and now. We don’t have another 4 years to see “if” he has what it takes. Josh knows what he is up against, and this is where we will see what #5 is made of. When the going gets tough the tough get….
Where is this “Mike Glennon Mob”? I see a fan base divided on whether or not they think Freeman is a capable starter, but where is the “mob” for the back up.
Joe- look for a “Mike Glennon Mob” to form, if we come out of the gate 0-3, or 1-5, definitely.
QBs have more impact on the game than ever before, and natually fans observe and expect more from the team’s starting QB.
Mob? Nope, no mob. Maybe a few unruly fans. But really, there are those who question whether or not #5 has “it”?
We will find out in 2013.
“Mike Glennon Mob”= “Rock Star GM”- Funny, creative and fictional characterizations.
August 29th, 2013 at 2:29 pm
Don’t think I’ve ever heard Schiano refer to Freeman as his “franchise quarterback”
August 29th, 2013 at 2:38 pm
It’s kind of funny to see everybody in the Mike Glennon mob say, “What Glennon Mob? There is no such thing!”
Ripping Freeman every day in every article’s comment section but “qualifying” it by saying “I hope I am wrong” makes you a part of the Glennon mob. Or just a hater.
Ten days guys. Just gotta make it ten more days.
August 29th, 2013 at 2:41 pm
There are maybe 2-3 actual fans on this board that are calling for Glennon to start at most??? Maybe a tad more lol…
Definitely not what you would call a mob bahahaha
Can’t wait for the damn season to start already.
August 29th, 2013 at 2:44 pm
Not trusting Freeman and believing Glennon is ready to start in todays NFL are two different things.
I don’t trust Freeman, but I do believe he is the better option right now and should at least be given one more season to prove his worth.
I like Glennon, but I don’t believe he is NFL ready at this moment.
August 29th, 2013 at 2:50 pm
I think whats construed as the “Mike Glennon Mob” just wants an alternative (any alternative not named Orlovsky) that could possibly step in when Freeman starts to string together consecutive 4 int games as he did in our playoff run last year. No team can easily overcome 4 int’s in a game I don’t care how your defense is playing thats just terrible play on the quarterback.
August 29th, 2013 at 2:54 pm
Exactly right PR. Take the president for example. I really don’t like what Obama is doing for the country, but I sure as hell don’t want Biden in charge. Just like Freeman. Except I like Freeman, but I understand the people that doubt him. I just disagree with them. Or maybe I understand because it’s been toned down quite a bit the past few days. Back in July is was brutal
August 29th, 2013 at 2:55 pm
lol I just had a thought. Maybe they toned down because the cut and paste Nazi is proving to hold them to their words. I don’t know just a funny thought. Way to go 1987
August 29th, 2013 at 2:56 pm
Did I say playoff run? I meant to say what should have been a playoff run had any quarterback without a penchant for interceptions been playing for us.
August 29th, 2013 at 2:56 pm
@SteveK
“If Freeman could have sustained drives, then his total number of plays would have increased.”
Dropped 3rd-down ball by Ogletree in Week 2. Two 3rd down drops Week 3.
I think the sentence should read: If THE OFFENSE could have sustained drives, then his total number of plays would have increased.
I mentioned in another thread a few days back how I believed Schiano was limiting snaps because our second string interior line was obviously not ready to see game action. Freeman AND Martin were sitting ducks behind those turnstiles.
I will also say this, AGAIN: The ONLY way to have seen true competition at QB would have been to allow Glennon to play behind that makeshift line against opposing team starters earlier in the first two games. I would have liked to see it because I like the way he plays from what I can tell so far.
Let me emphasis that I am a Freeman fan and believe that he possesses more athletic skill than Glennon. He also knows the playbook and has better acclimation on the field with his teammates. However, as Doug Flutie can tell you, athletic skill isn’t everything at QB.
Let’s Go Bucs!
August 29th, 2013 at 3:01 pm
The O-line was pissed at Freeman….he promised to take them to Burns for dinner….but they ended up at the Golden Corall.
August 29th, 2013 at 3:10 pm
Joe should start a “True Buc Fan Mob” which would consist of West Coast Buc, Buc1987, and Raphael as they are the epitome of true Bucs fans. Just ask ’em!
August 29th, 2013 at 3:29 pm
^^LMAO
August 29th, 2013 at 3:38 pm
stevek Says
“Where is this “Mike Glennon Mob”? I see a fan base divided on whether or not they think Freeman is a capable starter, but where is the “mob” for the back up.”
The Mike Glennon mob stopped claiming Glennon once they saw him play two weeks straight and it became clear he isn’t the answer to anything more than being a backup.
You are right, this is the year Freeman must prove himself. The same is true for the entire team.
August 29th, 2013 at 3:41 pm
Tampabaybucfan Says
“The O-line was pissed at Freeman….he promised to take them to Burns for dinner….but they ended up at the Golden Coral.”
I haven’t been to Tampa in years. Is Burns still there?
Also, anyone know is Wings & Italian Things is still open on Fletcher? GBest wings I’ve ever had.
August 29th, 2013 at 3:43 pm
PRBucFan Says
“I don’t trust Freeman, but I do believe he is the better option right now and should at least be given one more season to prove his worth.”
You know…Freeman really hasn’t been that bad. He held onto the ball a little too long maybe 3 times and overthrew twice. The rest were completions, drops or sacks.
August 29th, 2013 at 3:49 pm
That geeky looking giraffe kid has his own mob already? No fair!
Signed,
Cap’n Meltdown
August 29th, 2013 at 4:08 pm
Get real, Joe. Schiano knows Freeman sux. He wants to work on our quarterback of the future.
August 29th, 2013 at 4:41 pm
@lightning buc,that threesome^^^^you speak of already have a name,I’ve declared them the freemanites.
August 29th, 2013 at 4:57 pm
I hear ya Bonzai, I did say he deserves another shot.
My overall view of Freeman has nothing to do with this preseason though.
August 29th, 2013 at 4:58 pm
@ Bonzai
Burns is still there…..but now costs more for dinner than a year at USF
August 29th, 2013 at 5:50 pm
@ Bonzai,
These are the same unfounded comments that got you run from another board, no rancor here, just a reminder….
” The Mike Glennon mob stopped claiming Glennon once they saw him play two weeks straight and it became clear he isn’t the answer to anything more than being a backup.”
August 30th, 2013 at 5:05 pm
Yeah bonzai,so STFU!!!!