Freeman Could Have Eight Days Left
September 15th, 2013
A prominent Bucs beat writer says the Josh Freeman era is on very thin ice
Tampa Bay Times Bucs beat writer Rick Stroud penned a blistering opinion piece yesterday, one that made a lot of bold claims, including that fans should count on a benching of Josh Freeman if the Bucs start 0-3.
Stroud painted a picture of a Greg Schiano on the brink, preparing to make the Mike Glennon Mob happy — in September.
It’s hard to imagine Schiano and Freeman with a future together. If the Bucs lose to the Saints today and at New England next week, look for Schiano to pull the rip cord on his starting quarterback.
Rookie Mike Glennon might not produce wins. But if he shows signs of progress, it could buy Schiano time. Like Freeman, Schiano had better start paying attention to the clock.
Stroud also questioned the legitimacy of the I-love-you/you-love-me comments of Freeman and Schiano last week, calling them “about as authentic as FieldTurf.”
Joe has serious questions about Stroud’s line of thinking.
First, Stroud’s claim of a move to Glennon if the Bucs are 0-3 makes no allowances for Freeman’s performance. A change at QB isn’t about the record, it’s about how well Freeman plays. Freeman’s status won’t change a bit if the offense is productive.
Secondly, Joe doesn’t buy the notion that Schiano could “buy time” by making a switch to Glennon. The only thing that “buys” Schiano a long shelf life is wins, not Glennon. Team Glazer bought a star-laden, win-now — or at least improve-now — team. Schiano can’t throw in the towel on the season with Glennon and score brownie points.
Freeman, under Schiano, was good enough to lead the Bucs to seven wins with a garbage pass defense. He’s the best QB on the roster, and Schiano needs to show that he’s enough of a head coach to get his team to improve. The talent, along with a massive coaching staff, is in place.
September 15th, 2013 at 5:46 am
Again with the “mob” stuff. There may be a larger number of fans calling for a change if the Bucs go 0-3 and Freeman looks bad in the process, but give us Buc fans enough credit to know that Freeman is a better option than Glennon right now. Enough of this condescending attitude JBF has to the common Buccaneer fan – it’s enough that we get slammed by the national media for being a fanbase that is uneducated, unsupporting. But to get it from a source that supposedly represents the “Buc Fan” – is annoying.
September 15th, 2013 at 6:44 am
Schiano better be careful if/when he chooses to bench Freeman. If Glennon doesn’t win a few games, Schiano will be fired.
September 15th, 2013 at 7:07 am
I don’t think freeman can read defenses, or else isn’t allowed to change the play. We get in a bad match up and just try to beast it. All that motion is to try to get the defense to telegraph what they’re doing, barney style, so that free can understand. I think Glennon will be better in this regard, but he doesn’t have the physical tools. I watch all of the other games and it makes the Bucs seem vanilla.
September 15th, 2013 at 7:18 am
I don’t think we will see the benching of Freeman after 3 games….if he performs pooly and the season is all but lost….say at 2-7 or something like that, I believe Glennon will get a chance to play for development purposes. We will then shop Freeman in mid-season to a team that doesn’t want him to hit the open market. Perhaps we can get at least our 3rd round pick in 14 back.
I hope none of this happens because our best chance of success is with Freeman. I think the Bucs are better than our showing against the Jets and we will see that this afternoon.
September 15th, 2013 at 7:23 am
It’s game day and we still have to deal with the drama? If I were Freeman I’d send most of the media to go interview the kardashian sisters. That seems to be what these guys are best at. Couldn’t have put together a story on game planning or anything like that. Freeman if you can bounce back tell them to stick the mic up their A$$. You know damn well if the Bucs have a winning streak the media will be lined up kissing your butt.
September 15th, 2013 at 7:26 am
Does JF5 have short comings and make mistakes, yes. All QB’s do. This coaching staff needs to recognize these issues and put in corrective measures. I’m not making excuses for JF5, but merely spreading the responsibility of winning/losing to this coaching staff.
I’m just a Sunday football watcher so I don’t claim to have any special insight, but it seems obvious that JF5 is only capable of certain things and the playing calling is never adjusted to help matters. If the script is not working, change it! The Bucs will have the same issues with Glennon if McNulty/Sullivan/Schiano can’t coach’em up.
September 15th, 2013 at 7:42 am
Freeman had a better game on the road than Tom Brady did AT HOME against the Jets. Good game or bad he drove the team and scored with 30 seconds left. GAME OVER right? Not so fast! A prevent Defense (instead of pressure) against a rookie QB that left the middle of the field wide open and then an unfortunate penalty. This is what is unacceptable! Any team that takes the lead with 30 seconds left 99% of the time leaves a winner.
September 15th, 2013 at 7:50 am
Rapheal you listening????????????????? Freeman heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeegh!!
September 15th, 2013 at 8:24 am
I seriously doubt that would happen, but if they went 0-4 maybe during bye week.
But I think they got a good shot at winning today. But not in Patriotville with them having extra time to prepare their struggling offense.
I think the total gloom and Doom If the other guy started is overblown. Didn’t Geno Smith beat us in the first game, and almost the Pats too?
September 15th, 2013 at 8:27 am
Eric, the “other guy” ain’t that good. He’s Freeman without the mobility and pocket presence.
September 15th, 2013 at 8:28 am
@Eric
We gave Geno that win. Thanks, Lavonte.
13 penalties didn’t help either.
September 15th, 2013 at 8:38 am
@Keith,
Maybe your right, but you never know till you let the man have a game plan and full starter prep.
Team might rally around the guy, especially if they are as down with Josh as some have reported.
Stranger things have happened especially around here.
September 15th, 2013 at 8:40 am
This is getting old… Let’s take an apocalypse break until 6:30 pm
Go Bucs!
September 15th, 2013 at 8:44 am
If Mike Glennon even won 2 games this year, I’d be pleasantly surprised. He looked THAT bad in preseason. Hopefully he’s better now than he was then, doubt it though, too little time has passed, he’s still wet behind the ears.
If Freeman fails, I pray that Schiano won’t be stubborn and keep Glennon as the starter for next year unless he plays great football. Not even decent football, GREAT football. There are superior QBs that will be available to us in the draft.
September 15th, 2013 at 8:53 am
Morgan Says
“Again with the “mob” stuff.”
It exists…on both sides of the isle. You really uave no right to complain. This isn’t a news site…it’s a blog. A very good blog. As such the owner is free to say anything he likes.
On topic…
The claim that Schiano is on the hotseat is a complete myth generated by local media and bought into by the fans. The Glazers have never given a coach less than 3 years and the only time a coach had less than 5 years was when there was a total lack of discipline in the locker room.
Schiano is going nowhere. Not this year or next, and likely 2 years after that. So you fellas will have to just come to terms with it. The Glazers never make decisions based on media.
Stroud is the same guy who has made things up consistently the last 2 months. He’s been proven wrong a number of times but he doesn’t care because negative “reporting” gets you noticed.
September 15th, 2013 at 8:55 am
More media Mumbo Jumbo…
September 15th, 2013 at 8:55 am
I was looking for this to happen after the season, but if both Freeman and Christian Ponder of the Vikings start 0-3, the Vikings may come looking to swing a trade and the Bucs may be looking to deal… Fresh start for Freeman, gives the Bucs assets for someone that could leave anyway after the season, and gives the Vikes alittle more hope to build around AP early in the season…
September 15th, 2013 at 9:00 am
5th year in the league….lets get honest with ourselves …JF5 is not good and he is not getting better…he doe not work through his progressions, he stares down recievers and throws off his back foot….give someone else a chance to get better….we all know Glennon is going in some time this year…why wait?
September 15th, 2013 at 9:01 am
Freeman needs a strong game today to silence his critics.
I admit, another lackluster performance, and the MGM will only grow.
It is not about what Mike Glennon can do, it is about what Freeman isn’t doing.
September 15th, 2013 at 9:04 am
@Stevek
Agreed, today Freeman needs to win. Not necessarily to save his job, but to at least shut everybody up. And beating the Saints will definitely get people to lay off him.
September 15th, 2013 at 9:08 am
Glennon gets the nod this week
September 15th, 2013 at 9:12 am
@Sharon
Wanna bet?
September 15th, 2013 at 9:17 am
When a local reporter makes such bold predictions it means it will happen, or in if it doesn’t he will ramp up his personal assault with his mic and pen buddies to make it happen. The local media pretty much controls what happens in Tampa Bay sports, and the last thing you want to do is prove them wrong. If by game 3, we are 0-3, you can bet the things being said today are tame for what will be said then. It want be substantiated facts but deep personal attacks even further up the Buccaneer chain of command.
This is deja vu all over again. Where the media will prove they have the power to wield the biggest sword. The local media is the Buccaneers worst enemy.
September 15th, 2013 at 9:19 am
Joe. Agree we have a better chance short term with Freeman, but at some point though, losing games dictates a change.
The constant in the equation has been the QB and the GM.
If there are squandered, drive killing opportunities left on the field again, losing with a rookie is preferable to losing with a 5 year vet.
September 15th, 2013 at 9:24 am
This site is so negative and depressing. It should actually be called joes anti-Bucs. What you are stating is so unrealistic. It seems it’s more of what you prefer to happen. It’s obvious you don’t like Freeman (per the things you post). Everyone here should take notes from Browns fan, they are loyal diehards they didn’t want Weeden but they stick behind him and their team. I’ve always said Bucs fans Suck, most if y’all on this sight really do ( not everyone). Thanks to all the saints fans who I see around the city the game is televised.
September 15th, 2013 at 9:26 am
@Biff
Agreed.
September 15th, 2013 at 9:26 am
Biff the only constant is last place defense=losing season. 15th ranked defense=10-6. I don’t know why you think Freeman will ever be Brees or Tom B. The ONLY two who have proven they can go all the way with no D
September 15th, 2013 at 9:33 am
Everyone is talking about freeman,as if he put together last week bad game plan. Talk around the N.F.L. among players is that no second level players will come here because of this coach and his treatment of Freeman. I said this during the pre-season that coach had lost his locker room and his staff has turned on him and leaking information to the press.He has no idea how to deal with grown men and refuse to listen to anyone.Get some pro coaches in here that has won in the N.F.L. Folks these player’s are sticking together,it is the coaching staff that is falling apart,because the head coach will not listen. If you think this team looks bad watch what happens if he bench Freeman.
September 15th, 2013 at 9:39 am
Who is in charge of this team, where in the heck is the G.M. He is up stair trying to save his job while throwing everyone else under the bus. Mr. G.M. step in and take control of your team and put a end to all this press leaking junk.
September 15th, 2013 at 9:44 am
I think most buc fans need to realize this is what you see in josh freeman. The schedule is more difficult this year where I don’t see a 6 game stretch by freeman. Defenses easily game. You know you don’t have a franchise QB when defense stack 8 in the box and have no fear of what freeman can do. Because they know josh cannot beat them. Every defense knows the first target josh looks at that’s where it’s going so they don’t need to shift coverage to the 2 nd and third option.
Josh is a bottom tier signal caller. Every one in the league knows it. Non delusional buc fans know it. Is Glennon any better? Prob not. But the coaching staff has the right to find out because he’s a rookie. Freeman after 57 starts is still the inaccurate inconsistency can’t go through progressions type of QB.
With the team we have in place it’s obvious we are a QB away from the playoffs and maybe further. Josh is not the guy.
September 15th, 2013 at 9:45 am
And if he has a good outing, I’m still not buying into him until he does it every week. He throws us a bone every now and then.
September 15th, 2013 at 9:45 am
@jacko101
Yeah browns fan are so positive
http://youtu.be/tRBDMMVctu8
LOL
September 15th, 2013 at 9:51 am
Rbell,
Follow the Butte Times or the Helena Tribune – they don’t rag on the Bucs at all I bet!
September 15th, 2013 at 9:51 am
LOL, so funny people have such faith in a losing QB but yet want to bash another Bucs player simply to vault there hero to another level which he doesn’t desserve.
September 15th, 2013 at 9:54 am
Couldnt agree more couch. The defense gave the offense every chance to put the game away and put it away early. At 14-5 jf5 the savior gave the sinking jets life. Then couldnt get a first down in the second half until the jets defense left Jackson wide open to get in field go range
September 15th, 2013 at 10:05 am
how can Stroud &the MGM not see that Freeman played well AND put us in a position to win last sunday. even though Schiano had the team underprepared last week and allll preseason long.
“another lackluster performance”, caused by defensive penalites, and offensive line collapses, will put SCHIANO on the hot seat.
If he thinks he can throw away this season rebuiling with Glennon, the REAL Bucs fans will run him out of town, and Sully will be our interim HC. Will work with Freeman and maximize his crazy pktential, without stubborn asss Greg there to breathe down his neck.
Play your cards right Greg. Or the Bay will run you out of town in a heartbeat…. Its 2013, anf a coaches window to turn around a team with our kind of talent is 2yrs tops.
September 15th, 2013 at 10:12 am
Get rid off Singano and that will fix all the issues the team has…
September 15th, 2013 at 10:16 am
LMAO @ Freeman played well. The stupid things people say on here.
September 15th, 2013 at 10:23 am
@bucsqccity I’ve seen that it’s epic lol. But has you see he will be at the game next Sunday lol
September 15th, 2013 at 10:25 am
Freeman played with what he had, he played better than Brady did against the same team and freeman had much more pressure so say what u like couchfan
September 15th, 2013 at 10:29 am
Stroud is a hack. Always has been and always will be. If we measured Freeman’s play against Stroud’s reporting…..Freeman would be a hall of famer. Stroud is that bad.
September 15th, 2013 at 10:43 am
Jlynch …freeman is a stud franchise QB, if the bucs don’t want him there are 10 teams that do, and will pay him…
Schiano will learn these guys are adult millionaire athletes, you can’t treat them that way…..
Trust and accountability doesn’t apply to coach Schiano apparently ……if its true he fixed the vote, that will tear the locker room apart. There are alot of Players in Freemans corner .
September 15th, 2013 at 10:45 am
So I get the notification accross my ipad. Freeman to request a trade?
September 15th, 2013 at 10:47 am
If Freeman is a stud QB, then the Bucs should fetch a 1st round pick right? I mean, he’s better than Cutler so the compensation should be the same correct? And he’ll immediately get a 5 year 75-80 mil extension right?
September 15th, 2013 at 10:48 am
Seriously doubt the 28th ranked starting QB in the league wont be a very hot commodity. I’d take anything off the dollar menu for him while we can.
September 15th, 2013 at 10:49 am
This the “joe” that should be writing every entry for this site.
September 15th, 2013 at 10:50 am
Unless of course all the coaches are as smart and impressed about all those franchise records as Raph is.
September 15th, 2013 at 10:52 am
The only teams I see interested are Jacksonville, Oakland (hey reunion with olly) and possibly Minnesota. Those are the only situations he’s really an upgrade lol
September 15th, 2013 at 10:52 am
Chris, saw that too. Wow, JFro’s really committed to the Bucs isn’t he?
September 15th, 2013 at 10:55 am
Lightning buc ….would you be ?
September 15th, 2013 at 11:03 am
I see Jacksonville maybe calling or Oakland.
September 15th, 2013 at 11:04 am
Look, if you are losing games, you have to look for a reason.
How many coaches can you fire?
Blaming the defense still does not account for all the points this team had left on the field.
September 15th, 2013 at 11:52 am
The writers media in this town always are causing problems somewhere. Player or coach. Keep pounding Freeman was late. BUT. Jsoeph admits he himself has benn late to things. Others have been been late to things. Where are the BIG front page stories about them. They will photoshop Freemans picture and coach said he took care of the problem.He screwed up and admitted it. Story should be over. But NOOO!!! Not good enough. If you have not learned about the media in this town by now. They get off ruuning all our Pro teams in the ground using anything they think will cause trouble and keep fans divided.
September 15th, 2013 at 12:06 pm
@ bucnjim,I don’t think anyone expects freeman to play close to brady or brees but can he try to come close to rex grossman maybe,lol…
September 15th, 2013 at 12:13 pm
Freeman will not lite it up, ever, unless the line starts to play. You can talk Freeman Glennon all you want, but the topic of conversation should be the offensive line.
September 15th, 2013 at 12:59 pm
Once again, the media is creating the news instead of reporting the news. I don’t waste my time reading that rag or listening to him on the radio.