Accelerating Freeman's development

[Hawkeye]

The Josh Freeman era could begin earlier than expected in Tampa Bay.

Quarterbacks coach Greg Olson said "it's not out of the question" that Freeman takes the path of the Falcons' Matt Ryan and the Ravens' Joe Flacco and starts as a rookie.
Olson said he met last week with general manager Mark Dominik, coach Raheem Morris, pro scouting coordinator Doug Williams and other coaches and decided they might need to accelerate Freeman's development.



Tampa Bay Buccaneers Football Team Report and Insider Slant - FOX Sports on MSN (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/teamReport?categoryId=67061&type=InsideSlant)

[Texecutioner]

Interesting. They might as well because I don't see McCown as the guy, and Freeman looked like he had some nice potential.

[Tronix]

I'm never for starting rookies, I don't care what Flacco and Matt Ryan did..I don't agree with it, on the basis that history has shown QB's who get the opportunity to be eased into the position are more successful than those that aren't. I can't see anything positive come from this experiment.
They reported that McCown is having a terrible camp, and Leftwich isn't doing much better, Freeman is more athletic than either of them is all they'll say, but they aren't talking about how great he's doing outside of that, I seriously doubt this is a "ace in the hole" type situation..I have a feeling this is a "lessor of the three evils" situation, and if so, that probably means regardless of who starts or even plays, we're probably going to have a pretty terrible year behind center, so why not let the kid sit back and learn the offense for a full season as a clip board holder, before letting him get his taint kicked in? Lets let Leftwich or McCown get beat on, during our "rebuilding" year, and let Freeman come in with a full years worth of playbook knowledge, and a fresh start. There is no saving this season, everyone knew this coming in, why go send Freeman out there, and cause him to become a headcase because he isn't ready?

If I took all the rookies that we're prematurely ruined due to moves like this, and piled them on one side, and took all the rookies that have started and been successful, it would look like the Spartan battle of Thermopylae. The new fad is to find the next "Tom Brady"...he's a once in a generation type player, and its going to take countless failures to prove it, I guess.

[Dreamers]

He is the only rook in the right situation with the right skills to start day one so I have nothing against it. One of the reasons I was so high on Freeman in the draft is because I felt he was closer to being start ready then Stafford or Sanchez. But I think I was the only one who thought that so maybe I'm just dead wrong here. Either way I still think he gives TB the best chance to win this year unless they pick anther QB up. Lets face it McCown is not leading them into a SB.

[football?]

Lets face it McCown is not leading them into a SB.

& Freeman is?.....

[Dreamers]

& Freeman is?.....

Did anyone think Ben was? Freeman is an unknown. 1st year QBs are always dangerous because of the lack of film on them. That is what the sophomore curse is all about. 1st year guys are overlooked 2nd year guys have to learn to adjust to a new game.

[Hawkeye]

I'm never for starting rookies, I don't care what Flacco and Matt Ryan did..I don't agree with it, on the basis that history has shown QB's who get the opportunity to be eased into the position are more successful than those that aren't. I can't see anything positive come from this experiment.

If I took all the rookies that we're prematurely ruined due to moves like this, and piled them on one side, and took all the rookies that have started and been successful, it would look like the Spartan battle of Thermopylae. The new fad is to find the next "Tom Brady"...he's a once in a generation type player, and its going to take countless failures to prove it, I guess.

I have to disagree with that part. A third of the guys in the Hall of Fame started all or part of their rookie seasons (Tarkenton, Griese, Bradshaw, Fouts, Elway, Marino, Aikman and Young). You can add to that guys like Phil Simms, Bernie Kosar, Brett Favre, Drew Bledsoe, Peyton Manning, Donovan McNabb, Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, Jay Cutler, Steve Bartkowski, Neil Lomax, Boomer Esiason and Jim Everett who started a majority of their rookie seasons or the season after. Those QBs have a combined 18 SB victories between them and countless other division and conference titles. So in that sense, there is no a longer list of guys that were MORE successful by waiting.

I will agree that there is a longer list of failed rookies who started early, but is that because they started too early or didn't have a head for the pro game to begin with?

[Texecutioner]

I have to disagree with that part. A third of the guys in the Hall of Fame started all or part of their rookie seasons (Tarkenton, Griese, Bradshaw, Fouts, Elway, Marino, Aikman and Young). You can add to that guys like Phil Simms, Bernie Kosar, Brett Favre, Drew Bledsoe, Peyton Manning, Donovan McNabb, Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, Jay Cutler, Steve Bartkowski, Neil Lomax, Boomer Esiason and Jim Everett who started a majority of their rookie seasons or the season after. Those QBs have a combined 18 SB victories between them and countless other division and conference titles. So in that sense, there is no a longer list of guys that were MORE successful by waiting.

Damn, that's some pretty good info right there Hawkeye. Did you know all of that right off the top of your head or did you have to look it up? Either way, nice analysis of statistics.

[Tronix]

But still, so there is a list of a few dozen starters who made it, but there are lists of hundreds and hundreds that did not, also look at the list and how many HoF'ers or future HoF'ers are on it. There are those rare few who are just meant to be, but do you really consider Freeman among that class?

I don't.

I also don't see us having the team around him for that to work. Our defense is going to be shoddy at best. Our running game, may, or may not work, the offensive live is having to slim down, to keep up with the new scheme, in an era where every Defensive line is getting bigger and bigger, and more athletic to boot.

I just have a hard time seeing Freeman as one of "those QB's" He's athletic, but he's nowhere near as developed or as technically sound as Flacco or Ryan was..He's from a smallish school, who faces smallish schools, and he didn't exactly crush his competition at that..
He'll end up starting at some point, because none of our other QB's in camp did anything either, but my once 8-8 predictions has dropped to a 5-11 season, and if Freeman starts, it may plummet to 3-13 before all is said and done. :(

[Hawkeye]

Damn, that's some pretty good info right there Hawkeye. Did you know all of that right off the top of your head or did you have to look it up? Either way, nice analysis of statistics.

I knew about Aikman, Marino, Elway, the Mannings, Roethlisberger, Favre, McNabb, Bledsoe and Bradshaw…..the rest I had to research.


But still, so there is a list of a few dozen starters who made it, but there are lists of hundreds and hundreds that did not, also look at the list and how many HoF'ers or future HoF'ers are on it. There are those rare few who are just meant to be, but do you really consider Freeman among that class?

I don't.

I also don't see us having the team around him for that to work. Our defense is going to be shoddy at best. Our running game, may, or may not work, the offensive live is having to slim down, to keep up with the new scheme, in an era where every Defensive line is getting bigger and bigger, and more athletic to boot.

I just have a hard time seeing Freeman as one of "those QB's" He's athletic, but he's nowhere near as developed or as technically sound as Flacco or Ryan was..He's from a smallish school, who faces smallish schools, and he didn't exactly crush his competition at that..

He'll end up starting at some point, because none of our other QB's in camp did anything either, but my once 8-8 predictions has dropped to a 5-11 season, and if Freeman starts, it may plummet to 3-13 before all is said and done. :(

Come on Tronix….”hundreds and hundreds”?? You’re talking about that many QBs drafted over the course of time since the draft started. How many of those guys never made it past training camp? Lots. How many never became more than a backup? Lots. There may be a bigger list of guys that were successful waiting two or three years, but not with greater accomplishments.

Do I consider Freeman to have HOF potential? No, but he could be as good as Everett or Bledsoe or Esiason and that would be good enough.

I think you’re underrating the defense quite a bit. I heard their secondary and LBs should be strong and so should the run game. Ideally you want to see a rookie QB come in and learn behind an established vet, but Gruden didn’t leave TB much to work with in that department. I don’t see them winning eight games with McCown and certainly not Leftwich. Flacco and Ryan were not that technically sound. As far as competition goes, are you telling me Freeman didn’t face much better competition than Flacco at Delaware or Ryan at BC? Ryan didn’t exactly crush the competition at BC either. He was a gunslinger that looked no better than a third rounder that year. I still have my doubts that he will ever be a good QB.

[Sascha]

YEah Tron, I'm going to have to agree with HAwkeye on the point of college competition. Flacco went to Delaware. DELAWARE!!!!! Do you really believe Hofstra, William and Mary, JAmes Madison and Villanova provide barder competition that Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas? Ryan at least played in the ACC, but it was an ACC that's a bit down right now. Still not on the level of what Freeman faced in the Big XII.


As far as starting Freeman, I forgot who made the reference to Roethlisberger, but it was a good one. While I personally have always been sold on Ben's skills, since his sophomore year at Miami U., I can't say the same about Freeman, but analyzing him a little closer these days, I'm starting to like what I see.


Still don't think he'll get the gig right away though. Keep knocking McCown, but he will be the starter, and he will have success, and Leftwich will be fine as well. I think Griese's days are numbered, and I think Josh Johnson becomes the unfortunate odd man out, if he does, I wish him luck in his next destination.

[Tronix]

Doug Williams said straight out on an interview, that Griese is gone, So that's in the bank..I'm not hating on McCown, I'm repeating what I've been hearing in the local media, McCown didn't have a spectacular camp, nor did Leftwich, does that necessarily translate to a bad season? Of course not. But it doesn't bode well for them either. I'd love to be wrong about Freeman, if he goes in and lights it up, few will be happier about it than me. Same goes with McCown or Leftwich, I have no dislike for any of them. I personally think Leftwich is washed up, and I think his delivery is waaaaay too slow to ever be a quality QB again, but he's a fine 3rd string, hand the ball off kind of guy.
I haven't heard anything about Josh Johnson, so your guess is as good as mine as to what they'll do with him.