Here Comes The Bride

June 17th, 2009

Well, it didn’t take long.

Bucs bust-in-waiting quarterback Josh Freeman looks so good in shorts out at offseason practice that the Bucs are strongly considering putting him on the fast track and sticking him in the starting lineup in 2009, reports Rick Stroud, of the St. Petersburg Times.

Stroud talked to quarterbacks coach Greg Olson, who was more than candid about the organization re-evaluating Freeman and viewing the 21-year-old QB with more obsession than previously stated on draft day.

The Bucs are re-evaluating their plans at quarterback and will consider starting rookie Josh Freeman if he continues to progress in training camp.

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 with general manager Mark Dominik, coach Raheem Morris, player personnel coordinator Doug Williams and other coaches last week and decided they might accelerate Freeman’s development.

“We did talk last week, and when I say we, I’m talking about everyone in the building from the GM, the head coach, Doug Williams – other people were involved and we just discussed the Josh Freeman plan,” Olson said. “We decided we’ll go through the summer, we’ll go probably a week into training camp and we’ll revisited it again…we may expedite what he’s doing.

“You know, maybe we get him involved early — earlier than we thought.”

Olson even gets into more detail about the great progress of Freeman.

“Early when he first got here, he was forcing the football too much,” Olson said. “If he can show he’s progressing as far as the decision-making goes, then shoot, why not? He’s comfortable in there, he throws a great ball, he’s accurate and if he’s not turning the ball over, then gosh, maybe he will be ready to play.

“He didn’t seem nervous in the huddle at all last week and that was a great sign. He made some big throws as well.”

Not nervous in the huddle? Well, Bucs nation should certainly hope not. It was an OTA practice and he was a first round pick. Sheesh.

Joe can’t pound the drum enough to say that Freeman should sit, learn and develop slowly in 2009. The odds are so, so long against him as a starter in 2009.

3 Responses to “Here Comes The Bride”

  1. Jeff Says:

    The odds are against any rookie QB. But…Since we are rebuilding, er, “retooling”, if it’s not detrimental to his development, let the kid have a crack.

  2. Mr. Lucky Says:

    Hey why stop there????

    I say we start ALL the rookies this season from game 1….yeah and then like fire anyone with more than 5 years experience…yeah and then like be the youngest team in the NFL…and then…

    I mean come on people do you HONESTLY think that Freeman is THAT good?

    I find it APALLING that everyone wants to just push Freeman into the spotlight and not give Luke a LEGIT shot. Yeah I know that’s what competition in training camp is all about but GEEZ!!!!!! 🙁

  3. frye Says:

    Hopefully Luke is better. Suppose he’s not?