Josh Freeman No. 23
June 23rd, 2013
It’s a no-brainer that this season is a big season for Josh Freeman in so many ways. Does he come back to the Bucs or does he leave? Does he sign a megamoney, Powerball-like contract, or is he franchised?
Not only do the Bucs’ playoff hopes rest on Freeman’s shoulders in a big way this season, so does his NFL future, as well as his financial future.
This doesn’t mean Freeman is not one of the better players in the NFC South. The sophists at BSPN sat down for a countdown of the top-25 players in the NFC South and Freeman clocked in at No. 23.
What he did in 2012: He completed 306 of 558 passes (54.8 percent) for a 4,065 yards with 27 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. The passing yards and touchdown passes established new franchise records. That might sound like a pretty solid season. But you have to take into account the fact Freeman slumped mightily during a five-game losing streak that took the Bucs out of playoff contention.
Why he’s No. 23 in 2013: This clearly is a make-or-break season for Freeman as he heads into a contract year. Is he truly the kind of franchise quarterback that can take a team deep into the playoffs? Or do the Bucs need to go in another direction? We’ll find out this season and the outcome is up to Freeman. The Bucs have surrounded him with good talent on offense and defense. I think this will be the year that Freeman takes a big step forward.
All true. Few quarterbacks are surrounded with as much talent as Freeman. He is in the second year of an offense that, based on what Freeman and Bucs offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan have said, he has a much better grasp on.
The speedbumps for Freeman having a productive season have all but been eliminated.
June 23rd, 2013 at 4:11 pm
Don’t bite people DONT bite!!!!!!
Stay Strong!!!
On Topic:
Revelatory stuff here Joe…
June 23rd, 2013 at 4:16 pm
Sometimes I wonder what a Jeff Garcia could have done with this offense. Or a Carson Palmer. Heck… Even Tony Romo.
June 23rd, 2013 at 4:29 pm
The stars have aligned and everything looks to be in position for Josh to have a break out campaign, except for one thing. …………….this brutal schedule.
It won’t be a cakewalk considering some of teams we play are also on the rise (Miami, St. Louis, and Detroit) Then there’s six games in the NFCS, which is loaded and probably the strongest division in the NFC. We’ll be lucky to get a split out of them. Then there are two games against NFCW playoff teams Seattle, and San Francisco. The schedule is tough but doable. It’s going to be a battle and if there are a lot of miscues, you can bet Schiano want be so accommodating this time around.
June 23rd, 2013 at 5:13 pm
@Buc’n Junkie
It dam sure will be a battle and I am looking forward to it!
June 23rd, 2013 at 5:17 pm
Stop blaming the schedule. We need to become the type of team that other teams see on their schedule and make the same excuse.
June 23rd, 2013 at 5:29 pm
All eyes on #5. Playoffs or bust.
June 23rd, 2013 at 5:43 pm
Here come the 2013 Josh Freeman excuses. Now it’s the brutal schedule. What’s left? It’s George Bush’s fault?
June 23rd, 2013 at 5:56 pm
Freeman doewn’t need excuses. He’s the best QB in the history of the Buccaneers. Nuff sais.
June 23rd, 2013 at 6:00 pm
I like the blame Bush comment.
June 23rd, 2013 at 6:02 pm
The team is set. This is a playoff caliber roster.
June 23rd, 2013 at 6:08 pm
It’s real easy to blame josh for “sub-par” performance during that 5 game losing streak but let’s not forget that the Bucs pass defense sucked last year. In fact, they were only a few yards away from setting the all time suck record in the NFL. If you are always forced to come from behind, the QB may have to force some throws.
June 23rd, 2013 at 6:34 pm
No excuses this year. We WILL be the team that other teams fear on their schedule and in the playoffs. Fans need to stop being complacent whiners. Super Bowl or bust, this team is ready!
June 23rd, 2013 at 6:39 pm
Free’s got this, no worries
June 23rd, 2013 at 6:39 pm
Best QB in Bucs history?
Nope.
June 23rd, 2013 at 6:53 pm
Joke:
If Freeman is #23, then 20 of the rest of the top 22 must be Bucs too.
I didn’t know the rest of the NFC south was so terrible, all the other teams could muster above Freeman is Drew Brees and Steve Smith.
June 23rd, 2013 at 7:24 pm
Nice spin Joe. The Moron is still the lowest ranked QB in the division…as he should be.
June 23rd, 2013 at 7:35 pm
Free’s A Boob is a harsh a-hole… You should not be permitted to post…. I would enjoy seeing Free bitch slap you.
June 23rd, 2013 at 7:50 pm
I rather see Free bitch slap they opposing team.
June 23rd, 2013 at 7:55 pm
I’d rather see him complete a pass.
June 23rd, 2013 at 8:25 pm
It is becoming obvious how Joe spins these stories. The clear story here is that Freeman is the worst QB in the NFC South. Joe tries to make it look a little better by not mentioning that part.
June 23rd, 2013 at 8:54 pm
Like I said on another post…Josh Freeman is YOUNGER than Kolin Kaepernick. He came out early and had 3-4 OC’s to start his career. Bucs will make the playoffs this season and they will Franchise tag him again to see what 2014 looks like.
June 23rd, 2013 at 9:43 pm
Well it’s obvious he ain’t Better than Marty ice or Brees and not sure about CAm but media loves cam so they would put him over anyhow. Josh is gonna be fine get off his back. Sorry JOe we can’t bring big Sean king back. But please don’t anyone mention Carson Palmer or its sure to say you don’t know football. Cause he sucks !!! Ask raiders hell look why we beat them last year at end of game.
June 23rd, 2013 at 11:08 pm
its always George Bush’s fault.
until the patriot act stops allowing the government to ignore the constitution and our rights it will always be George Bush’s fault. everything else is mere building on what bush did adding to the horror.
June 23rd, 2013 at 11:09 pm
hahaha jk
but for serious freeman will be great this year.
June 23rd, 2013 at 11:29 pm
I wish Freeman all the luck but I just don’t see him taking us to a Super Bowl Championship and doing State Farm commercials with Gerald McCoy.
June 23rd, 2013 at 11:58 pm
Right, Dan. And your messiah got in office and stopped all of that surveillance just as he promised.
@Kevin, the reason Kolin Kaepernick hasn’t played under but 1 OC is because he hasn’t yet played a full season! I don’t care if he is 65 years old in less than a full season starting at QB he took his team to the Super Bowl. Anyone here who says they wouldn’t right now trade Freeman for Kaepernick has a man crush on Freeman.
June 24th, 2013 at 12:12 am
I predict Josh will be re-signed in 2014. He was surrounded with almost nobody in 2010 and put up strong numbers. I will admit he frustrates me as well, but I think with Martin in the backfield, Jackson and Williams at WR in there 2nd year of all playing together is going to work out. In case your wondering NO I am not a biased fan. I call it as I see it. I knew Martin was going to be the better back than Richardson on draft day. Let me ask you Freeman skeptics this. If they let him go, who do they get to replace him Glennon? I sure hope they don’t have to start all over again with a ROOKIE at the QB position.
June 24th, 2013 at 12:23 am
@Mean D……ummmm Alex Smith is going to SUCK in K.C. why because Jim Harbaugh is not his coach, remember who told you that when it happens. That being said. No I would not trade Freeman for Kaepernick. If we were to go with your logic, that would mean Kaepernick could have taken us to the Super Bowl last season. Once again…not without Harbaugh coaching the Bucs. Chew on that for a bit. Jimney Christmas I thought REAL Buc fans knew by now that it is the coach that makes the team good, hmmm Tony Dungy taught us all that did he not?
June 24th, 2013 at 12:37 am
It must suck to be on the wrong side of history all the time! Have you thought up your excuse yet when Freeman and the Bucs make the playoff this year?
June 24th, 2013 at 12:46 am
life must suck for you haters. so many positive things have happened to this team and all you can latch on to is what you perceive to be negative. I cant wait till Freeman lights it up this year so I can rub it in your faces. dont worry Ill remember who you are.
June 24th, 2013 at 1:38 am
Something every Buc fan should know by now. DEFENSE. Hmmm I wonder how many Super Bowls the Bucs would have won in the late 90’s with Freeman as the QB. Think about it.
June 24th, 2013 at 3:30 am
lol@ the haters and the poor existence they call their life ….
June 24th, 2013 at 3:34 am
Because Football is real definitive of “life” lmao
June 24th, 2013 at 4:57 am
I swear I think half of the people that post on this site don’t strike me as Bucs fans at all. I hear the Jaguars need fans, maybe you guys want to check them out since you think the Bucs are so horrible?
June 24th, 2013 at 8:55 am
Being angry or disproving of your teams lack of success is no more wrong than a husband/wife disproving of there significant others actions. Questioning someones fandom is a sign of the small minded who have nothing left to fall back on.
June 24th, 2013 at 9:30 am
[…] On the one hand it is nice that Josh Freeman is considered one of the 25 best players in the NFC South. But it is not good that your quarterback is only no. 23 in a 4-team division. [JoeBucsFan] […]
June 24th, 2013 at 9:36 am
Does he have a big arm? Yes. Can he throw touchdowns? yes. Can he lead an offense? he has not yet.
June 24th, 2013 at 10:24 am
If we had a secondary to hold late game leads against Phi and Wash which Freeman help get the lead that’s two wins, 9-7. Then two terrible 80 yard TDs against Atl and Stl at home maybe we win those and we would have been in The playoffs. Freeman is not perfect. But with are secondary problems fixed I can’t wait for the season to start. GO BUCS!!!
June 24th, 2013 at 10:29 am
@mean, 1st it was a joke.
2nd you’re a joke if you believe there is an actual 2 party system that espouses differences in goals and beliefs.
June 24th, 2013 at 11:19 am
I have seen several post that use the idea that if the defense would have been better the Bucs could have won those games and had a better record… Though true, so many of the teams that lost to the Bucs could also use the same arguement and the Bucs could have gone 4-12….
The results speak for themselves and can’t be changed… Games are won and lost on the field!
June 24th, 2013 at 11:58 am
@ Joe,
“Few quarterbacks are surrounded with as much talent as Freeman”
When you say few quaterbacks, do you mean few as in Colin, Wilson, Rogers, Brady, Flacco, Ryan, Brees, Eli, Peyton, Big Ben, Romo, Dalton, Schaubb etc? You have said all offseason how top heavy the NFC is and now you are saying that Freeman has a talent advantage? Which one is it? Does Freeman have a talent advantage or is the NFC very top heavy?
This season will come down to execution both offensively and defensively. If the oline misses an assignment or is beaten on a play, then that is not Free’s fault. A successful season will take a team effort. I just wish everybody would understand that.
June 24th, 2013 at 1:03 pm
Eric Says:
“Best QB in Bucs history? Nope.”
Prove it. 🙂
June 24th, 2013 at 5:22 pm
@Tye…nobody is arguing that. The point is, WHO lost the games? Is it solely Freeman’s fault or does the blame lie more with the defense since they were given the lead in the closing minutes??? Apparently you are missing the point of all the rants.
June 24th, 2013 at 5:23 pm
Pardon my English but other than defensively and out SuperBowl year “Bucs History” blows big balls all the way up till present day
June 24th, 2013 at 10:05 pm
@PRBucFan….Actually from 1997 till 2007 we were in the playoffs 7 times. At least do some research before posting.
June 25th, 2013 at 5:54 am
Oh shut up lol
How many playoff wins and rings did that culminate to???
Don’t be a homer just to be a homer lmao.
Not in the mood to deal with you this morning
June 25th, 2013 at 6:00 am
And get the fück off your high horse oh God of research and football.
When will I get to see you on TV or on Radio as a professional analyst?
Ill say it again, OTHER THAN DEFENSIVELY AND OUR SUPERBOWL YEAR, OUR BUCS HISTORY SUCKS BIG BALLS.
It’s a wonder we were known as the Yucs for as long as we were ;).
Wait why am I bothering with this??? Of all things arguing this jajaja
No Ty… next thread
June 25th, 2013 at 6:12 am
25 Losing Seasons out of 36 Seasons = “Bucs History” that sucks
Plain and Simple.
Now I am done lol. BuBye Bobby
I LOVE my Bucs but I am not going to lie about them just because some people think that equates to “fandom”