Success Of The Bucs Depends On Josh Freeman
February 15th, 2010
Bucs officials have recently said one of their priorities is to get help for Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman.
Consider Vic Carucci to be of the same mind. In a recent chat on NFL.com, the site’s columnist noted that the Bucs will not be successful until Freeman develops into a premiere quarterback.
Mark, Tampa Bay, FL
Vic, So let’s say Josh Freeman develops into a reliable QB… how long will the Bucs rebuilding process take?
Vic Carucci, Senior Columnist, NFL.com
As long as it takes for Freeman to develop into a “reliable QB.” And if, by reliable, you mean a guy capable of carrying the brunt of the offensive load, the Bucs should absolutely be a fairly competitive team — if not a contender — at that point. I can’t say, for sure, when that point is, and neither can the Bucs. But in general NFL terms, it probably can’t take more than the next couple of years, if that long. We are in a very impatient era, in case you haven’t noticed.
Joe just wonders how this need to surround Freeman with solid talent is going to work out. The Bucs have a woeful need for wide receivers, if free agent Antonio Bryant doesn’t return. But the Bucs’ defensive front is even worse.
Do the Bucs dare draft Dez Bryant with the third overall pick?
February 15th, 2010 at 9:42 am
Joe,
As I said on an earlier post I believe Dez will be the pick if AB isn’t resigned or if Marshall or Boldin aren’t traded for. Dom and Rah need Freeman to develop real quick if they plan on keeping thier gigs longer than next season. I’ll drink a Caybrew in hopes we do the right and smart thing by resigning Bryant and drafting a WR in the 2nd or 3rd round.
February 15th, 2010 at 10:37 am
test comment from Joe
February 15th, 2010 at 11:29 am
Morris commented one time about ‘building around #5’. If that is any indication of the mindset, look for the Bucs to draft offense with the 1st pick and 2 of the first 3 picks.
February 15th, 2010 at 1:37 pm
Tommy Boy and Jeff – You’re BOTH off on this one.
Rah-Rah is the HC AND DC. It was the defensive turn around that saved his but last year and if Rah-Rah wants a career with the Bucs he’ll need to learn from the past – just like Tony Dungy did. BUILD WITH THE DEFENSE.
Sure Super Bowl XLXIV was offensive oriented but what doomed the Colts; the ability of the Saints DEFENSE to stop the pass and make the pick that sealed the deal.
Ask yourself this question, and be honest…If the Bucs had receivers Percy Harvin, Dallas Clark, or whomevery you want [you fill in the blank] with the amount of pass protection the Bucs O-ine provided last year, would it have made a difference?
The main problem in 2009 with the Bucs was their anemic O-Line. They had no running game and therefore most teams put 8 in the box and they went pass rush happy. Having Dez Bryant or any other WR wouldn’t have given Freeman any additional time.
Furthermore with Olson as the OC the routes that the Bucs ran didn’t help any. How many screens did you see run last year? How many flares from the backfield? The routes were too long and complex for the caliber of their receivers.
I’ll go on record as stating this:
If the Bucs choose Dez Bryant, or any OTHER WR for that matter in the first round with their #3 pick – I’ll stop posting here FOREVER!
February 15th, 2010 at 2:10 pm
Mr. Lucky,
I respectfully disagree. Freeman’s semi-success and showing his potential to be great is what saved Rah and Dom. The Glazers made it clear that they wanted a franchise QB last offseason. They were obliged but if our potential franchise QB takes a step back and shows no improvement then this team will be sub .500 again a new coach and/or GM will be ushered in. One way to help Freeman be better is to put better talent around him. So in shirt Freeman performing = Rah and Dom looking good = job security.
I’m not saying I want Dez. In fact I want defense in the first round no matter what, I’m just speculating that if we don’t have a legit #1 WR going into the draft then that is where we will find one, Dez being clearly the top choice.
February 15th, 2010 at 5:01 pm
I would argue that the best thing this front office can do for it’s franchise QB would be to give him a franchise left tackle. Donald Penn has done a good job but I think he gave up something like 8 sacks and had around 8 penalties this last season. That probably puts him somewhere right in the middle of the pack or lower with the rest of the starting tackles in the league. If you’re going to “build around #5”, the o-line is where it probably needs to start.
Besides that, drafting WR’s has been this scouting department’s weak point so I’d rather see them trade for one if someone is available at a decent price. Boldin?, Marshall?, Bowe?
February 15th, 2010 at 6:16 pm
Man that defense is what needs to be addressed. If the opposing team knows they can run at will its dang hard to win many games. The tackling was just horrid last year.
As for offense, that speedy little running back from Miss. State would make a great third down back. Might provide some “juice” and help Josh out.
February 15th, 2010 at 9:04 pm
I would not have a problem with Dez @ 3
none what so ever