Bucs GM Dominik: Goal to let Freeman sit and learn

If Bucs general manager Mark Dominik has his way, rookie Josh Freeman will not be the starting quarterback this season.

Not right away, at least.

"The ultimate goal is to let Josh Freeman sit back and learn,'' Dominik said Saturday.

A few weeks ago, Dominik, coach Raheem Morris, quarterbacks coach Greg Olson and pro scouting coordinator Doug Williams met and decided to re-evaluate Freeman one week into training camp to determine if they should accelerate his progress.

Olson suggested that at his current pace, Freeman might begin the season as the Bucs' starting quarterback.

Dominik hasn't completely ruled it out, but it's clear the plan is not to rush Freeman into the huddle.

"I still think he's a 21-year-old quarterback who came out as a true junior,'' Dominik said of Freeman. "You'd like for him to grow and mature into his role and not be forced into it.''

Dominik said he frequently meets with position coaches to evaluate the progress of players, particularly the development of rookies.

The first order of business is to reach an agreement on a contract with Freeman, the 17th overall pick in the draft.

Making matters easier for the Bucs is that Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco was selected 18th overall a year ago. Flacco signed a 5-year, $30-million deal with $8.5-million to sign. Dominik said he plans to begin talks in early July and doesn't anticipate a problem getting Freeman under contract by the time the team reports to training camp July 31.

Dominik said the race between veterans Luke McCown and Byron Leftwich is extremely close and indicated a decision might not be made until the end of the preseason.

"It should be very wide open,'' Dominik said. "The competition still is ongoing. The important thing about what they did in the OTA's as a group is that they got a foundation of the offense and showed an ability to grasp it mentally and then go out and operate it on the field. That's why we're anxious to put the pads on and see how they do in the (preseason) games.''

There are other issues facing Dominik and the Bucs between now and the start of training camp.

Dominik said he expects linebacker Barrett Ruud to report on time. Ruud missed all 14 OTA's in an attempt to draw attention to his need for a contract extension. Dominik maintained his policy of not publicly discussing negotiations.

Ruud did attend the team's mandatory minicamp.

"You saw some little things (he missed), but his instincts took over,'' Dominik said of Ruud. "Barrett is a very smart football player. He can pick it up on a chalkboard. A lot of players have to do it on the field. His coaches did a nice job of keeping him up to date with what we were doing.''

Finally, Dominik indicated the Bucs have no interest in signing former Giants receiver Plaxico Burress at this time. The Bucs are looking for receviers to back up starters Antonio Bryant and Michael Clayton. 

"We're going to let Brian Clark, Maurice Stovall and even Dexter Jackson compete and go from there,'' Dominik said.     

Comments

[Dspkable]

It sounds to me that the roster is set. We have our group and now its time to let them work out who is going to start and who will be ready to step into a role. Besides, spending more money on 1-2 more big name players....will that really sell any more seats. I doubt it. It's now down to performance and how many fans are willing to ride on the bandwagon and how many are waiting to see how the bandwagon rolls. Here's hoping for a good season Bucs fans.

[GoBucs]

Well I said it the other day Jagz makes the Qb calls not Morris and the first 2 always out of Jagz mouth is McCown and Lefty. both had good OTAs now lets see what they go with pads on.

[GoBucs]

*do with pads on

[Vince]

Translation: Olson shut your mouth. (Not exactly a good start for Olson as far as dealing with the media. Never a good thing to have your boss clean up your mess.)

[DR]

C'mon, a "goal" to watch and learn? You traded up, let's have at it. Imagine if every business had a "goal" of letting the new guy learn how to do the job. I think Freeman will watch to start, but will start after week nine. Not many QBs come in and make a statement their first year. I think it's important that a QB gets experience and Freeman should do that in the second half of the season.

[Vincent]

Once again DR I agree 100%, yet I would go even further. As long as the team is rebuilding, I'd just let him play week one.

[OAR]

Vincent and Spin-DR, do not fret Morris will start him week 1, unless he totally stinks it up in training camp or pre-season. Dominik is trying to get a little leverage against Freeman's agent. He hasn't been signed yet and all the "could start talk" is just giving thier side leverage for an outragious contract.

[BucFandango]

If you dig it, do it.
If you really dig it, do it twice.
Jim Croce

[Itch]

OAR - That is exactly it. Olson shared too much info and it has the affect of inciting Freeman's agent to go for more dough. This tempers the discussion. But in the end they will be paying more for Freeman than the others, so the pressure will be to play him. And since everything is clean slate this year. Why not. It is going to be a bruising year any way.

[Vince]

No way Freeman begin the season as the starter and he does not start all season if the Bucs are in the hunt, however unlikley that may be. Note that Olson said Freeman needs to improve his decision making. Olson is speaking of Freeman's decision-making in shorts. His decision-making will not improve with live bullets, at least not without a lot of pain. Morris has a job to keep, if not with the Glazers, with the fans. The Bucs are not going to just tank a season.

[BucFandango]

I could see Freeman starting from the beginning. I see more reasons for it than against it. McCown just wasn't that good when he did play, but hopefully he has improved. Leftwich seemed to crumble under pressure in the past, maybe because he was so slow. I would really like to see Josh Johnson get a shot at it. I don't think he will, but he can move and they say he is very intelligent, which is something I think the other 3 are lacking in, a little. I would hate to see McCown go back to his 3'rd down Panic Attacks and run backwards for an 85 yd safety when he gets in the Red Zone. Blah blah, I think Freeman will end up starting in week 1.

[OAR]

We'll all be having discussions about it after pre-season, whether he starts or not.

[Vincent]

OAR, I quote, " Dominik is trying to get a little leverage against Freeman's agent." -One of the most brilliant and insightful comments I've read on this site!

[Krutch]

"We're going to let Brian Clark, Maurice Stovall and even Dexter Jackson compete and go from there.''

EVEN Dexter Jackson! A second round pick last year. Mark's making him out to be a surprise undrafted against-all-odds success story. Rudy! Rudy! Rudy!

[BucFandango]

Rick, Stephen, Anybody, Can you please remove that ugly picture of Fat Albert and that stupid Redskins Jersey. It's been up there posted for 3 days and this is a Bucs' website. I'd rather look at Penn's buttocks. The Skins' suck and if I want some skinfo I'll travel to DC with all the Crooks. Pullleeeeaaasseeee take that crap down.

Thank you,
Fang

[blindjim]

I can't help but think the way Dominick is starting out, looks a lot like how Allen always did things... and those results were seldmo good. it's almost like there is a bonus included in the GMs contract, if he comes in under a certain amount of spending each season... or profit made from not spending. No pass rush. No consistent deep threat. ??? QBs. ?? CBs. ?? FBs. Next year there's the signing of the FA O linemen or start looking for more. Briunging Clayton back was a mistake. If A Bryant is the deal, they wasted money there too. Are one year deals now the future for the Bucs? That way lies problems a plenty.

[OAR]

Fang, I couldn't agree more with you. Please take that picture down!

[TheBucStop.Net]

Dominik is starting to see that he does not want to be fired at the end of the year as well. As a foolish head coach will be when the owners wake up and realize that the team has been dismantled. And they are looking at at least 5 years for a real head coach to fix it

[DR]

TheBucStop.HACK, Morris and company already have to fix a dismantled bad team. That is why they were hired, to fix what has been ruined. The Bucs have already improved their offense by hiring a legitimate offensive coordinator. Kiffin can't be replaced but hopefully Bates can find his own way and make a name for himself.
The Bucs are in better hands now.

[BucFandango]

BucStop, you're an idiot! Every post you make is infected with nonsense and BS. Why don't you stay on your own site with your Pop Warner drones who don't see you for the Fraud that you really are. There are a couple good Bucs' sites, PR & JoeBF.com. Then there are the Hack Pseudo Wannabe sites which are a complete waste of time and energy. Son, you're at the top of that list.

[OAR]

Dallas Retard, "The Bucs are in better hands now."? I hope but, with a "legitimate" offensive coordinator in his only NFL year as one, was 8-8, 22nd in points, 9th in yards(funny sounds like Bucs last year; we were 19th and 14th). As for Bates and his new system I'm not sold on the fact that we have the right personnel for it. So, I'm not sure how were in better hands, different hands maybe.

[DR]

Yeah, that's right, the Dead Coast Offense that Gruden ran was fantastic! The "offensive genius" really proved how good he was with his annual 18th ranked offense. He was setting it all up for this season, but the Glazers had to screw it all up. The Bucs have the right personnel for Jagz offense, and never had the personnel for a west coast offense. Different hands is right and any other besides the previous going nowhere hands is better.

[OAR]

Dallas Retard, I never said our offense was fantastic, you a--! I did compare to last year(Jagz has only one year calling plays in the NFL)only cause our new west coast offense will be so much better? Again your missing my point. What evidence do you have to say we are better or any different?
Did your magic eightball tell you what Allen and Gruden had in mind for free agency. Allen said they were going to spend it all, afterall it was Allen that got them out of cap hell and into the great situation they are in with the cap and why not the cpa had not been reached, so why not spend it all?
Oh, I know lets sign a blocking WR to a huge deal and then let's sign the largest TE deal(IN HISTORY!) to a one year wonder(or stud soldier as you like to put it) and let's sign another second string RB and then we can....well that's all they've done.

[DR]

mOARon, you don't know shizz about football. Second string RB? Really? Michael Turner was a second string RB too. He turned out pretty bad ha? Playing behind Tiki Barber and being part of a great running tandem after Tiki left doesn't say much about him. Funny thing is Cadillac Williams wasn't the starter for Auburn, but the Bucs took him #5 overall. He handled the load very well. That's why his career is over. The best thing is Ward hasn't been over used, has low mileage. He'll be just fine here in Tampa if the Bucs offensive line is a s good as you say it is.