QB Freeman still long way from working with the big boys

During offensive drills in the Buccaneers' OTA sessions, the unit is often divided up in two groups -- one featuring players who presumably are in the mix as first- or second-teamers and another that includes pretty much everyone else.

It is in that second group where you will almost always find rookie QB Josh Freeman, working with many of the same players with whom he participated in rookie mini-camp. second-year man Josh Johnson is typically there as well.

What's the point? Basically this: unless something goes horribly wrong, it's clear the Bucs have no intention of playing Freeman any time soon. That was the assumption of everyone who is familiar with the team's thought process, including me. But that's been reinforced during the practices the media has been permitted to watch in recent weeks.

Don't fret though. Freeman can and will grow from the work he's getting, even if he is throwing to the likes of WR Joe Filani. The first-round pick is learning the same playbook as veteran QBs Luke McCown and Byron Leftwich and being scrutnized just as closely by his coaches. But his exclusion from many of the most important full-speed drills tells you all you need to know about where the Bucs are going at quarterback.

Freeman will sit in 2009 unless the season goes south, which in this year of transition is certainly plausible. If the Bucs are in the thick of things and remain healthy at quarterback, Freeman will have to wait quite some time to get consistent practice reps with the team's best playmakers.

In the meantime, the best thing he can do is be a sponge and soak up all he can.

Comments

[Leo In Canada]

Thanks for the update Stephen. It looks like a win/win situation here at QB. This team is clearly in transition and can afford to coddle Freeman. As we all know, timing is everything. Let's hope the Bucs time this as close to perfect as they can. If Leftwich or McCown can take the job and run with it, so be it. Winning in the long run is all that matters. If Freeman is the QB of the future, let him earn it.

[Dspkable]

Textbook rookie development. No team 'wants' to start a rookie as their great hope to win a game, division, or championship. Bring them along to learn plays, watch the offensive game from the sideline perspective (which they have never done their entire careers), and emulate the veterans. I wonder if they consider letting the Rookie spend some time in the booth with the Offensive coordinator too? Sounds like a good way to get to know your play caller to me :)

[Snook]

Just go to Pewter Report to get this news 3 days earlier.

[ref813]

That's good news. I thought Morris was so in love with this guy that he would force him into the lineup too soon. The coach continues to show that he is smarter than most of us thought when he first took over.

[DR]

You idiots are funny. One day you'll realize how dumb you are. Comparing a pay site to a free site is dumb. I hope that Holder, Stroud, and company don't feel obligated to compete against a pay site by putting up as much or more info in a free blog as a pay site. I've read some of the magazines at different places and I wasn't impressed.
Please don't post on these blogs if you're too stupid to realize the difference between a free blog and a pay site.

[Snook]

DR: I'm sorry you weren't impressed. Personally, as a true Bucs fan, I'd like accurate news regarding my team. If that cost me a whole whopping $10 per year, then I'll pay it.

Afterall, the free "news" you get around here isn't worth a penny because its usually inaccurate.

[DR]

What has been inaccurate? Not many predictions are accurate and that is what most sporting news souces do, predict. Chris Mortenson, ESPN, is one of the worst reporters ever since most of his statements turn out to be crap.
It's pretty obvious what Freeman's steps will be in growing as a NFL QB. Nobody has reported anything that would be "bragging rights" to first hand knowledge. Everything that has been reported so far is just another who cares story so who cares if the story runs a day or two later than another news source.
Until the day I see a Pewter Report Reporter get ESPN time like Rick Stroud did, the Pewter Report is just a rip off in my opinion. You guys can give money to whoever you want for all I care. Until they find an important story that they report first and get credit for, I will still laugh at the thought that people pay for that site.
The critics have criticized Holder, Stroud, and company for not releasing entire interviews when the most of the interview was about nothing. Is that what you all like to pay for?

[Stephen Holder]

Snook, I never portrayed the above as "news." This is a blog. Sometimes what we post is news. Other times, the posts are just musings or observations. Chill out.

[Stephen Holder]

One more thing Snook -- and I appreciate anyone who has anything constructive to say around here, and that occasionally includes you -- a story isn't inaccurate solely because someone with a different point of view claims it is. And with you being a reader with such a high level of discernment, I'll assume we have some credibility if someone like you reads our coverage. I take it as a compliment. Thanks!

[Kurt]

Back to the story...

It shouldn't be a surprise that he isn't playing with the first team since he was picked well above his projected spot. If anyone recalls, we got an "F" on the ESPN scorecard for day 1 in the draft (i.e. Josh Freeman.) I don't know much about the kid as I have never seen him play, so I am not going to say how good I think he is, but just from the news reporting sources, he is a QB that should not scratch the lineup for 2 years (or until he can read defenses.)

[Snook]

Sure did get you ladies all riled up. Sorry about that. Just thought I'd point out that news shows up here a couple days after it appears on Pewter Report. There's no doubt about that.

Its pretty clear the Times writers read Pewter Report insider articles and somtimes relay it to their "news"paper oftentimes never giving credit where its due - the Sears situation is a perfect example.

[Snook]

"Until the day I see a Pewter Report Reporter get ESPN time like Rick Stroud did, the Pewter Report is just a rip off in my opinion."

So ESPN is your credible source for NFL news? Wow. That explains why you back the St Pete Times. Pewter Report has been on NFL Network several times. Or is the official network of the National Football League not good enough for you?

[mm]

Actually you're wrong snook. I used to follow pewterreport.com as well as this site. REAL breaking news is ALWAYS posted here before pewter or tbo. I did not renew my subsription for that reason. Good site but not as quick to deliver info.

[Snook]

And what was the last "breaking news" that the St Pete Times was first on? Brett Favre coming to Tampa?

[mm]

Brooks and everyone being released was reported here first. The Crowell signing as well.

[BucFandango]

I see this more like a Shepherd and his flock. If the sheep find greener pastures, then by all means, don't let the staff hit you...

[Snook]

Wow. Cuts and signings? Not really a big deal to get news of cuts or signings considering the team releases that news DIRECTLY to the press. Layups for the Times staff.

How about real reporting? You know, FINDING stories. Actually DOING work. Stuff like the Sears injury... That's pretty important considering his value to our offensive line... a story the Times still hasn't reported in any kind of detail.

[OAR]

I've posted stuff like Sears head injuries and Stylez(cringe just typing that name) White motorcyle injuries(turned out to be minor) well before they are on here, but those aren't real important news football stories for the Bucs, I guess?
As for the pay sites, they have free info and interviews(full ones) not just parts or segments, like The Times wants to put out(Right Rick? Like the important stuff you said).
Like I said before I really don't come here to read the "drivel" articles, I come to read the posts and see what other opinions(No Spin-DR thank you) are out there on the Bucs and their moves.
20 years of inside Bucs reporting is pee wee(as the great spin-DR puts it) though, I guess?

[OAR]

And wow Stephen I see that day off last week did wonders. Just take a deep breath and relax.

[mm]

Hey Stephen, some of us appreciate the "drivel". Keep up the good work!

[OAR]

mm, you are wrong about this site reporting the cuts first or the Crowell signing. They had articles on Feb. 23-24th about the possiblity of those cuts that occured on the 25th. Check the actually times on those articles were posted you will be surprised.

[Snook]

You're exactly right, OAR. The article on the 24th of February mentioned the possible cuts of Dunn, Galloway, Hilliard, and June. Only Brooks wasn't mentioned.

And again, team cuts and signings are released to the press. Reporting them when they happen isn't much of an accomplishment. That'd be like claiming you were the first to report that the Bucs won a certain game.

[BucFandango]

Ya, I come here to mostly read the comments too, laugh at the jousting, and make an occasional smart@ss remark. It's pretty easy to tell who the fans that go to the games are. It's also easy to spot the overblown windbags. When it comes to the Bucs news, I take all I can get, skim the reports quickly and if something funny or of importance catches my eye it gets read, you know like drafting a QB in the first round when you really need a D Lineman or a LB, that kind of thing. Oh well, it all good, even if it's late.

[OAR]

Oh yeah, what about an offensive line interview with Pete Mangurian? Not here.

[OAR]

Excuse me, new offensive line coach interview