2013 NFL regular season thread

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

I thought they'd bench Freeman after this week to give Glennon two weeks of first team reps because the Bucs are on their bye after this week. But Freeman simply hasn't progressed at all as a QB and is doing the exact same mistakes he was making in college. I don't think Glennon is the answer but Freeman's time is up and you might as well see what you have in Glennon.

The analysis I heard this morning was that by giving Glennon the start this week you get him game time and then 2 weeks to review that game and prepare for the next one. There's also the element of bringing him in against the Cardinals, which is a relatively soft start.

[Red Slinger]

I may be in the minority but when watching Freeman play I've been generally impressed. Mind you, it's been a small sample size. To me this seems like the Bucs coaching staff has mismanaged their QB situation and possibly ruined, what was once, a promising QB. Hopefully, he gets a chance somewhere else with a decent offensive coaching group.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Red Slinger

I may be in the minority but when watching Freeman play I've been generally impressed. Mind you, it's been a small sample size. To me this seems like the Bucs coaching staff has mismanaged their QB situation and possibly ruined, what was once, a promising QB. Hopefully, he gets a chance somewhere else with a decent offensive coaching group.

A couple years ago, he was terrific.

Now? He is epically bad.

I think I heard today he was dead last in QB rating as well as completion %....and thats a list that includes Blane Gabbert.

[DropIt]

Originally Posted by transplant99

A couple years ago, he was terrific.

Now? He is epically bad.

I think I heard today he was dead last in QB rating as well as completion %....and thats a list that includes Blane Gabbert.

That is true, but it doesn't include Blaine Gabbert. Chad Henne is technically the starting Quarterback in Jacksonville. He does outrank Gabbert.

Of starting Quarterbacks, he has the worst COMP%, QB rating and the most interceptions thrown in the last 2 years and change

[Sylvanfan]

Three years ago as a second year player Freeman was looking great. Was making the right reads, buying time to get the ball down the field to secondary options, running for first downs when he had to. But today, he looks more lost than he did as a rookie.

[corporatejay]

Is it possible that he's poorly coached? Think about how much better Alex Smith got when he got a NFL quality coach.

[Senator Clay Davis]

He just hasn't developped at all. He still stares down receivers, doesn't make secondary reads, makes terrible decisions like throwing late off his back foot, late over the middle, into coverage, and his accuracy, particularly in the intermediate routes, is very poor. Freeman has the worst completion percentage in the NFL since the start of last year, worse than Gabbert and Weeden.

There's also been rumous about some issues in his personal life and that he isn't that hard a worker as well. Perhaps a change of scenary helps, but I just don't see where he starts next year. Most teams that need a QB will draft one.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

Is it possible that he's poorly coached? Think about how much better Alex Smith got when he got a NFL quality coach.

I think it's not only possible, it's likely. Schiano has no business being in the NFL.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Bill Barnwell of Grantland pretty much nails Freeman with his analysis: In short, signing Josh Freeman right now is no different than drafting a rookie. All you're banking on is potential and not results. And he deserves to be benched but Glennon won't do much.

In terms of pro-football-reference.com's quarterback index statistics, which compare a player's stats to the league average after adjusting for era, Freeman's 2010 campaign was above-average in every facet of the game, peaking with an impressive interception index (123) and passer rating index (113). It's difficult to build an era-independent model that finds similar players to Freeman, but there are two players I was able to find who had similarly impressive second seasons before failing to really improve on their prior performance and/or hold on to their starting job.

The first is near and dear to the boss's heart: Tony Eason. In 1984, his second year in the league and his first year as the full-time starter (after starting four games as a rookie), Eason completed 60.1 percent of his passes, averaged 7.5 yards per attempt, and threw 23 touchdowns against eight picks. Like Freeman, his numbers were above-average or better just about across the board. Eason had a disappointing follow-up season in 1985, as his interception rate spiked and he missed time with a separated shoulder. The Patriots made it to the Super Bowl that year, with Eason playing efficiently during the playoffs, but he was benched halfway through the Super Bowl after starting 0-for-6 against the Bears. Eason was never a regular starter again.

The more recent example would be Brian Griese, who stepped into the Denver lineup as a replacement for John Elway and produced impressive numbers in his second season as a starter (but third year in the league), leading the league in passer rating while throwing 19 touchdowns against just four picks. Those numbers came across 10 games, and after that season, Griese was never as effective. His interception rate spiked the following year and never dropped, and three years after his breakout campaign, he was allowed to leave Denver to sign with Miami. He ambled on as a borderline starter for a few more seasons, never reaching the heights of his breakout year.

It seems likely now that Freeman is the next quarterback to follow in those players' footsteps. He'll likely get a chance to compete for a starting job elsewhere, since he doesn't turn 26 until January and has nearly 2,000 pro passes under his belt, but there's no steady employment or long-term deal awaiting Freeman.

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-tr...f-josh-freeman

[valo403]

He'll definitely get a chance somewhere, there just aren't enough established QB's out there for him not to. Whether he can ever regain his previous form is another question. It's not like he doesn't have ability, but you can say that about a lot of guys who washed out of the NFL.

[DropIt]

I can see Jacksonville passing on him for that #1 pick, but I would have to imagine the Vikings, Browns or Raiders would at least entertain the thought of picking him up

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by DropIt

I can see Jacksonville passing on him for that #1 pick, but I would have to imagine the Vikings, Browns or Raiders would at least entertain the thought of picking him up

The only one I can see out of those 3 are the Vikings. The Browns seem to be diving for a QB in the draft. Pryor looks like he might end up being pretty decent.

[Pagal4321]

Originally Posted by rubecube

The only one I can see out of those 3 are the Vikings. The Browns seem to be diving for a QB in the draft. Pryor looks like he might end up being pretty decent.

Highly doubtful for the Vikings, at least in my opinion. Current management has tied their wagon to Ponder, so they will stick with their guy until the end, which is probably the end of the season when the Vikings clean house.

[valo403]

If any of you guys are looking for a good football based read I'd recommend Nate Jackson's new book. Former Broncos WR/TE who was always on the bubble talking about his time in the league. No bombshells, just a look inside the life.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/slow...son/1114298535

[valo403]

It's good, but not double post worthy.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by valo403

If any of you guys are looking for a good football based read I'd recommend Nate Jackson's new book. Former Broncos WR/TE who was always on the bubble talking about his time in the league. No bombshells, just a look inside the life.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/slow...son/1114298535

Awesome. Will pick that up. Nate was one of those guys that I thought was going to make it everytime he played. Just never stuck.

[DropIt]

Isiah Pead inactive tonight? Odd, seeing as he was looking better then Richardson was so far. Maybe a late injuy

[dissentowner]

what a boring game tonight.

[atb]

It looked like the 49ers actually got the 1st down on the previous play.

[corporatejay]

Thursday Night Football is hot garbage.